The Boss and The Superior

 

Do you know that only two pure-blooded Filipinos have appeared on Grammy Global Spin to date? Yes, only two. The first pure Filipino to appear on Grammy Global Spin was Felip, also known as Ken, when he showcased his genre-bending solo song, Bulan in 2022. A tribute to the long-forgotten colorful mythology of the Philippines about the Moon God and his sister, Haliya. It was a song that delivered a hidden message about haters and how to deal with them, featuring the world of fantasy and mythical creatures. It was indeed a day to remember for the music fans in the country. Finally, a true representative of OPM on a Grammy stage.

@atinunited Watch FELIP-BULAN Full Performance on Grammy's Global Spin at it's YouTube channel Recording Academy/Grammy's. Congratulations @felipsuperior97 👏 #Felip #Bulan #grammysglobalspin #NegrosAUnited #fyp ♬ Bulan - Felip

Two years later, another pure-blooded Filipino debuted on the same platform, Felip's dear friend and Ken's group member, Josh Cullen. The two badasses of SB19 making waves on the global stage despite the naysayers and doubters. A testament to their powers as solo artists and members of a phenomenal group. Ken being the most hated member of the group, proved that haters don't have power over him. He controls his fate and the narrative, and no hate in this world can stop him. Josh, on the other hand, was the most doubted member of the group in terms of talent. Many believed he wouldn't make it as a solo artist, but he proved them wrong. Once called the least creative member of SB19, he is now writing and producing his own masterpieces.

Just six hours ago, he casually dropped a YouTube link from his performance for the Grammy Global Spin version of one of his latest singles, Yoko Na. A song encouraging us to finally let go of that toxic relationship that has been holding us down for far too long. It inspires us to finally open our eyes and realize that sometimes, walking away is the best thing to do for our own sake. There's a Filipino quote: "Lahat ng mabigat ay gumagaan kapag binibitawan."

There's nothing wrong with trying to fix something that is already broken, but we must learn when to stop. Oftentimes, we are blinded by love and obsession, and the fear of being alone that we would rather allow other people to use us, manipulate us, make us look like a fool, and tear us to pieces. We tend to forget ourselves because of love, but Josh wanted us to realize that maybe, it is time to put an end to that foolishness. Perhaps it is finally time for us to love ourselves more, to respect ourselves more, and to prioritize ourselves. Remember, self-love is as important as any kind of love. If you can't love and respect yourself and if you can't care for yourselves, how can you love, respect, and care for everybody else?

Photo from @esbi_yaya on Twitter (X)

Josh Cullen once said that not because he can't sing, he won't do it. Look at him now, representing the country well in different foreign lands with or without his group. He had been holding his ground so well, making us all proud to be Filipinos. People doubted him from the get-go, yet there he is, bagging one achievement after another, garnering recognition from Filipinos and foreigners alike. He keeps proving that there is no limitation he won't surpass, no barrier he won't break, and there is absolutely no feat he won't achieve. A living, breathing legend indeed.

Congratulations, Josh!