Last Saturday, we didn’t just attend a concert at the SMDC Festival Grounds. We witnessed an entire takeover. SB19’s Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Finale wasn’t just the end of an era. It was a loud, explosive reminder that P-pop isn’t just “arriving”. It’s already sitting on the throne.
From the moment the first fireworks exploded across the sky at the very start of the show, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be like every other concert I’ve attended.
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Here are more reasons why the night was absolutely epic:
A Sea of A’TIN
Okay, so there aren’t any official numbers yet, but the sheer scale of the crowd at the festival grounds was staggering. Estimates placed the attendance somewhere between 70,000 to over 90,000 people, turning the SMDC Festival Grounds into a shimmering sea of lights. Seeing that many A’TIN in one place was enough to give anyone chills before the first note even played.
Photo from SB19’s Facebook Page
A Stage Beyond Imagination
The production value was, in the simplest term, insane. Featuring four massive and intricately designed stages connected by intricate runways, the layout ensured that no matter where you stood – from SVIP to Bronze – you had a front-row feel at some point during the show. The visuals were also cinematic, using larger-than-life LED screens that gave us the closest looks at Ken, Stell, Josh, Pablo, and Justin at any given time.
Photo from SB19’s Facebook Page
Vocals, Presence, and… the Gains
Now, let’s talk about the men of the hour. SB19’s vocals were, as usual, studio-perfect and completely live. Whether it was the high-octane energy of GENTO or the raw emotion of Liham, SB19’s stability is truly unmatched.
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Of course, we also have to address the elephant in the room (or rather… the muscles on the stage). The group has clearly been hitting the gym, and the “sando era” is officially upon us. Pablo sent the crowd into a total frenzy when he stripped down to a black sando during Crimzone as promised, and Stell’s chest was another highlight of the evening:
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The 1Z Expansion: Launching XONARA
One of the night’s biggest surprises was the official introduction of XONARA, 1Z Entertainment’s first-ever girl group. The seven members – Eurekah, Ella, Dominique, Tin, Megumi, Lei, and Namie – made a great first impression with their swag during their performance of their self-composed track Uy Tabi Tabi. It’s clear SB19 isn’t just building a career. They’re building an empire, and they are definitely going places with these ladies.
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Global Guests and Collaborations
The guest list was also a testament to SB19’s international reach. Japanese powerhouse group BE:FIRST joined the boys for their collaboration Toyfriend, while long-time choreographer Jay Roncevalles aka J2X officially debuted as a 1Z artist. The legendary Queen of Swag and choreographer, Riehata, also graced the stage, proving that the world’s best want to work with our very own.
Live Nation Did Not Disappoint
We’ve heard the horror stories of concerts past, but I have to say (as a VIP ticket holder) that Live Nation did not disappoint in terms of this concert. While the venue was humongous and took up all of our cardio time for the day, there were no lines when entering and no lines when picking up the swag bags because there were enough people stationed at every area.
We also loved that there were so many water stations scattered around the venue. And while I didn’t need to go to the restroom at any point, I heard they were top-notch as well; and everyone was pleasantly surprised by them. I would also like to mention that the swag bags showed a level of care for the fans that matches the group’s own dedication as it was full of actual concert essentials, like a raincoat, a fan, and wet wipes, and not just random freebies for the sake of giving out freebies.
The Aftermath: Worth Every Step
Yes, getting out of the venue was a mission. With nearly 100,000 people trying to exit at once, the post-concert walk was looooong and a test of endurance and patience. But honestly? I didn’t mind it that much.
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Not only did Project A’TIN Kronus grace us with a drone show that exceeded all of my expectations, but as we shuffled toward the exits like a horde of zombies, all I could think was, “Wow. Ganito karaming tao ang nagmamahal sa SB19,” and that thought made every minute of the exit-line wait worth it.
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