Aurora Borealis

What is an Aurora?

According to Google, it is a natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, especially near the northern or southern magnetic pole. The effect is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with atoms in the upper atmosphere. In northern and southern regions it is respectively called aurora borealis or Northern Lights and aurora australis or Southern Lights. To put it simply, aurora is a natural display of beautiful lights in the sky.

But for many A'tin and Hatdogs, our aurora is our beloved Pinuno, Pablo. He literally radiates so much light that blankets the people around him. It's the Pablo effect when someone gets close enough and feels his warmth and overall goodness. His selflessness is immeasurable and palpable, you could almost taste it. Pablo is a dreamer, but not for himself. He dreams of a time when OPM is not only an afterthought in the global scene, but a booming genre from a country full of talented people. He dreams of a time when music is not only something the country loves but a contributing factor to our economy.

Slowly, his dream is becoming a reality. The first step was for PPOP  to be accepted by Filipinos. There have been many pop group acts before, but none of them made an impact that opened the door for a sub-genre of music to be recognized in the country. Most of them didn't last to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Pinoy pop was merely an identity of each artist singing songs that fall under the said genre, but not anymore. When SB19 debuted in 2018, they carried an entire sub-genre on their backs and inspired other aspiring artists to follow in their footsteps.

Now, SB19 is no longer alone in this movement. New generations of PPOP groups have emerged, adding flavors to an already beautiful sub-genre of music. Pablo has been at the forefront of this movement. Despite all the insults, hate, and hurdles they had to navigate through, they're still here, giving us quality music one after another, thanks to their responsible and caring leader. All the members of SB19 are living testaments of Pablo's character and greatness. The songs they've released since they started are evidence of his genius mind, yet we barely hear him talk about his work.

This man would rather talk about his members and their achievements, highlight their contributions, and promote their individual crafts than boast about his own talent. It was never about him, even though he deserves it. In one of his interviews, Pablo said it's okay if people don't remember him. What's important is the experience and the feelings they felt from listening to his songs. That's the legacy he wants to leave behind, the ability to take people on a musical journey. The purity of his heart is unparalleled and it inspires his fans to do better, to become a better version of themselves.

Last Sunday at the Watson's Playlist concert, everyone in the crowd witnessed how happy and fulfilled Pablo was seeing how the concert attendees cheered for each group. There was not a single dull moment even for the pre-show performer, New:lD. It was a night of respect and appreciation for all the PPOP groups that performed and gave their all. There was an undeniable sense of pride from the groups beginning from Alamat to Hori7on. It was almost as if they were saying: 'This is it! We belong here!"

At the end of the final performance, we all witnessed how Pablo cheered for each group as DJ Ai introduced them one last time. His smile never left his lips making him glow at the center of that stage. He looks like a proud older brother cheering for his younger siblings as he watches them achieve their respective dreams. He once said that being a leader is a parent, a mother, and a father, and assuming both roles. He has been taking on both roles for almost six years, and with how PPOP is thriving, I know that he feels fulfilled.

Pablo is truly the Aurora of PPOP, a beautiful light that shines far and wide, inspiring others to face their fears and chase their dreams. As his supporter, all we could hope is for his light to never dim for the world still needs people like him.