‘BINI Chapter 1: Born To Win’ Chronicles the ‘Karera’ of a Lifetime

A cinema in Quezon City was abuzz with excitement on September 23 as the first part of the docuseries starring eight-member girl group BINI premiered ahead of its official release to the public. Metro.Style—along with ABS-CBN executives and managers, members of the press, ABS-CBN journalist Jeff Canoy, select Blooms, and BINI members Jhoanna, Colet, Maloi, and Mikha—all gathered to watch the first look of the much-anticipated documentary that follows the slow and steady rise of ABS-CBN’s Star Hunt Academy graduates Jhoanna, Gwen, Colet, Mikha, Sheena, Maloi, Stacey, and Aiah.

BINI Chapter 1: Born To Win by Canoy and filmmaker Jet Leyco opens and culminates in last June’s “BINIverse: The First Solo Concert.” It highlights ABS-CBN’s hunt for talents, the group’s humble beginnings, the members’ personal struggles, and the collective blood, sweat, and tears it took for #TeamBINI to reach idol stardom.

Expect the whirlwind journey to take you through OT8’s highs and lows, from the pre-debut “Da Coconut Nut” to the EP that ultimately brought us some of the most memorable pop hits of recent years Talaarawan. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will be awed by the sheer dedication and determination that earned BINI the well-deserved title of the Nation’s Girl Group. 

Aside from the members themselves who get real and candid about their time as wide-eyed auditionees and “pandemic idols,” key figures in the girl group’s inception and success also narrate first-hand stories and walk the audience through never-before-seen footage of the life-changing events that turned BINI into full-fledged idols. The list includes Star Magic Head Direk Lauren Dyogi, manager MQ Mallari, road manager Maan Manauis, dance coach Matthew Almodovar, vocal coach Anna Graham, visual director Ica Villanueva, and more. 

What makes BINI Chapter 1: Born To Win a must-watch (not only for the OAs but even for nonchalants) is the sincerity that radiates from each member of the group—how the documentary spotlights their individual personalities to ultimately showcase what makes BINI, BINI. If you have your biases, this behind-the-scenes peek will give you a newfound appreciation for Jhoanna, Gwen, Colet, Mikha, Sheena, Maloi, Stacey, and Aiah that you’re bound to come out a stan of all of them.

Idols aren’t just made overnight, and this is only the first chapter detailing the seemingly countless nights it took to find the young gems amongst millions who would become the inimitable “binibinis” of this generation.

As Canoy put it, “For the casuals, an intro. For Blooms and OGs, a gift. This documentary is a product of love and care from and for #BINI. Salamat sa mga nanood at manonood.” He also teased that the next installment of the docuseries is not far behind. “Chapter 2: Here With You coming soon.”

Stream BINI Chapter 1: Born To Win on iWantTFC starting September 26.

Lead photos from @bini_ph