Meet the Ppop Idols Performing at Waterbomb Manila 2025

Ppop is making waves! Meet the only Ppop idols at the wettest music festival—your new Filipino idols to rave about!

Proudly representing Ppop at Waterbomb Manila 2025 on February 22-23 at Quirino Grandstand are Zéla and BILIB, also repping Team Blue. They're set to showcase Filipino talent on the Manila stop of one of South Korea’s popular music festival.

In a press conference held on January 27 at Mellow D Cafe in Quezon City, BILIB and Zéla shared their reactions, preparations, and post-festival plans. But first, let’s get to know these rising stars.

Meet Zéla

It’s not every day we get to know soloists in the Ppop scene and Zéla (pronounced as Zeyla) is here to break the norm. A Filipino-American under AQ Prime Music, she is an all-rounder—singer, songwriter, rapper, and dancer. This Ppop soloist co-wrote her debut single “Karma” and recent single “01/01.”

Meet BILIB

If you attended the recent KPOP CON 12, you’ve probably watched BILIB perform live and serve talent. This seven-member Ppop group under the same label debuted on July 7, 2023, with “KABANATA.” They currently have four singles available on all streaming platforms with ”SAY WHATCHA WANNA SAY” being their latest.

Get to know the members (from left to right) and their roles:

• Yukito – Leader
• Clyde – Main Dancer
• Zio (pronounced Zee-yo) – Rapper
• Rafael – Main Vocalist
• RC – Visual
• Jmac (pronounced Jay-mac) – Lead Dancer
• Carlo – Lead Vocalist

A WATERBOMB-ing preparation and many more

Preparations are in full swing as they undergo intense training, maintain a proper diet, and stay active for their performance, and boundless energy to keep nerves in check. “Gusto naman po natin talaga na i-make the most out of it, parang ganun. So handa naman po kaming magpakita ng a little bit of skin,” they shared. They will kick off the second day of the festival with 15-minute sets.

“Ang BILIB at si Zéla, araw araw kaming nasa gym, working on our bodies, mga kung ano ano na pong ginagawa namin just to improve yung physiques natin,” they added. “Physically we are trying to do our best para naman magpakita ng a little bit of spice—na first ever din nila makikita sa Waterbomb (from us).”

Zéla also teased her setlist, saying, “For sure po I’m going to perform my debut single ‘Karma’ and then yung latest single ko po, I’m gonna perform that one, too—yung ‘01/01.’ And, maybe, there’s more. Abangan niyo po.”

When asked by CNA K-pop how their management broke the news and what their reactions were, Yukito spoke for the bunch confessing, “Nag Christmas Party po kami.” He continued onto saying that they were surprised by Atty. Aldwin (AQ Prime Music’s President and CEO) by saying, ‘Oh, maghanda na kayo kasi magpeperform kayo sa Waterbomb.’ They weren’t able to absorb and react to the news at first, but when attorney repeated it, they all jumped for joy.

With a star-studded lineup of K-hip-hop and K-pop artists, the performers eagerly shared who they admired and were excited to see. Zio jokingly answered, “Si Zio po,” earning laughs before revealing his real picks: Epik High, Chanyeol, Hanbin (B.I.), and BamBam. Rafael named Chanyeol and Dynamic Duo, while Clyde chose Kang Daniel, Chanyeol, and VIVIZ. Yukito picked VIVIZ, Zéla and Carlo went with the iconic Jessi, and RC added Lee Chaeyeon and Kwon Eunbi to the mix. Jmac rounded it out with Chanyeol and Jessi.

Of course, just like any other artist, the question as for what’s next after Waterbomb Manila was inevitably asked. Yukito hinted at an upcoming surprise. “We’re supposedly preparing for that surprise. So, pero dahil nagkaroon nga (ng) Waterbomb, medyo na-modify a bit. A bigger surprise. Kailangan tapusin muna natin ang Waterbomb then, right after that, we’ll be announcing… yeah the bomb.”

Zéla also teased, “Abangan niyo po after waterbomb madami pong mangyayari. Marami pong i-lo-look forward yung mga Zaylors (her fandom) ko sa mga upcoming events.”

Oh, you bet we’re keeping our eyes on these rising Ppop stars—they’ve got the talent and the humility to go big! Bearpeu is already adding SAY WHATCHA WANNA SAY and 01/01 to their daily playlist. What about you, bepeus?