SB19 bares who they really are in ‘PAGTATAG!’ docu

For a Pinoy music act that first exploded through new media, SB19 has taken a traditional route with their groundbreaking documentary, “PAGTATAG!” — bringing it to the big screen. With the over 100 cinemas showing the film as of this writing, the decision couldn’t be any more fitting.

Directed by Jed Regala, the docu particularly captures SB19’s Pablo, Stell, Ken, Josh and Justin’s highs, even the lows and the many lessons in between while hitting the road for the “PAGTATAG!” world tour that kicked off in 2023.

Direk Jed said, “What I wanted to show is a long-form piece that feels refreshing because nowadays, content is mostly bite-sized or short. But what I’ve learned is that a story can keep developing, so you need to take the time to complete it and bring it full circle.

“SB19 deserves something like this. It could have been just a world tour from start to finish and then done, but there’s so much more to it.”

For Pablo, watching a film inside a cinema with the audience feels really different and special. “What better way to showcase a documentary than in a theatrical way?” he said. “We want people to understand our story, feel the sound, and see our emotions on screen. That’s why we chose to present it this way.”

“PAGTATAG!” is the second installment of their EP trilogy that began with “PAGSIBOL.”

A year ago, SB19 described “PAGTATAG!” to this paper as a reflection of how they’ve become a solid and steady group all set to enter the “danger zone.” At that time of the interview, it wasn’t hard to see that one of the danger zones they were venturing into was self-management under a company that the members established themselves, 1Z Entertainment.

Pablo, who is also 1Z’s CEO, told us then: “Yung comfort zone natin, that’s one of our danger zones. (If we’re going to stay in our) comfort zone, we would never grow. We have to try different things we’re not comfortable with or (we) don’t know about if we want to grow as a person.”

“We’re opening ourselves to the world, we’re opening ourselves to each and everyone kaya mas harmonize and mas malawak po yung pag-unawa namin sa mundo.”

That “opening up to the world” promise, literally and figuratively, is in full view in the docu. One of the highlights of the film is when we finally see how the members dealt with the issue that almost led SB19 to losing the right to use their name, as well as that hovering uncertainty marked with the cancellation of shows abroad.

While it no longer went into detail for “confidentiality” reasons, the director admitted it was a plot twist they never expected.

Direk Jed recalled, “It was like a plot twist, right? But no matter what happened, yung documentary naman, matatapos at matatapos kasi talaga… It was something that happened in the middle of things when everything was so high up. But truthfully, when it happened, I was not there, I was not with them, and I was also like, what’s happening? And they handled it so clearly. That honesty — the challenge for me was to discuss it, like very clearly handled, very properly done.”

“But that’s a plot twist really and it took everyone by surprise.”

Justin further said, “During that time, with our situation, we didn’t have like the mind to, ‘Magpa-video tayo, i-document natin tong mga bagay na ‘to,’ so basically wala talaga kaming mailalabas during that time. And to elaborate on what happened, it’s like for the confidentiality na rin po of everyone.

“But for us, of course, I think we’re able to present the story of ‘PAGTATAG!’... even though not showing too much details sa part na yon. Because the important thing is yung feelings and the importance of what happened, how the struggle happened and how we solved it.”

Aside from this issue, which undoubtedly added a degree of drama to “PAGTATAG!”, the docu also proved how charismatic SB19 is on and off stage, and why it naturally commands one of the most passionate and dedicated fanbases not just in the P-pop community, but in the Filipino music scene as a whole. It’s the same reason why Jed made the proposal to do a docu on the group in the first place.

“I was working with them in the music video for I Want You and that’s when I got to really know them and I realized sobrang charismatic ng mga ito. I was charmed and there’s something with these guys that you really want to see what they are going to do after. Parang sundan lang natin and let’s see what happens.

“And thankfully, they really invested in it because this is out of nowhere. I believe this is the first music docu na parang ganitong level for P-pop. I’m very proud to be in this era with them.”

The docu also shared very private videos and clips of SB19 even at their most vulnerable and unfiltered moments.

Though they’re used to being asked to interact in front of the cameras for their vlogs, according to Justin, it was their first time to experience being followed around sans the awareness of being filmed.

“Actually, we requested that… when it was decided, ‘Okay, someone will follow you. We’ll make a documentary.’ We wanted it to be less direct and in-your-face because we want to be authentic… we would become self-conscious with a camera,” he said.

Josh also reacted, “We were surprised because we don’t remember it being that detailed, you know? So much has happened, from ‘PAGTATAG!’ to the challenges... A lot wasn’t captured, but a lot was.

“And I feel like at least we really showed how hard it is to be an artist and a touring artist. It’s not just about performing and enjoying life; it’s really difficult. There are many struggles, mentally and physically, that weren’t shown, but at least most of the struggles were (there).”

For one, the docu captured how Pablo would experience moments of anxiety before going up the stage.

“Every time we have very stressful moments, I experience a panic attack,” he admitted. “Nanginginig po ‘yung buong katawan ko, tapos nasusuka ako, tapos hindi ako makapag-isip ng maayos.”

“Pero habang nasa stage ka, parang hindi naman po pwede basta-basta itigil mo lahat. So we have to continue despite everything that you’re feeling or experiencing inside. That’s one of our struggles during the tour,” added Pablo.

There’s no word yet if the docu will have an extension beyond today (Sept. 1), but for people who have seen or about to watch it, Ken hopes they will get to know who they really are as a group and individual artists.

“Our other fans look up to us like we’re perfect, perfect creatures. We’re humans, too,” he said.

“We also go through hardships, and maybe because there’s media and pinapakita namin kung ano yung kanais-nais na makita ng media, and of course, to our fans. But this documentary really, this is one way of showing that we’re humans, too. And this is really helpful for us to be able to connect with the fans and show them who we really are,” said Ken.

SB19 also hopes that the docu gives the audiences hope in pursuing their dreams and passions. “It’s always possible to do the impossible. Kami nga ay galing talaga sa wala — individuals from very different paths and very different places. Syempre yung paniniwala namin, sobrang iba-iba talaga, but it’s always possible,” Josh said.

“It’s really to give inspiration not just to the people in the same field, but for anyone who is striving or feeling lost. They can watch this to give them drive. Kung  kami nga, parang na-inspire kami sa sarili naming docu. Na-hype kami. I feel like ito yung isa sa mga magandang panoorin nila para mas ma-inspire sila sa mga ginagawa nila sa buhay.”

“PAGTATAG!” also teases what’s next for the P-pop kings, but you have to watch it to find out.