BINI members (from left) Stacey, Sheena, Mikha, Jhoanna, Maloi, Colet, Gwen and Aiah during their contract renewal with ABS-CBN. Image: X/@bini_ph
It was an emotional moment for BINI’s Jhoanna, Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha and Sheena when they strengthened their ties with ABS-CBN at a contract-signing ceremony.
The P-pop powerhouse renewed their contract with ABS-CBN’s talent management arm Star Magic and music label Star Music at a signing ceremony at the Dolphy Theater on Tuesday, February 4.
Aside from BINI, the event was graced by the girl group’s manager MQ Mallari, ABS-CBN Music head Roxy Liquigan, Star Magic head Laurenti Dyogi, ABS-CBN chief finance officer Rick Tan, ABS-CBN chief operating officer Cory Vidanes, ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak, and ABS-CBN chairman Mark Lopez.
There was not a dry eye in the venue as BINI received a heartwarming message from Vidanes, who said she was “very proud” of the girl group’s growth. “You have proven to be amazing, authentic, and empowered women with excellent talent and big hearts that are filled with love to share with everybody.”
“BINI, you are very special and you have become a part of Pinoy culture,” she continued. “You have won the hearts of millions of Filipinos worldwide. You rightfully deserve to be called the Nation’s Girl Group and the pride of Filipinos.”
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Heartfelt gratitude
The members of BINI were teary-eyed as they expressed their gratitude to the media giant, their fans (also known as Blooms), families, and loved ones for standing by them throughout their careers.
For Aiah, she assured their management that they “trust them until [they are] in [their] 30s,” just as they trusted BINI from the beginning.
“Thank you so much because you allowed us to be us. A lot of people love us because we’re ourselves, we’re authentic, and thank you because you allow us to be authentic. You allow us to grow at our own pace,” she said. “There is pressure but the pressure is good. But at the same time, you don’t let us become lost and force us to become someone we’re not.”
The Cebu-based singer also thanked the management for “being so understanding and being so patient” with the girl group.
“That’s very nice [because] it’s so easy for other people to give an image [where you should be in a certain way], you let us embrace that. Other than that, we get to have our voice and you don’t shut us down. Thank you for being so understanding and for being so patient with us,” she said.
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Meanwhile, Mikha admitted that there are moments when the octet wouldn’t be at their “100% all the time,” but she is nonetheless grateful for the fans who showed their “genuine care.”
“Nakakatuwa kasi merong Blooms na makakapansin ng mga bagay na hindi namin inexpect na mapapansin nila (It’s heartening to note that there are Blooms who would notice things that we didn’t expect them to). They really show genuine care sa’min and to have you guys in this journey of ours… you guys are the fruits of our labor, to be honest,” she said.
“We all went through so much… we may not be 100% all the time in front of you guys, we may not be always okay or smiling in front of you guys, but that’s okay. Kasi (Because) I feel like that’s what makes us us,” she continued.
The group’s leader, Jhoanna, also credited their families for “keeping [them] grounded,” noting how the past year marked a dramatic change in their careers.
“Thank you for keeping us grounded because things have been overwhelming, especially last year, biglang nag-iba ang takbo [ng aming karera] (our careers suddenly changed). You reminded us to be humble palagi,” she said.
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In her speech, Maloi said that while BINI may not know their Blooms one by one, the group is nonetheless thankful for the love they have received since the beginning of their journey. She also expressed her gratitude to the fans for allowing her to have an “outlet” outside the group.
“Sobrang laking tulong na meron akong outlet outside BINI kasi nakakahinga ako. May ibang perspective at may ibang buhay akong ginagalawan, na hindi lang sa BINI umiikot ang mundo ko. So, thank you so much for letting me feel that world. Malaking bagay siya sa’kin,” she said.
(It’s a huge help to have an outlet aside from BINI because it helps me breathe. My life revolves around other things too and not just around BIBI. So, thank you so much for letting me feel that world. It’s a big thing for me.)