BINI members (from left) Sheena, Gwen, Jhoanna, Mikha, Maloi, Colet, Stacey, and Aiah. Image: Courtesy of Star Music
By: Hannah Mallorca
In a time where women are taking charge of their destiny, BINI has emerged at the forefront of young Filipinas looking for inspiration to keep going. Their smash hit “Pantropiko” catapulted the eight-member girl group into superstar status, and the throng of screaming fans, outpour of activities, and a solo concert on the way is a sign of their stars shining brighter.
The Filipino girl group — consisting of Jhoanna Robles, Aiah Arceta, Colet Vergara, Maloi Ricalde, Gwen Apuli, Stacey Sevilleja, Mikha Lim, and Sheena Catacutan — was launched to the public in June 2021. A string of songs including “Da Coconut Nut,” “Born To Win,” “Golden Arrow,” “Na Na Na,” “Lagi,” “I Feel Good,” and “Karera” were added to their discography, which is akin to BINI exploring genres before finding their sound.
“Ang dami naming in-explore na genre, to be honest. Nag-‘Born To Win’ kami, then biglang nag-cutesy,” Gwen recalled in an interview with INQUIRER.net. “But when we started with ‘Lagi,’ pumatok na siya sa tao. Nag-boom din ang ‘Na Na Na’ sa Tiktok.”
This, in turn, dawned on the group that it was the sign they found their niche. But the group’s leader Jhoanna said they’re open to exploring more genres that showcased their identity as empowered Filipinas.
Empowering women
Apart from their music, BINI’s on- and off-screen personalities — playful, witty, and energetic — made a mark on social media. This led to a stream of people (particularly K-pop fans) joining their fanbase or Blooms. Colet admitted there’s “pressure” in the attention, but they would rather focus on enjoying the journey.
