SB19 goes bigger, bolder at 'Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Finale' concert

Kings who wear the crown do not rest easy.

Indeed, SB19 keeps finding ways to outdo themselves even as they give their very best for each concert, each stage, each performance.

At their sold-out Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Finale concert on Saturday at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City, the group pulled all the stops to deliver a show that surpassed their historic Simula at Wakas concert in Philippine Arena last year.

SB19 admitted that the vision was ambitious. To choose an outdoor grounds carried plenty of risks. But Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Josh have never shied away from pursuing lofty goals. They once said they wanted to see fans fly to the Philippines to watch Filipino artists and contribute to the Philippine economy, and that is no longer just a dream.

Wakas at Simula attracted fans from the United States, Canada, Japan, China, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, and more. Filipinos abroad returned home. Concertgoers booked hotel rooms, dined at restaurants, bought food from convenience stores, fell in line for merchandise, hired buses, and took cabs to get around. The area from the airport to the Fan Zone in Aseana City to the Wakas At Simula pop-up store in SM Mall of Asia became a central SB19 district of sorts, bustling with activity from excited fans.

Several fans observed that the atmosphere felt like it was a local festival, like Sinulog in Cebu or a Pistang Bayan. It’s a perfect description for a community coming together to celebrate something they believe in. And the outdoor venue is a huge part of what made it all work – unlike an indoor concert, which carries an air of exclusivity, a show held in the open air invites everyone in. The sound carries far, even if you’re outside the fences. It extends outward, like a ripple from a drop of water.

It doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to see the semicolon, the symbol of this Wakas at Simula era, as a water droplet ready to make ripples on huge body of water.

SB19 took a look at an outdoor venue and instead of its risks and limitations, they saw the freedom and opportunities it brings to elevate the concert experience for their fans.

Here are the highlights of the unforgettable show that ran for over three hours.

1.  Procession and fireworks

SB19 took the opening production of Simula at Wakas and leveled it up. Everything hit different this time: the procession of cloaked figures walking on the road, five cloaked figures entering the venue through a float, and fireworks lighting up the skies as “DAM” blared through the speakers.

True to their Wakas at Simula theme, SB19 began the concert the way Simula at Wakas ended: with an actual performance of “DAM.” They followed it up with “What?” and “GENTO,” the respective focus tracks of their EP trilogy.

2. Serenading the fans

A welcome addition to the Wakas at Simula setlist is “Liham,” which SB19 did not perform in the Simula at Wakas kickoff. Last year, fans sang the song karaoke-style before the actual concert began, but this time, they got to sing it along with SB19. The song is group’s love letter to fans and one of their best ballads.

SB19 then performed “Memories” for the first time, telling fans how much they treasure the times they shared so far and how they are looking forward to creating many more moments together.

3. Seduction redux

In Simula at Wakas, SB19 showed their seductive side with new vocal arrangements of “Moonlight” and “I Want You” that fans humorously call “ovulation versions.” Wakas at Simula reheated the nachos and added a special sauce: the atmosphere is set by pairs of lovers doing various intimate poses on stage and SB19 appearing at a bar-like set with wine glasses.

Instead of its original quirky dance moves, “Moonlight” had a subtle but sultry choreography that had the fans screaming. When “I Want You” followed, SB19 continued their seduction when they each went to a table with a “date” whom they charmed with intense stares and romantic gestures.

4. Guest performers

SB19 shared the stage with several performers in Wakas at Simula. Japanese pop group Be:First joined the P-pop Kings on stage for their collaboration song, “Toyfriend,” before performing two of their songs: “Boom Boom Back” and “Be:First All Day.”

Long-time SB19 choreographer Jay Roncevalles then took the stage as rapper J2X, performing his song “Ako nga pala si.” Coach Jay, who is also one of the judges in Kapuso dance reality competition “Stars on the Floor,” introduced himself as an official 1Z Entertainment artist.

Two more surprises appeared on stage: Xonara, 1Z Entertainment’s first girl group which will officially debut on May 15, and Riehata, the Japanese-Filipino choreographer who worked with SB19 on their song “Emoji.”

5. Pablo in Sando

SB19 fans, who are called A’TIN, had been waiting for one highly-anticipated moment during the concert: Pablo dancing in a sexy sando “I Want You,” a dare after losing a game during one of their Weverse lives. Pinuno did not do it during the song, but Stell made sure to remind him about it later.

Pablo finally did it when they performed their signature banger, “Crimzone.” He took off his long-sleeved top to reveal a black sando inside and did the iconic “drip drip drip” with his arms exposed. Wish fulfilled for fans, who actually selected the dare through a poll on X!

6. Thank you, A’TIN

SB19 was out of the country for most of the past year, bringing their Simula at Wakas tour to 19 cities in Asia, North America, and Oceania. Now that they are back home, they made sure to express their gratitude to the fans who keep showing up for them through thick and thin.

The P-pop kings went to their extended stage with a raised platform to get closer to the fans and performed “Mapa,” then moved to a platform that took them deeper into the audience seats while singing “Quit.” For “SLMT,” they split into two groups and went on the two stages at the Gold Section and sang “Freedom” on their way back.

7. The end and the beginning

Before ending the show, SB19 posed for a photo with the audience at the fully-packed SMDC Festival Grounds to mark the end of their Ikalawang Yugto. They then got emotional when delivering messages for their fans, reflecting on the challenges they faced through their eight years as a group.

They poured their hearts out as they sang “Wakas” to close the concert, saving the best for last. But they refused to end the evening on that note, once again going back to the beginning with a performance of “Go Up,” the song that began their rise as a group.

SB19 then left the loop to herald a new era, performing “Shooting for the Stars” as fireworks once again lit up the sky. There are no more endings and beginnings, only a relentless pursuit of dreams. The universe is waiting. —JCB, GMA News