MNL48's Generation Centers (Pre-3rd GE Special)

Sheki Arzaga and Aly Padillo, MNL48's two

generation centers. © Hallo Hallo Entertainment.

Ang bawat sister group ng 48G o isang idol group na magkatulad nito ay nagtutukoy sa isang miyembro na siyang magiging mukha ng buong grupo at may kaakibat na responsibilidad upang maipapakilala ng mga tao at ng buong daigdig, at siya rin ang front act sa mga galawan sa sayaw ng isang main at/o coupling single. Ang terminolohiya na ito ay tinatawag na center. Subalit kapag dalawang miyembro naman ang napili sa iisang single, ang tawag diyan ay WCenter (pagbigkas ay "double center").

Every sister group of the 48G or idol group that is similar to it refers to a member who is the face of the entire group in order to get known to the people and the world, and is also the front act on the dance moves in a main and/or coupling single. This terminology is called a center. However when two members are chosen for the same single, it is called a WCenter (pronounced as "double center").

May tatlong paraan para mailuklok bilang center ang isang miyembro - ang senbatsu sousenkyo o senbatsu general election na ginaganap kada taon at kung saan ang mga tagahanga ay pipili ng mga oshi nila gamit ang pagboto, ang management-picked kung saan ang management ay pipili ng mga miyembro sa pamamagitan ng isang close-door audition, at ang Janken Tournament kung saan maglalaban-laban ang mga miyembro gamit ang paglalaro ng jak-en-poy.

There are three ways in order for a member to become a center - the senbatsu sousenkyo or the senbatsu general election which is held every year and wherein the fans can choose their oshi using votes, the management-picked is where the management can be chosen selected members through a close-door audition, and the Janken Tournament is where members will be competed through the rock-paper-scissors game.

Gayumpaman, ang post na ito ay ipopokus sa dalawang center o ang mga mukha ng sister group ng AKB48 sa Pilipinas na MNL48 na parehong iniluklok ng mga tagahanga nitong mga dalawang nagdaang senbatsu general election, at ito'y sina Sheki Arzaga at Aly Padillo.

Therefore, this post will be focused on the two centers o the two faces of the AKB48 sister group in the Philippines that are both installed by the fans these past two senbatsu general elections, and these are Sheki Arzaga and Aly Padillo.

Alam naman natin na si Arzaga ay bukod sa pagiging golden ace at center ng unang tatlong single ng naturang grupo, siya rin ay naging dating defending champion ng Tawag ng Tanghalan sa It's Showtime season one. At para sa kaalaman ng lahat lalong-lalo sa mga bagong tagahanga ng Emenel o MNLoves, siya ang bumubuhat sa parehong promosyon at halos lahat ng puna at batikos sa kanya at kapwang miyembro sa unang taon pa lang ng grupo matapos mabuo sa naturang noontime show.

We all know that Arzaga is aside from being the golden ace and center of the first three singles of the group, she's also the former defending champion of Tawag ng Tanghalan sa It's Showtime season one. And to inform everyone especially the new fans of Emenel or MNLoves, she took the weight on both promotions and almost all the bashing and negative criticisms on her and fellow members on the group's first year following the formation on the said noontime show.

Samantalang si Padillo ay madalas nang naging mahiyain kahit matapos na opisyal nang kabahagi ng Emenel mapa-seitansai man o mall shows. Subalit, binubulaga ang karamihan sa mga tagahanga nang mailuklok siya bilang center sa itinuturing na pinakamalalang SSK sa kasaysayan ng 48G hanggan sa siya ay paunti-unting tinatanggap ng mga miyembro at tagahanga bilang pinakabagong mukha ng grupo. Mula noong maupo nito bilang Second Generation Center ay marami na ang nagbago sa kanya, kabilang rito ang pagpapabuti sa pagsasalita sa harap ng mga tao lalo ang paggamit ng wikang Filipino, pagkumpiyansa at pagtitiwala sa sarili, paglalabas ng inner fierce side niya, pagiging jolly at makulit, at mas naging makisalamuha sa mga miyembro at tagahanga.

Padillo meanwhile is often shy even after officially joined Emenel, whether in seitansai or mall shows. However, a lot of fans were surprised when she was installed as center in what would be the worst SSK in 48G history until she was slowly accepted by the members and fans as the group's newest face. Since her ascension into the throne as the Second Generation Center, a lot of things had changed, including her improvement in public speaking particularly the use of the Filipino language, her self-confidence and trust, unleashing her inner fierce side, becoming jolly and importunate, and more sociable towards the members and fans.

Sa nalalapit na Third General Election ay muling masusubukan ang katatagan ng bawat miyembro upang maging parte ng ikatatlong henerasyon ng grupo at ito rin ang pagkakataon upang maging karapatdapat sa pinakamataas na token na iyan. Bagama't ay may kani-kanilang manok ang mga tagahanga sa pagka-center para sa susunod na single tulad nina Abby Trinidad at Sela Guia na parehong nasa senbatsu mula "Aitakatta - Gustong Makita," ilan sa mga kilalang miyembro tulad nina Gabb Skribikin, Coleen Trinidad, Belle Delos Reyes at Brei Binuya, o ang mga underdog tulad Jamie Alberto, Cole Somera at Miho Hoshino, ang nasa isipan pa rin ng madlang MNLoves at mga wota kung muling ipahawak kay Arzaga ang trono o mananatili ito kay Padillo.

As the Third General Election nears, every member's stability will be tested once again in order to be part of the group's third generation and this is also the time to be deserved in the highest token. Although the fans have their own bets for the next single's center such as Abby Trinidad and Sela Guia who're both part of the senbatsu since "Aitakatta - Gustong Makita," some notable members like Gabb Skribikin, Coleen Trinidad, Belle Delos Reyes and Brei Binuya, or the underdogs like Jamie Alberto, Cole Somera and Miho Hoshino, whether Arzaga will handle the throne again or it'll be remained by Padillo is still on the minds of the MNLoves and the wota.

Gusto ninyong mapanatili si Padillo o ibabalik si Arzaga sa pagiging generation center ng Emenel at bakit? Nasa oshi list ninyo ang dalawa at bakit sila ang napili ninyo? Tapos kung meron kayong gustong i-share tungkol sa kanila ay pwede ninyong ikwento sa 'kin sa pamamagitan ng pag-komento dito, sa FB page o sa aking Twitter na @goddessyk13.

Do you want Padillo to remain or Arzaga to return as the generation center of Emenel and why? Are the two in your oshi list and why did you choose them? And if you wanna share about them then you can tell me using the comments box below, on my FB page or on my Twitter @goddessyk13.

Yui Nanase's Existence Theories

As the Go! Princess Pretty Cure finale happened two weeks away from now, I have some things which are possibly the roots of the youngest Cure helper from Earth, Yui Nanase, in this anime:


1. Yui-Yui is actually Dyspear's birth daughter, as according to a fellow Cure fan, myself and some of our Japanese Cure fandom peep counterparts, but raise here on Earth.

2. Yui-Yui was once a princess of one of the realms the dark witch annexed and went in an exile in the Blue Planet.

3. Her dream of becoming a storybook author inspires Yume Mochizuki-sensei, so there's a possibility that the latter might be the Cure helper's maternal granny.

4. Yui-Yui's existence is somewhat in mystery if we compared to the ones of Cure Flower and of Seiji Sagara. Something tells me that she's really a Japanese citizen by birth.

5. Yui-Yui, like Filipino Senator and presidential candidate Grace Poe-Llmanzares, was mysteriously a foundling with no biological parents or rather, an orphan, but adopted by somebody else and yet goes the same as no. 4.

6. Yui-Yui's eyes may be only seen through her glasses, but there's something behind this another mystery. If she removes her glasses voluntarily, then a hidden power might come out.

My Forecasts for the Go! Princess Pretty Cure Finale

It's the time of the year all over again as the Pretty Cure Series takes another and expected season finale coming into our shores.

The what ifs on the upcoming finale fight of the Princess Cures will now deck on us, the Cure fans, which can be triggered and affected in it. For Shut, it seems that he'd possible have a heel-face turn ala Michiru and Kaoru Kiryuu, Bunbee, Wester and Souler and Regina because... You know, he got so many failures and I think it's about time to step out of Dyspear's league and went to the side of the Haruno Squad once and for all; thus reuniting with Towachi/Cure Scarlet for a second chance (is this pun sounds familiar?). For Dyspear, I think she'll get a monstrous form and blast the Princess Cures in just a single blow and deform to their muggle selves. All four, and maybe Puff, Aroma, Yui-Yui, Kanata, Ms. Shamour and Kuroro, would face the huge despair they ever faced, about thrice than the one of Haru-Haru during episode 39.

Will the hand-holding thing come back in the finale? I hope so and if it does, this is one of the possible things to attain the Grand Princess forms. Yet I think it'll be with Scarlet and Kanata and maybe, the four Royal Fairies this time. As for Yui-Yui's upgraded willpower, that'd also a possibility whether for the said mention or restoring her Cure partners' powers and popping that golden DUK from nowhere to attain that final upgrade; or even, activating her own eleventh-hour power ala Ayumi "Cure Echo" Sakagami.

A fellow Cure fandom comrade of mine commented on the All Pretty Cure Facebook page that Yui-Yui would possibly be Dyspear birth daughter (OMG!!! I don't wanna happen unless a plot twist would occur in the style of Darth Vader's "Luke, I'm your father" thingy from Star Wars!) or even, the light to the dark witch's dark (ala Aguri/Cure Ace and Regina kind of thing) or a princess of another realm conquered by her. And thus, my inner and outer layers of my body had gone crazy following these proportions. Of the Cure helpers I've been encountered in my quite longtime Pretty Cure series fandom years (9 and a half years to be exact and going on a decade anniversary this 2016), I think Yui-Yui is the only one whose existence has been in mystery up to this moment.

About the upcoming finale fight, well I get the fact that the all-Cure upgrade during the season finale fight trope would have a miraculous comeback after two heck seasons, in short, about three years of getting the ever infamous Shibata Curse or the Cure leader-only upgrade trope would soon be ended now that the fiftieth and the finale episode of GPPC (the second season to have that following Fresh Pretty Cure!) has been revealed (and so as episodes 48 and 49 later on once the scans have been posted). Also for the first time since FPC (Heart Catch to Happiness Charge got their real main bad guys as final bosses and not the predicament main ones during their respective season finales), the main baddie will also be the final boss for the season, in this case, it's totally Dyspear! Plus, we'd about to see the golden Dress Up Key in the opening, in which could be the activation for the Grand Princess forms. Yet, we'll wait and see what our dear Princess Cures look like in the season's coda.

On Yui-Yui's involvement and participation in the finale fight, it seems that she'd be part of it but I wanted to have in a different approach, in contrast with Seiji's involvement in the HaChaPC finale fight but brainwashed and received a dark form, this time. Therefore, I'm still hoping and praying that she'd never ever be like her HaCha counterpart. The same goes with Kanata, because for me that he's more reliable and super useful so far than his not-so ungodly predecessor Blue-sama; so I'm betting that he'll be in there. But just like everything in the real world and in fiction, only time will tell.

Best of SeiYui Songs in the Pretty Cure Series Part 2: It'll be Fine Tomorrow Right?! (Ashita wa Hareru yo ne?!)

Fresh from watching Go! Princess Pretty Cure episode 41, which centralized about Yui Nanase and her new dream apart from being a future storybook author. Before I get into the second of the Best of SeiYui Songs in the Pretty Cure Series, I'll give some brief impressions about the episode:

自分にしか描けない物語を描いて・・・ 夢の力と、夢を守る事の大切さを伝えたい・・・

I want to draw a story only I can draw... The power of dreams, the importance of protecting those dreams... I want to express those feelings...

- Yui Nanase

WOW FANTASTIC BABY! That was my personal thought for this episode regarding Yui-Yui and I intend to agree on Kragito-kun that it doesn't matter she'll remain a faithful helper to the Princess Cures, but the willpower possessed within her is enough to battle the despair and never ever let her own dream and the dreams of the peeps go with that. Though almost manage to break the despair cage, at least Yui-Yui has got a try to do so and yet this was her third Zetsuborg possession (You see that, my bro Seiji?! I think you might be envied about your dear successor's hidden ability and it looks like your record-breaking stuff will be soon overshadowed! :p). But it's also the first time that a Cure helper is having a internal fight against the darkness with her willpower, in which for a quite longtime fandom supporter like me got a first taste. And oh yeah, kudos to the lovely Haruka Yoshimura for giving us her amazing voice and bringing Yui-Yui into existence!

The first part was full inspiration when Yui-Yui has drawn the Fire Palace and its majestic beacon rainbow back in the Dys Dark-controlled Hope Kingdom, but turns into a big challenge when Minamin brought a poster of the art contest with the theme of “Everyone’s Smiles.” Surely that our brave artsy Cure helper wants to compete and win that contest. Whenever I see Yui-Yui comes up for ideas, then I began to learn that she really reminds me of myself (although I'm into the journalistic field) who is very stressful and thinking too much about the right one for a certain theme. And the cake made by Haru-Haru, it's so sweet, plus the box with Ms. Shamour as the design! Mochizuki-sensei was there (phew, at last!) and got curious a little about our Cure helper. And even though Yui-Yui's looking around the peeps in Noble (Yuuki-kun, Hirano-kun, etc), still never come up any ideas although I laughed about Kokoda’s review in PCLJ (Pretty Cure Live Journal page) that Kanata should be her model for the art contest (dang it, look at dat bodeh!). XD Speaking of him, he can actually ported back to the Hope Kingdom with the Royal Key (and I STILL love his prince outfit!).

Boy, oh boy! Looks like Stop and Freeze wanna have give some more despair, eh? But one of the best things in the episode is when these two twin generals are about to attack some random kids at the garden, then it’s time for Yui-Yui to step in because of course she’s the helper of the Princess Cures, so her job is also to protect everybody’s dreams from Dys Dark, by taking up the hit for the kids. I was so grinned about Yui-Yui trying to keep that keyhole before it took for a closure. I think this was the toughest moment for Yui-Yui so far in the season. The part when she was almost losing hope while trapped in the dark, I was totally like “Dang it! Don’t give up, Yui-Yui! You can do it!!!” And all of the sudden, Yui-Yui was called by her Cure partners, stood up and attempted to break the cage using her willpower. But like I mentioned that the Cure helper herself has an internal fight against the despair and darkness within, in which the five past Cure helpers from Earth didn't have (I’m still looking at you, Seiji and even Kaoruko-obachan aka Cure Flower!).

I love what Yui-Yui has said, “What I want to draw… Only I can draw it!” Meaning, she wants to make something that only her can do and that is about the story about the Princess Cures and their heroics with the power of dreams. And I was so happy for Yui-Yui that she managed to resist the darkness with her own will and of course, Flora and her team… Her Cure partners, became her strength in times of distress in which, like I mentioned in this brief review: this has never been done with Miyuki Chinen, Kaoru-kun, Flower, Sebastian or Seiji before, only Yui-Yui has this and that my gosh! Anyways, after saving for the third time seems that Mermaid cited Yui-Yui for having that internal fight and Twinkle was wowed at her too. And so do I being a huge fan of the youngest Pretty Cure helper from Earth in this amazing mahou shoujo anime franchise in which I can proud of.

Wow, the obra maestra at the episode’s end! Such a beautiful painting and very colorful… the Rainbow of Dreams, emphasizes about the fighting for everyone’s dreams no matter what. I must say “omedeto gozaimasu” to Yui-Yui and again, praised to Yoshimura for her cute voice (both the actual and the singing) plus those two anime directors from my home country the Philippines, Francis Caneda and Alice Nario, for making this episode into another breath-taking and mind-blowing one in GPPC! *sighs* My gosh, it looks like Yui-Yui will now break Seiji’s record of 36 episodes in a Cure season because judging from the episode 42 preview, she's STILL there and kicking, making a tie between the two Cure helpers for now! And from episode 43 to the finale, welp, Yui-Yui will have been with 40 or more episodes! Dammit, I’m started to miss her so much! :/ But I think if Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure! would have a Cure helper from Earth, maybe he/she would exceed Seiji’s and Yui-Yui’s record of episode appearances if ever.

Something tells me that Yui-Yui and Dyspear have in common, which made me shock. And something also tells me that these two had possible connections (only time will tell if these stuff are wrong) because for me, Yui-Yui’s existence was just a mystery and so as Dyspear. I’d be surprised if the witch would have a "Luke, I'm your father" moment. Meanwhile for Mochizuki-sensei and Shirogane-san, something tells me that they'd have a lot questions to Haru-Haru and co about the so-called "rumored Princesses" within the finale arc (oh crap, it’s like Fresh and Doki Doki all over again! :o ). Of course, they'd affect their final all-out war vs Dys Dark as well as Yui-Yui's Cure helper duty.

Alright back to the usual drill, just so know that the Go! Princess Pretty Cure Vocal Album 2: ~For My Dream~ has released a month ago and I knew that our favorite Earthling ally of the Princess Cures gets a character song. Interestingly, "Ashita wa Hareru yo ne (It'll be Fine Tomorrow Right)?!" was done by Yu Shimamura and Haruka Yoshimura, the voicing gals who're behind our blooming Cure leader, Haruka "Cure Flora" Haruno; and our youngest Cure helper from Earth in the whole entire Pretty Cure Series anime so far, Yui Nanase.

As before we say "farewell" to the GPPC season, let's get listened this too amazing song first from our blooming Flora and her extraordinary yet resourcing roommate, friend and Earthling helper Yui-Yui!

IT'LL BE FINE TOMORROW RIGHT?! (明日は晴れるよね？！ Ashita wa Hareru yo ne?!)

Written by: Kumiko Aoki

Composed by: Funta7

Performed by: Haruka "Cure Flora" Haruno and Yui Nanase starring Yu Shimamura and Haruka Yoshimura

"Ashita wa hareru yo ne?!" 1 2 3 
Let's try egao no purizumu afureru mirai chizu hirakou 
Let's go kokoro mo karada mo runrun gokigen'yō sunshine! 

Hajimari kara tsumazuite ita watashi no te wo tsukande
Tomadotteru megane no oku ni hikaru yasashisa ga mieta
Chikaku ni iru sore dake nano ni kimochi ga karuku naru yo
Kokoro ga fuwatto naru sore ga purorōgu
Oshaberi wa (tsukinai) yoake made (nenai) shukudai, kadai wa yamadzumi demo 
Doku ringo wa (iranai) garasu no kutsu (hakitai) shiren wo koete kagayaku purinsesu 

Yume wa otogibanashi de owaranai yozora ni chikau no
Namida mo kizu mo uketomete mae wo muiteku 
Masshirona pēji mekurumeku omoi wo tsudzurou
Irotoridori no yume ashita e habatake! 

Let's try amefuri kaze fuku hi datte soramoyō tanoshī 
Let's go kokoro no mado ni wa runrun kagi wanai OPEN! 

Kega wo shite mo tachimukatte iku furueru kata wo mitara
Chikara ni naritai no ni nani mo dekizu fugainakatta yo
Tonari de tatakawanakutte mo kimochi wa todoiteru yo
Kotoba ijō omoi wo tsunagu monogatari
Ichibyō goto (sugiru) taisetsuna (jikan) kaki nokoshite yuku tsutaete yuku
Mimamotte (kureru) manazashi mo (chikara) tomodachi to iu kokoro no Purikyua 
Yume wa esoragoto ni wa shitakunai ashiato tsukeyou
Fumareta tane wa yuki no shita tsuyoku nareru yo 
Massuguna purotto ikasu no wa ima no watashitachi
Hitori hitori no yume ten made todoite! 

Yume wa otogibanashi de owaranai yozora ni chikau no
Namida mo kizu mo uketomete mae wo muiteku 
Masshirona pēji mekurumeku omoi wo tsudzurou
Irotoridori no yume ashita e habatake!

Let's try egao no purizumu afureru mirai chizu hirakou 
Let's go kokoro mo karada mo runrun gokigen'yō sunshine! 
Let's go

Japanese-English Terms:

purizumu - prism

egao - smile

gokigen'yō - good day/farewell

purorōgu - prologue

oshaberi - chat

ringo - apple

garasu - glass

yume - dream/s

yozora - night sky

kizu - scratch

pēji - page

monogatarri - story

purotto - plot

Seiji Sagara and Yui Nanase: Trended Human Helpers in the Pretty Cure Series

Presenting, the mighty knight of the Happiness Charge Pretty Cures, Seiji Sagara (above), and the sweet royal helper of the Princess Pretty Cures, Yui Nanase (below)!

The concept of having a human sidekick or helper who is willing to help the Pretty Cures in their fights dated back from Fresh Pretty Cure!, wherein Miyuki Chinen (voiced by Yuka Uchiyami) was the first ever Cure helper from Earth and the first to discover the Cures' true identities in her season. Later, other human sidekicks like Kaoruko "Cure Flower" Hanasaki from Heart Catch Pretty Cure! and Sebastian from Doki Doki! Pretty Cure were already knew the identities of their respective Cure teams secretly, though via a general realization of the heroines' secret missions, breaking the trend.

It was only in Happiness Charge Pretty Cure! that Seiji Sagara (voiced by Ryousuke Kanemoto) who brought back "the discovering the Pretty Cures' identities" trend but in a very early one than the usual one Chinen-sensei did after 20+ episodes in Fresh! The same goes with his successor and the current Cure helper that is Yui Nanase (voiced by Haruka Yoshimura) of Go! Princess Pretty Cure since both of them were very close to their respective leaders and friends.

Cures Lovely and Flora met Seiji and Yui-Yui (as called by our sparkling Kirara "Cure Twinkle" Amanogawa) in different times. Lovely and Seiji were became friends since childhood, while Flora has just met Yui-Yui upon her enter in the Noble Academy. Therefore, the abovementioned events were both prior becoming Pretty Cures and helpers in their seasons. The only difference that Seiji was excel in karate and Yui-Yui was good in arts yet both were helping their respective Cure teams in any way they can plus both of them were the most talked about non-Cure characters in social media and in the Pretty Cure fan community sites in recent years.

So I was thinking right now since Yui-Yui has already with the Princess Pretty Cures, I do hope she wouldn't be in the same fate as Seiji - got brainwashed, this time by Dys Dark, and receiving a dark form then fighting the Cures around the finale. I mean, she's very too sweet to become evil though maybe it would happen unless there's a plot twist. Yet I still want Yui-Yui to staying good until the final battle, so that she'd contribute much in driving out the power of despair alongside Flora and the rest of the Princess Cures.

So what do you think of both Seiji and Yui-Yui? Do you think they are considered trending? Who's your fave among the two and why? What are your own thoughts and speculations for our youngest human sidekick in the Pretty Cure anime franchise? Please gave some feedback and I welcomed different opinions. Well, till the next post and gokigen yo! :)