One South, Mindanao’s trailblazing first P-pop group, was awarded the Cultural Excellence Award at the 10th PPOP Music Awards on November 29, 2025. We recently caught up with the group over breakfast at the Sotogrande Hotel and were thrilled to secure a brief interview. Their humility was as striking as their talent.
Seated quietly at the table next to ours, these unassuming young men might have gone unnoticed if not for a vlogger friend and fellow A’tin, who found their faces familiar. When she asked if they had performed at the TM 25th Anniversary Concert the previous night, they instead introduced themselves as One South. They were there, they explained with a smile, simply to watch their “parents”—SB19.
The group consists of Jace (leader), Arvy (main vocalist), Drey (lead vocalist), Rover (main rapper), and Jhev (visual). Jace noted that although it was his second time seeing SB19 live, he couldn’t help but shed tears of joy the moment they took the stage. Truly A’tin.
In this exclusive moment, they shared a rendition of the song (Hiyaw) that earned them their award, a reminder that at the heart of the P-pop spectacle lies a deep, resonant love for home. Their success, even at this point, sends a powerful message to every aspiring artist in Davao and Mindanao that regional identity is not a barrier to the global stage; it is, in fact, the greatest competitive advantage.
Each member is no stranger to the performing arts. They knew each other through the many competitions they joined within the province of South Cotabato. Jace drew them all together, knowing their talent and grit to forge ahead and carve a name for themselves in PPOP. They got together in 2023, performing wherever they could to achieve their dream of bringing their sound to the national stage.
The nature of modern P-pop lies in its ability to act as a cultural sponge. By adopting the technical precision of other Asian idols and the commercial polish of American pop, Filipino artists have found a vessel to carry a stronger Filipino identity to the world stage. As SB19 showed, it is no longer about imitation; it is about “Filipinizing” global standards. We see this in the integration of indigenous beats, the use of local dialects, and the unapologetic celebration of regional roots.
As new P-pop groups emerge, they are doing more than topping charts; they are mastering what sociologist Erving Goffman called Dramaturgy—the idea that life is a theatrical performance.
In Goffman’s theory, the “frontstage” is where the performance happens. For P-pop groups, this is the world of synchronized choreography and the high-energy spectacle influenced by K-pop and Hollywood. On this stage, they project a stronger Filipino identity, blending global pop standards with local pride to shape the values of Gen Z and other generations.
But it is behind the curtain, the private space where performers can step out of character, where the true heart of the artist is revealed.
This “backstage” humility is perhaps why One South resonates so deeply. Their success proves that regional identity is not a costume to be worn only on the frontstage, but a fundamental part of who they are when the lights go down.
One South is teaching a new generation that excellence requires both a disciplined performance and a grounded soul. In this intersection, P-pop has finally found its most authentic voice.
For the local government of South Cotabato, which supported the group’s media tour in Manila, “the win is more than a trophy: it is a signal that South Cotabato’s creative economy is gaining national traction, opening doors for broader opportunities such as collaborations, performances, and cultural exchanges that can benefit young artists and local creative communities. The group’s achievement also strengthens Koronadal City’s growing reputation as a hub for emerging talent in music, dance, and youth-led cultural movements.”
Watch out for their performance on March 18 at San Pedro College and March 22 at the Davao Convention Center with the PPOP group First One.
