SB19 End Their PAGTATAG! Era With Power And Strength

In 2021, SB19 questioned who they were in their EP, Pagsibol. This weekend, we witnessed their answer in all its great glory.

The Kings of P-pop’s PAGTATAG! era has always been loud and exclaimed. Throughout the last year, they were unapologetic about their craft and unbashful in their purpose — and so, it’s only fitting they bid it farewell in the same way.

SB19 PAGTATAG FINALE CONCERTS — Photographed by Mayks Go

SB19 closed the latest chapter of their music with their sold-out PAGTATAG! Finale Concerts at the Araneta Coliseum last weekend (May 18 and 19). Drawing thousands from all over the country and the world, the shows served as the final leg of their grand world tour and the culmination of all that they’ve worked for in the last year.

As you’d expect, the anticipation for the boys was high. Fans — donning everything from headbands decorated with the members’ faces to suits like those seen in the music video for “MOONLIGHT” — flooded the Big Dome hours before the concert was set to start, all eagerly waiting to see SB19 take on the live stage.

The concert began with a story, one that mirrors the very makings of the group. Narrating a tale of courage, strength, and resilience (the very essence of PAGTATAG!), the story — which featured appearances from the likes of Pepe Herrera — set the stage for the whirlwind journey SB19 were about to take you for the next two and a half hours.

They kicked things off with a powerful performance of “GENTO”. It’s always a bold move for an artist to start a show with their biggest hit, but if there’s anything we’ve learned, SB19 have always been the type to break expectations.

After greeting the crowd, the group performed enchanting renditions of “ILAW” and “Nyebe”, the latter of which saw confetti gracefully fall all over the stage mimicking snow. While SB19 are known for their energetic, ground shaking performances, there’s something about their ballad performances — notably this time around — that was particularly endearing. Maybe because it’s their last show of the tour or the journey they’ve been through to get there, but their sentimental songs took on new life on that stage.

The group brought back the energy with breathtaking runs of “I WANT YOU”, “MOONLIGHT” with Terry Zhong, “MANA”, and “Bazinga” — all of which were only amplified further with the support of SKOUTS dance crew. Each song was also notably backed by a tree, presumably symbolizing the group’s collective and individual growth through the years.

Each member then took the stage with solo performances, highlighting their distinctive personalities and musicianship. Pablo zoomed in with a motorcycle, aptly signaling the start of his playful new single “edsa”. He was an absolute joy to watch, prompting everyone to dance and sing along.

Next up was Justin with a Disney prince-like performance of “surreal” (who was later joined by Gelou of YARA), which filled the vast venue with so much warmth. He had a way of making such a massive concert with thousands of other fans feel so intimate and personal.

There’s no denying the presence of Josh; from the moment his logo flashed on the screen, the Coliseum erupted with excited screams and shrills. While technical difficulties made it difficult to fully appreciate the singer-rapper’s vocals, he brought on a performance of “Yoko Na” and “Wild Tonight” worth remembering.

Following him was Ken, who gave a moving rendition of his track “Kanako”¹. The rapper — who is also known as FELIP — sang with so much love in his eyes and heart as he dedicated the emotional track to A’TIN. He happily looked out to the crowd singing each of the track’s heartfelt lines to his fans, eventually tearing up towards the end.

Closing out the solo stages was Stell, who — alongside Maestro Louie Ocampo — performed “Anino”, a track originally composed by Pablo. To say that Stell’s performance was stunning would be an understatement, showcasing vocal excellence that left everyone in awe. As the only member without solo music out, his performance proved that it’ll definitely be worth the wait.

The rest of the show continued with performances of “MAPA”, alongside Ocampo and The Voice Philippines contestants Vocalmyx and Fortenors, and “LIHAM”. SB19 were also joined by gloc-9 for a fun rendition of “Sumayaw Ka”, seeing all the members take on the rap legend’s fast paced rap verses (a childhood dream come true for Stell).

The group closed out the concert with back-to-back performances of “Freedom”, “Crimzone”, and “What?” that masterfully wrapped up this chapter of SB19.

While goodbyes are typically difficult, the end of the PAGTATAG! era felt more like a celebration. The last year tested the limits and strengths of SB19 and their fans — in more ways than one, and their finale concerts served as a cathartic victory. “SB19 parin tayo [We’re still SB19.],” said Josh during the concert, alluding to the internal struggles that the band faced last year.

It’s been a tough journey full of ups and downs that’s all led up to shows that the band and their fans deserve. Even with the rollercoaster ride that this era has been, SB19 and A’TIN have come out of it stronger — and most importantly, together.

While this comes as the end of the group’s most compelling era yet, there’s still definitely more on the way. As SB19 repeated during throughout their show, “Nagsimula na ang wakas pero hindi pa ito ang huli [This is the start of the end, but this is not the last of us.]”

Check out more photos from SB19’s PAGTATAG! Finale Concert Day 2 here.