CEBU, Philippines — Whenever the P-pop girl group KAIA is asked where they’d love to perform again, their answer is always Cebu. Two years ago, they were special guests for SB19’s Cebu leg of the “WYAT Tour,” and had their own mall show at SM Seaside City.
Their Cebuano ZAIA (the fandom name for KAIA) holds a special place in their hearts, and this connection brought them back as headliners for the Fusion x Cebu Music Festival, held last October 5 at City Di Mare.
“We’re excited to see our Cebuano fans, but at the same time, we’re nervous because we’re performing our latest single, ‘Walang Biruan,’” group leader Angela shared with The FREEMAN at the music festival’s press conference.
During their short yet memorable set at Fusion x Cebu, KAIA captivated both ZAIA and non-fans alike with their synchronized choreography and impressive vocal prowess. They closed their performance with a bang, finishing off their set with their latest single with fireworks on display as they were the finale acts.
For members Angela, Charlotte, Sophia, Alexa, and Charice, this performance was a “dream come true,” especially since the quintet shared the stage with Nadine Lustre, Maki, December Avenue, and Zack Tabudlo.
Charlotte said, “It’s such an honor because we’re sharing the stage with equally amazing artists.”
Despite the notion that Cebuano audiences can be hard to impress, KAIA felt nothing but warmth from their fans. Their Cebuano ZAIA welcomed them with open arms, starting from the moment they arrived at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
When their former ShowBT labelmates SB19 debuted in 2018, much of the P-pop community was rooted in K-pop fandoms. Today, with the genre widely embraced by the public, KAIA is proud to be part of P-pop’s rising dominance.
“We are so honored to be part of the P-pop community, and we’re proud of our fellow groups,” Sophia said. “Every group contributes to the genre’s success, and we’re so thankful for our fans who support us. We’re proud that the genre has come so far.”
Angela added that what sets KAIA apart is their authenticity.
“KAIA is all about individuality and embracing who you are. Our message is to empower people to love themselves and their flaws,” she said.
“If we can do it by embracing our flaws and loving ourselves, our fans can too.” — (FREEMAN)