HOW many of you remember that good old time where you hardly can wait for that one tv series that you would want to see over and over again?
The time where most of us would take a time to keep up with our friends as we watch the next happenings to our one and only Chai San.
The 2001 Taiwanese drama series Meteor Garden has been loved by most Filipinos following the storyline of a poor girl named Dong Shan Cai as she encounters four handsome and wealthy boys known as the F4 (Flower 4).
Casts of the show include actress Barbie Hsu as Dong Shan Cai, Jerry Yan as Dao Ming Si, Vanness Wu as Mei Zuo, and Vic Chou as Hua Ze Lei.
Meteor Garden originated from a Japanese manga series titled, “Boys Over Flowers” by Yoko Kamio. Aside from its well-known Taiwanese adaptation, the series also had a Chinese remake in 2018.
In 2003, a tagalog dubbed version of Meteor Garden began airing in the country through the network of ABS-CBN. The show quickly became one of the highest-rated shows in the country, creating the trend “Meteor Garden fever” in the Philippine media.
Meteor Garden Fever
It was the early 2000s and everyone is screaming their lungs out whenever the TV network displays the opening screen of the primetime show.
Most people would drop off their chores to gather at the living room to keep up with the story of Dong Shan Cai along with her four suitors—securing the kiligs in every episode.
With the large fanbase amongst Filipinos, the fandom “Meteor Garden Fever,” is born. F4 posters, shirts, and CDs were sold in each market in the country.
Aside from its inspired merch being sold around the country, the series had also become the talk amongst everyone’s peers in the 2000s.
With the series’ fame, Meteor Garden made a comeback in the Philippine media in August 2018.
While the series’ fame primarily grew on the kiligs that Filipino felt during the show’s airing—most Filipinos grew fond of Barbie Hsu, not just only through her character as Dong Shan Cai, but also her as a whole.
More than just an actress
More than just an actress, Barbie Hsu can also sing, host, and write.
Aside from her well-known character as Don Shan Cai, Hsu starred on more TV series such as The Monkey King: Quest for the Sutra, Eternity: A Chinese Ghost Story, Mars, Phantom Lover, Say Yes Enterprise, Corner with Love, and Summer’s Desire.
Hsu was also active in movie career, making appearances in movies such as The Ghost Inside, Silk, Connected, My So-Called Love, On His Majesty’s Secret Service, Hot Summer Days, Future X-Cops, Adventure of the King, Reign of Assassins, My Kingdom, Croczilla, and Motorway between 2005 and 2012.
Hsu first debuted as a pop singer in 1994, taking part of the pop duo S.O.S along with her sister Dee. Due to contractual issue with their label, their original S.O.S pop duo was later changed into A.S.O.S.
The two would later release a track titled, “10 Minutes of Love.”
From 1996 to 2000, Dee and Hsu hosted the variety show Guess—revolving around two segments that required celebrity guests to guess groups of people who would be invited in the show.
Hsu would later host more TV shows such as 100% Entertainment, Gourmet Secrets of Stars, Let’s Dance, Miss Beauty and We are true from friends.
Remembering Barbie Hsu
Earlier on Monday, February 3, Barbie Hsu’s sister confirmed the death of the actress after contracting pneumonia while travelling in Japan.
At just 48, the actress’ death was mourned not only by her fellow actress but also the Meteor Garden fans.
Condolences had filled the feeds of X netizens around the world, bidding their final adieu to the OG Dong Shan Cai.
