GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 19 July) – Expect the rains and a sold-out crowd of 8,000 “blooms” from all over Mindanao braving the inclement weather to witness BINIverse Gensan, a live concert of the popular female Philippine pop group BINI on Saturday.
THE eight-member P-pop group — Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena, wore Jabbawockeez-inspired attire to shut down bashers on their way to this city to perform at the KCC Mall Terminal Open Grounds.
Gates at the venue will open at 1pm in time for the concert to start at 3pm, said an announcement by KCC Mall of Gensan. Since a week ago, however, intermittent rains have pounded this city and nearby provinces, triggering floods in some areas.
A forecast on Friday by weather agency PAGASA said that on Saturday, weather systems such as easterlies, intertropical convergence zone, southwest monsoon, and localized thunderstorms, will likely affect the whole country.
Mindanao will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms, a PAGASA bulletin said.
But “blooms” appear unperturbed by such forecasts, many of them saying they will brave the rains.
“Blooms” refers to the millions of fans of the pop group that grew in numbers since its debut in 2021.
Blooms have been flocking to a “BINIverse Gensan” photo booth at the lobby of Veranza, a part of KCC Mall of Gensan.
“That kind of eagerness that you see among blooms, like come hell or high water, they will go to the concert,” remarked Sheng Valiente.
“Blooms pop off in the rain,” remarked Golda, an avid BINI fan.
BINIverse in KCC Gensan will be the last leg of BINI’s regional tour before they fly to Canada for a series of shows in that north American country.
A month before the concert’s schedule, KCC Mall of Gensan, the authorized ticket seller, along with Ticketner and KTX, has announced that onsite tickets for the BINI concert were already sold out. Ticket prices range from P800 to P3,400.
Referring to the July 20 BINIverse Gensan, local vlogger and BINI fan Michael Carbon said “history will be made tomorrow.”
He said BINI’s concert on Saturday will be the second big event in General Santos City, after the successful Mindanao Rock Festival 2023 headlined by Gloc 9.
Mall management has issued a traffic advisory for motorists to use alternate routes as they can expect heavy traffic along Honorio Arriola Street in Barangay Lagao on July 20 due to the BINIverse concert. (Rommel G. Rebollido/MindaNews)
