Flonique Guimary

5 moments at G22 ‘The Eve of An Alpha’ that rocked girl power energy

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Girl power, passion, and four years of perseverance took center stage as P-pop trio G22 successfully mounted their first major solo concert, <em>The Eve of An Alpha,</em> last July 12 at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.</p><div> </div><p>Four years after making their debut, Jaz, AJ, and Alfea celebrated not only a milestone in their careers but also the growth of their artistry. Here are some of the night&#x27;s standout moments.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Explosive performance</strong></div><p>Dubbed as the Female Alphas in the P-pop community, G22 lived up to their reputation with powerful performances that kept the audience cheering. </p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784876101605IMG_2750.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>The trio opened the concert with &quot;Pa-Pa-Pa-Palaban&quot; and &quot;Boomerang,&quot; immediately setting a high energy before performing songs such as &quot;LAKUMPAKE,&quot; &quot;LOKA,&quot; &quot;Super Saiyan,&quot; &quot;Groove On,&quot; and their hit track &quot;Filipina Queen.&quot; They capped off the show with their debut single, &quot;Bang.&quot;</p><div> </div><p>According to Alfea and AJ, the group intentionally stopped performing &quot;Bang&quot; during previous shows to save it for their first solo concert, making the performance a full-circle moment.</p><div> </div><p>“Yung &#x27;Bang&#x27; di namin pinerform na sobrang tagal na kasi talagang sinave namin siya para sa concert namin ngayon,” Alfea said during a post-concert interview.</p><div><strong> </strong></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784876141444IMG_2902.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>AJ added, “Actually. Sa New Frontier yung first performance of &#x27;Bang&#x27; and parang 360 moment siya for us kasi naramdaman namin yung fire noong time na iyon and mas pinapa-get up pa namin yung fire na iyon sa mga puso namin.”</p><div> </div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>Solo stages</strong></div><p>While G22 is known for their chemistry as a trio, each member also showcased her individuality through solo performances.</p><div> </div><p>AJ delivered an emotional and theatrical rendition of Gloc-9&#x27;s &quot;Magda,&quot; Jaz revealed a playful side with RAYE&#x27;s &quot;Where Is My Husband,&quot; while Alfea turned up the heat with a fiery performance of Tate McRae&#x27;s &quot;Sports Car.&quot;</p><div> </div><p>“I just want to do something fun, something that I love to sing and that’s my strength but also something different. I want to do something fun and fresh,” Jaz said during an interview.</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784876160304IMG_2811.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>“Noong nagperform kami (before), I do it but this time I want to do something on another level para makita on a bigger stage,” Alfea also explained.</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784876171006IMG_2857.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>AJ noted, “I feel like I’m a storyteller kaya parang theatrical kaya triny ko siya kanina an full of emotions and everything”</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784876182366IMG_2786.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Showcasing versatility</strong></div><p>Beyond their powerful performances, G22 also showed a more vulnerable side through a series of heartfelt ballads.</p><div> </div><p>The trio performed &quot;Until When? (Kinakaya Ko Pa),&quot; &quot;Babalik,&quot; &quot;KIAK (Kung Ikaw At Ako),&quot; &quot;First,&quot; and &quot;Musika,&quot; giving fans a glimpse of the emotions behind their music.</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784876198506IMG_2846.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Before performing &quot;Until When? (Kinakaya Ko Pa),&quot; AJ shared the inspiration behind the song.</p><div> </div><p>“Nagkaroon kami ng time na naisip namin when will be our time. I wrote this song kasi sa mga oras na napasisip ako kung kailan ko titiisin yung sakit pero minsan kailangan mo tiisin yung sakit para mag-grow,” AJ said during the “Until When? (Kinakaya Ko Pa)” stage.</p><div> </div><p>She added, “Noong sinulat ko itong kanata, I was digging deep sa emotions ko na nasaktan. Ito inooffer namin sa mga tao kung kailan kaya ako and kailan naman ako.”</p><div> </div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Honoring women in music</strong></div><p>More than their own celebration, G22 also paid tribute to female music icons as they performed a mash-up of hit songs from different female acts of different generations.</p><div> </div><p>Introducing the segment, Jaz acknowledged the female artists who inspired G22.</p><div> </div><p>“This next performance is to honor the ladies before us. Not every woman had the opportunity that we have today because of the women that paved the way for us generations ago. We are able to have this platform, to be heard, to have a space and tell stories through music. With this next prod, we would like to honor these women and be the voice of our next generations,” Jaz said.  </p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784876215502IMG_2821.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>The trio then performed a medley featuring &quot;Lady Marmalade,&quot; &quot;Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,&quot; &quot;Stop! In the Name of Love,&quot; &quot;Free Your Mind,&quot; &quot;Bills, Bills, Bills,&quot; &quot;Wannabe,&quot; &quot;Di Ko Na Mapipigilan,&quot; &quot;Buttons,&quot; and &quot;Golden.&quot;</p><div> </div><p>“Saludo kami sa mga idols namin who paved the way before us,” Jaz expressed.</p><div> </div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>A sisterhood built through the years</strong></div><p>Beyond the music, one of the night&#x27;s most touching moments came when the members reflected on the bond they had built over nearly half a decade together.</p><div> </div><p>“Thankful ako na nakasama ko kayo sa buhay ko. Sobrang thankful ako kasi sobrang dami nilang naturo sa akin. Sobrang ibang iba ako sa Alfea before pero dahil sa kanila, sila yung bumuo sino ako ngayon,” Alfea said.</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784876225802IMG_2867.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div><p>“Sobrang thank you, guys. Di ko man masabi lahat ng gusto kong sabihin ngayon pero deep inside, alam niyo kung gaano ko kayo kamahal,” she continued.</p><div> </div><p>Jaz also expressed her admiration for her fellow members, saying: “I want to say that you have always inspired my life in many ways. I’m so proud of who we are, where we are. We have the same vision.”</p><div> </div><p>She continued: “I appreciate the drive and hard work and that’s why we work. We have the same vision, we have the same goal and keep working even how hard life gets. No matter what happens, we look to each other at the end of the day, training or performance and we just learned. We know we will get there someday; somehow we will because we just know. We are absolutely insane. When I look at you guys, I can’t give up, and I can’t lose hope because we are standing for each other.”</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784876249304IMG_2871.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div><p>AJ noted how being with the group allowed her to see a different meaning of love and friendship.</p><div> </div><p>“Lumaki na kami together. We have seen the worst, and the best. The peak and the lowest and through all of that magkasama pa rin tayo. Pinipili natin na maging magkasama/ Sa kanila ko natutunan yung love na pinipili,” she said.</p><div> </div><p>“Sobrang grateful ako because you girls, my answered prayers. During the times I feel like walang nakakaintindi sa akin, kayo lang nakakaintindi sa akin. Kayo yung nagmahal, niyakap kung sino ako at kung paano ako at ganoon din ako sa inyo. I will literally drop whatever for you girls, Ganoon ko kayo kamahal. Kahit iharap sa akin iba’t ibang listahan ng alternate universe, kayo pa rin pipiliin ko,” AJ stated.</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784876260525IMG_2898.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>G22’s <em>The Eve of an Alpha</em> was presented by Cornerstone Studios and L-Squared Productions PH.</p>