Must-follow celebrities do not only come in the form of TV and film actors. Since the rise of social media marketing in the early 2000s, we have seen the rise of so-called influencers. People have developed a stronger affinity for them than with TV celebrities because of their relatability. For non-celebrities, these influencers seem to be more accessible since they tend to engage their followers.
Since the boom of video-sharing sites and apps, more and more became self-made influencers. Self-made — because they did not necessarily go through talent management or get any help from a production house. More often than not, they pour themselves into the craft not just by creating the content itself, but also by producing the audio and visuals that accompany them. These include pre-production, shooting, editing, and other post-production necessities.
In this age of digital revolution, influencers have naturally followed the flow of developments in media technology. As content consumers continually search for new types of entertainment, so are the content creators that aim to provide them with quality content. From pre-produced videos posted on video-sharing sites, a number of influencers have also gone into livestreaming — a trend that’s gaining traction with influencers, brands, and regular netizens alike.
Contrary to pre-produced videos, livestreaming allows for a more genuine connection between content creators and their audience. The authenticity is unmistakable because of the absence of editing and audio/video manipulation. This is one of the many reasons a lot of content creators and consumers now patronize livestreaming, so much so that a Forbes article has even surmised that it will grow into a $70 billion industry by 2021.
Needless to say, the Philippines would not lag behind this kind of trend. For a population that loves and seeks entertainment, we are surely the first ones to embrace developments in media technology. Sure enough, some of the country’s brilliant minds have already come up with an all-Filipino livestreaming app that is accessible to everyone here and abroad. This app is Kumu, derived from the word kumusta. And it has, since its inception, given birth to a lot of creative talents that deserve the Philippines’ attention.
Check out the top ten livestreamers to watch out for in the Kumu app, and what it is about them that make their audiences hooked to their streams:
1. Danielle Mortel
A TV commercial model and events script writer, this content creator streams about anything lifestyle-related. With her hobbies ranging from soccer, ultimate frisbee, swimming to cooking, singing dancing, and acting, she is sure to have a lot of say about anything under the sun. And oh, she’s one of the newest MYX VJs!
Kumu: @daniellemortel (10,808 followers)
IG: @daniellemortel (4,622 followers)
2. Geli Cruz
An all-around gal who sings, works out, travels a lot, and is into acting and modelling, this livestreamer is surely someone to watch out for on your next entertainment browse. Geli is a well-rounded performer from UP Diliman, so you can expect streams full of substance, aside from a dose of her Filipina beauty!
Kumu: @gelicruz_ (2,807 followers)
IG: @gelicruz_ (1,583 followers)
3. Jordan Bautista
This crooner will make your heart melt with his musical prowess. Don’t be fooled though, because this soft-spoken singer is also a fitness buff who is into extreme sports. He also describes himself as a jack of all trades, so it’s interesting to know what more cool stuff he is into as he might reveal in his livestreams.
Kumu: @jordanbautista (365 followers)
IG: @iamjordanbautista (2,629 followers)
4. K.A. Antonio
A globetrotter by passion, K.A is another livestreaming personality who likes to wear many hats: as a host, singer-songwriter, model, makeup artist, and a teacher, among others. She streams live from a lot of the awesome events she goes to, so you could also feel how it’s like to be there even if you don’t want to get out of home. You will also enjoy her self-produced game show, the Jologs Quiz, so watch out for that as well!
Kumu: @kriscaantonio (1,437 followers)
IG: @kriscaantonio (3,033 followers)
5. Melan Gumban
A bubbly and fun character to behold, Melan is one of the up-and-coming young livestreamers in the Kumu platform. This 21-year old stunner is not afraid to bare her quirky personality to her audience, which makes her such a delight to watch live on your phone!
Kumu: @melangumban (2,133 followers)
IG: @melangumban (1,472 followers)
6. Yukie Hanajima
This amazing gal is a beauty junkie and a former artist from two of the country’s biggest TV networks. She also was a singer for a 5-star hotel in Manila. No wonder this raketerang mommy of Manila never fails to mesmerize her audience with her voice and beauty!
Kumu: @superyukie (2,279 followers)
IG: @yukimakeupandshimmer (71 followers)
7. Chef Kia del Rosario
Talk about a wonder woman! Aside from being a chef and entrepreneur, Chef Kia is also an internationally-licensed personality development and business trainer, which makes her streams full of meaningful knowledge-sharing. She also hosts Kumu’s Pinoys Doing Stuffs, a livestreamed game show that is a wholesome fun for everyone!
Kumu: @chefpreneurkia (19,917 followers)
IG: @chefpreneurkia (9,321 followers)
8. Arya Herrera
A Disney princess and a pop star Barbie on the weekends, this theater actress is one of the livestreamers you should certainly check out on Kumu. Her engaging hosting skills and theatrical flair make a perfect cocktail mix for an online party! With performances in and out of the country under her belt, watch her serenade her way into your heart on her livestreams!
Kumu: @arya (860 followers)
IG: @aryaherrera (3,449 followers)
9. Suzzysaur
Almost everyone from the Filipino online gaming arena would know that this lady is one of the earlier gamers who brought game livestreaming to the Philippines. She has recently brought her gaming streams to Kumu, and has since rapidly increased her following. With her signature dinosaur onesie and kawaii expressions, she is definitely one of the streamers with a lot to offer to the Kumunity.
Kumu: @suzzysaur (1,332 followers)
IG: @suzzysaur (14.7k followers)
10. Sir Rex
This livestreamer is quite a personality! He calls himself a “kantatero”, obviously because he’s such a talented musician who also happens to be a comedian! There will never be a dull moment in his streams, as he goes on full-production mode in his set-up that looks like a radio program. Expect a lot of crazy antics from this guy, coupled with great music to go along with the chill mood!
Kumu: @sirrex (691 followers)
IG: @sirrexkantatero (10.7k followers)
