2018–2020: Formation and introduction

In 2018, ABS-CBN launched the Star Hunt Academy program, a project led by entertainment head Laurenti Dyogi to introduce Filipino talent to the international market.^[19] The first group of male trainees was selected from 250 auditionees aged 16–19 from across the Philippines. The group was initially planned to have seven members but was reduced to five. The final lineup consisted of Akira, Gelo, JL, Mikki, and Nate.^[19] The members trained for two years under Filipino and South Korean mentors from MU Doctor Academy.^[20] Vocal coach Kitchy Molina and Austrian-born dance coach Mickey Perz were among the group's mentors.^[21] Alongside their studies, Star Hunt Academy placed the trainees under a multidimensional development programme that emphasized discipline and holistic preparation for performance.^[22] Their pre-debut regimen included three-hour vocal lessons twice a week and six-hour choreography sessions four times a week. During the COVID-19 lockdown, training continued, with communication with local and South Korean voice and dance coaches conducted largely through video calls.^[11]

Academic studies have situated BGYO's formation within the wider localization of Korean-influenced idol systems in Philippine pop. Domingo discussed the group's training under Korean coaches as part of the emergence of locally produced K-pop-inspired acts, while Gimoto and colleagues included BGYO among new-generation P-pop groups whose management adapted elements of South Korea's star-making system to the Philippine context.^[23][24]

On August 3, 2019, the five members were officially introduced as Star Hunt trainees during the online pre-show of the Big Night of Pinoy Big Brother: Otso, where they performed.^[25] During their pre-debut period, the five-member lineup became publicly known as the Star Hunt Academy Boys, or SHA Boys, a name they used before formally debuting as BGYO.^[19] They also attended the 2019 Southeast Asian Games thanksgiving celebration.^[25]

In May 2020, Dyogi released a dance practice video of Akira, Gelo, Mikki, and Nate dancing to Seventeen's "Let Me Hear You Say" to show their training progress.^[26] In the following months, the academy released vlogs of the trainees on YouTube and performance videos on Twitter.^[27] The group was also invited to perform at "Happy Hallyu Day 4", which was held on August 22 and 29.^[28] On October 18, the SHA Boys appeared on ASAP Natin 'To and performed BTS' hit song "On".^[29] On October 31, they also performed at the "2020 Philippines-Korea Cultural Exchange Festival".^[30] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the five trainees lived together in one house and continued training in singing, dancing, and choreography. They discussed the arrangement during an appearance on the morning talk show Magandang Buhay later that year.^[31]

On December 4, 2020, the group's January 2021 debut was announced, along with the signing of contracts with Star Magic and record label Star Music.^[32] On December 6, the group performed at the opening of Pinoy Big Brother: Connect.^[33] On December 12, the group appeared on It's Showtime, where they performed Sarah Geronimo's songs "Tala" and "Kilometro".^[34]

2021: Debut and The Light

On January 13, 2021, the Star Hunt Academy Boys were formally introduced under the name BGYO.^[35] The group made their official debut on January 29 with "The Light".^[36] Their second single, "He's Into Her", was released on April 23 as the theme song of the iWantTFC series He's Into Her.^[37] Following its release, BGYO entered Billboard's weekly Next Big Sound chart at number two in May.^[38] Also in May, BGYO collaborated with KZ Tandingan on "Feel Good Pilipinas", the soundtrack of ABS-CBN's 2021 Summer Special ID.^[39]

That month, BGYO appeared on Coke Studio Philippines alongside singer-songwriter Keiko Necesario, with the two acts performing reinterpretations of each other's songs. BGYO covered Necesario's "While We Are Young", while Necesario performed an acoustic rendition of "The Light".^[40] The two acts subsequently collaborated on the original single "Runnin'" in June.^[41]

In August, the group released "The Baddest"; following the release, BGYO rose to number one on the Next Big Sound chart, becoming the first Filipino act to reach the top position.^[7] The group also reached number one on the Pandora Predictions Chart with the single.^[42] In September, BGYO introduced "Kulay", their first song performed entirely in Filipino, during the National Costume presentation of Miss Universe Philippines 2021.^[43]

BGYO released their debut studio album, The Light, on October 7, 2021. The album reached number one on the iTunes Albums Chart in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.^[44] It remained atop the iTunes Philippines Top 100 Albums chart for 12 consecutive days, which GMA later described as the longest such run by a Filipino act.^[45] In October, BGYO and BINI were featured as MTV Asia Spotlight artists for October and November, with exclusive performances and variety content released through the network.^[46] On November 6 and 7, BGYO and sibling group BINI headlined the two-night virtual concert One Dream: The BINI & BGYO Concert, their first concert as headliners.^[47] The following month, the group made their international live debut at the 1MX music festival in Dubai on December 3.^[48]

2022: Be Us and expanded activities

In January 2022, BGYO and sibling group BINI were selected to represent Filipino artists at the grand finals of Uplive WorldStage, an annual global livestream singing competition.^[49] In February, BGYO and BINI became the first Filipino acts featured on NFT covers of the Dubai-based XPEDITION magazine.^[18] In March, BGYO was selected for Spotify's 2022 RADAR Philippines artist lineup, part of the streaming platform's global programme for emerging artists.^[50]

During the year, BGYO released several soundtrack and collaborative singles, including "Mahal Na Kita", "Up!" with BINI, "Best Time", and "Patuloy Lang ang Lipad" for the television series Darna. In April, the group was among the headline acts at the inaugural PPOPCON, a two-day P-pop convention that culminated in a concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.^[51] In May, BGYO appeared in the Philippines edition of Arirang TV's Simply K-Pop Con-Tour, where they connected with international viewers and performed excerpts of "The Light" and "Best Time".^[52]

In June, BGYO's recordings of "He's Into Her", "Kundiman" and "The Baddest" were selected for the Lunar Codex's Polaris Collection, an international archive of contemporary cultural works intended for preservation on the Moon.^[53] In July, they released "Tumitigil ang Mundo", which served as the lead single for their second studio album.^[1] The following day, BGYO performed at the inaugural Tugatog Filipino Music Festival at the SM Mall of Asia Arena alongside other P-pop acts.^[54] The group also held their first mall tour, the Best Time with BGYO Mall Tour, from July to August.^[55] In September, BGYO staged Celestial Spaces with H&M, the first concert in the retailer's virtual universe.^[56]

The group followed "Tumitigil ang Mundo" with "Magnet". On October 29, BGYO performed at Hallyuween 2022 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the first K-pop Halloween party in the Philippines; they were the only P-pop act in a lineup that included CL, Epik High, Pentagon, KARD, Gaho and DJ Soda.^[57] BGYO released their second studio album, BE:US, on November 3.^[58] The album, whose key track was "PNGNP", reached number one on the iTunes Albums Chart in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. BGYO subsequently travelled to the United States for a promotional tour supporting the album.^[59]

2023: Be Us showcase and international activities

In May 2023, BGYO marked their second anniversary with the Be Us album showcase at the SM City North EDSA Skydome, where they presented material from the album in a full-length live showcase.^[60] That month, BGYO was the only Filipino act included in Grammy.com's "The Many Sounds of Asian Pop", a Recording Academy feature highlighting ten artists from across Asia.^[61] On July 16, BGYO performed at the PPOPCON Manila 2023 concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, which concluded the three-day P-pop convention.^[62] In September, the group performed at 1MX Toronto at the Budweiser Stage, as the travelling Asian music festival made its North American debut.^[63] The same year, Akira and JL formed BGYO's first sub-unit and released "Be Mine". In November, BGYO recorded a version of the chorus of NSYNC's "Better Place" for the official soundtrack of Trolls Band Together in the Philippines.^[64] Later that month, the full group returned with "Bulalakaw", their first group release since Be Us; the single reached number one on the iTunes chart in the Philippines, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.^[65][66]

2024: Musical transition and international activities

BGYO opened 2024 with "Patintero" on February 9. The release marked a more hands-on period for the group, with the members becoming increasingly involved in the ideas, lyrics and musical direction of their new material.^[67] That year, BGYO also performed at the National Capital Region opening of National Arts Month, an annual celebration organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.^[68] They subsequently released "Uuwian (Reprise)" and "Gigil"; the latter reached number one on iTunes charts in the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.^[69] They later issued "Trash" on August 22. For the single, BGYO worked with Grammy-winning producer Lostboy and Grammy-nominated producer Tele; the track introduced what the group described as their "fresh pop" sound, an experimental blend of R&B and dance music that became central to their subsequent releases.^[70]

In June 2024, BGYO filed cyberlibel and unjust vexation complaints against several social media users over online posts that the group alleged were defamatory.^[71] During the latter half of the year, the group undertook a series of performances in the United States and Canada, including ASAP Live in California, MYX Presents at the 626 Night Market in Arcadia, Fiesta Filipino in Calgary and Fun Philippines in Toronto.^[72] In San Francisco, they were among the headline artists at the 31st Pistahan Parade and Festival as part of TFC's 30th-anniversary celebration.^[73]

2025: EP releases, international festivals, and first solo concert

In March 2025, BGYO released their first extended play, the self-titled BGYO. The five-track project continued the "fresh pop" direction introduced with "Trash" and included "Divine", "Light My Fire", "Heartstrings" and "Andito Lang".^[74] On May 3, the group opened the first day of the Aurora Music Festival at Clark Global City in Pampanga, performing a set that included "Light My Fire", "Andito Lang" and "Magnet".^[75] Later that year, Billboard Philippines selected BGYO as one of six acts in its inaugural P-pop Rising Class of 2025, which the publication presented as representatives of the genre's next wave.^[9]

On July 5, BGYO appeared as special guests at Thai actor-singer Boss Chaikamon's Dream Warrior Concert at Sphere Hall in Bangkok.^[76] On August 23 and 24, BGYO became the first Filipino performers at the Summer Sonic Festival through Summer Sonic Bangkok 2025, where they were also the only Filipino act in the lineup.^[13]

Their second EP of the year, Headlines, was released on September 25 and included "All These Ladies", "Dance With Me", "Aloe Vera" and its title track.^[13] On October 4, the group staged BGYO Now at the New Frontier Theater, their first major solo concert since debuting in 2021.^[14]

2026: D.U.N.K. Showcase, On Demand, and group acting projects

BGYO began 2026 with "Fresh", released on February 19 as a pre-release single for their next EP.^[77] On March 14, the group performed on the second day of the D.U.N.K. Showcase in K-Arena Yokohama 2026 in Japan, appearing alongside artists from Japan and Thailand.^[15] In May, all five members made their first acting appearance together as a complete group in the GMA Network musical drama Born to Shine.^[78]

On June 4, BGYO released their third EP, On Demand. The seven-track record included "Fresh", "Forever Tonight", "Life's Too Short", "Mean Girl", "Raindrop", "Trono" and "Sinta", and continued the group's exploration of pop, R&B, funk, neo-soul and dance-pop.^[10] On June 24, the group appeared as alumni of Billboard Philippines' 2025 P-pop Rising Class at the inaugural P-POP UNITE: The Convention in Makati.^[79] In July, BGYO began the nationwide On Demand SM Supermalls Tour in support of the EP.^[80] In August, they began starring in BGYO: Vertical on Demand, a four-part digital series in which all five members take lead roles in stories tied to the EP's era.^[81]

Musical style and themes

BGYO's music has moved across pop, R&B, electronic dance music, disco, dance-pop, funk, neo soul and related styles. Their debut single, "The Light", centred on empowerment, hope and self-love; the members co-wrote the song with songwriter Distract.^[11] Their second studio album, BE:US, broadened this range through experiments with EDM, pop and disco while drawing on Filipino roots through a contemporary treatment of love and courtship.^[60]

"All These Ladies"

A 20-second excerpt from "All These Ladies", illustrating the song's polished pop production, group vocals and central hook discussed by music publications.

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Problems playing this file? See media help.

From 2024, the group began using the term "fresh pop" for the direction introduced with "Trash".^[70] Their self-titled BGYO EP continued that transition;^[74] in a mid-year staff selection, Billboard Philippines described the record as possibly their most cohesive release to that point, highlighting its blend of 2000s boy-band pop and R&B, catchy hooks, prominent vocals and layered instrumentation.^[82] "All These Ladies" further developed this polished pop direction. Rolling Stone Philippines noted the song's sleek group dynamics and polished production,^[83] while Billboard Philippines later included the track among its 25 Best Filipino Songs of 2025, describing it as one of BGYO's best songs and highlighting its blend of catchy hooks, smooth vocals and energetic beats.^[84] The publication has also characterized BGYO's discography as combining heartfelt emotion with energetic performance and recurring themes of self-discovery, growth, perseverance and positivity.^[9]

By 2026, On Demand further widened the group's palette through pop, neo-soul, funk, dance-pop and R&B while retaining what Billboard Philippines described as a cohesive identity.^[10] ELLE Singapore similarly characterized BGYO's overall sound as an energetic blend of electronic dance-pop, R&B and soul, supported by the group's vocal and dance performance.^[85]

Academic interpretations have also framed BGYO's artistry through cultural hybridization and the negotiation of Filipino identity. Domingo used BGYO alongside other contemporary P-pop groups to illustrate how Korean-derived pop structures can coexist with local markers, including vernacular language and identification with OPM.^[23] In the chapter "Pop Filipino-ness" from Pop Convergence: Musical Multimedia in Manila, ethnomusicologist James Gabrillo identified BGYO as one of the key case studies in a P-pop movement that combines Filipino indigenous, folk, colonial, postmodern and futurist references with musical, stylistic and presentational approaches associated with K-pop.^[86]

Influences and performance style

The members have cited a range of Filipino and international artists as influences. In a 2024 interview with EnVi Media, Mikki identified Gary Valenciano and BTS as the group's principal inspirations, while the members also discussed listening to artists spanning pop, electronic music and contemporary Filipino R&B.^[87] Earlier interviews likewise cited K-pop acts including Exo, Got7 and Wanna One, alongside artists such as Shawn Mendes, Erik Santos and Regine Velasquez.^[88]

Dance and coordinated performance are central to the group's performance identity. The members have cited American dance crew Jabbawockeez as an influence, and the crew later performed a dance cover of BGYO's "The Baddest".^[89] Billboard Philippines has described BGYO as being known for smooth vocals and intricate choreography.^[9] Their performance approach was shaped by the intensive vocal and dance preparation of their pre-debut years, which combined regular vocal coaching with extended choreography training under Filipino and South Korean mentors.^[11] Later coverage continued to emphasize the combination of singing and movement in the group's presentation; ELLE Singapore characterized BGYO's sound as being supported by their vocal and dance performance.^[85]

The group's stage presentation has also evolved alongside its musical direction. As BGYO moved toward the "fresh pop" sound introduced with "Trash", coverage of their subsequent releases increasingly highlighted the interaction between polished pop production, group vocals and performance-oriented material.^[70][74] This development remained evident in "All These Ladies", which Rolling Stone Philippines noted for its polished group dynamics and production, while Billboard Philippines highlighted the song's smooth vocals, energetic beats and prominent hooks.^[83][84]

Songwriting and creative development

The members' participation in songwriting and musical decision-making has increased over the course of their career. Beyond co-writing "The Light",^[11] the group described the making of their 2025 self-titled EP as a more collaborative process with their production team. In an interview with Billboard Philippines, Gelo said that the members had become more hands-on than in their earlier years, particularly in decisions concerning genre, musical direction and what they wanted to represent as a group. Akira likewise discussed how creative choices affected vocal delivery and emotional interpretation, while the members described adjusting collectively when the group agreed on an artistic decision.^[12]

Their creative development was also shaped by working with international producers and songwriters. The group described adapting to different recording methods while collaborating with overseas producers, including remote recording sessions. A music camp in Davao brought them together with songwriters and producers from different countries, including Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated participants, and was where "Trash" was developed. The members later cited the experience as part of their growing involvement in the direction of their music and their practice of making creative decisions collectively.^[12]

Songwriting credits became more visible in the group's 2025 releases. Mikki and Nate co-wrote "All These Ladies" with Ron Robinson Jr., Ebonie Smith, Greg Shilling and Stephen Santa Teresa,^[90] and were also among the writers of "Headlines", which was developed during an ABS-CBN Music Camp and incorporated Y2K R&B influences.^[91] They subsequently received co-writing credits on "Dance With Me" alongside JBach, Aaron Paris, Tommy Brown, Courtlin Jabrae Edwards and Khimo Gumatay.^[92] The recurring credits reflected the group's increasing participation in the writing and creative development of their releases. Looking across their three EP releases from 2025 to 2026, Billboard Philippines later described them as showing BGYO's growth as both artists and songwriters while expanding their signature sound.^[8]

Digital culture and fandom

Academic studies of contemporary P-pop have included BGYO in discussions of digital media and participatory fan culture. Gimoto and colleagues examined BGYO among new-generation P-pop groups whose recognition developed alongside participatory Gen Z fandom on social media.^[95] Gabrillo similarly situated BGYO within the pandemic-era rise of P-pop, which developed heavily through digital, virtual and mobile media, including platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Kumu.^[86]

Endorsements

BGYO has entered into endorsement agreements with several brands. On February 10, 2022, the group became one of the ambassadors for Xiaomi's Redmi Note 11 series.^[96] On February 17, BGYO became an ambassador for H&M and the first Filipino artist featured in the fashion retailer's "Music x ME" campaign, which highlighted emerging OPM artists.^[97][98]

On April 2, 2022, BGYO became endorsers of Mentos and recorded the campaign jingle "Say Yes! To Fresh".^[99] The group has also served as a brand ambassador for TNT, Chowking, and Sprite, and contributed vocals to the campaign "Cool Ka Lang".^[100]

Partnerships

In March 2021, BGYO joined ABS-CBN's partnership with live-streaming platform Kumu, which brought Kapamilya artists and P-pop acts onto the service for streaming activities and campaigns.^[101]

In July 2022, BGYO partnered with Viber through the platform's "Backstage Pass Channel", an online community through which the group interacted with fans.^[102] In September, the group took part in H&M's first collaboration with Filipino streetwear brand Don't Blame the Kids (DBTK), whose collection formed part of the "The World is My Home" campaign.^[103]

Fashion

BGYO began receiving sustained coverage from fashion and style publications in 2022. In May, Metro.Style published the retrospective "15 Times BGYO Cemented Their Status As Style Kings", which highlighted the group's coordinated looks and their development of individual styles within the quintet.^[104] Later that year, Teen Vogue featured the five members in its Snapshot! series, discussing their respective fashion influences, their approach to coordinating outfits as a group, and their aspirations to further explore fashion and runway work.^[105]

In 2023, Preview included BGYO in its annual Best Dressed List, describing the quintet as a growing force in Filipino fashion and highlighting how the members retained their individual identities while maintaining a cohesive group image.^[106] At the ABS-CBN Ball in October, MEGA examined the styling of all five members, noting the group's combination of pieces associated with international fashion houses including Dior, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Dries Van Noten, and Celine with pieces by Filipino designers including Bon Hansen and Blackcode Manila.^[107] In December, MEGA Man named BGYO among its "10 Most Stylish Gentlemen of 2023", citing the group's cohesive and distinctive off-stage fashion.^[108]

The group's involvement in fashion expanded in 2024. In June, all five members walked the runway for Filipino designer Bang Pineda's State of Bang fashion show. MEGA described their looks as denim interpretations that deconstructed traditionally dapper menswear.^[109] The following month, L'Officiel Philippines published "BGYO's Style Evolution", a retrospective examining the development of the quintet's fashion identity and the distinct aesthetics adopted by each member within the group's overall image.^[110]

In September, EnVi Media profiled BGYO and examined fashion as part of the group's developing creative identity. The members discussed their collaboration with stylist and creative director Aaron Mangsat, explaining that they took part in styling meetings for music videos and performances. Nate described their fashion activities as a source of inspiration for their music and for characters they could portray in future projects, while the group expressed an interest in pursuing further runway opportunities.^[87]

In October, BGYO appeared at Los Angeles Fashion Week, where the quintet participated as both models and performers. In its year-end fashion review, EnVi Media included BGYO among its "Best Dressed Men of 2024 From A to Z". The publication characterized the group's style as balancing coordination with the members' individual identities and cited their expanding runway presence during the year.^[111]

The group's fashion presence continued in 2025. At the Filipino Music Awards, MEGA highlighted BGYO among the event's notable fashion appearances, with the members wearing coordinated white-and-gold ensembles by Aaron Mangsat.^[112]

Philanthropy

The members of BGYO became involved in youth advocacy and charitable activities during their pre-debut period as Star Hunt Academy trainees. In 2019, they participated in the National Youth Commission's FitFil Youth Against Drugs campaign and were appointed youth ambassadors.^[113]

In 2020, while still known as the Star Hunt Academy Boys or SHA Boys, the group participated in KTnX Ang Babait Ninyo, the fundraising pre-show for the ABS-CBN Christmas Special. Ticket sales from the event were donated to the ABS-CBN Foundation's Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-Ahon campaign for victims of recent typhoons.^[114]

In January 2022, BGYO participated in Truth or Dare, an interactive benefit show under ABS-CBN and the ABS-CBN Foundation's Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-Ahon: Isang Daan sa Pagtutulungan fundraising campaign for survivors of Typhoon Odette.^[115] In March, the group took part in the third installment of the By Request online benefit concert series, in which participating artists performed requested songs to encourage donations for families affected by the typhoon.^[116] BGYO members Akira and JL also participated in Star Magic Game Zone, another fundraising activity that encouraged donations for home repair kits for families whose homes were damaged by Odette.^[117] In July, BGYO performed at Be You: The World Will Adjust, an advocacy concert held to celebrate and raise awareness about people with special needs.^[118]

In 2023, BGYO performed "Paraiso" at Pista ng Pag-Asa: Alay Kapwa Commitment Night, an event held in support of Caritas Philippines' Alay Kapwa humanitarian and resource-mobilization program.^[119][120]

In October 2024, BGYO volunteered in the ABS-CBN Foundation's relief operations for communities affected by Tropical Storm Kristine, helping pack 4,000 relief goods for distribution to affected families.^[121] Later that year, the group performed in Shine Kapamilya: Tulong-Tulong Ngayong Pasko, an ABS-CBN Christmas special that also sought to raise funds for the ABS-CBN Foundation's Tulong-Tulong Kapamilya campaign for communities affected by typhoons.^[122]

In February 2025, BGYO performed at MusiKythe: Kamp Jamboree, the first benefit concert organized by Kythe-Ateneo for pediatric patients. The concert raised ₱120,000 from ticket sales and donations, with the proceeds awarded to the Kythe Foundation to support its programs and initiatives.^[123]

In July 2026, BGYO was among the Kapamilya artists who appeared at an outreach program held in conjunction with an ABS-CBN Foundation medical mission during South Cotabato's T'nalak Festival. The outreach provided free medical and mental health consultations, psychosocial support services, and disaster-preparedness orientation, with children and teenagers among its primary beneficiaries.^[124]