Bini (group)

Bini (stylized in all caps; formerly Star Hunt Academy Girls or SHA Girls) is a Filipino girl group formed in 2019 through ABS-CBN's Star Hunt Academy. The group is composed of eight members: Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena.

Bini debuted on June 11, 2021, with their single, "Born to Win", after two years of training under Star Hunt Academy. Before their debut, the group released a pre-debut single, "Da Coconut Nut", on November 20, 2020. The group has since then gained wide recognition and has been dubbed as the "Nation's Girl Group" due to its significant impact on the public and Philippine pop music. They became the first Filipino pop group with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, and the first to top the Billboard Philippine Songs chart. They are also the first to receive the Billboard Philippines Women in Music "Rising Star" Award.

On June 9, 2024, Bini entered the Top Artist Global Chart on Spotify at 193rd place, making them the first Filipino artists to achieve the record. The group also became the first Filipino act to top the Spotify Philippines' Daily Top Artists chart on June 14, surpassing Taylor Swift.

Name
The group's name was taken from the Tagalog word binibini, which means "young lady", a nod to the group's vision to "embody the idea of a modern Filipina – sweet, fierce, independent, and informed".

Fandom
Fans of Bini are known as "Bloom(s)", commonly stylized as BL∞M(S) with the infinity symbol replacing the Os taking inspiration from the group's tagline "Walo hanggang dulo" (Eight until the end). The name is derived from Bini's experiences and has been described as standing for the "beginning of springtime that there is always beauty after every cold trial". It was chosen by the Bini members among the name suggestions of fans during a special announcement livestream on February 13, 2021.

2018–2020: Formation through Star Hunt Academy
As part of his belief that "Filipino talent has a place on the global stage", Laurenti Dyogi, ABS-CBN's Head of Entertainment Production, had the thought of forming a training camp where youth aspiring to become superstars "can develop or further hone their talents." In 2018, ABS-CBN launched the Star Hunt Academy program, which had 250 auditionees between the ages of 16 and 19 years old from all over the Philippines. From this pool of auditionees, with recommendations from talent scouts, the first set of female Star Hunt Academy trainees was selected, composed of 12 girls. While Dyogi initially planned to debut a nine-member idol girl group, it was eventually trimmed down to eight girls: Maraiah Queen "Aiah" Arceta, Nicolette "Colet" Vergara, Mary Loi "Maloi" Ricalde, Gweneth "Gwen" Apuli, Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja, Mikhaela "Mikha" Lim, Sheena Mae Catacutan, and Jhoanna Robles. Of the eight members, two—Sheena and Gwen—were originally housemates from Pinoy Big Brother: Otso.

The group trained from 2018 to 2020 under local coaches, including Kitchy Molina, the professional vocal coach and former chair of the Department of Voice, Music Theater and Dance at the University of the Philippines College of Music, and Austrian-born dance coach Mickey Perz, as well as South Korean coaches from MU Doctor Academy.

On August 3, 2019, the group performed and debuted as Star Hunt Academy trainees in the online pre-show of the PBB Otso Big Night. They also performed at their first mall show in Taguig and at least two ABS-CBN events. They also appeared at a 2019 National Youth Commission event, where they were proclaimed as youth ambassadors, and at the 2019 Manila Southeast Asian Games thanksgiving celebration.

In May 2020, Dyogi released a performance practice video of the group singing and dancing to "Ngiti" (Smile) by Young JV and Gary Valenciano on Twitter to show their progress in training. In August 2020, the group participated in the Philippine K-pop Convention's Happy Hallyu Day 4 event, performing K-pop dance covers, including Red Velvet's "In & Out", Blackpink's "How You Like That" and Twice's "More & More".

2020: Pre-debut activities, "Da Coconut Nut"
For Bini's pre-debut single, MU Doctor Academy and South Korean music production group Vo3e collaborated to transform national artist Ryan Cayabyab's popular novelty song "Da Coconut Nut" into an electropop remake. In addition, MU Doctor Academy collaborated with choreographers Moon Yeon-joo and Kwak Seong-chan, who formerly worked with popular K-pop groups, to create the choreography.

On November 6, 2020, the official lyric video for their remake of "Da Coconut Nut", which also served as their pre-debut single, premiered on the group's official YouTube channel following the release of various teasers and the announcement of their group name, Bini. The official music video then premiered on November 20. On November 21, Bini performed their first live performance of "Da Coconut Nut" on the noontime variety show It's Showtime.

On December 4, Bini signed a contract with Star Magic and Star Music.

2021–2022: Debut with "Born to Win"
On May 4, 2021, Bini released their first official debut teaser through a QR code leading to an image that reads "Are you ready for the Biniverse?" This was then followed by multiple teasers leading to their debut. In the same month, their music label, Star Music, announced the group's official debut with a single entitled "Born to Win", which was released on June 4.

On the same day as the release of "Born to Win", the group had the first part of their debut launch, Bini: The Runway, which was broadcast via KTX. It combined fashion and music as the group wore creations designed specifically for them by renowned Filipino designer Francis Libiran. The same day, Metro published an article about the group's debut, including pictures of the girls wearing their Libiran-made outfits in their Metro photoshoot.

The second part of Bini's debut launch, The Showcase, was held on June 11, where Bini interacted with fans and treated them to a mini-concert experience, performing "Da Coconut Nut" and "Born to Win". They also conducted three unit performances: Gwen and Sheena performed KZ Tandingan’s "Tagu-Taguan", Colet, Jhoanna, and Maloi sang Janine Berdin’s "Biyaya", while Aiah, Stacey, and Mikha debuted their rap song "World War C", their original composition about having strength amid the pandemic. The Showcase also lets fans in on the personal journey of each Bini member and footage of the girls’ rigorous training sessions under ABS-CBN's Star Hunt Academy. That same day, the official music video for "Born to Win" premiered on The Showcase, as well as on their official YouTube channel. On June 13, Bini performed "Born to Win" as part of their first live performance as a debut group on ASAP.

In August, the group participated in the Philippine K-pop Convention's Happy Hallyu Day 5 event, performing dance covers of various K-pop songs in addition to "Born to Win".

Following the release of their debut single, Bini released their third official single entitled "Kapit Lang" (Hold On) on September 10. The official music video premiered on Bini's official YouTube channel at midnight. On September 30, at the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 pageant, Bini performed a modified version of "Born to Win". The song was also used as the official song for the pageant's preliminary swimsuit and evening gown competitions.

In February 2022, the group was featured on the cover of the Dubai-based magazine Xpedition as "The Burgeoning Grace" which made Bini one of the first Filipino celebrities, alongside brother group BGYO, to have an NFT magazine cover and the first in the Middle East region to be launched through the Metaverse. Citations about BINI as one of the first Filipino artists to have a magazine cover on a Metaverse as follows:



On September 29, Bini released their sophomore studio album Feel Good, which consisted of five original songs and two bonus tracks. This included the single "Strings", whose dark and serious tone marked a venture beyond the group's bubblegum pop repertoire.

2023–present: Domestic success, "Pantropiko" craze and Talaarawan
In late 2023, Bini released the singles "Karera" (Race) and "Pantropiko" (Tropical) as promotional tracks for their debut extended play (EP) Talaarawan (Diary). "Karera" gained popularity at school graduation ceremonies for its themes and resonant lyrics among students. Bini gained further recognition after "Pantropiko" went viral on TikTok, leading to the popular "Pantropiko Dance Challenge" participated in by millions of users. In April 2024, "Pantropiko" reached the top position on the Daily Top Songs chart of Spotify Philippines and became regarded as a summer anthem in the Philippines. In July 2024, "Pantropiko" reached 100 million streams on Spotify and YouTube Music.

Coinciding with International Women's Day on March 8, 2024, Bini released Talaarawan, reflecting the group's commitment to women's empowerment. Aside from "Karera" and "Pantropiko", the EP consisted of four additional songs. By late March, Bini had over two million monthly listeners on Spotify, making them the highest-streamed female OPM artist and the most-streamed P-pop group on the platform.

Bini, along with fellow P-pop girl group G22, appeared on the Chinese reality show Show It All, hosted by Lay Zhang. They showcased their performances of "Karera", "I Feel Good", and "Pantropiko" in episodes that aired on April 25 and May 2.

In June, Bini entered the Top Artists Global chart on Spotify, reaching 193rd place. On June 10, Bini launched their website and announced plans to release a new single, titled "Cherry on Top", scheduled for release on July 11. On June 11, the group held its first "National Happy Bini Day" at One Ayala in Makati to commemorate their third anniversary. On June 12, during the 126th anniversary of Philippine independence, Bini performed at festivities organized by the Philippine government at the Quirino Grandstand. Their performance was cut short due to safety concerns arising from unruly crowds, which resulted in medical emergencies for some attendees. On June 14, Bini became the first Filipino artist to top Spotify's Daily Top Artists Philippines chart, surpassing Taylor Swift. A week later, they also topped the Weekly Top Artists chart on Spotify Philippines. On June 23, the group organized a five-kilometer fun run titled the "Bini Run" along Roxas Boulevard in Manila, attended by more than 6,000 participants.

In July 2024, ABS-CBN Music announced that work was underway for Bini's fourth album, as well as another album slated to be released for foreign audiences. On July 11, "Cherry on Top" was finally released, topping the Top Songs chart on iTunes Philippines and becoming the number one trending for music on YouTube immediately after its release.

Biniverse solo concert
In March 2024, Bini and Star Music announced that the group would hold their first major solo concert, titled "Biniverse", on June 28, 2024 at the New Frontier Theater, to mark their third anniversary in the music industry. Tickets went on sale on April 2, 2024, and were sold out in less than two hours. Due to high demand and calls on social media, the concert was extended to June 30, with tickets for the additional dates also being rapidly sold out,  and iWantTFC obtaining the streaming rights for the third day of the concert. The Biniverse concert went ahead from June 28 to 30, during which they performed in advance their upcoming single, "Cherry on Top", and became the first Filipino girl group to hold three consecutive sold-out shows at the New Frontier Theater. Additionally, "The Grand Biniverse" concert will be held on October 4 at the Araneta Coliseum.

An extension of the Biniverse concert events was also announced, with the first leg of a nationwide tour being held in Baguio on July 6, followed by the second leg in Cebu City on July 14, and the final leg in General Santos on July 20. A North American leg was also announced by Star Music, with performances scheduled in Vancouver on August 9, Edmonton on August 10, Winnipeg on August 16, and Toronto on August 17.

A documentary series on the preparations leading to the New Frontier Theater concerts, titled BINI Chapter 1: Born to Win, is expected to be released on iWantTFC on September 8.

Artistry
Bini is known for their music blending contemporary pop and traditional Filipino elements, creating a distinctive sound that appeals to a broad audience. They are known for their high-energy performances, intricate choreography, and vibrant visuals, which are influenced by K-pop aesthetics yet retain a distinct Filipino flavor. Their music often features catchy melodies and meaningful lyrics, as shown in their songs "Salamin, Salamin" (Mirror, Mirror) and "Pantropiko" (Tropical). Their EP, Talaarawan, was also praised for its luscious harmonies and adlibs, as well as for its witty and distinct tongue-and-cheek lyricism.

Bini's pre-debut single "Da Coconut Nut" (2020), was a genre-bending P-pop song that infuses the classic Filipino novelty song of the same name with electronic music influences. The iconic novelty song was given a new flavor and made upbeat, fun, and light in Bini's version. The song was met with positive reception, with some praising the group's cohesive visual presentation and synchronized choreography, and unique approach to Filipino pop music. It has also been noted that the group's choice of songs and musical styles reflect a distinguishable Filipino identity.

Bini's 2022 song, "Huwag Muna Tayong Umuwi" (Let's Not Go Home Yet), became popular with listeners, particularly among the LGBT community for being a love song whose lyrics transcend gender boundaries, and was incorporated into the soundtrack of the 2022 romantic comedy film An Inconvenient Love.

Endorsements
Since their debut, Bini has been on several endorsement deals, reflecting their broad appeal and influence, especially among Gen Z consumers. In September 2022, Bini unveiled their collaboration with cosmetic brand Maybelline by releasing their promotional single "Made for All". The song topped iTunes PH and was included in the New Music Friday editorial playlist of Spotify Philippines.

In February 2023, Bini was unveiled as new ambassador of feminine hygiene brand Modess. In July of the same year, snack brand Super Crunch announced Bini as its new ambassador and released their official jingle "Super Crush". The group performed the song at their second-anniversary event at Ayala Malls Solenad in Nuvali, Santa Rosa, Laguna.

As of 2024, the group has signed multiple deals with well-known brands. In March 2024, Bini became one of the ambassadors of Samsung for their new Galaxy A series. On April 13 and 14, the group participated in Samsung's promotional event at SM North EDSA Annex in Quezon City, and in its Samsung Galaxy AI Festival in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on July 13.

On April 15, Bini revealed their endorsement of Unilever's hair care brand Vitakeratin by releasing the promotional song "Gandang Vitakeratin" (Vitakeratin Beauty). Supermarket chain Puregold also announced its collaboration with the group. Puregold released a music video for their new promotional song "Nasa Atin ang Panalo" (Victory is Within Us) on May 25, a collaboration between OPM acts Bini, Flow G, SB19, and SunKissed Lola, with an exclusive music video of the group for the same song released on June 25. The group also participated in the supermarket chain's thanksgiving concert on July 12 at the Araneta Coliseum. On May 28, e-commerce company Shopee introduced Bini as its new brand ambassador as part of their effort to tap into the Filipino Gen Z market. On June 17, Filipino fast food chain Jollibee introduced Bini as its new ambassador. The announcement coincided with the launch of a new cheeseburger item, which was held at Trinoma in Quezon City.

Collaborations
In July 2022, Bini collaborated with Coca-Cola for the sixth season of Coke Studio Philippines. The group co-wrote the single "Love Yourself" with a fan, and it was released as part of the Coke Studio Fan Fusion EP. The season was the first to introduce collaborations between artists and fans.

In October 2023, Bini had another collaboration with Coca-Cola for Coke Studio Philippines ' seventh season. The group worked with the hip-hop group PlayerTwo for the season, performing a reimagined rendition of Iñigo Pascual and Ron Henley’s "Bata, Kaya Mo!" (You Can Do It, Kid!), a song from Coke Studio Philippines ' third season.

Philanthropy
On November 16, 2019, as the youth ambassadors of National Youth Commission, the group took part in the 2019 FitFil Youth Against Drugs (and Obesity) campaign to promote healthy living among the youth. The event was held at the SM Mall of Asia by the Bay.

On November 28, 2020, Bini participated on a virtual fundraising concert entitled #TikTokTogetherPH hosted by TikTok Philippines for the benefit of Generation Hope, World Vision, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and Balcony Entertainment along with other artists and vloggers in the Philippines.

On December 8, 2020, Bini along with the boy group BGYO held a joint auction charity event called #BinificiaryAucSHAn for the benefit of Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) victims. The project ended up raising a total of ₱125,642, from the groups' auctioned trainee shirts, as well as several other belongings and from the fund raised via Kumu. All the proceeds were donated to the Cagayan and Isabela relief operations through ABS-CBN Foundation – Sagip Kapamilya. On December 20, the group, alongside other P-pop idol groups, performed on ABS-CBN's "Ikaw ang Liwanag at Ligaya: The ABS-CBN Christmas Special" pre-show entitled KTnX ang Babait Ninyo: ABS-CBN Christmas Special Fundraising Show, a benefit show for the survivors of Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.

On March 28, 2021, the group was invited to perform on Positive Vibes for the Positive+, a benefit concert organized by the award-winning director Cathy Garcia Molina for NICKL Entertainment via Kumu, along with other artists from Pinoy Big Brother, Star Magic, Polaris, Star Hunt Academy and BGYO.

Bini has also expressed support for the LGBT community, citing their support for them at an event with Filipino drag queens in Quezon City in May 2024.

Webcast
On March 15, 2021, ABS-CBN announced that they were partnering with Filipino social networking service Kumu to bring over 100 artists that will stream on the app, participate in Kumu campaigns, and get to interact with their fans more regularly on the platform, in what was described as the biggest celebrity streaming partnership in the country. Among those who joined in the campaign were Bini.

Members

 * Aiah – visual, main rapper, sub vocalist
 * Colet – main vocalist, lead rapper, lead dancer
 * Maloi – main vocalist
 * Gwen – lead vocalist, lead rapper
 * Stacey – main rapper, lead dancer, sub vocalist
 * Mikha – main rapper, lead dancer, visual
 * Jhoanna – leader, lead vocalist, lead rapper
 * Sheena – main dancer, sub vocalist

Discography

 * Born to Win (2021)
 * Feel Good (2022)