ENTER THE GRAND BINIVERSE: BINI ETCHES ‘HERSTORY’ AT THE BIG DOME

From their humble roots, BINI only dreamed of shooting for the stars, the moon and back. But the next thing they knew, they’d be at the very center of the universe – with their BLOOMS behind.

BINI, under the bright lights of the iconic Smart Araneta Coliseum that served as home to the world’s biggest local and international acts, turned what was once a distant aspiration to a fitting reality – at long last.

For three days on Nov. 16, 18 and 19 at the heart of Metro Manila in Cubao, Quezon City, herstory beckoned as the P-POP (Filipino/Pinoy Pop) sensation rose to the throne as the first local girl group to hold three outstanding shows there with the epic #GrandBINIverse concert.

BINI took the crown and served it like it’s theirs from the beginning with the BLOOMS – their official fandom – illuminating the arena with the recently-released official light sticks called ‘BLOOMBILYA’ (a tweaked Filipino word for ‘bumbilya’ that means light bulb in English).

A coronation it was for the octet, soaking in an ocean of teal (BINI’s official color) and the members’ official, different color lights in front of more than 50,000 fans.

A destiny it was for Maraiah Queen Arceta (Aiah), Maria Nicolette Vergara (Colet), Mary Loi Yves Ricalde (Maloi), Gweneth Apuli (Gwen), Lindtsey Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja (Stacey), Mikhaela Janna Jimenea Lim (Mikha), Jhoanna Christine Robles (Jhoanna) and Sheena Mae Catacutan (Sheena).

And they embraced it to the fullest in front of almost 20,000 fans each day in three straight days of jam-packed show.

BINI drowned into a sea of lights – from the VIP section to the rafters of the General Admission and around in a rare 360 stage set design, where they poured it all and showed that Filipinos can be at par with international acts.

With guests Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Vice Ganda, Maymay Entrata, Drag Queens, dance crew TPM, champions of the Super 24 dance tournament in Singapore, as guest stars, BINI did not disappoint an inch.

With a live band of Six Part Invention and the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, BINI displayed different renditions of their entire discography while also championing inclusivity for the deaf with sign language performances in Kapit Lang and the LGBTQIA+ community in B HU U R, an extension of their career and life-long advocacy as more than just artists way before their stardom.

The Nation’s Girl Group also unleashed powerful sub-units with Maloi and Jhoanna, Aiah and Stacey, Mikha and Gwen as well as Sheena and Colet.

It was more than a show. It was a spectacle and an extravaganza, living up to the #GrandBINIverse billing.

“Pantropiko, pantropiko. Pantropiko, pantropiko,” BINI emerged from a five-petal design at the center of the 360 stage, getting louder each line as an ocean of concert-synced Bloombilyas lit up and a bevy of cheers and shouts rocked the arena.

“Let me hear you say B-I-N-I, BINI!” the girls in unison chanted, commanding the entire Big Dome to follow suit.

“Everybody B-I-N-I, BINI!” the chants grew bigger and bigger.

“Louder, B-I-N-I, BINI!” the cheers becoming a chorus.

“One more time, B-I-N-I, BINI!” until it became an anthem.

Pantropiko was BINI’s ticket to stardom after its boom back in summer that shattered numerous records and placed No. 1 on Spotify Philippines and the Billboard Philippines.

It’s only fitting to usher in the #GrandBINIverse with that phenomenal hit and end its with the group’s first-ever hit – Na Na Na – featuring all eight members flying around the Big Dome on an ‘eyy-plane’.

BINI only dreamed of shooting for the stars, the moon and back, without knowing that they have become the center of the universe for Blooms.

In agonizing defeats and small victories, through thick and thin, BINI did as they finally fulfilled and embraced their destiny at the heart of the #GrandBINIverse – soaked in the moment, draped by tears and sweat as the cheers from each and every Bloom blared around the Araneta Coliseum like their hit songs on repeat in an ascending volume.

BINI’s journey in the real world officially began with Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena personally handing out flyers for mere introduction in Binondo. Some flyers would be thrown straight to trash by some casuals.

They danced in Luneta and busked in Baguio with little to no audience – no interest, no traction. Nothing at all.

Now they’re here and they could have not done it without a firm belief in God.

For BINI and Blooms, maybe it’s faith. As the stars in the BINIverse finally aligned, maybe it’s fate. But just maybe, just maybe, it’s both.

One way or another, BINI and Blooms wrote it together.

BINI and Blooms hanggang dulo.

Sa walang hanggang dulo.