Arzen Rose Dulzura

BINI on showcasing Filipino culture and the training behind their success: ‘It is a very big responsibility’

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>OPM girl group BINI is steadily making their mark on the international stage, but behind their success lies a journey of discipline, resilience, and pride in representing their roots.</p><p>In their recent guest appearance on the Zach Sang Show, the eight-member group opened up about their years of training before debut and how they consciously highlight Filipino culture in their artistry.</p><p>At the start of the video-podcast, the members emphasized how important it is for them to showcase the richness of Philippine culture.</p><p>“OPM it’s more than just a sound. It’s a mix of our language, our culture and our values so we always try to infuse our culture with music and telling stories,” Jhoanna said.</p><div><iframe width="1265" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QmHsPci2E84" title="BINI Talks P-pop Vs K-pop Training, ‘Big Brother,’ and the Biniverse" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Maloi added, “Also in choreographies and clothing that we wear, we always try to incorporate Filipino culture as much as we can. So we are really happy that our culture is crossing borders, too.”</p><p>The members also shared how their diverse backgrounds, coming from different provinces, influence their creativity. For instance, their song “Be Who You Are” includes lyrics inspired by the Philippines’ many dialects.</p><p>“In the Philippines we have hundreds of dialects so we incorporate that with our songs, the rap parts,” Colet explained.</p><p>BINI revealed that they are actively involved in their music-making process, from listening sessions to songwriting.</p><p>“We have listening sessions and every time we have those sessions, they will show us some songs but also Colet has made a song. She has written some. She wrote our song called ‘Eight,’” Aiah shared. “Sometimes we get to tweak some lyrics if we want. We have the privilege to tweak it.”</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-44" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNinilGRUAV/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A44%2C%22os%22%3A26365615.599999905%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="591" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-44" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Mikha also added: “The rap parts, specifically. They let us change rap parts if ever we want to. It’s really fun that we can be creative and be collaborative also and let us explore different kind of genres.”</p><p>Aiah also noted that their management encourages them to express and be involved in creativity beyond music through fashion, styling, and overall concepts.</p><p>Still, the group admitted that carrying the responsibility of representing Filipino culture adds pressure.</p><p>“It is a very big responsibility and it pressures us a lot because each release we make, you know, there are expectations people have already and we’re trying to exceed all those expectations each time we release a song,” Mikha admitted. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-42" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNe5yd6xmkI/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A42%2C%22os%22%3A26345328.69999981%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-42" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>“We also know that we really can’t please everyone and we have our own interpretation of the songs we release and also the others like the people who listen to our songs, they also have their own interpretations. So we can’t really make everyone agree to everything. But that’s alright. It’s subjective.”</p><p>Before becoming the “Nation’s Girl Group,” BINI spent years training under Star Hunt Academy, going through long hours of singing, dancing, and character development.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-40" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNIr6m-xLK9/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A40%2C%22os%22%3A26324952.89999962%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="845" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-40" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Stacey recalled one of the most challenging periods: a three-month Korean-style pre-debut training marked by strict diets and tight schedules.</p><p>BINI Sheena also noted how the difference of the two sets of coaches—the Filipino and Korean—ways also had a big impact on how they were trained. The members also noticed the differences between Filipino and Korean coaching styles.</p><p>“In dancing, what we notice is the difference of our Filipino coaches focuses on power, hardcore dances, hip-hop and then when we trained for Korean coaches, they are more on cleanliness, facial, and synchronization,” she explained.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-38" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNj0aStRSw7/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A38%2C%22os%22%3A26272304.799999714%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-38" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>In singing. Maloi recalled, “In singing, Filipino (ways) are very laidback. We are more into vibrato, slow songs, ballads but in Korean it is very upbeat like staccato.”</p><p>Although it was confusing at first, BINI said the combination of both approaches gave them discipline and versatility.</p><p>“At the end of the training, we balanced it (the Korean and Filipino ways) out and until now we still applied both the training that we did so it was really cool.” Sheena said.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-36" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLooxcAxYF_/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A36%2C%22os%22%3A26255059.099999905%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-36" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/8/22/bini-to-bring-biniverse-miniverse-to-iloilo-and-cdo-and-return-to-ph-arena-1930"><strong><u>READ: BINI to bring BINIverse, MINIverse to Iloilo and CDO and return to PH Arena</u></strong></a></div><p>Maloi also expressed, “The fusion of the discipline, it made us a better person and better performers and our skills got better so we are very thankful that we had the Filipino and Korean  experience and training.” </p>

<p>BINI’s journey highlights how discipline from rigorous training and pride in Filipino heritage shape their artistry.</p>

BINI’s journey highlights how discipline from rigorous training and pride in Filipino heritage shape their artistry.