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From their humble roots, BINI only dreamed of shooting for the stars, the moon and back. But the next thing they knew, they’d be at the very center of the universe – with their BLOOMS behind.
BINI, under the bright lights of the iconic Smart Araneta Coliseum that served as home to the world’s biggest local and international acts, turned what was once a distant aspiration to a fitting reality – at long last.
For three days on Nov. 16, 18 and 19 at the heart of Metro Manila in Cubao, Quezon City, herstory beckoned as the P-POP (Filipino/Pinoy Pop) sensation rose to the throne as the first Filipino girl group to hold three outstanding shows there with the epic #GrandBINIverse concert.
BINI took the crown and served it like it’s theirs from the beginning with the BLOOMS –their official fandom – illuminating the arena with the recently-released official light sticks called ‘BLOOMBILYA’ (a tweaked Filipino word for ‘bumbilya’ that means light bulb in English).
A coronation was for the octet, soaking in an ocean of teal (BINI’s official color) and the members’ official color lights in front of more than 50,000 fans.
A destiny it was for Maraiah Queen Arceta (Aiah), Maria Nicolette Vergara (Colet), Mary Loi Yves Ricalde (Maloi), Gweneth Apuli (Gwen), Lindtsey Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja (Stacey), Mikhaela Janna Jimenea Lim (Mikha), Jhoanna Christine Robles (Jhoanna) and Sheena Mae Catacutan (Sheena).
And we were all witnesses.
The Philippine archipelago consists of more than 7,000 islands. The numbers change depending on seasons and tides.
Known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, it’s bounded in the North and West by South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea, the Sulu Sea and Celebes Seas to the South and the vast Pacific Ocean to its East.
But on a drizzling Saturday night after and before two successive Super Typhoons, a different ocean appeared. And it’s from all walks of life as BINI proved once again that it has touched generations one after another with their inclusive, feel good, nostalgic music. From Baby Boomers to X, Millennials, Z and Alphas, name it, and BINI has pulled all of them to the BINIverse like magic.
For the first time in their career, BINI drowned into a sea of lights – from the VIP section to the rafters of the General Admission and around in a rare 360 stage set design, where they poured it all and showed that Filipinos can be at par with international acts. With guests Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Vice Ganda, Maymay Entrata, Drag Queens, dance crew TPM, champions of the Super 24 dance tournament in Singapore, as guest stars, BINI did not disappoint an inch.
With a live band of Six Part Invention and the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, BINI displayed different renditions of their entire discography while also championing inclusivity for the deaf with sign language performances in Kapit Lang and the LGBTQIA+ community in B HU U R, an extension of their career and life-long advocacy as artists way before their stardom.
The Nation’s Girl Group also unleashed powerful sub-units with Maloi and Jhoanna, Aiah and Stacey, Mikha and Gwen as well as Sheena and Colet.
It was more than a show. It was a spectacle and an extravaganza, living up to the #GrandBINIverse billing. And knowing that it’s only the first gig for BINI at the 20,000-seater Big Dome, one may argue that the P-POP phenomenon could only be compared to a few local acts in OPM history with a grand showing marked by world-class production, props and most especially, performance.
In the same way, it could already be in line with a lot of international shows and world concerts.
And the thing is, it only got better from there.
BINI may have imagined this in their wild dreams, wishing someday to experience a shower of glitter and radiance like the Korean idols and international acts to have ever performed in the Philippines.
Blooms may have manifested it since the fandom’s establishment in 2020 when BINI had its official debut ‘Born to Win’ after its pre-debut in 2019 with Da Coconut Nut. But to finally feel it for themselves and for Blooms to see it come into fruition in a collective effort still felt like a daytime fantasy from starting with just wands, glowsticks, LED wristbands and makeshift phone LED lights. It’s too good to be true.
Well, only when BINI finally emerged from a five-petal flower set prop symbolizing its boom after five long years at the center of the world-class 360 LED stage like they’re in full bloom that it became both.
“Pantropiko, pantropiko. Pantropiko, pantropiko,” BINI started singing with their biggest hit song to date, getting louder each line as an ocean of concert-synced Bloombilyas scattered and a bevy of cheers and shouts rocked the arena.
“Let me hear you say B-I-N-I, BINI!” the girls in unison chanted, commanding the entire Big Dome to follow suit, including me.
“Everybody B-I-N-I, BINI!” The chants grew bigger and bigger.
“Louder, B-I-N-I, BINI!” The cheers became a chorus.
“One more time, B-I-N-I, BINI!” until it became an anthem.
The atmosphere being unreal was an understatement. Was it a dream? An illusion? Maybe both. And I nearly blew the chance of being part of it after getting batteries only at the last minute that I forgot to purchase upon claiming my Bloombilya. I almost fumbled my shot at history. Good thing I didn’t and made it in the nick of time like how BINI waited and worked for theirs.
Pantropiko, by the way, was BINI’s ticket to stardom after its boom back in summer that shattered numerous records and placed No. 1 on Spotify Philippines and the Billboard Philippines. It’s only fitting to usher in the #GrandBINIverse with that phenomenal hit. Somehow, it mirrored BINI’s unforgettable performance at the Billboard Philippines anniversary concert just a month before when the eight-member group showed professionalism by unleashing a ‘show-must-go-on’ mantra amidst technical difficulties
As one of the final performers, the music went off at the BBPH Main Stage Concert featuring more than 30 artists at the Mall of Asia Arena as the Blooms backed BINI up by singing Cherry on Top in unison until the sounds returned. BINI, like nothing happened, braved on and transitioned to a powerful dance break before rocking the crowd with of course – Pantropiko. That was only a glimpse of the #GrandBINIverse, considered by fans and pundits as one of the best OPM concerts ever due to incomparable production. It was only a tip of the iceberg and a piece of the summit. But reaching that point didn’t happen overnight for the Nation’s Girl Group.
BINI was a nobody. BINI came from nothing.
It wasn’t a walk in the park for the P-POP girl group. It was a rocky, muddy and shaky climb to the top. As they say goes though, you have to start somewhere, right?
Back in 2019, Aiah, Maloi, Colet, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena were just simple teens with big dreams, who took gambles in the ABS-CBN Star Hunt Auditions. They were from different parts of the archipelago. Aiah was from Cebu, Colet from Bohol, Maloi from Batangas, Gwen from Bicol, Stacey from Nueva Vizcaya, Mikha originally from Cebu but moved to Cavite and Metro Manila, Jhoanna from Laguna and Sheena from Isabela. They possess different traits and upbringing from different cultures. They speak different dialects. The only thing common in them was their dreams. “Kahit magulo po sya nang una. I think it’s meant to be na walo po kami. It’s meant to be na iba-iba kami from different places in the Philippines. We each have our own uniqueness na we get to bring to the table,” said Aiah, one of BINI’s rappers and visuals, in BINI Documentary released by ABS-CBN News and I Want TFC. And they didn’t know they’re auditioning for something big, other than for regular talent shows in the Philippines like Pinoy Big Brother, Pilipinas Got Talent and Tawag ng Tanghalan on It’s Showtime.
Star Magic, the talent arm of the ABS-CBN company, apparently had already launched ‘Project Kayumanggi’ in the auditions, tediously looking for talents slated to be in a pop group that would conquer the country and the world stage like other popular Asian groups. The rest was history with the eight girls, including Aiah as the final piece of the puzzle after a call back from being missed out in the previous auditions, eventually making it to the final team.
Star Magic head Laurenti Diyogi, known as “Direk Lauren” would later name the group ‘BINI’, short for ‘Binibini’ or young, modern and empowered Filipina ladies.
BINI were full of dreams, and of hopes and of visions and of excitement like a flower set to be in bloom only for those to be shattered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ABS-CBN network’s shutdown. What was once a flowery future suddenly became a cloud of uncertainties. “Ang dami na naming na-sacrifice. yung time, effort, kalusugan namin. Noong time na ‘yun humiga lang kami. Paikot kami at magkakahawak lang kami ng kamay. Umiiyak kami. Lahat ng gusto naming sabihin. tinapon lang namin sa universe. Sabi namin, kakayanin namin ito,” said Maloi, one of BINI’s main vocalists.
But BINI were undeterred. BINI was unfazed. BINI were unbowed.
Through KUMU live, an online streaming app platform amidst the pandemic, BINI started to gain fans – inch by inch, one by one. BINI’s genuineness and authenticity, even in every struggle and adversity, touched some fans in an unexplainable fashion on a regular basis through their livestreams day in and night out – without any physical interactions just yet.
That was the beginning. Unorthodox but effective. Distant but real. By 2020, Blooms finally emerged, establishing an official fandom for the eight-member group.
But Rome wasn’t built overnight. And so do BINI and Blooms, starting with just a few members who faithfully and tirelessly supported the group through and through.
BINI’s journey in the real world officially began with Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena personally handing out flyers for mere introduction in Binondo. Some flyers would be thrown straight to trash by some casuals. They danced in Luneta and busked in Baguio with little to no audience – no interest, no traction. Nothing at all. Reaching mere 100,000 streams on Spotify and 100,000 views on Youtube in a month was already grueling work. A hail Mary of some sorts – both for BINI and Blooms. BINI once said they only had 65 OG Blooms from their humble beginnings. In their first-year anniversary after the pandemic, there were only 30 attendees. In most of their events, BINI would worry if there would be Blooms attending.
During their free mall shows, people were just passing by. “Pag may pupuntahan po kaming ganap, lagi kami nago-overthink. ‘May Blooms kayang pupunta? May makakilala ba sa amin?” said Stacey, one of BINI’s rappers. While it’s more than enough for BINI at that point, who have shown their gratitude to their loyal fans, Blooms knew it would take more to bring the group over the hump and to the top. Then it took years. It took countless attempts, of tears, of sweat and blood like how BINI worked their way up to building a discography with unwavering hope of finally having a hit song. Just one song. Just one hit. Just one chance. “We have to keep making songs over and over again na hopefully one day, one moment, magbo-boom sya. Boom panes pala,” added Aiah. “Ito na ‘yun (Born to Win). Magbo-boom na talaga ang BINI, hindi pala,” added Colet, one of BINI’s main vocalists and lead dancers.
Na Na Na, which became a trending Tiktok Song in 2021 put them on the doorstep as part of their first album Born To Win before Lagi, I Feel Good and Huwag Muna Tayong Umuwi, under their encore album Feel Good in 2022, slightly opened that door. Then Pantropiko shattered those gates wide open – followed suit by Karera and Salamin, Salamin under the mega hit Talaarawan EP released in March 2024.
In more ways than one, BINI living in the same house for over a year helped them build a fortress of bond that no struggle and adversity could ever trample. It laid the foundation in their fortitude, resilience and faith to just keep going and going. “I appreciated the fact that we stayed in one place for a long time because I feel like that’s what made our bond so strong,” said BINI rapper Mikha, also a visual. “Kahit tanungin nyo, wala akong bestfriend eh. Wala. Nag-struggle talaga ako sa ganoong bagay before. Kaya sobrang suwerte ko na andyan ‘yung mga girls. Alam kong anytime, meron akong masasandalan. Sila yung constant sa akin.” said Gwen, one of BINI’s lead vocalists and dancers.
And the writing was on the wall.
BINI took an out-of-the-box move in November of 2023 with an early release of a summer song after a series of traditional attempts.
Well, it paid off like an engine diesel, gaining steam from the drizzly weather of ‘Ber Months’ to slowly but surely becoming a mainstream song by early 2024. As soon as the scorching summer hits in March, Pantropiko hit a boiling point. It was already everywhere. “In-expect ko na mag-iingay ‘yung Pantropiko pero hindi sa ganitong pai-ingayin ‘yung BINI talaga. Doon na po nag-start na lahat,” said BINI’s leader Jhoanna, also the group’s lead vocalist with Gwen.
“Feels like summer when I'm with you (oh)
Parang islang pantropiko
Can't wait to go back with you (oh)
Sa islang pantropiko (pantropiko pantropiko oh)
Sa islang pantropiko oh (pantropiko pantropiko oh)
Sa islang pantropiko..”
Those lyrics, along with the masterful chorus choreography of BINI’s main dancer Sheena, sent shockwaves to the entire Philippine archipelago. It took the country by storm and put the general public in a chokehold. It was being played on radio and TV, becoming a jingle of every commercial. It’s dominating the social media platforms and blaring in the streets – from schools , malls to offices to official residences, bars and restaurants, to computer shops, barbershops, jeepneys and cafes, from the cities to the rural mountains, beaches and tourist destinations.
From the Philippines to the world, BINI all of a sudden was everywhere. From mall shows with tens of thousands of attendees to regional gigs at packed venues to marathons with a legion of fans behind and mere TV and radio guestings.
BINI’s third-year anniversary called BINI Day drew 10,000 fans and the hype reached a moment where organizers had to stop shows due to the people in groves trying to get a glimpse of the hottest ticket in town. And as if it wasn’t enough, the octet rode on the summer wave and released Talaarawan EP as Pantropiko’s mother album that included another hit single Salamin, Salamin.
From March onwards, Pantropiko and Salamin, Salamin took turns for the No. 1 spot on Spotify Philippines. “Super na-overwhelm ako ‘nung umpisa. May DC (dance choreography) tapos nakalagay ‘dun Sheena Catacutan. Ang sarap sa puso na ang daming nakaka-appreciate sa choreo ko at lalo na ito ‘yung first time ko mag-choreo for BINI,” said Sheena, BINI’s main dancer. In a multiple-week stretch, BINI had five songs in the Top 10 of Billboard Philippines’ Hot 100 and Top Philippine Songs as the masses took hold of their discography by also patronizing previous releases like Lagi, Karera and Huwag Muna Tayong Umuwi.
BINI’s unexpected flight made them the top Filipino group on Spotify PH and Apple Music for months before reaching a breaking point.
In June, BINI became the first Filipino artist to be No. 1 on Spotify PH as they dethroned global superstar Taylor Swift, who held the spot for almost two years. Aside from BINI and Taylor Swift, only Blackpink and BTS reigned on Spotify Philippines. BINI’s Philippine dominance also catapulted them as the first Filipino artist to debut on Spotify Global at No. 193 before reaching as high as No. 156. No Filipino has done this up to date. From only a few hundred listeners on Spotify, BINI peaked with almost 8 million listeners, the only P-POP group to do so, as Blooms also grew exponentially – here and abroad. In their Born To Win album, BINI has one song dedicated to their fandom – Here with You. And it goes like this:
“When the world was telling me, ‘No’
You pushed my heart to just go
And now for sure, I know
Now here with you, found something new
Through the dark nights, the highlights
You're my lifeline, as we take our flight
Let's paint the sky in different lights
Holding onto all that we could bе
Gonna make it bright..”
From that point on, BINI indeed took flight.
And they brought the Blooms by their wings.
“Malayo pa, pero malayo na.” (Still a long way to go but have already gone a long way)
It may be a modest phrase for some. For others, it’s a rugged reminder every day to keep going like relentlessly shooting for the moon, the stars and back. But for BINI, it’s an anthem – a psalm that the Filipino girl group engraved in their hearts like it’s their own right from the get go.
In a journey like no other from their roots, Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena embodied that mantra for years – step by step, crawl after crawl, tear after tear. BINI, without an inch of self-doubt, stayed the course. At the jaws of every mishap and stumble, come hell or high water, BINI braved on. And now they’re here.
Before the #GrandBINIverse, BINI had the first BINIverse concert at the NFT for three straight days of soldout shows before going on a nationwide tour in Baguio, Cebu and General Santos City. BINI also took their act in Canada, selling out four stops in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Toronto for a total of 13 soldout shows.
Their latest single Cherry on Top released in July after that tour was watched by more than 100, 000 Blooms in its world premiere. It reached 1 million views in only three hours and became the second-most viewed Original Pilipino Music (OPM) music video in 24 hours with 3.6 million views. It placed No. 1 in the Philippines and No. 3 on Youtube Global Daily Top Music Video while topping the Itunes Philippines and having the biggest streaming debut in Spotify Philippines history with 339,000 streams in only 12 hours. That’s on top of left and right Magazine covers on Parcinq, Zeen, Billboard, Vogue and Metro as BINI served visual after visual after visual.
BINI also became the first Filipino group ambassador of clothing brand Penshoppe, one of their 25 and counting list of endorsement deals as one of the Philippines’ most in-demand celebrities today. BINI’s legend only grew from there on – and in all parts of the world. As per Google Philippines, BINI became the most-searched artist in the country and led a YouTube revolution to 180% increase in views with P-POP titles this year. In physical sales, Feel Good and Talaarawan became Gold and Platinum-certified albums, respectively, by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) while occupying the Top 2 spots in the Apple Music Album list. It then became three BINI albums with Born To Win also making the list. And there was no stopping them.
In Los Angeles, California, BINI became the first Filipino artist to ever perform at the K-CON USA after being named by Teen Vogue as one of the 12 Girl Groups To Watch in 2024.
In Korea, BINI earned one of the Voices of Asia awards during the launch of Billboard K Power 100 along with P-POP boy group SB19, also known as P-POP kings.
In Indonesia, BINI won as the Most Popular Dance Performer at the inaugural Jupiter Music Awards organized by the renowned Asian Television Awards.
In Brazil, BINI also bagged the International Breakthrough Artist and International Music Video for Cherry on Top at the Breaktudo Awards.
BINI was also hailed by the prestigious Recording Academy as one of Grammy’s 12 Rising Girl Groups in the world to know now, soaring to new heights in a meteoric rise from the ground up. Putting the Philippines on the world map, the Nation’s Girl Group joined Flo, VCHA, Kiss of Life, ARTMS, NiziU, BLACKSWAN, Citizen Queen, Say Now, 4EVE, UNIS, and SZNS from all parts of the world.
“Amid K-pop's global domination, Filipino pop — commonly known as Pinoy pop, or simply "Ppop" — is becoming one of the fastest-growing music markets. Leading the revolution are the eight women of BINI: Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena,” said the Recording Academy. And its crowning jewel so far was the Best Asia Act award at the prestigious MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester, England – also becoming the first Filipino artist to do so. Then there are the multiple nominations in local award shows pending results. It’s a harvest of ‘firsts’ and ‘breakthroughs’ for BINI to say the least. And indeed it is.
What’s even more startling though is they’re just getting started with hopes of reaching and conquering the global stage in the middle up to the end. Aside from Here With You, BINI has a song in the Born To Win album titled 8. And it goes like this:
“Magkayakap tungo sa ating pangarap
Mga tawa iyak at sigaw ng tagumpay (tagumpay isigaw)
Lahat ng 'to sa ati'y nagpapatibay (nagpapatibay)
Sa bawat alaala atin itong iaalay (ah)
Walo hanggang dulo (ah)
Walo walo walo walo yeah (ah)
Magkayakap sa walang hanggang dulo (magkayakap)
Sa walang hanggang dulo
Magkayakap magkayakap
Magkayakap tungo sa ating pangarap..”
BINI only dreamed of shooting for the stars, the moon and back, without knowing that they have become the center of the universe for Blooms.
In agonizing defeats and small victories, through thick and thin, BINI did as they finally fulfilled and embraced their destiny atop of the #GrandBINIverse – soaked in the moment, draped by tears and sweat as the cheers from each and every Bloom blared around Araneta Coliseum like their hit songs on repeat in ascending volume.
“Alam nyo feeling ko talaga, meant to be talaga na maging BINI kami. Kaming walo. Destined talaga,” concluded Jhoanna.
And they could have not done it without a firm belief in God.
For BINI and Blooms, maybe it’s faith. As the stars in the BINIverse finally aligned, maybe it’s fate. But just maybe, it’s both.
One way or another, BINI and Blooms wrote it together.
BINI and Blooms hanggang dulo. Sa walang hanggang dulo.
_______________
This magazine is the reward of 'Who's your idol?'
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