BEFORE Filipinos go cray over K-dramas, there was this Taiwanese drama that had Filipino millennials and early Gen Zs rushing back home from school.
It is the romance comedy series “Meteor Garden,” which follows a poor teenage girl named Dong Shancai who enters an elite school and meets a group of four rich and handsome but arrogant students, popularly known as “F4,” led by Dao Ming Si.
For late Gen Zs and other members of younger generations, Shancai and Dao Ming Si are 90s kids’ versions of Geum Jan Di and Gu Jun Pyo of the hit K-drama “Boys Over Flowers.”
“Meteor Garden” has become the talk of the town on the internet but not because of another remake. Shancai particularly trended on social media platforms as netizens expressed condolences over the passing of the actress who portrayed her: Barbie Hsu.
Among those who paid tribute to the 48-year-old actress, who succumbed to influenza-induced pneumonia, were her “Meteor Garden” co-stars Jerry Yan and Ken Chu.
‘Thankful for meeting you’
Yan, who played the role of Dao Ming Si, said he was grateful that he crossed paths with Hsu.
“Thankful for meeting you. In your carefree, childlike years, you always say, treat every day as your last,” Yan wrote in his Weibo post, as translated into English.
“Have a great time. I hope you walk slowly this time. From now on, in another world, there will be no worries and the years will be peaceful,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Chu, who portrayed another F4 member Ximen, posted an Instagram story with a plain black background and a throwback photo of the “Meteor Garden” main cast. The old photo was Chu’s February 2023 post, featuring Hsu and the F4 members Yan, Chu, Vic Chou, and Vanness Wu.
Chou and Wu are also F4 members, playing the roles of Huaze Lei and Meizuo, respectively.
Taiwanese actress Rainie Yang, who played the role of Shancai’s best friend, also honored Hsu in her Instagram story.
“I will miss you forever love you,” she wrote, as translated into English.
Impact on Filipinos
Many Filipino 90s kids, including celebrities, also mourned the passing of Hsu, sharing stories of how “Meteor Garden” made their childhood enjoyable without depending so much on the internet and modern technology.
On X (formerly Twitter), Kapamilya actress Kim Chiu narrated how she rushed back home after school to watch “Meteor Garden” on television. A Tagalog-dubbed version of the Taiwanese drama aired on ABS-CBN Network in 2003, which quickly rose to popularity and gave viewers “Meteor Garden fever.”
“‘Pag ‘di ko na maabutan, makikinood ako sa karinderya sa labas ng school namin,” said Chiu. “I love you Sanchai! May you rest in peace! Thank you sa makulay naming childhood. Pigtail braids!”
Cynthia Villanueva, the Pinay voice behind Shancai, told News 5 how Hsu impacted the lives of Filipinos through her portrayal of Shancai.
“She gave us joy, she gave us laughter, kinilig tayo. ‘Yun ‘yung moment na kinalimutan natin ‘yung problema, we were just focused on the love story of Shancai and Dao Ming Si. Napakalaking impact [ang] ginampanan ni Shancai sa buhay natin,” she said.
Other netizens also highlighted how “Meteor Garden” raised generations of Asians, saying Shancai is the “blueprint” for female fictional characters.
“Thank you Barbie Hsu for giving life to Shancai and showing little girls that we could kick ass too,” one netizen said.
“Halos lahat ng millennials nagdadalamhati sa pagpanaw ni Barbie Hsu. Grabe talaga ‘yung impact niya sa aming childhood,” another social media user wrote.
Hsu visited the Philippines in 2003 and had a sitdown interview with television host Kris Aquino for “Happy 50TV: The Concert.”
The actress is survived by her husband, South Korean rapper Joo Jun-yup or “DJ Koo,” and two children.
