Philippine Pop Culture by Angel Alexah R. Pius

INTRODUCTION

aapius — 2025-03-07 10:10:43 UTC

Good day! My name is Alexah Pius and I am currently studying Bachelor of Science – Psychology at Mapúa Malayan Mindanao. Studying Psychology has enabled me to assess how such trends can influence and even transform what people do and how they want to be perceived within Filipino society. The topics I find really fascinating include TikTok trends, OPM and P-Pop songs, memes, Digital Influencers & mobile games. They are not only exotic novelties but are applicable and explain how Filipinos speak, interact, and connect with others. Every occurrence such as the creativity in the TikTok dance, or the popularity of songs produced in the local languages are interesting windows into social inclusion that I always value.

POP CULTURE TREND

aapius — 2025-03-07 10:11:46 UTC

In this project, I want to focus on the P-pop groups like BINI, which rose to fame from between 2023-2024 and I have chosen this trend because P-pop is no longer just a genre in the context of music but became a trending topic uniting young Filipinos with the sense of nationalism. BINI and other groups have already tasted the international scene; this brings about a new wave of Filipino talents that are already at par with the international pop scene but at the same time is Filipino pride. This is especially significant to the people of the Philippines and to the Philippines in its entirety because this simply proves that talent born and bred in the Philippines, can indeed have a place and share a stage in the global entertainment industry, not only in music, but regarding the dominating culture as well. P-pop is not simply a musical genre, but it is the pride and unity of the Filipino people.

aapius — 2025-03-07 10:14:41 UTC

ANALYZING

aapius — 2025-03-07 10:15:34 UTC

The increase in P-pop groups like BINI is a sign and symbol that utilizes signs in depicting aspects of Filipino culture and society. For example, in BINI’s music videos and performances, they incorporate Filipino cultural elements such as the clothing they wear, which has Filipino motifs, and the inclusion of Filipino language in their songs. These symbols of culture function as semiotic modes in that they provide signification of belonging and pride for the Filipino fans. On top of that, the movements of the P-pop idols and the clothing they wear narrate the story of the young generation of Filipinos with echoes of local cultures on borrowed and altered top-bottom globalized popular cultures. These elements allow the Filipino fans to identify with the idols more culturally which strengthens the belief that P-pop is the expression of Filipino pride as seen from an international standpoint

aapius — 2025-03-07 10:16:06 UTC

In addition, P-pop groups such as BINI employ semiotic slogans, hand gestures, and icons for the fans to foster unity among the fans. These dances are sung in concerts or recorded for the fans to interpret for those fans who also wish to express their persona or the youth Filipino movement. In the case of P-pop, the fans are provided with tools by which they can show love and support, as well as be active in the construction of a postmillennial Filipino subjectivity anchored on traditional nationalist values. This application of semiotics supports the assertion made in this paper that popular culture is not just a source of passing entertainment but actual construction of social relations and subjectivity.

aapius — 2025-03-07 10:16:41 UTC

Picture from ABS CBN