INDIO, California: BINI concluded their historic Coachella run with an electrifying finale on weekend 2, as fans from across North America and a slate of Filipino celebrities packed the Mojave tent to cheer on the P-pop powerhouse.
The “Nation’s Girl Group” made history this year as the first all‑Filipino act to take the Coachella stage, with back‑to‑back weekends that showcased original P‑pop tracks to a global audience.
Their Coachella set, anchored by hits like “Pantropiko” and other fan‑favourite singles, quickly became one of the most‑watched festival performances online, boosting interest in Filipino pop far beyond the diaspora.
Across both weekends, the eight‑member group delivered a tightly choreographed, high‑energy set that highlighted their blend of intricate formations, synchronised dance breaks and live vocals.
For many Filipino fans who traveled to the desert, seeing a full set largely in Tagalog at one of the world’s most influential festivals felt like a turning point for representation.
Inside the tent, fans waved Philippine flags and handmade banners as the group ran through their hits, switching up portions of the set and keeping the crowd on their feet from the opening song to the closer.
Natasha, a festival‑goer from Los Angeles, said she felt the second weekend topped their first outing.
“It was really good. I thought it was way better than weekend 1,” she said, adding that she loved the styling. “I think the outfits were amazing and, yeah, I’m so happy to see them in person.”
For Bill, a fan originally from the Philippines who flew in from Canada, the only downside was that the set felt too short. He said he had “so much energy” left to give after the finale.
Bill said he lost his voice early in the set and is hoping for “more global festivals and global domination” for BINI in the future.
BINI’s closing Coachella performance also drew major Filipino names to the Mojave tent, turning the show into a gathering of stars and fans alike.
Anne Curtis, Piolo Pascual, Maja Salvador and Kyle Echarri were among the celebrities spotted in the crowd, blending in with regular festival‑goers as they cheered, filmed on their phones, and joined the chants that erupted between songs.
Singer and actor Darren Espanto, who shared his excitement about being at Coachella and supporting fellow Filipino artists, said watching BINI on that stage was a proud moment.
“I’m super proud of BINI,” he said after the set. “It’s such a surreal experience hearing Filipino songs, Tagalog songs being sung at Coachella,” he said.
For Espanto and other artists, Tagalog lyrics echoing through the desert underscored how far Filipino performers have come on the global stage.
For many Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the audience, BINI’s Coachella finale was more than a musical milestone – it was about visibility and representation. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
