Fast-rising K-Pop boy group and Bench’s newest brand ambassadors, Stray Kids, recently graced Manila for a fan meet organized by the leading Filipino retail and lifestyle brand. In a by-invitation only press conference, the “thunderous ones” shared how their fans called ‘Stay’ give them the motivation and inspiration to be at their best, as well as what sets them, their music and performances apart from others in the industry.
By Ma. Angelica Demegillo
If you ask members of K-pop group Stray Kids to describe their music in just three words, they’d tell you these: Stay, Stray and Kids.
For the newest ambassadors of Bench, the Filipino clothing and lifestyle giant, their fans, they say, are the “reason” why they exist. To them, “Stays,” as the group’s growing legion of fans call themselves, are their inspiration and motivation in making music, along with their daily life experiences.
Where did the fandom name Stay come from? The group’s leader, Bang Chan, who effortlessly exuded a manly charm wearing a sleeveless Bench tee, explained that if you look at their team name Stray Kids and remove the R, the word stay was formed. The R, he said, stands for “reason” and Stays are the reason why Stray Kids exist.
In whatever members of Stray Kids do, the Stays always come to their minds. In preparing for performances, Han, the group’s so-called ace, said they always do their best to exceed Stays’ expectations. As for Felix, the deep-voiced rapper, Stays, he said, are the ones who keep them grounded.
“Throughout our journey, they really help remind us of who we are and what we’re capable of,” he said.
In April 2022, Bench proudly introduced Stray Kids as its newest brand ambassadors, and in November of the same year, it announced, much to its fans’ delight, the group’s impending visit to the country for a fan meet was announced.
And one warm Friday afternoon almost a week ago, the eight-member K-pop boy group composed of Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N, finally landed in Manila. During the press conference for their “Stay With Bench: The Stray Kids Fan Meet,” which took place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on the same day, the young idols, clad in white Bench t-shirts, paired with denim jeans and jackets, radiated brigh, squeaky clean auras—dazzling smiles, impeccable styling and all—as expected of Bench ambassadosr.
As a global BENCHsetter, dancer and rapper Hyunjin shared that he is honored and glad to be a member of the Bench family.
Despite their delayed flight on the way to the Philippines, they gamely answered questions from the members of the press, as soon as they arrived at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, showcasing their enthusiastic personalities.
“Stray Kids everywhere all around the world”
It isn’t the first time that the leading fourth-generation K-Pop idols have visited the Philippines. Bang Chan recalled the first time they visited the country, which was in April 2019 when they held their Unveil Tour “I Am” concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. He shared how the fans’ loud cheers pierced through their in-ears as they performed on stage, and that, for him, was a memory of Filipino Stays that he still holds dear in his heart.
“The energy was crazy!” The Korean-Australian idol exclaimed in English, his Australian accent very much evident as he spoke.
Fellow member Felix, who’s also Korean-Australian, likewise expressed in English how he felt very welcomed in the country, commending the Filipinos’ hospitality, overall warmth and respectful nature.
When asked what Filipino food they would like to try, if given a chance, Felix revealed that his Filipino friends from Australia recommended that he try the famous Filipino staple, adobo. Vocalist Seungmin couldn’t help but agree.
The group, which was formed from the 2017 Korean reality survival show titled Stray Kids, debuted in 2018 with the same name under JYP Entertainment. During the same year, they were hailed as Rookie Artist of the Year, thus adding a significant feather to their caps, so to speak. Since then, Stray Kids has climbed up the industry ladder, dominated international music charts, broke a number of records and held sold-out concerts globally.
Now with a solid fanbase both in South Korea and overseas, rapper and producer Changbin mentioned that getting “overflowing love and interest” from their fans allowed them “to live our lives happily.”
“It also allows us to realize our responsibility as artists where we have to also be able to reach the expectations of our fans, as well,” he said through an interpreter.
Known for their powerful hits “God’s Menu,” “Maniac,” “Thunderous,” “Case 143” and “Charmer,” among others, Stray Kids has etched their name in the industry as “self-producing” idols. Their ability to compose and produce their own songs, according to Changbin, is what sets them apart from other boy groups of their generation.
The producing sub-unit of the group called 3RACHA, composed of Bang Chan, Changbin and Han, play a huge part in the overall creative process of the group’s discography.
“Whenever we do our performances, we have our distinct or irreplaceable color that we hold on to,” he added. As part of their campaign as Bench’s newest ambassadors, members of Stray Kids recently held the “Stay With Bench: The Stray Kids Fan Meet” event last January 20 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, where they spent a whole night with STAYs, played some fun games and performed some of their greatest hit tracks, such as God’s Menu and Case 14
