It's easy to claim to be an ally, but the truth is, it is difficult to prove. Nowadays, people would claim they are an ally just because the ideology is trending. In the entertainment industry, not just in the country but all over the world, many would claim to be an ally for the sake of riding the hype. Let's not forget, not everyone can walk the talk.
But, ally of what?
Let's start with the LGBTQIA+ community. A lot of people would claim to be an ally of the community, but the question is, what are they doing to prove they are one? Politicians and celebrities alike would show support to the community when it fits their need, but where are they when the community needs them the most? Being a true ally means providing support when it matters, not when it fits, and SB19 had always been a true ally of the community. They may not be vocal about it, but they never had to be. These five men are louder with their actions than their words. You want proof? Watch their vlogs. Their glam team and artist assistance team have been seen to be made up of almost all sexual orientations.
They are friends with many celebrities who are part of the community. You see, support to the cause doesn't have to be loud, but it has to be present when it matters. Words are wonderful, but actions speak louder. No matter how many times anyone claims to be an ally, their actions will still show their true colors. With the all questions and accusations about SB19's sexual orientation, one would expect for them to steer away from people and situations that would give their haters more ammunitions, but that's not how they roll.
SB19's most recent music video for DUNGKA took the country by surprise. From it's vibrant street-style concept to the icons that did cameos on the music video, it was truly a visual feast! That is not all, though. With the many famous faces we saw in the music video, let's all remember that each of them are representing something in their own respective communities. You see, SB19 is not just an ally of one movement or community. They are allies of the people. It doesn't matter if you're a man, woman, trans, gay, or lesbian. As long as you are voiceless, silenced, or just someone who has something to say, they are your ally.
Each of the group's member had always promoted respect for all, regardless of gender or social status. They don't look at someone and judge him by the color of his skin or his sexual orientation, instead, SB19 look at everyone equally, as humans who deserve respect. They don't need to be vocal about their stand in social matters, not because they're afraid to speak up, but because they know that their actions are more important. The community had always been judged, misunderstood, and neglected, but for SB19, they are people. Human beings with feelings and emotions, with dreams, and they have something to say, too.
Ken was once criticized for wearing something that says Ex-Bisexual. The funny thing about it was the fact that majority of those who criticized him wasn't really part of the community. They just had to jump in and ride the trend. I feel like by adding him on a scene in the music video with Sasa Gurl and other beautiful gay people, he already answered their accusation with a simple "I don't care about what you're saying". Ken would never do something to offend a minority group, but haters quickly tried to use that incident against him. Well, they didn't succeed, though.
SB19 is a five-member group full of character, wisdom, and proper attitude, especially towards women. Haters and trolls love to paint SB19, especially JOSH and KEN as bad men towards women, but the truth is, they are two true gentlemen, all SB19 members are. They care about women not because of any ulterior motives, but because women are humans, too. That is the beauty of SB19 that is truly unique to them. They don't have to make a noise to show they are good people, they just are. Without even uttering a word, they have been showing their support in the true essence of feminism, but before we move along, what is the true essence of feminism?
In its true essence,
feminism is a movement dedicated to create an equal society. A movement that promotes equal rights for everyone, regardless of their gender. It's not about women having more power than men, or one gender subjugating the other. When
1z Entertainment was established,
MAHALIMA looked for people who could truly help them with the business side of things, and that's why they have
Ms. Irmay Ledesma,
full name
Irmay Hyacinth Ledesma. She is
1z's Marketing and Accounts Director, all while being the
CEO,
Co-Founder, and
Creative Director of
203 Studio. This amazing woman wasn't hired for some
PR reason or to make
1z look more inclusive. She was chosen because of her qualifications and abilities, and look how thriving
1z is. They obviously made the right choice.
You see, supporting the true essence of feminism is not about giving things to women because they're women. It's about providing equal opportunities to women because they deserve and work hard for it. That is what SB19 stands for, equal opportunities for all, not just women. They dream of a world where credit is given when credit is due, where no one is silenced because of the color of their skin color, gender, or sexual orientation, especially in the music industry. They lead with compassion and heart for everyone, and it shows in their every action, whether in front of or behind the camera.
Two times in a row, Billboard invited a member of SB19 to present recognition to women they think show value worthy of recognition. Stell and Josh were the representatives of the group respectively.
Recognizing women doesn't have to be political, but it has to be true and respectful, which is what SB19 has been promoting since they debuted. Supporting feminism and any movement they believe in is never a performance for them, it is true and authentic. They will show it through their actions and one example of that was when PABLO had a virtual interview and made joke that he quickly realized could sound offensive to a minority group. He immediately took ownership of his action and apologized even when he didn't really did anything wrong. That's called social-awareness and accountability. He showed true respect towards a minority without anyone asking him to do it. Here's another example.
This is the same man who had been a target of haters and trolls. A man who had been accused of being something so horrible. They exerted so much effort to try and destroy his name to a point where they even had to dig up his old tweets from before he became a member of SB19. It wasn't just JOSH who have shown immense respect and support towards women. Below are two videos showing how gentlemanly and respectful KEN and PABLO are.
Did you see how KEN positioned his hand while people are taking photos of him and Yllona? He could've but he didn't even place his hand anywhere on her body, not even on her back. You won't see that kind of gesture in many celebrities. He would help a woman walk or get up when needed, but he would never touch a woman unless it is absolutely necessary. And how about PABLO? Did you see how automatic his actions were? The way he allowed the fan to share a chair with him? How he helped Anne Curtis walk down a few steps? Let's not forget how he removed the confetti from that lady's head and helped her get off the stage. Those weren't just for show. You can always see the sincerity in their actions because they do those things even when there's no camera in front them. Mind you, it's not just these three but all members of SB19 are perfect gentlemen.
In a world full of posers and pretentious people, SB19 remains true and those who truly look will see. These men don't need cameras focused on them to do good, they are good. They don't need a PR Team fixing issues popping up left and right caused by their stupidity or recklessness, or by them simply being horrible people. In their seven years in the industry, they were never involved in any true scandal or caught being anything other than what they show in front of cameras. That's why when a casual fan decided to dig deep, there's really no getting out. Their authentic kindness and genuinely good nature is enough to make someone a fan, and when you realize how sincere they are about the ideologies and belief they support, you will absolutely love them for it. For SB19, performance only happen on stage. When they're off the stage, what you see is who they are, nothing more. nothing less.
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