UNA

ALPHA'S PATH

When PABLO said "Taon 'to ni PABLO", he wasn't kidding. In the past, it is known that he was almost never in social media. Months would pass and not a peep from him, which is why his fans, Hatdogs, invented the term 4Ps, that means Pablo's Pantawid PAUngungulila Program. Silly, isn't it? That's how his stans missed him that time. They would look for him in videos from the other members and be happy to see even just his nape or arm. Basically, any proof of life would do. They would be contented with simple posts from him as long as they know that he's still there.

Now, he's present in all of his social media accounts, posting videos and photos, and he would appear in his discord hub and Facebook page unannounced. Truth be told, PABLO has a summoning power. His discord hub would be as dead as a cemetery, but one message from him and chats would be flooding like a floodgate was smashed open. His fans are genuinely happy that he is more comfortable engaging online, because a few years back, they were just dreaming it. This year, PABLO blessed us with three singles, Determinado, Akala, and EDSA, and he began to be more active in social media. We thought he will be releasing a few more songs throughout the year, but no.

He was hailed as the Earth Hour 2024 Music Ambassador, which was very fitting considering how he always promote cleanliness in our surroundings. How many times had he been seen picking up small trashes near him and placing them inside his pocket? He appeared in All Out Sunday as a soloist to promote EDSA, and had his solo Wish Bus in South Korea and Philippines. That would have been enough for us, but he didn't stop there. He was Mr. Dingdong Avanzado's guest for this The Original Prince of Pinoy Pop concert. The Voice Kids Philippines announced him as the newest coach for this year's season, replacing Chito Miranda, and there's more!

PABLO released a twin album, showcasing two sides of a story, the Yin and Yang of a person, and the two colors of life, light and darkness. Both albums were like stages of life, a journey that each of us goes through constantly, sometimes repeatedly. Each song offers a solace for all of us for he knows that each person struggles differently. We all have our own demons and PABLO showed us that he understands. All of these were more than enough blessing for us, especially Hatdogs, yet there are more in store for us.

The entire A'tin community was overjoyed when PABLO finally announced his first-ever solo tour. His first stop was in Robinsons Galleria, and I personally witnessed how Hatdogs and A'tin gathered in anticipation. The smiles in their faces were evident, even for those outside the barricade. Fangirls and fanboys gathered and waited patiently, and stood for hours just to see him perform as a soloist. It was a sight to behold, knowing that despite how great he is as a performer, he was truly an introvert. He constantly feel embarrassed whenever he was put on the spotlight, and he would rather his brothers shine than him.

Despite his maturity and wisdom, PABLO is still a child at heart. It would show in how acts unintentionally and the way he reacts on certain things. It was indeed a pleasure to witness the first leg of his UNA Tour. One of the highlights of the event was when he did a backflip out of nowhere. The entire venue roared in shock and amazement, but there were others who also felt worried for his safety.  All in all, the first stop of his local tour was a success. It was also incredible to witness how Robinsons Malls exerted so much effort in ensuring his safety and comfort.

I've only been an A'tin for ten months, but I quickly learned why Hatdogs were drawn to PABLO. Many of them have been supporting him since his Sejun era, and it was not because of his looks. A lot of them became a fan because of his character, his music, and his wisdom. To me, how his fan house came to be was magical, and I am proud to be a part of it. During his UNA Tour in Galleria and Robinsons South, I saw a glimpse of how the whole fandom supports him. He truly is the beloved and respected leader of SB19.

This is his year, just like he said, because aside from his successful tour, he became more active in promoting himself in social media. Each of the songs in his twin album has an explanation video sharing the story or inspiration behind the song. As his song Butata gets traction in TikTok, he posted several dance covers showcasing his dance ability. Just recently, an announcement was made that he will be one of the guest artists in Akon's Manila concert in December. All of these are just dreams before for many Hatdogs, but now, they've finally turned to reality, and here's the bonus. Pablo's first two vlogs and first short film! Now, our hope is for him to still find time to rest and have enough sleep, and of course to get more beautiful masterpiece from him