logo
#

Latest news with #P-pop

From beginning to end, SB19 delivers a concert masterclass
From beginning to end, SB19 delivers a concert masterclass

GMA Network

time4 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • GMA Network

From beginning to end, SB19 delivers a concert masterclass

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

SB19 Interview On Simula At Wakas And Filipino Pride
SB19 Interview On Simula At Wakas And Filipino Pride

Buzz Feed

time27-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Buzz Feed

SB19 Interview On Simula At Wakas And Filipino Pride

You've heard of K-pop, but what about P-pop? P-pop stands for Pinoy pop music, and unlike it's Korean counterpart, P-Pop is still developing. Thankfully, we have groups like SB19 that have paved the way for Southeast Asian artists to enter the music scene and reach international success, which was previously unheard of. SB19 is a five-member Filipino boy band that debuted back in 2018 and has been making waves in the music industry ever since. The quintet — composed of Josh, Pablo, Stell, Ken, and Justin — got their big break with their 2019 release "Go Up," which went viral on social media and expanded their reach to a previously untapped audience. They've gained international recognition and have broken barriers throughout their career. Notably, they were the first Filipino act to be nominated for a Billboard Music Award in 2021, and their 2023 PAGTATAG! World Tour included sold-out shows across the Philippines, United States, and Canada. BuzzFeed sat down with the boys to chat about their latest music, disrupting the music industry, and what's to come. Congratulations on your latest release, 'DUNGKA'! What is the main concept and meaning behind this song? You also released 'DAM' not too long ago — can you share more about the track and its significance? Pablo: "DAM" is the title track of our EP, Simula at Wakas. Basically, when we were making the EP, we had this question in our minds of 'how are we going to be able to exceed what we've done before?' And so we tried to answer all of that in the track "DAM." What made our journey really interesting is that we've faced a lot of tragedies and challenges, but we were able to overcome all of it. And through the years, we've accepted that there will be lots of challenges and sacrifices in order to achieve greatness. We try to incorporate all of that in our music and try to [keep] a diary, explain in our music what we have been through during our seven years within the industry. And so talking about obstacles and hardships, you definitely have come a long way since your debut. How have you grown as a group and individually? Talking about raising the bar, you've made big waves in the music industry since your debut, pushing P-pop into global recognition through your music. Essentially, you've disrupted the industry by pushing Filipino talent into the global scene. So, how do you guys feel about the fact that you've reached such heights? And on the note of feeling prideful and grateful of your success, as a Filipino myself, I know just how proud Filipinos are and how excited they are to showcase how amazing the Philippines is. And so, can you share more about your pride in being Filipino, and how that pride is reflected within your music? Southeast Asians are often met with prejudice, both in the music industry and in society. How have you been affected by these prejudices, and how have you overcome them? What inspired you to pursue music? Josh: It's very different for each of the members. Maybe some of them really love music from the get-go, and some of us love music, but at the same time, want to inspire people. I didn't really know how to do it, but then I met these talented guys, and so I took the opportunity. And I really can't speak for everyone, but I think ultimately, we really want to inspire people, share our love, and showcase the talent of Filipinos and put it in the global scene. We take pride in everything that we For me, if I'm going to be honest with you, at first I started doing this because I think I have a talent in singing and performing. But as people got to know us, it felt like there's something more to what I was doing — that there is a purpose. It felt like I was not just singing for myself, but for the people who are being affected by my Personally, when I was a kid, my dream was to become an actor, but I also enjoyed performing back then in school activities. It just happened that I got this opportunity to perform, and I was able to meet these guys and loved working with them, and that was what made me pursue music. It's because of Personally, I grew up in a church, and I've been exposed to music ever since I was a child. And that's why I thought that I could do it. It's not because I was like, full of myself or overconfident, but I just believed in myself that I could do it. And fortunately, I'm here So, growing up in a very typical Filipino family, I was extremely exposed [to] music because my family used to do the usual karaoke in the house. My parents usually set up the microphones and the DVD player, and then tried to perform and sing the whole day. When they saw me dancing on the side, they always pushed me to sing with them. But to be honest, I was into dancing more than singing. When I was in high school and college, my friends kept on saying that I need to go to an audition in Korea or somewhere here in the Philippines because they saw the potential in me. But I was focused on my studies [at] that time. And finally, there came a time where I really needed to step up and [do] what I can to earn money to help my family. And of course, with the influence of other artists that I look up to, that's the time I decided to pursue music. What are your goals for your music career? How have you stayed motivated? SB19 is a trailblazer in P-pop reaching international recognition. What do you think is next for P-pop? Pablo: Personally, from what I'm seeing right now, P-pop is growing really quickly. Doors are opening for everyone to have this platform and showcase their talents here in the Philippines and slowly in the global scene. I think in the next coming years, we will be exporting shows like P-pop conventions in other countries —promoting not just music, but also the food, TV shows, and whatnot — and creating this wave of Filipino culture being celebrated all over the world. That's what I'm For sure. We're here to build and support it. We're not here to gatekeep anything, and we're here to really give our all and share the things that we learn to everyone who's still dreaming to be part of P-pop. We believe that in the near future, it's going to get maybe 100 times larger than what it has become right now, and it's going to multiply with those compounded efforts among all of these groups and shared dreams. I personally believe that maybe we're one of the instruments to really give a hand [to] other people's dreams in the future that would like to try this journey. Talking about this wave of Filipino talent that you are supporting — do you have any Filipino artists you'd like to shout out? What Filipino dishes do you think are S-tier? Share a message to your fans! Stell: To our fans, to our beloved A'TIN, we are very, very thankful and forever grateful to all the support and love that we've been receiving from you guys. We can't ask for more because you guys are enough for us, and we can't imagine our career, our lives, without you guys supporting us. It's been almost seven years, but nothing has changed. It's still you guys, and we are forever growing, and we hope that until the end, we stay forever and stay true to each other. We are hoping to see you guys in our future shows, in our concerts, and we're very excited to share our new music in this new era. So please be ready and be happy, because we're very excited to see you, and always remember that SB19 loves you. Thank you. Finally, what does music mean to you? Thanks for sitting down with us SB19! For even more, be sure to follow SB19 on Instagram and YouTube, and stream Simula to Wakas — out now! Check out more AAPI-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Of course, the content doesn't end after May. Follow BuzzFeed's A*Pop on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest AAPI content year-round.

Atin Ito: Sea concert a 'love song' to WPS, its defenders
Atin Ito: Sea concert a 'love song' to WPS, its defenders

GMA Network

time26-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • GMA Network

Atin Ito: Sea concert a 'love song' to WPS, its defenders

Before voyaging to Pag-Asa Island for their third civilian mission, Atin Ito convenor Rafaela David on Monday said that the sea concert that they will hold would serve as their 'love song' to the West Philippine Sea and the people who protect it against all odds. In a press conference in Palawan, David said that artists coming from different countries who will be performing in the concert want to show that they altogether want peace and solidarity in the region. 'This is our way of showing that our mission to make sure that a people powered campaign, activity is our way of showing aggressors in the West Philippine Sea that we are standing up to what they're doing,' she said. 'At the same time, this is our way to show, highlight, and amplify the voices of those who are most affected—from the fisherfolks to frontliners who are bearing the brunt of what China is doing in our own seas,' she added. David also emphasized that they want to tell the world that their commitment to the West Philippine Sea is 'not through militarizing or war-mongering but in compassion, community, and culture.' 'What we want to do is to build bridges, using the language of music. Our nations may be far apart but we know that we are connected by the music that we share—music of peace, music of solidarity,' she explained. According to David, a concert will be held at sunset on Monday, and they are planning to also conduct a second concert on Wednesday morning as they welcome a 'new dawn.' Among the performers expected to participate in the third Atin Ito civilian mission are Ebe Dancel, all-women rock band Rouge, rap collective Morobeats, and P-pop group HORI7ON, Japanese artist Fumi, Indonesian and Malaysian musicians Viona and Kai Mata, as well as South Korean K-pop girl group I:Mond. Aside from musicians, the third Atin Ito civilian mission will also include artists, fisherfolk, and civil society leaders from the Philippines and neighboring countries to promote peace, dialogue, and cultural exchange. Volunteers from the Atin Ito Coalition boarded on Sunday M/V Kapitan Felix Oca which would sail to the West Philippine Sea for a third civilian mission. Atin Ito's first civilian mission was held in December 2023, when its Christmas convoy slipped past Chinese vessels and arrived at Lawak Island, part of the Kalayaan Island Group of Palawan, to deliver gifts to Filipino soldiers patrolling the area. The group was supposed to go to Ayungin Shoal where the BRP Sierra Madre has been intentionally grounded, but Atin Ito altered the convoy's route after China Coast Guard used its water cannon against Philippine vessels on a routine resupply and rotation mission to the dilapidated ship. In May 2024, Atin Ito conducted its second civilian mission to WPS, reaching Bajo de Masinloc, also known as the Scarborough Shoal, despite a blockade of Chinese vessels to deliver provisions to Filipino fishermen in the area. —KG, GMA Integrated News

Third Atin Ito civilian mission to feature musical concert in WPS
Third Atin Ito civilian mission to feature musical concert in WPS

GMA Network

time22-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • GMA Network

Third Atin Ito civilian mission to feature musical concert in WPS

The third Atin Ito civilian mission in the West Philippine Sea will feature a musical concert on board a ship by Filipino and other Asian artists near PAGASA Island, according to Atin Ito convenor Rafaela David. The civilian mission, which is set from May 26 to 30, will also kick off with a sunset musical event at the jump-off point in El Nido, Palawan. Among the performers expected to participate in the third Atin Ito civilian mission are Ebe Dancel, all-women rock band Rouge, rap collective Morobeats, and P-pop group HORI7ON, Japanese artist Fumi, Indonesian and Malaysian musicians Viona and Kai Mata, as well as South Korean K-pop girl group I:Mond. 'Tutuloy tayo sa pagconduct ng concert sa ating EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). Basta makapag-concert tayo within our EEZ, panalo na 'yun. Napakahalagang panalo na iyon in standing up to China. Tinry nila mag-blockade noong natin kung haharangan ba talaga nila ngayon. Pero sa dulo, we plan to ensure na makapagconcert tayo sa ating EEZ kasi karapatan natin iyon,' David said Thursday. (We will conduct a concert in our EEZ. As long as we can hold a concert within our EEZ, that's a win. That's a very important win in standing up to China. They tried to blockade us in the past... We'll see if they really block us now. But in the end, we plan to ensure that we can hold a concert in our EEZ because that's our right.) David also maintained that they are ready for any possible contestation incident. 'No contestation [incident ang nakalagay] doon sa ating itinerary, but in case there are contestation, we can possibly expect shadowing. Kasama iyan sa ating tinitignan. We expect that it is going to happen, pero klaro din sa atin na hindi tayo magpapatinag,' David added. (There's no contestation in our itinerary, but in case there are contestations, we can possibly expect shadowing. That is part of what we are looking at. We expect that it is going to happen, but it is also clear to us that we will not budge.) Aside from musicians, the third Atin Ito civilian mission will also include artists, fisherfolk, and civil society leaders from the Philippines and neighboring countries to promote peace, dialogue, and cultural exchange. 'We aim to uplift coastal communities by amplifying the lived experiences and aspirations of our fisherfolk, and to foster regional harmony through shared cultural and maritime narratives. We will sail not with warships, but with songs; not with hostility, but with harmony and solidarity,' David said. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." The decision also ruled that the Ayungin Shoal, the Spratly Islands, Panganiban or Mischief Reef, and Recto or Reed Bank are within the Philippines' EEZ. Further, the Hague court outlawed Chinese aggression in the Philippines' EEZ by stating that Scarborough Shoal, a rich fish resource, is a common fishing ground. China, however, refused to recognize the court ruling to this day and is undeterred in deploying aggression against Philippine vessels and personnel, including firing water cannons and ramming Filipino-manned vessels. Still, David assured that the Atin Ito contingent remains unfazed. 'Kung saan man tayo abutan... the whole route of convoy, ang mahalaga sa atin ay maipakita sa China that this concert will happen whatever maneuvers they will do,' David said. (Wherever we go for the whole route of convoy, what's important to us is to show China that this concert will happen whatever maneuver they will do.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News

P-pop group BINI arrives in Dubai amid online controversy; will fans attend show?
P-pop group BINI arrives in Dubai amid online controversy; will fans attend show?

Khaleej Times

time20-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Khaleej Times

P-pop group BINI arrives in Dubai amid online controversy; will fans attend show?

Members of P-Pop sensation BINI have officially touched down in Dubai ahead of their highly anticipated BINIverse World Tour 2025 stop at the Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday, May 18. Dubai marks one of the first international destinations for the chart-topping girl group, who kicked off their tour earlier this year with a sold-out show at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. In a post shared on their social media accounts shortly after landing, BINI expressed their gratitude to their fans in the UAE for the warm welcome, writing, "Thank you for making us feel at home, Dubai Blooms!" Prior to their flight, the group also gave a heartfelt shoutout to their global fanbase for the overwhelming support and excitement building up around their world tour. But the group's arrival in the UAE comes at a sensitive time. Just days before their departure, a viral video involving several members stirred controversy online, prompting a wave of mixed reactions from both fans and the general public. What happened? The video, which was anonymously posted on social media, captured a private moment involving three BINI members — Jhoanna, Stacey, and Colet — and two men identified by netizens as Ethan David of P-pop boy group GAT and dancer Shawn Castro. The group appeared to joke about the sexualisation of a minor, which many found deeply "inappropriate" and contradictory to BINI's advocacy for women empowerment. The timing of the video's circulation also coincided with the graduation of BINI members Jhoanna and Gwen, adding to the emotional toll on the group. Will UAE fans still attend show? Despite the controversy, many fans — known as Blooms — remain supportive and are still looking forward to the Dubai concert. Rosan, who works as a social lead at a firm in Dubai, is still excited to see BINI on stage. "I understand that what they did or what they were accused to have done is against their women empowerment stance; however, don't we all make mistakes? It is part of their story as binibini (young women)." The 38-year-old, who plans to watch the concert with her five year-old daughter, added that what the group does after their mistakes will help define them better. "I think I will demand more from our recently elected senators than from young women who are yet to grow and learn more." Benj Marlowe, a Dubai resident and a "casual" fan celebrating his birthday at the show, said he wasn't concerned about the issue and is still excited to watch them live. The 30-year-old social media consultant also noted that he will be attending the show with his friends. Another fan, H. Padilla, admitted she was disappointed but had already made plans. "The tickets are booked, and we've prepared for this. We'll still go," the 28-year-old engineer said, adding, "My friends and I are looking forward to having a great time." BINI's statement In response to the backlash, BINI issued a formal apology across all of their official social media platforms. Signed by all eight members — Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena — the statement acknowledged their actions, took full accountability, and asked fans for understanding. 'We know that the past couple of days have been triggering and disappointing for all of you. Sincerely, we understand where all of those feelings are coming from," the group wrote, adding that they made a mistake, "We deeply regret our mistake and sincerely apologise to our Blooms, friends, families, and the general public,' they added. BINI's livestream send-off party, originally scheduled for the same day the video circulated, was quietly postponed. No further details have been released on whether the digital event will be rescheduled. Looking ahead Despite the controversy, BINI continues to soar professionally. Just before leaving for their tour, the group was named to the prestigious Forbes Asia's 30 Under 30 list—an achievement they called unexpected and humbling. 'It's something we never expected when we started, but we're super honoured and grateful. It feels like a great start for our world tour,' Jhoanna said. Following Dubai, the BINIverse World Tour 2025 will head to the US, Canada, the UK, and other parts of the Middle East — marking a major milestone for a group steadily rising as global P-Pop icons.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store