Amidst the rapidly globalizing world of music, a group of young Filipino talents is integrating South Korea’s much hyped ‘k-pop’ into the Philippine music industry.
Synchronized and sharp dance moves. Catchy rhythms and vocals. Stylistic clothes and elaborate accessories. These are some of the many reasons why one would never think that SB19 is a Pinoy-pop boy group. Consisting of five members: Justin, Sejun, Ken, Josh, and Stell; these young men developed their k-pop patterned style in performing pop music by undergoing a three-year rigorous training under the South Korean Entertainment Company ShowBT. In an interview, the group revealed that its three-year training consisted of nine-hour dance and singing exercises daily, with only one day of break per week (GMA Public Affairs, 2019).
Fair enough, it is not unlikely that many might label SB19 as a k-pop group, which Josh tried to clear in an interview: “Misconception kasi na nangyayari na parang minsan na-ta-tag kami as K-pop Pinoy group pero hindi po ganoon; We are actually a P-pop boy group. Hindi siya K-pop,” (CNN Philippines, 2019). Consistent with the group’s dream of becoming the first Pinoy boy band known internationally by introducing a new culture of Pinoy music that is comparable to currently known international boy bands, Sujun said that: “Ang dream ko is makilala ng buong [Pilipinas] na mayroon tayong ganitong talento sa iba’t ibang larangan at kaya din natin ang ginagawa ng ibang bansa,”(CNN Philippines, 2019).
But aside from their wonderful performances, there is something more that Filipinos can learn from SB19; that human development can be achieved through proximal process amidst the continuous tension between globalization and localization.
Proximal Process as Engines of Human Development. With the rigorous training SB19 underwent as an example for the proximal process using Bronfenbrenner’s PPTC Model as framework, it can be observed how the daily taxing training led the SB19 members to their development, as evident by their eye-catching moves, harmonic voices, and drastically augmenting fans at the end of their three-year consistent training and interactions with a new and complex environment in South Korea.
Glocalization: balancing localization and globalization. SB 19 is a good example of biculturality and what it actually looks like to be both a man of the Philippines and of the world. In every performance they do, they develop both their local and global identities by singing and dancing on the patterns of k-pop to their global audince, but with a Filipino heart that cannot veil its deep-rooted culture and pride.
Indeed, SB19 aims to reach an international audience with their pop-music of unique Filipino-touch — something that every Filipino will take pride in calling their own.
References:
GMA Public Affairs. (2019). I-Witness: Boy band na SB 19, saan kumukuha ng inspirasyon. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poESyEj9xy4
Lee, S. (2019). SB19 wants to take over the world. photograph, Manila. Retrieved from https://cnnphilippines.com/life/entertainment/Music/2019/9/25/sb19.html?fbclid=IwAR2
Life Staff. (2019). SB19 wants to take over the world. Retrieved from https://cnnphilippines.com/life/entertainment/Music/2019/9/25/sb19.html?fbclid=IwAR2
Lopez, J. A. (2019, September 5). What You Need To Know About SB19, The Pinoy Boy Group The Internet Can’t Stop Talking About. Retrieved from https://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/filipino-boy-group-sb19-facts-members-a483-20190905
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