Arzen Rose Dulzura

SB19's Felip embraces authenticity through music, tattoos and Bisaya songs

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739753759631OD2 (23).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>P-pop group SB19 puts a strong emphasis on representation. They take pride in their roots as they constantly strive to showcase Filipino talent on the global stage. For lead rapper and main dancer Felip Suson—aka Ken—this also means embracing his Bisaya heritage even more through music. While he performs as Ken with SB19, he uses his real name, Felip, for his solo projects. When asked if there’s a difference between his Felip and Ken personas, he explained that they share the same work ethic, effort, skill, and talent. However, he feels a different sense of freedom as Felip, since he can fully express himself as a solo artist. In contrast, as Ken, he has to consider the group in every decision. <div><iframe width="1349" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xk2ppcCs8W8" title="The difference between Felip and SB19&#x27;S Ken | Kuan On One Episode 27 Highlights" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Felip also admitted that as creatives, he and his groupmates Pablo, Stell, Josh, and Justin sometimes clash over ideas. But the key to staying solid despite these occasional creative differences is communication and compromise. &quot;Every human has likes and dislikes, &#x27;di ba? Kaya kailangan ng patience, understanding, and trust,&quot; he said.  For Felip, music is a reflection of his heart and thoughts. Sometimes, his personal &#x27;hugots&#x27; pour into his songwriting, hitting listeners right in the feels. Take SB19’s hit masterpiece &quot;Mapa,&quot; for example. Whenever he sings the bridge of the track, which is an ode to parents&#x27; sacrifices, he always feels like he’s dedicating it to his family. &quot;Pumipikit talaga ako at iniisip ko ang mga magulang at saka lolo&#x27;t lola ko,&quot; he shared in an episode of the Bisaya talk show “Kuan on One,” which allows guests to speak in Bisaya with host Kuantie Melai Cantiveros. &quot;Kaya paborito ko talaga &#x27;yung &#x27;Mapa sa lahat ng kanta namin,&quot; he added.  As for his solo work, Felip considers the Bisaya single &quot;Kanako&quot; as his favorite. &quot;I just thought na Bisaya is really beautiful. Maganda talagang pakinggan ang Bisaya,&quot; he noted. &quot;Nasa tao lang naman kung ano ang gusto nilang pakinggan. Pero para sa akin, gusto ko talagang gumawa ng kanta na Bisaya. Proud ako na Bisaya ako at hindi ko talaga kinakahiya na Bisaya ako.&quot; Singing in his mother tongue gives him a sense of comfort. In fact, he once wrote a Bisaya song in honor of his late grandparents, who raised him.  <div><iframe width="1349" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7CcJ0V5VOhE" title="Felip plans to release more Bisaya songs | Kuan On One Episode 27 Highlights" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>And who knows? He might just bring Bisaya music to the global stage. Felip has plenty of dream collaborations, and if he’s going to dream, he’s going big. He wishes to work with international rappers like Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone. As for local artists, he’s already grateful to have performed with Sarah Geronimo, and then expressed his excitement when asked about a possible collab with Regine Velasquez, who’s also Bisaya.  Fans say that Felip has the most male supporters among the SB19 members, which is surprising, considering boy groups usually attract more female followers. When asked about it, Felip shyly said he’s not exactly sure why, but he thinks it might have something to do with his style or the way he carries himself, which some guys might relate to. He’s always been into fashion, so much so that he decided to launch his own clothing brand, where he even designs some of the pieces himself. And probably the only time you&#x27;ll see him active on social media is when he has a cool OOTD to upload (since he rarely posts about his private life).  Speaking of style, his tattoos add even more to his rockstar vibe. In a rare moment, Felip revealed their meanings on &quot;Kuan on One.&quot; One of his favorites is an image of a man and woman, a tribute to his grandparents. He also has a butterfly with tears, which was originally supposed to include the number “27,” the date of their death anniversary. The P-Pop star then burst into laughter when Melai jokingly called one of his tattoos a squid, or ‘nukos’ in Bisaya. Well, it does resemble one, but it’s actually a kraken, which, to him, symbolizes mystery since krakens are known to dwell in the deep sea. His crow tattoo, on the other hand, represents luck and bravery. And lastly, he has a “devil” tattoo, inspired by his favorite anime, Black Clover. He is a huge anime fan and also loves art and drawing. That passion, in fact, led him to take up Architecture in college, though his studies had to take a backseat when he started training for SB19. Felip always stays true to himself, that&#x27;s why some people mistake him for being aloof. But the truth is he&#x27;s just naturally quiet, yet confident, &quot;Hindi ko intention na magyabang. Kung ang kilos ko parang hambog, lumaki na ako na gano&#x27;n.&quot; He also thinks his Bisaya personality play a part in that perception since Bisayas are known for being spunky and self-assured. And he’s totally fine with that—he loves who he is and where he came from. For him, it&#x27;s even better to have a little boldness, especially when life gets tough. One of the biggest lessons he’s learned as an SB19 member is how to be open-minded and patient, particularly when dealing with different kinds of people. Everyone has his or her own tastes, and at the end of the day, he knows he can’t please everybody.  But if you think Felip is all serious and no fun, you need to watch this episode of &quot;Kuan on One&quot; where he displayed his humor. For instance, things got hilarious when he asked Melai to pause the interview for a quick C.R. break. It must be the comfort of speaking in his native dialect that had him feeling so at ease, as seen during the &quot;Dakong Problema&quot; segment, where he and Melai took turns freestyling Bisaya rap verses. Felip’s journey—from a small-town boy in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, to a full-fledged P-Pop star—has taught him to appreciate the little things. He admits that success can make people more ambitious, sometimes to the point where they start taking simple joys for granted. But he makes a conscious effort to avoid that mindset. &quot;Na-realize ko na kailangan bigyan ng halaga &#x27;yung mga maliliit na bagay kasi baka nakakalimutan mo na kung saan ka galing,&quot; he pondered. &quot;Okay lang naman mangarap ng malalaking bagay pero one step at a time.&quot;  &quot;Be thankful always... Be grateful sa lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay mo,&quot; he reflected. &quot;You may think na wala kang gift na natatanggap araw-araw, pero &#x27;yung pagigising mo pa lang araw-araw, that&#x27;s just beautiful.&quot; And if there’s one thing he lives by, it’s this: &quot;Be happy always.&quot;

Felip opens up about staying true to himself as he tackles his music, fashion, and his Bisaya roots.

Felip opens up about staying true to himself as he tackles his music, fashion, and his Bisaya roots.

SB19’s Felip embraces authenticity through music, tattoos and Bisaya songs

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SB19’s Felip embraces authenticity through music, tattoos and Bisaya songs

Liezel Dela Cruz

Published Feb 17, 2025 08:41 AM PHT

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Updated Feb 17, 2025 08:56 AM PHT

Read More:

Kuan On One

Felip Suson

Ken Suson

SB19

Melai Cantiveros

SB19 Ken

Kuantie Melai

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