The text below was written by a university professor in Taiwan.
【Following My Daughter Into Fandom, and Rethinking Life Through SB19’s Music】
As my daughter shifted her attention from BLACKPINK to SB19, I gradually became a fan as well.
During a break in one of my radio programs, the host asked me to request a song. Without hesitation, I chose SB19’s [GENTO]. To my surprise, several young staff members had to pull out their phones and search for it before they knew what song it was.
In fact, SB19 already has some recognition in Taiwan. They even collaborated with Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai on the song [Emoji].
SB19 is a Filipino boy group, compared with BLACKPINK, the best news for me is that both concert tickets and merch are more affordable.
Today, I accompanied my daughter to Stell’s birthday café event.
The venue was filled entirely with young women, and quite a few Filipino fans were chatting in English. Seeing people from different countries gather together because of the same idol was a refreshing experience for me.
SB19’s songs played continuously on the screen. The melodies I had often heard while driving, today I finally had the chance to pay attention to what the lyrics were saying.
My favorite song is [GENTO].
“Gento” means “gold.” The song is not about success falling from the sky; it's about how gold must endure intense heat and repeated forging before it can shine.
Another song I love is [DAM].
If [GENTO] talks about how to become gold, then DAM raises an more interesting question:
What does it feel like after you’ve finally become gold?
Several lines of the lyrics left a deep impression on me:
“What does it feel like?”
(Anong pakiramdam?)
“All of this is my own choice.”
(Kasalanan ko lahat ng ’to.)
“Because I never stopped yearning.”
(’Lang humpay sa paggusto.)
“Having reached the limit, how do I surpass myself?”
(Paano ba higitan ang sagad na?)
These lyrics seemingly describe the pursuit of success. But upon deeper reflection, they feel like a condensation of an entire life: desire, choice, effort, and the challenge of surpassing oneself.
“All of this is my own choice.”
Many people prefer to blame life’s disappointments on family, society, luck, even the times they live in. However, when a person is willing to admit “This is my choice”, they are also embracing freedom and accepting responsibility.
Freedom is not doing whatever you want. Freedom is being willing to accept the consequences of your choices.
If you choose to study, you must accept loneliness.
If you choose to start a business, you must accept risk.
If you choose to pursue a dream, you must accept the possibility of failure.
It is precisely why freedom is valuable.
But why do people make these choices?
The lyrics offer an answer:
“Because I have never stopped yearning.”
Human beings are creatures driven by will. We are always pursuing something.
After getting into an ideal school, we want an ideal job. After finding an ideal job, we want greater achievements. Once we reach a goal, we begin chasing the next one.
Desire never truly stops.
From this perspective, the greatest driving force in life might not be satisfaction, but rather an ever-present sense of insufficiency.
Because of insufficiency, we move forward; Because of desire, we grow.
To be honest, if it were me a few years ago, I would never have imagined that one day I would be sitting in an idol's birthday cafe.
Around me were young girls. Some chatted in English, others spoke Tagalog. The walls were filled with Stell’s photos, SB19’s songs played in the background, I sat there drinking coffee and reflecting on the lyrics.
If not for my daughter, I wouldn't know this group,even reflecting on life through these songs.
Many interesting things in life happen just like this.
We think we are accompanying someone, only to discover that they are actually leading us into a world we would never step into.
What happens after reaching the limits we set for ourselves?
The lyrics raise another profound question:
“Having reached the limit, how do I surpass myself?”
Many people think surpassing yourself means defeating others. It doesn’t.
The real challenge is surpassing the person you were.
The "yesterday self" was afraid to express an opinion, are you braver today?
The "yesterday self" was easily ruled by emotions, are you more rational today?
The "yesterday self" cared only about benefit, have you begun to think about values?
This kind of breakthrough receives no applause, no medals, no rankings.
But it’s often more difficult than defeating someone else.
The song doesn't give an answer, it keeps returning to the same question:
“What does it feel like?”
It sounds like a question about success on the surface.
But perhaps it is really a question about life itself.
When you’ve worked tirelessly for years and finally achieved your dream, what does it feel like?
When you realize that achieving your dream is not as satisfying as you imagined, what does it feel like?
When you understand that life has no final destination, yet you still choose to keep moving forward, what does it feel like?
The meaning of life doesn't always lie in reaching an endpoint, but perhaps within every single step forward.
Maybe [DAM] is not really asking about the taste of success, maybe it is asking:
When a person knows there are no permanent answers, yet still chooses to keep searching…
When a person knows that every endpoint leads to another starting point, yet still runs with all their heart…
When a person knows that desire will never truly end, yet still embraces life…
What does that feel like?
Perhaps the question itself is the answer.
The day after tomorrow is Stell’s 31st birthday.
Because of my daughter, I went from not knowing who SB19 was at all, to requesting [GENTO] on a radio show, to sitting in a birthday café today surrounded by people from different countries speaking different languages, all celebrating his birthday.
Maybe that is what makes life so interesting.
We think we are simply accompanying our kids in chasing idols, only to find ourselves stepping into an entirely new world.
We think we are listening to a pop song, only to discover questions about freedom, desire, and growth hidden within the lyrics.
And those questions do not have standard answers.
Just like the question repeated throughout [DAM]:
“What does it feel like?”
Perhaps what matters has never been the answer, but remaining curious at every stage of life, being willing to keep moving forward, being willing to see a larger world for the ones we love.
When they were little, we held our kid’s hands to show them the world. .
Later, we realize that sometimes it's the children holding our hands, leading us into places we never would have stepped into otherwise.
Stell’s birthday café is one example, SB19’s music is another, life itself is no different.
I thought I was simply accompanying my daughter in her fandom, I realized that she was introducing me to another world in the end.
Happy Birthday, Stell.
And thank you, my daughter.
Because she helped me understand that one of life’s greatest joys is not finding answers, but discovering new landscapes together with the people we love.
Those landscapes are not only part of our children’s growth, they are also part of our own journey of rediscovering the world.
@SB19Official@1zentertainment@stellajero_
#SB19 #Stell #Fandom
Original Link: https://t.co/qCQWzJ5bKi
A new form. A new way to experience the music beyond the stage.
From the lyric visualizers that revisited the memories of the concert finale to a physical archive that preserves them.
Wakas At Simula Global Version CD — Coming Soon.
#SB19#WakasAtSimulaAftermath #TheStoryContinues
“Gwapo naman niyan”
“Grabe naman yan, Stell”
“Laging ganon si Ken. Ganon siya kasupportive”
“Si Stell naman pag magsasabi ng joke, ang number 1 audience niya, si Ken.”
“Siya yung unang tatawa kasi gets niya agad”
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Tokyo and Osaka, it’s a double date this August!
Thank you to your overwhelming love and support in Japan, we’re also heading to Osaka this August 14 for SUMMER SONIC 2026🇯🇵💙
See you on the following dates
🗓️ 08.14 - OSAKA
🗓️ 08.15 - TOKYO
また会いましょう!
#SB19 #summersonic
The 7th VP Choice Awards’ Headliner of the Year – Music goes to SB19, honoring them following the massive success of their “Simula at Wakas” concert. With sold-out shows and an ever-expanding global reach, the group continues to break barriers and elevate Filipino music on the world stage.
Beyond the Pipol’s voices through online voting, the VP Choice Awards’ major honors—Headliners and Pipol of the Year—are presented to individuals who have made a significant impact in their respective fields and inspired the public through their work and advocacy. These awardees are carefully evaluated and selected by industry experts and the Village Pipol editorial team, honoring those who truly deserve meaningful and influential recognition.
Learn more here: https://t.co/M9OXc9rZDt
Don’t miss the much-awaited #7thVPCAGala and Awards Night happening on April 29, 2026, from 6:00 PM onwards.
Stream the exclusive coverage only on the VP Choice Awards App and YouTube channel.
#VPChoiceAwards #7thVPChoiceAwards #SB19
WATCH: SB19 reflects on turning their dreams into reality, using their success to give back. | via Marisse Panaligan / GMA News Online
READ: https://t.co/kL6YHX5D91
A’TIN! Heto na ang ilang paalala para sa WaS Truck Stop:
- Mangyaring pumila ng maayos simula ng 3:00PM.
-Ang mga aktibidad ay magsisimula ng 4:00PM.
- Ang cut-off para sa mga aktibidad ay sa ganap na 7:30 ng gabi.
Y’know, just like what happened with PH Arena, most of us were skeptical about holding a concert there because of the bad reviews. But then SB19 changed that perspective and gave us one of the best experiences ever at that once-daunting venue.
Now, I think it’s safe to say the same thing happened with SMDC Festival Grounds. Many were against or skeptical of the open-area venue. But then again, SB19 and their team changed that and did their best to give us the best concert experience possible at the venue.
Amazing performances are always expected and guaranteed, but having a good overall experience is not always a given.
They gave us big LED screens, put up risers so the farther sections could still see esbi, provided care kits for all tiers, made the comfort rooms actually comfortable, plus many more intentional details to make sure everyone had a good experience, regardless of their tier.
And all of this wouldn’t have been possible without @1zentertainment, Direk @paolovalenciano’s team, @livenationph, the Aseana/SMDC team, and other teams I may have missed.
So, thank you so much to everyone 😭 I’ve been to a few concerts here in the Philippines, both local and international artists, but the experience with SB19 will always be top-tier. There’s care and intention. It’s really for the fans.
SB19 PHILIPPINE PRIDE
@SB19Official #SB19
#WakasAtSimula #SB19WaS
#WaSTheFinale
Teka ihanay netn dto para madali makita - KENTELL DAM DC challenge on TIKTOK hihi galing sa dump acct ni ofifi....🫥🫥🫥
Di kana multo beh! 👻👻👻
#kentell#kentellverse