Just finished reading SB19’s four page feature in Rolling Stone Japan, and I honestly couldn’t be prouder.
Seeing a Filipino group receive this kind of spotlight in one of Japan’s biggest music magazines is such a huge milestone. Having four full pages dedicated to SB19 is an incredible achievement. It’s also amazing to see them continue to appear in Japanese magazines and media, opening more doors and proving that Filipino artists deserve to be recognized on the global stage.
You get to understand each member’s thoughts, perspectives, and aspirations while also seeing their shared vision as SB19. Reading their individual insights and how they come together as one group made me appreciate them even more.
One thing that really stood out to me is that they believe they still haven’t shown everything they’re capable of. Even with everything they’ve achieved so far, they want to keep evolving and introduce a fearless new side of SB19 while staying true to who they are. That mindset is truly inspiring.
I also loved reading about their friendship with BE:FIRST. There’s so much mutual respect between the two groups, and it’s heartwarming to see artists from different countries genuinely supporting each other and building meaningful connections.
They also shared that they’d love to collaborate with more Japanese artists in the future, which would be so exciting to see.
And of course, their upcoming milestones are incredible. They’re looking forward to performing at Summer Sonic 2026 and introducing more people to Filipino music. Even more exciting is their historic first appearance at Lollapalooza Chicago as the first Filipino artists to perform there. It’s such a proud moment not just for SB19, but for the entire Philippine music scene.
Their journey keeps getting bigger, and it’s such a privilege to witness it as a fan. I’m so proud of how far they’ve come, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. 🇵🇭❤️
#SB19
Back in 2021, Ppop was still fighting for mainstream respect. Instead of writing standard radio-friendly love songs, SB19's Pablo wrote "Mana" (short for manananggal).
SB19 used the manananggal—which cuts its body in half to fly—as a metaphor for their own lives: "Mata sa langit, paa sa lupa". Like the upper half of the manananggal, their vision is for their art to soar into international skies, unconfined by local boundaries. They knew they were about to "fly up high" across borders, but used this song as a personal pact to keep their lower half—their roots, culture, and humility—firmly planted in Philippine soil.
This uncompromisingly dark, industrial track is a beautiful, gritty reminder that true growth requires both wings to fly into the future and roots to hold onto the past.
Years before Mattel dropped a high-fashion manananggal doll for Monster High, and long before a powerhouse studio like DreamWorks decided to turn it into an animated feature, SB19 already manifested a global spotlight on Philippine culture, including its rich mythology.
The fact that A'tin can make edits where an almost 5yo track fits the brand new visuals of Forgotten Island, as if they were tailor-made for each other, just proves how ahead of their time SB19 was when they first penned this song.
People always talk about SB19’s insane dance choreography, but THE FIRST TAKE proves their vocals are just as powerful.
TFT is a Japanese platform where artists perform live in one take, with no edits or second chances, just pure talent.
As the first Filipino act to perform there, they’ve delivered four performances: GENTO, MAPA, DAM, and Time.
SB19 is definitely a must-see act at Lollapalooza 2026.
🔗https://t.co/y3hLY3XZ9K
people calling XONARA "nepo babies" forget that ALL artists deserve this level of marketing and exposure. normal na dapat yan! nasanay tayo sa bulok na sistema na napapabayaan mga PPOP artists. SB19 & 1Z's vision from the start is to provide what every artist actually NEEDS! ❤️🩹
seeing #SB19’s GRAMMY Museum announcement suddenly reminded me of FELIP’s Bulan performance for Global Spin back in 2022 🌙
oh, I miss Bulan so much 🥹❤️🔥
#FELIP#SB19_KEN@felipsuperior
Let’s be real about the absolute power move SB19 pulled with UTA. They didn't sign with a global giant to get a foot in the door. They walked into that office with Lollapalooza and Summer Sonic already booked entirely on their own merit through 1Z Entertainment.
They basically hired one of the biggest agencies in the world as extra muscle just to handle the increasing demand. Just a homegrown team building an empire from scratch and forcing the global music industry to catch up.
They didn't ask for a seat—they brought their own throne. 👑🇵🇭
Let’s be real about the absolute power move SB19 pulled with UTA. They didn't sign with a global giant to get a foot in the door. They walked into that office with Lollapalooza and Summer Sonic already booked entirely on their own merit through 1Z Entertainment.
They basically hired one of the biggest agencies in the world as extra muscle just to handle the increasing demand. Just a homegrown team building an empire from scratch and forcing the global music industry to catch up.
They didn't ask for a seat—they brought their own throne. 👑🇵🇭
still feeling the energy from #PpopUnite ₊⊹♡
maraming salamat po sa lahat ng pumunta! we're so grateful to be part of a community that keeps inspiring & uplifting one another ❤️🔥
let's keep celebrating PPOP together!
#XONARA