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CLAPBACK.
One of the things I love the most about SB19 is their ability to clapback in the sassiest, most artistic way. The fandom strongly hold on to PABLO's words of wisdom about always choosing to be kind but that wasn't all he said. He also said that at some point, you'll have to learn how to fight for yourself and stand your ground. From Bazinga to Crimzone, they've always been standing up for themselves, and now, DUNGKA. This song is an entirely different experience altogether. From the lyrics to the beat, coupled with such an entertaining and meaningful music video, it would be a total shame to miss it.
Throughout their career, SB19 had and still is being called so many awful names. Not once had they said anything or respond to their bashers. All they did was take everything thrown at them with grace and smiles on their faces. If you're one of their fans, it would be impossible not to feel angry or hurt on their behalf, but them? They would even publicly tell us to stop engaging in any negativity and just let the haters be. They never seek outside validation or asked for anyone to stand up for them because they are more than capable of doing it for themselves.
How?
By turning the hate they get into a fuel to the fire that's always been inside of them. They started with What? to call out everyone who's dreams have been shattered by this cruel world, empowering them to keep fighting and showing all of us that there is no stopping them. But we aren't the brightest bulbs, are we? Haters still tried to break them, so they continued the fight with Bazinga. They told their haters that there's nothing they can do that would stop their amazing journey. When people question their artistry and dedication, they gave them Crimzone. A proud and unapologetic way of claiming the title bestowed on them by the people who chose to see their worth.
Some A'tin, myself included, had been waiting for the time that SB19 would finally tell their haters to fuck off, and they finally did. On April 25, The PPOP Kings finally released the last part of Ikalawang Yugto's trilogy, their latest EP Simula At Wakas. This EP showed their diversity as a group with how much different each song is. The song that stands out the most from the EP, in my opinion, is DUNGKA. Why? They've always been tagged as KPOP wannabes even when they've been releasing songs with Filipino vibes. Haters and trolls kept saying that SB19 is nothing but a cheap knockoff of Korean idols. So now, let's dissect how Filipino this song is.
First off, the word DUNGKA is a wordplay thought of by the brilliant mind of SB19 leader and chief songwriter, PABLO. According to Binisaya.Com, the word means light up and is synonymous to the Bisaya word dagkot, which means ignite. PhilippineLanguages.Com states that dungka means to land, make port, arrive in port, etc. With how the song goes, it was apparent that dungka was used as a street lingo that means doon ka or du'n ka, which is actually true. In the streets, you would hear people say dungka nga! instead of doon ka nga! just because the first one is shorter than the other. Secondly, this entire song was written in Tagalog, in a very Filipino way.
Do'n ka na, do'n, do'n ka na, do'n, huy
Do'n ka na, do'n, do'n ka na, do'n, huy
Do'n ka na, do'n, do'n ka na, do'n, huy
Do'n ka na, do'n, do'n ka na, do'n, huy
Do'n ka na, do'n, do'n ka na, do'n, huy
Do'n ka na, do'n, do'n ka na, do'n, huy
Do'n ka na, do'n, do'n ka na, do'n, huy
Do'n ka na, do'n, do'n ka na, do'n, huy
Do'n, do'n
Do'n, do'n
Do'n, do'n
Do'n, do'n
The chant at the beginning, telling listeners to leave or fuck off, or get out of their way. That's what we do when we don't want to talk to anyone or explain ourselves because we know the other person won't listen. It's also what our elders, especially our parents would say to us when we were kids when they're giving us timeout for misbehaving. I can still remember how my parents would tell me du'n ka sa bahay. 'Wag kang lalabas! whenever I do something to piss them off.
May kumatok sa pintuan kong nakakandado
Parang hibang, nagpupumilit kahit 'di imbitado
Boy, halatadong desperado, huli ka balbon, balbon
Galawang para sa kaning tutong
'Wag nang magtangka pang sumalisi, ooh
Daming patibong nag-aabang d'yan sa tabi
Pasensya ko'y medyo maiksi, ooh
Naku, naku, baka makita'ng hinahanap mo?
Another Filipino trait is to persistently knock on someone's door even when we know there's no one at home or the people inside was obviously resting. It's almost as if we can't take a hint. Filipinos also have this tendency to want to be invited in every parties even when we know we are not wanted. The first two lines were brilliant callouts to anyone who keeps trying to associate themselves to SB19 by spreading hate and negativity. The third line was them telling their trolls they know what these shallow-minded waste-of-space are doing. The fourth line is a very artistic SB19 way of slapping their haters with the truth about how desperate they seem. The phrase galawang para sa kaning tutong is a metaphor for desperation. For our foreign fellows, kaning tutong is basically the bottom of a badly or overcooked, burned rice. The portion that you wouldn't want to eat, not unless you have a choice. They even added a warning that they don't have the patience for stupidity. By them saying that there were many traps laid out means they can see what's happening and what their haters and trolls are doing.
'Yung bang malupit
Malupit humagupit
Dito sa bahay ko, ayokong magulo
Ang aabutin mo, palo, palo
'Pag 'di ka magtino, pasang mala-tattoo
Kung 'di mo 'to gusto (Do'n, do'n)
This part of the song is like a playful way of describing how Filipino parents are. When we act out, we get spanked. We see flying footwears and kitchenware when our mothers get angry. It's hilarious to think about it now that we've all grown up, but when we were little kids, our mothers holding a hanger or a slipper was the most terrifying sight. Our fathers loved to say this is my house and you must abide by my rules. If you don't get it together, I will beat you straight.
Tumabi ka d'yan (Do'n, do'n)
Tumabi ka d'yan (Do'n, do'n)
Tumabi ka d'yan (Do'n, do'n)
Tumabi ka, kung 'di mo 'to gusto (Do'n, do'n)
Tumabi ka d'yan
This chant-like part is them scolding their haters, telling them to get the hell out of their way.
(Do'n ka, do'n ka) Kasi 'di 'to basta-basta pusta 'di mo kaya, 'uy
(Oompa, loompa) 'Pag hitik sa bunga puno ng iba, nagdadabog ka
Lapuk ka, tira na ba 'yan? 'Ya, supot pa
Kapag ako na nagpakawala, baka ikaw pang paghahanapin nila
This PabJosh rap verse is very kalye, which I enjoy so much. Josh's line talked about envious people who gets mad when they see others succeed. The line 'pag hitik sa bunga puno ng iba, nagdadabog ka pertains to people attacking others for being happy and living a better life than them. And well, PABLO's line is as entertaining as it is insulting for the right audience. The word lapuk is the inverted version of the word kupal or jerk/asshole in English. Supot has a lot of meaning depending on how it is used. It can be pronounced with the "su" sounding longer that pertains to a plastic bag, or supot (with "su" pronounced the same way as the word zoo) that could mean uncircumcised or weak in English. When he said lapuk ka, tira na ba 'yan? 'Ya supot pa it pertains to someone trying to get a shot at them but this someone is weak. He then said kapag ako na nagpakawala, baka ikaw pang paghahanapin nila, which could mean when he finally decided to fight back, his naysayers might disappear because of shame.
Ayokong manakit
Manakit ng makulit
Dito sa bahay ko, ayokong magulo
Ang aabutin mo, palo, palo
'Pag 'di ka nagtino, pasang mala-tattoo
Kung 'di mo 'to gusto
Do you remember when your parents used to tell you that they didn't want to beat your ass because they love you, but you're practically begging for it for being so hardheaded. It's their way of telling us that we shouldn't test their patience. That's what I get from this part of the song.
Ah, yeah
Maingay ba? Hahaha
Do'n ka na, uwi
For the longest time, people have been saying SB19 music is all noise and nothing else. How did they respond? They released DAM, a song with heavy beats and actual screams, but they didn't stop there. They followed it up with DUNGKA!, a much noisier and heavier hype song. Compared to this track, A'tin thought DAM became a sweet little kitten. Their answer to their haters and bashers? This part. You find their music noisy? Then, go somewhere else and fuck yourself. It's not SB19's problem to cater your taste in music. They can release whatever they want to release, and if you have a problem with that, then suck it up.
Now, let's talk about the music video.
REPRESENTATION
Another thing you can expect from SB19 is how they represent things that are important but not as openly discussed, and our country is rich with such topics. They also have to place subtle representations of their past songs into their current music videos. Let's start with the scene at the beginning of the song's music video. Stell, Ken, and PABLO are seen inside a room with art materials, recording equipment, and vintage items. We first saw Stell focused on a corner with an older looking models of a headphone and microphone, a pen and a notepad. The headphone looked so much like the one PABLO showed on his Myx Interview, which was the same one they used when they were starting. This scene could be the representation of their songwriting and recording process, as well as how they started.
The camera then zoom out to show Stell, Pablo, and Ken. We can see them busy with different things. Ken was standing by a table covered with some art materials, while Pablo was focused on a cassette tape and radio cassette player.
We all know that Ken is not just naturally artistic, it's academic, too. He took architecture in college before he started training to be part of SB19. Even in his younger years, he'd been part of his school's art-related organizations. All members of SB19 are creatives in their own way, but this scene is a nice representation of Ken, especially that he has his own clothing business.
This scene showed PABLO trying to rewind a cassette tape with something thin, pointed, and elongated. Those of us born in the 80s and 90s would know the struggle of trying to rewind this kind of tape before rewinders were invented. The cassette tape was also a representation of a song PABLO wrote for the group titled WYAT (Where You At). It was a song about reconnecting to people that matter to us and not taking them for granted. It also represents his position as the one who helps the group record their songs and care for their sound.
This scene is a good representation of how Stell is the group's heavenly voice. He provides power into the group's sound by hitting the highest notes and handling their songs complicated riffs and runs.
This scene screams political stand and placing Justin in this part of the video is just another proof of the group's stand about politics. Justin probably used to be the one person in the group who would always be polite and would never engage in something that cause an argument. Aside from the political representation of this scene, it also has social representation. As a society that is strongly invested in our country's politics, we tend to vote for whoever aligns with what's trending or appealing. We act as if we are aware of the true problem, but the truth is that we aren't. The poster that Justin placed to cover the politician's campaign posters say sining ang sandata sa kulturang magpapalaya, and Justin the group's creative director. Art has always been a way for the voiceless to speak and express their emotions, for them to stand their ground. It had always been a way for people to achieve complete and true freedom. During the colonization, our country realized that it was finally time to truly fight for our freedom when some of our brilliant minds at the time decided to use their voices and intelligence. Artistry means honesty to ones feelings and identity because a dishonest art is just an empty piece and temporary solace. Not to mention, it has always been the group's advocacy to help the country's economy by uplifting the country's entire economy.
Since I became a fan and started attending their concerts and events, one thing I've noticed is the ripple effect they have in our economy. Whenever SB19 has a public appearance, whether that's a major concert, or just a minor event, other businesses gain something from it, too. When I attended their concerts, namely: Pagtatag! Finale, Acer, and Watsons Playlist, here's a few things I noticed:
1. Because their concerts are always soldout, the influx of passengers in need of a ride is always inevitable. Ride apps like Grab, Angkas, and Joyride gets non-stop bookings until all the concert-goers are gone, which means more income for the riders.
2. Restaurants around the venue get packed with hungry customers after the concerts.
3. Hotels and lodgings get booked for days whenever there's an SB19 concert.
4. Fans always prepare freebies to give during concerts. These items require components that must be purchased to be created.
5. The most important thing of all, the way they attract tourists from different countries, or even Filipinos living and working abroad to come back home.
A successful SB19 event means a successful day for any relevant entities, even when it wasn't intended. They're success indirectly helps those around them. Besides the reasons I've provided, think about their music videos, especially their recent ones. KALAKAL was made possible by the collaboration of multiple Filipino talented people. Aside from the brilliant minds from SB19 members, people like Makopasahero, Iana Forbes, Miko Del Rosario, and 1032Lab were given the opportunity to display their artistry and creativity, and they did not disappoint. DAM was also created by an all-Filipino team gathered by SB19 themselves. From their costumes, the themed photos, art materials, props, the CGI, everything was Filipino made. Let's analyze the music video now, shall we?
This scene may represent how people are trying to kill the light that is SB19, or how much others are trying to remove their ability to share their message to the world. Because we all know that even the smallest messages can be amplified when enough voices join the cause, and there are those out there who don't want that to happen.
This one right here is a personified representation of two things for me. One is the obvious presentation of crab mentality and the other one, well. This might be controversial, but just recently, a has-been tried to re-emerge and used some of the relevant artists these days, one of which was obviously SB19. There were a lot of food on the table in front of him, which could represent greed, which could produce empty and meaningless art. This is something very rampant in the entertainment industry right now. The thirst for fame and money pushes people to sell their dignity and pull others down. They want to be at the top of the mountain all by themselves, and they don't care who they hurt or how many bridges they burn along the way.
This part of the video just proves my theory about greed. Look at all the coins and golds in the corner. The white round object on the side, may be a representation of the song, Moonlight, but I could be wrong.
This one is very Filipino. The sari-sari store where you can buy simple things like shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste sachet, small packs of junk food, candies, canned food, etc. A sari-sari store is always just around the corner in almost every street in the Philippines. The campaign posters of politicians plastered everywhere, often left to dirty our streets is also another common thing in our country. Another thing was the made up basketball ring on the side of the street, as well as the group of men chatting. In almost every barangay in this country, we would this see exact same scenario everyday.
This is a representation of the Filipino-style small produce stores called talipapa in most places in the country. For our foreign fellows, this is the equivalent of a farmer's market.
This is an entertaining showcase of how us Filipinos found a way to get together and stay healthy in our own entertaining way.
Does this adorable sweetheart looks familiar? Looks like the one in SB19's viral song Gento, right?
Now tell me this is not familiar at all? As hilarious as this must be, this is part of our everyday lives, especially those who live in barangays and poor neighborhood. Wherever we look, there will always be a group of ladies chatting about anything and everything under the sun, literally.
This scene shows a few things.
1. The chaotic and unorganized traffic in almost every part of the country, and the rampant illegal parking on inner pathways within neighborhoods and barangays
2. See how the campaign posters were covered? It represents those of us who hate it when these politicians plaster their faces in neighborhoods and just leave it there, literally and figuratively.
2. See how the campaign posters were covered? It represents those of us who hate it when these politicians plaster their faces in neighborhoods and just leave it there, literally and figuratively.
3. The jeepneys and tricycles show the simplicity and poverty of a normal Filipino life. They are everywhere, serving as an easy and cheap way of transportation, a representation of us.
4. The unorganized wires on the electrical post is not just a representation, it's part of our reality. We see that everywhere. As dangerous as it is, it's part of our everyday lives.
5. The people carrying those cables are the representation of Bayanihan. When push comes to shove, we Filipinos will always be there for one another. We may fight among ourselves, but when it comes to it, we will give everything to protect and help one another.
This one is a classic. Whenever our boxers, especially our favorite ones, have a fight, you'd see an entire neighborhood coming together to watch and show their support. They'd cheer the fighter as if he could hear them. The protest on the street outside? As someone who grew up near Quiapo and Mendiola, I've had the opportunity to watch people march to protest about something they believe in.
Including Kween Yasmin in the music video tells us that no matter how simple you think you are as a person, you can still achieve great things. The mango float was a nice touch, given that one of its main ingredients is an all-purpose cream, since she was called "the all-purpose kween".
Placing PABLO in this scene with Malupiton and the other guys is a nice portrayal of how simple and down to earth our pinuno is. The simplicity of the shot showing him on the side of the street, chatting with friends, kwatro kantos and gin bilog in front of them, you can't get any simpler and more relatable than that. Malupiton is known for his humor and authenticity, as well as his down-to-nature in a way that he doesn't have to be so perfect in his contents. In this aspect, the two are the same. PABLO once said that he would never be the kind of idol people expect him to be. He has always been proud of who he is, and those of us who admire him, admired him for it. Not to mention what this represents for those who know how rudely they were called mukhang tambay at mukhang tatay.
This is so Filipino. A mother who would chase her child with a hanger or a slipper when he misbehave or disobey.
This represents unity, people coming together for a common goal. Adding their mothers in this scene also shows how our parents would literally do everything to support and protect us.
This is another representation of how we like to share laughter and entertainment. Adding Stell, the group's sunshine and Justin, the one who likes to throw jokes is a nice touch.
Now, this one is my favorite. Like I said at the beginning of this blog, SB19 don't respond to their bashers and haters. They clapback by making music, and this time is no different. Just as I said earlier, the other topic this villain represent, specifically the corn he was munching on at the beginning is a bit controversial. Adding Smugglaz and Shehyee in the music video all but confirmed my thoughts, well at least that's what it did for me. At the beginning of the year, a forgotten rapper tried to resurface by doing what he used to do, dragging and using people for his benefits. He released what he calls a diss track, which I found hilarious, that talks about relevant artists such as EZMil, Shehyee, and SB19 or perhaps the entire PPOP community.
I knew the group would have an entertaining, artistic, spicy, and hurtful response to it, and I was right. A decade ago, during the height of Fliptop, Smugglaz and Shehyee teamed up against Loonie and his teammate. It was an epic Dos Por Dos battle, and all the bars Team SS unloaded were brilliant and entertaining. In the end, they emerged as the victors. To me, that was best battle I've seen in Fliptop.
Josh's recent win as the HIPHOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR received some unwelcome reaction, especially from irrelevant people in the HIPHOP Community that don't even matter. They questioned his win saying he's not part of the community, as if there is a rulebook as who can be a part of the community or not. They wanted him to stay in the lane where he was known for, PPOP, but can't an artist venture? Is a genre owned by any one entity? I don't think so.
"In much of the world today, an artist is considered to be a person with the talent and the skills to conceptualize and make creative works. Such persons are singled out and prized for their artistic and original ideas. Their art works can take many forms and fit into numerous categories, such as architecture, ceramics, digital art, drawings, mixed media, paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture, and textiles. Of greater importance, artists are the individuals who have the desire and ability to envision, design, and fabricate the images, objects, and structures we all encounter, use, occupy, and enjoy every day of our lives."
In every sense of it, PABLO is an exceptional artist. Some of those who questioned his win argued that he shouldn't have been nominated because he just released his solo albums at the time, but is that the proper criteria to consider someone as an artist. He had been creating songs long before he released his twin albums. All the songs he created for SB19 are topnotch and there's nothing anyone could say to prove otherwise. In addition to that, his debut song remains as one of the best song ever released in this country.
It was a nice touch to add these scene in the music video where they acted as if they were in a Fliptop battle, with two of the most prominent rappers in the community. It was a statement that no matter how hard these naysayers try to deny it, there's no stopping them from invading any genre they please. It also served as staking their claim as HIPHOP artists whether their haters want to accept it or not.
These scenes speak about what SB19 is advocating for, which is to love, appreciate, and fight for our culture. That doesn't mean closing our doors, but to accept innovation and development while still staying true to our roots. The placards showing kultura pangalangaan, iangat sining na Pilipino, ipagbunyi ang kultura, etc, are no longer veiled attempts to wake us up. They are explicit and straightforward. The addition of Alodia and putting her in a scene with Josh speaks about his love of gaming and support to the community, which is something his brothers also embrace. Cosplay and e-games are still frowned upon by many, especially in a country such as ours where hard work means dirty and calloused hands.
This one is the visual representation of how SB19 ignores their bashers and trolls. They just keep going while these naysayers are stuck in the same cycle. Ignoring them really is the best revenge because it invalidates their efforts. We definitely should learn from these five.
This is just me being soft for a MAHALIMA photo, but look at them. Together, happy, and strong. Their connections definitely growing as their tenure in the industry continues.
Who said SB19 doesn't have a political stand? They do, they just don't openly support any one candidate, why? Because they're artists not activists. They know that politicians love to use celebrities for their campaigns, and I personally think that is just plain wrong. Politicians use celebrities to influence the celebrity's supporters, and celebrities allow themselves to be used by politicians so those who support the politician would appreciate, and hopefully, support them. There's nothing genuine or honest in that. A known person's influence should be used for good not to benefit anyone.
Adding these scenes on the music video speaks about their political stand. It is not to support any one candidate but to remind these politicians that they've been neglecting many aspects in our beloved country. SB19 called them out on their showbiz-like campaigning that doesn't continue after election. Our country's culture and arts have been neglected for a very long time, so I totally agree. It's high time for these trapos to be put to the spotlight.
This is the visual representation of anyone who would not be happy with this strong and explicit call out from SB19. I'm certain there are many who will take this song as an attack, but in some ways, it is. It's just not actually directed to anyone, so if you reacts negatively, then it means you're guilty. Plain and simple.
This is a magnificent arial shot. It captures the simple yet chaotic and loud life of a normal Filipino. The way those cables were laid out is an obvious representation of how it is to be living in the slums of this country.
And who wouldn't be familiar to this scene? Karaoke is part of a Filipino life, almost literally. It's a huge part of our culture, and honestly, there are so many of us who actually have great voices. They are hidden gems who only come out when there's a karaoke machine nearby. If our inherent love for music is nurtured in this country, we would be able to produce more world-class performers.
This specific scene reminded me of when some people tried to drag Ken's name into the mud for wearing a pullover that says Ex-Bisexual at the back. These people seemed to be living under a rock that they had no idea what century we are in now to think that a person's sexual orientation can be questioned by anyone other than one's self. It's hilarious as it is pathetic to think that even if Ken does come out as a Bisexual, it would affect the love and support he receives.
In this part of the music video, PABLO first came out into view shortly followed by the other members. It's a nice representation of him being the leader and how his brothers will always be right behind him to support him in his decisions. It also shows the respect they have for him, and how he always aim to protect and shield them. He once said that being a leader is being a parent, a mother and a father, and to assume both roles. You must be the first to stand and test the waters to see if it is safe for everyone else.
Jayat's appearance in the music video shows how they love and appreciate their fans. They've always said A'tin is their source of strength and inspiration. SB19 never forgets the people who helped them along the way and those who showed their genuine love to them. If there's one thing SB19 would never forget to do, it's to give back to us.
SB19 is a group of five individuals. They are all completely different from one another, from the things they like and hate, their hobbies, to their beliefs, they are different. But from the moment they were formed into one group, they always did their best to compromise for the sake of the group. They remained that way until they finally learned to love one another like brothers. Now, they built a company that would bind them for as long as possible.
Someone on X (twitter) pointed out some moves on this song's choreography somehow mimics the movements of a crab, and I think they're right. What is SB19's response to people with crab mentality? DUNGKA!
The most commonly used insult thrown at SB19 is accusing them of being gay. Although, I can't figure out why. It's 2025, and some people still think that being gay should be used as an insult. I mean, come on. Can't they be more creative? Just look at how successful these beautiful human beings are. Despite their sexual orientation, they've made a name for themselves, are living a good life, and they managed to choose happiness, which I can't say the same for all of us. MAHALIMA had always been ally of everyone that stands up for all that is good about humanity, and if anything, this music video proves that.
Seriously, people should learn by now that whatever they do to try and hurt SB19 will only serve as an inspiration to them. There's no stopping them, you people should get that by now. As long as you keep throwing hate at them, they'll just keep creating beautiful music, and it would only benefit them. There's nothing to gain by trying to pull them down. SB19 is here to stay, whether you want to or not. They will stop making music when they decide it's time to stop, not because of anybody else. We should all get that by now.
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