CONCERT RECAP: BINI Transforms The Bay Area Into The “BINIverse” During First San Francisco Concert
On June 17, eight-member P-pop phenomenon BINI greeted the Bay Area for the first time at the “BINIverse World Tour 2025” in San Francisco. Members Jhoanna, Aiah, Colet, Gwen, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, and Sheena are young, modern Filipinas ready to bring P-pop excellence to the global stage. The tour originally kicked off in their homebase at the Philippine Arena, and the group then went on to make stops in Dubai, London, and Toronto before hitting major cities in the United States.
Hours before the concert even began, the love and dedication from BINI’s fanbase, BL∞Ms, radiated all throughout the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. From snapping photos in their BINI-inspired ensembles to filming their favorite BINI dance challenges, the hype was real. Whether you missed this night of fun or want to relive the moment, EnVi is here to fill you in with the full “BINIverse” experience!
A Stop at the Ashley Mehta-verse
Filipino-Indian soloist Ashley Mehta kicked off the celebratory night with her opening act. She graced the stage in a chic, deconstructed suit and tie — the perfect visual match to her versatile setlist. Mehta performed her recent releases “Simmer” and “Kissing Isn’t Compromise,” but also rewinded to earlier favorites like “I Wish I Didn’t Love You” and “Weekend.” She didn’t stop at original music — Mehta’s rendition of Bruno Mars’s “Just The Way You Are” had audiences singing along like a choir. Hailing from Fremont, Mehta expressed her gratitude for the Bay Area audience. She consistently thanked them in between songs for their unwavering support and mentioned how it was a dream to perform in this historic venue. San Francisco reciprocated her energy tenfold, with the audience lighting up their lightsticks and cheering her on!
BINI’s Bay Area Takeover
Once BINI took to the stage, EnVi was no longer in the Bay Area — we were transported into the magical realm of the “BINIverse!” The screams in the Bill Graham Auditorium were deafening as BL∞Ms realized that their favorites had finally touched down in San Francisco. BINI built on this momentum with a brief medley of their most iconic lyrics, prompting the fans to chant along. This fanchant segment segued into their beloved 2024 hit “Salamin, Salamin,” with the memorable line: “Ayaw ko maniwala, EY!” The line translates to, “I don’t want to believe, HEY!” The energy continued with “No Fear” and “I Feel Good.”
The eight members shone as they introduced themselves in dazzling denim outfits with pops of red and white. Mikha took this time to flaunt her knowledge of Bay Area slang, sharing that she was “hella excited to be here in the ‘Yay Area!’” BINI’s very own rapper recognizing a term that rose to prominence due to respected Bay Area rapper E-40 made the crowd erupt in cheers.
BINI shouted out the Bay Area again during their next track, “Lagi.” Jhoanna cleverly sang, “Halika, tara na / Sa’n mo ba gustong pumunta? / Sa luzon, visayas ba? / O ‘Bay Area’ kaya?” which translates to, “Come on, let’s go / Where do you want to go? / What about Luzon, Visayas? / Or maybe the ‘Bay Area?’”
BINI carried the lovey-dovey atmosphere from “Lagi” into their next song, “Diyan Ka Lang.” The octet then took time to thank BL∞Ms because “in this cold weather, you have the warmest welcome!” To transition into “Karera,” Sheena continued to express her gratitude for BL∞Ms, in addition to providing some warm words of advice inspired by the song’s lyrics: “Life is not a race; you are meant where you are right now.” BINI wrapped up this segment of their concert with a passionate performance of the confidence-booster track “Strings.”
Welcome To The BINIverse
BINI returned onstage with a “BINI-esque” interpretation of deconstructed streetwear. The members added a feminine flair to jerseys, biker jackets, and even Muay Thai shorts. For this portion of the concert, BINI showcased songs from their latest EP, BINIverse. They started strong with their first release of 2025, “Blink Twice.” The next song, their viral English single “Cherry On Top,” had the audience ecstatic as everyone sang along to the infectious melody. “Out Of My Head” kept the party going as BINI interacted with the crowd and invited them to jump along to the beat.
With neither BL∞Ms or BINI showing signs of slowing down, Aiah tapped in with the audience for an “energy check!” Aiah asked the audience which part of the Bay Area they were from, shouting out different cities. When she asked who was representing Daly City, she was met with resounding cheers for the major Filipino hub. After hyping up the audience, BINI slowed the pace down with “Secrets,” before picking it back up with “Zero Pressure.”
BINI kept the interactions going as they introduced their latest release, “Shagidi.” This special tour single highlights BINI’s heritage as a dance-funk twist on the traditional Filipino game of the same name. The members began with a brief example of the “follow-the-leader” rhythm game, then invited audiences to follow along during their energetic performance.
BL∞Ming With Gratitude
As the night drew to a close, BINI gave some special shoutouts. They started off by acknowledging ABS-CBN Corporation and The Filipino Channel (TFC), highlighting TFC celebrating its 30th anniversary. They affectionately thanked their fellow Filipina, Ashley Mehta, who opened the concert, and shouted out iconic Bay Area-raised Filipina rapper, Ruby Ibarra, for coming out that night. Of course, BINI couldn’t forget their dedicated fanbase, Team Bloom USA, who “filled the tour with so much love.”
San Francisco, you had us like: 💯🎤💃🏼😭🙌🏻💓
— BINI_PH (@BINI_ph) June 19, 2025
You brought the love, the cheers, and all the feels at #BINIverseSanFrancisco.
Maraming salamat sa mainit na pagtanggap at walang-sawang suporta. 'Til next time, SanFo!
BINIVERSE IN THE BEYYY#BINI #BINIverse #BINIVerseWorldTour2025 pic.twitter.com/9MJqgvzu4d
As the auditorium filled with gratitude, BINI tapped into the sentimental vibes by transitioning into singing ballads. “Na Na Nandito Lang” had each of the members illuminated by a spotlight during their respective solos. When they followed up with “Here With You,” all the members gathered side-by-side to share the bright spotlight. These ballad performances proved that although each member is a powerhouse on their own, BINI shine the brightest when they all come together.
Can’t Wait To Go Back With BINI
BINI shared some special moments with BL∞Ms for their final few numbers. The members came back out in customized tour merchandise to suit each of their unique styles. Colet, Gwen, Stacey, and Sheena graced the aisles of the upper level during “Huwag Muna Tayong Umuwi.” For “Na Na Na,” Jhoanna, Aiah, Maloi, and Mikha paid a visit to the floor section — with Aiah and Maloi even completing hand hearts with EnVi!
The octet closed off the show on a high-note with their most popular track, “Pantropiko.” This drum-heavy and electric guitar remix of the song featured two hard-hitting dance breaks. Each member brought their A-game during the high energy, isolation heavy routine. The fans fiercely rooted BINI on as they gave it their all for the final number. If two dance breaks weren’t enough, BINI also incorporated an interactive element. After dividing the crowd into left, right, and middle, BINI had each division battle each other with chants and a simple, yet cute, eight-count dance.
The instrumental for “Pantropiko” lingered in the background as BINI bid farewell. They basked in the moment, continuously bowing to a crowd whose applause showed no signs of ceasing.
Verdict
It is no surprise that the region that birthed the hyphy movement was persistent in giving BINI the utmost enthusiasm right up to the very end. The group members were constantly in awe of the overflowing support, from taking out their in-ear monitors to hear the crowd’s volume to even joining in on the crowd’s chants. At times, it felt like BL∞Ms were putting on their own performance from their seats as they sang in harmony and danced in perfect unison to all of BINI’s hits.
BINI had something to prove during their first appearance in the Bay Area — and they went above and beyond to deliver! Their stellar performance was enough to convert any curious concert attendee to a full-blown BL∞M. Even with back-to-back numbers, intense choreography, and vocally demanding songs, BINI’s energy never faltered even for a moment — even though they had just completed three consecutive days of concerts. Above all else, the eight members still allocated plenty of time to interact with BL∞Ms, peppering their performance with sincere gestures that touched the hearts of longtime, long-distance supporters.
Embedded within every BINI performance is a sense of national pride and empowerment, and that was truly expressed through the diverse fans that attended the concert. It was amazing to see a crowd of all ages united thanks to BINI’s message and music. EnVi witnessed an elementary-school aged child shedding tears just from the team’s introduction. Just a few seats down, a tito nailed all of BINI’s choreography with a lightstick in his hand. The most powerful thing an artist can do is create community, and the “BINIverse World Tour 2025” in San Francisco was proof of that.
Feeling concert FOMO? Check out EnVi’s coverage of ONE OR EIGHT’s Los Angeles concert here!
