MANILA, Philippines – Taiwanese superstar Barbie Hsu and her phenomenal series "Meteor Garden" have been trending on X following the shocking news of her passing, which broke on social media on Monday, February 3.
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| Photo courtesy: Instagram, Barbie Hsu/Facebook, Meteor Garden Taiwan |
Reports said that Barbie passed away on February 2, but her younger sister, “Dee Hsu,” a Taiwanese TV host, confirmed it to the media on February 3.
The actress, who rose to immense fame due to Meteor Garden reportedly died from complications caused by “influenza-related pneumonia.”
Read: Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu, Shancai in 'Meteor Garden,' passes away
According to a report from “The Strait Times,” Dee’s message to the media, originally in Chinese and translated into English, read:
"Thanks for all the concern. Over the Chinese New Year period, our entire family traveled to Japan for a holiday, and my most beloved, kindest elder sister Barbie caught influenza-related pneumonia and has unfortunately left us.
"I am thankful to be her sister in this life, and grateful that we have taken care of each other and kept each other company all these years. I will always be thankful to her and remember her. Shan (Barbie Hsu’s nickname), rest in peace. We love you always. Together remember forever."
Barbie is survived by her husband, South Korean singer DJ Koo Jun-yup, and her two children—a 10-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son from her previous marriage to “Wang Xiaofei.”
Fans of Meteor Garden fondly recalled Barbie’s phenomenal performance as “Shan Cai,” a role that captured the hearts of audiences not just in the Philippines but worldwide. The series was so successful that it inspired multiple remakes in different countries.
Because of this, the actress and the show have been trending on X, as netizens reminisce about her portrayal of Shan Cai alongside the F4 members—Jerry Yan (Dao Ming Xi), Vic Zhou (Hua Ze Lei), Ken Chu (Xi Men), and Vanness Wu (Mei Zuo).
Apart from Meteor Garden, Barbie also starred in several hit dramas, including "Eternity" (2003), "Mars" (2004), "Corner with Love" (2007),* and *"Summer’s Desire" (2010), among many others.
Her film "Connected" earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards, and she won “Best Actress” at the “Macau International Movie Festival in 2012” for her role in "Croczilla."
Meteor Garden Fever: The Phenomenal Asian Drama That Took the Philippines by Storm in 2003
In 2003, a Taiwanese drama arrived in the Philippines and became a massive sensation—Meteor Garden. It wasn’t the first Asian drama to air in the country, but it ignited the “Asianovela fever” that shaped Filipino pop culture.
The series originally aired in Taiwan in 2001, but when ABS-CBN brought it to the Philippines in 2003, it skyrocketed in popularity. The story of the wealthy F4 clique—who bullied students (and even teachers) at their elite school—and their love-hate relationship with Shan Cai deeply resonated with Filipinos, especially young women and teens who were captivated by the series' charm.
Meteor Garden became a cultural phenomenon in Philippine television history. Every afternoon, viewers were glued to their screens, disrupting the rival station, GMA Network, which had to scramble for a competitive *Asian drama* (My MVP Valentine).
F4 Craze and Its Impact on Philippine Entertainment
As the show gained momentum, F4 members became instant superstars in the Philippines. Their album, featuring the iconic theme song “Qing Fei De Yi," became a best-seller, and many fans memorized the Mandarin lyrics despite not understanding the language. Fans even copied Dao Ming Si’s signature forehead bandana and the F4 hairstyles.
Meteor Garden-related merchandise flooded the markets—posters, songbooks, notebooks, keychains, and even pirated VCDs/DVDs. The overwhelming support from Filipino fans led to F4’s visit to the Philippines for a concert, which drew thousands of fans and became one of the most highly anticipated events of its time.
The success of Meteor Garden paved the way for other Asian dramas in the Philippines, leading to the influx of Taiwanese, Korean, and Japanese series like “Lovers in Paris,” “Princess Hours,” “Endless Love,” “Boys Over Flowers,” and many more.
Despite the rise of Asian dramas on streaming platforms, especially from South Korea, Meteor Garden will always hold a special place in the hearts of Filipinos as the original "Asianovela fever" that defined an era.
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
