“I saw them perform as volunteers at the 100 Million Volunteer Run on Feb. 12 and I was impressed by the crowd’s overwhelming reception to them,” says Dick Gordon. “Unlike other carefree youngsters, I admire them for having a cause and their spirit of volunteerism to be part of PRC. They’re good role models to the youth in our very challenging world today. We will help promote each other’s activities. I plan to bring them to a convention in Australia where there will be 10,000 representatives from all over the world. I want them to perform there. I see great things ahead for these young people who all have wholesome personalities.”
What can Down to Mars say about this? “We’re so honored to be ambassadors of the PRC,” they say. “It’s really been our dream na makatulong sa kapwa nang walang hinihintay na kapalit. Kahit galing iba-ibang nasyon kami na may Chinese, Japanese at Korean blood, pero deep within our hearts, lahat kami, mga Pilipino. We’re even excited to donate our blood for the Red Cross.”
“The Red Cross is not just for blood donation,” adds Dick Gordon. “It’s a full service organization. We can also train them to do first AID and CPR, and even help out during disaster relief operations.”
As a boyband, Down To Mars is alone in the Interpop music group brand, which it earned by virtue of the fact that its members have interracial roots. Created and managed by Geleen Eugenio, Down To Mars is gaining grounds in the local music scene on a fast mode. Their self-titled debut album is a hit, with their song "Nandito Lang Ako" used as a theme song for the GMA-7 Koreanovela “Smile Dong Hae”. Distributed by Polyeast Records, the album boasts tracks such as the lead single “My Everything", “Oh! Oh! Here We Are," and “Fly, Fool’s Paradise."
In their Facebook page, they say they call themselves as Down To Mars because "Down" serves as their constant reminder to stay humble while "Mars" means for them a world that is “unique and different." The members are Kenji Chua, Jang Seung Ri, Daisuke Hagihara, Yheen Valero, Kiro Rivera, Sky Young, and Jeongwon Song, regularly seen Sundays in Party Pilipinas. Down To Mars was also picked as celebrity endorser of Chef Noodle, the latest Korean franchise conquering the local food industry.
