From beginning to end, SB19 delivers a concert masterclass

GMA Network

2 days ago

The first day of SB19's Simula at Wakas world tour kickoff at the Philippine Arena will go down in history as one of the best Filipino concerts of all time.
There's a reason Pablo, Ken, Stell, Josh, and Justin – the quintet also fondly called Mahalima – sold out the world's largest indoor arena in just seven hours: they are, without a doubt, world-class talents who belong in the biggest stage the world has to offer.
The group had to add a second day to the show to fulfill the demand of A'TIN, the name of their fans, as well as casual concertgoers curious to see what the hype is all about. And it is absolutely justified. Day 2 is not about making more money or proving something – by the end of the first show, you will want to see more and hear more. Two hours is not enough to experience the artistry of SB19.
The P-pop kings wear their crown well – with pride and with responsibility as trailblazers for those who will come after them. From the well-organized queueing at the venue, to the theater-like stage design, to the remote-controlled LED wristbands and light sticks, to the lyrics on screen, to the energy they brought to the stage – they delivered a concert masterclass that rivals the biggest international acts.
No wonder A'TIN shows up for them every single time. Their fans show the power of community to organize for something they are passionate about. Several fan projects and initiatives were launched in Bulacan – aside from the usual exchange of freebies, buses were rented, motorcycles convoyed, the inside of the Philippine Arena turned into the Filipino flag, the stands were cleaned after the show. And a plane bearing the message 'The world is yours, SB19' flew over the Bocaue sky.
If you're Team Bahay and unable to attend the show, or you're Team Abroad waiting for your turn to watch SB19 in the coming months, here are seven iconic moments from Day 1 of the Simula at Wakas kickoff on Saturday.
1. Opening with the bangers
SB19 knows how to open a concert with a bang. The group and their dancers, W3, entered the stage wearing cloaks as 'DAM' blared from the speakers, creating tension and an explosion of energy at the same time.
When SB19 finally shed their cloaks, they were dressed in DAM-inspired costumes, looking like they stepped right off a fantasy set. They brought the house down right away with a medley of their hard-hitting songs: 'What,' 'Mana,' and 'Gento.'
2. The art of seduction
After the bangers, SB19 made the audience swoon with new arrangements of 'Moonlight' and 'I Want You,' their seductive songs. 'Moonlight,' their 2024 collaboration single with Ian Asher and Terry Zhong, was stripped of its original quirky dance and turned into a slower, sensual song to match its lyrics.
Meanwhile, 'I Want You' is already known as their most sultry track yet, but they somehow made it even sexier than before. Previously, they leaned on the choreography to elicit those screams from their fans, but this time, they mainly used their voices to make their fans lose their minds.
3. Looking cute while singing diss tracks
SB19 changed costumes several times during the show, and one of their most fun outfits was a pink-and-black ensemble that they wore while singing their diss tracks: 'Dungka' and 'Bazinga.'
Josh and Ken stood out in particular: Josh wore a fitted pink shirt and had a plushie backpack, while Ken's pink feather jacket screamed fashion. Haters gonna hate, but SB19 still cute at the end of the day.
4. The surprise line switch
Sadly, SB19 did not perform 'Kalakal,' their collaboration single with legendary rapper Gloc-9, during the concert. But fans still got to hear vocalists Justin and Stell drop bars via a jaw-dropping line switch in 'Bazinga.'
Justin performed Josh's rap verse, while Stell performed Pablo's. Pablo, Josh, and Ken also took their lines. 'Bazinga' is already one of SB19's best hype songs, and the line switch took it to new heights. That couldn't have been easy to do, but SB19 made it look easy as a breeze.
5. Josh triggering the water works
After all the surprises, SB19 changed the atmosphere with a medley of their ballads. They invited the audience to open their flashlights before performing 'Nyebe,' then followed it up with 'Time' and 'Quit,' songs from their 'Simula at Wakas' EP.
Josh then prefaced 'Mapa' with an emotional announcement: his father, whom he has not met for most of his life, was watching him perform for the first time. He made everyone shed tears of joy and relief for him, and he sang his lines with raw emotion and vulnerability.
6. Going up, for real
SB19 did not sing 'Go Up,' the song that began their ascent into the throne of P-pop, but they literally went up in the air during the concert. The boys went on top of a round platform that was eventually raised high, so the fans from the upper seats can see them a little better.
They sang 'Freedom' while they were 'flying,' before going back down on the ground to thank their fans with a touching rendition of their song 'SLMT.' They extended the song with the heartfelt line 'Ako'y nagpapasalamat' from each of them, with Pablo ending it with 'Kami'y nagpapasalamat' for a ballad-like closing of the usually upbeat track.
7. Ending with the beginning
True to the name of their EP, SB19 ended the show the way it began: with 'DAM.' They changed back to their costumes at the start of the concert and performed the 'Simula at Wakas' lead single to close the concert with a parting bang.
The iconic DAM tree also showed up on stage, with a lone figure wrapped in cloak approaching it as the credits rolled. And at the end of the credits, SB19 proudly wrote: '2025. Made in the Philippines.' —CDC, GMA Integrated News