Jaehwa Bernardo

P-pop girl group KAIA is shown at the center, flanked by members of boy band 1st.One, while members of HORI7ON are positioned in front. The three groups have joined forces for the track 'Sulong,' which serves as the theme song of the 2026 ROUND ASEAN-Korea Music Festival. Handout photo

Article (news)

HORI7ON, KAIA, 1st.One team up for 'Sulong'

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778988245843SULONG PR (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">P-pop girl group KAIA is shown at the center, flanked by members of boy band 1st.One, while members of HORI7ON are positioned in front. The three groups have joined forces for the track &#x27;Sulong,&#x27; which serves as the theme song of the 2026 ROUND ASEAN-Korea Music Festival. <em>Handout photo</em></span></span></span></div><p>Filipino pop acts KAIA, HORI7ON and 1st.One have joined forces for &quot;Sulong,&quot; the official theme song of a music festival featuring artists from Southeast Asia and South Korea.</p><p>Taking its title from a Filipino word meaning to move forward or advance, the song reflects a shared vision &quot;to elevate Filipino music while strengthening artistic connections across ASEAN and Korea,&quot; according to a press release.</p><p>The song serves as the anthem for the 2026 edition of ROUND, a music festival that brings together acts from ASEAN countries and South Korea, and which was recently hosted in the Philippines.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pl8nGk31Pjk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>&quot;It was a very exciting and meaningful experience for all of us,&quot; the five-member girl group KAIA said of the collaboration in a statement.</p><p>&quot;Even though we come from different groups with different styles and journeys, everyone shared the same goal of representing Filipino music and showing what P-Pop can achieve together,&quot; the group added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2026/4/20/round-festival-2026-draws-crowds-with-asean-korea-lineup-in-manila-1818"><strong>READ: ROUND Festival 2026 draws crowds with ASEAN-Korea lineup in Manila</strong></a></div><p>A live performance of &quot;Sulong&quot; will air on Korean broadcaster KBS World TV on May 21 at 9:50 p.m. KST (8:50 p.m. in the Philippines) and again on May 22 at the same time.</p><p>Its premiere on the YouTube channel of KBS World will be on May 22 at 11 p.m. KST (10 p.m. in the Philippines).</p><p>ROUND aims to promote cultural exchange between South Korea and ASEAN countries through popular music. This year&#x27;s Philippine representatives include Cup of Joe, Ben&amp;Ben, TJ Monterde and HORI7ON.</p><p>KAIA and 1st.One have also performed in past editions of ROUND.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e5NdaZeLyvw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong></strong><br/></div>

<p>Filipino pop acts KAIA, HORI7ON and 1st.One have joined forces for 'Sulong,' the official theme song of a music festival featuring artists from Southeast Asia and South Korea.</p>

Filipino pop acts KAIA, HORI7ON and 1st.One have joined forces for 'Sulong,' the official theme song of a music festival featuring artists from Southeast Asia and South Korea.