In a world where many stick to their comfort zones and play it safe, there are those who leap into the unknown with nothing but faith and a fierce determination. Meet BINI’s Colet Vergara, a true go-getter who embodies this adventurous spirit. Her journey is a testament to the power of embracing the unexpected and pushing boundaries to uncover her true potential.

Colet’s story isn’t your typical rise to fame. Before becoming part of Nation’s Girl Group, BINI, she was a timid girl with dreams far beyond her small hometown. Despite the challenges, her courage and resilience led her from local auditions to the spotlight of one of the hottest P-Pop groups today. Her journey is a vivid example of how stepping out of one’s comfort zone can lead to extraordinary achievements.

In this episode of Kuan On One hosted by Melai Cantiveros, Colet opens up about her rise from a shy Boholana to a powerhouse performer with BINI. Trust us, you won’t want to miss her candid moments, rap skills, and reflections on her incredible path to stardom.

As the lead rapper, lead dancer, and main vocalist of BINI, Colet is a triple threat. We couldn’t let this chance slip by without asking for a sample rap, and she delivered with an exciting performance that left everyone in awe. Beneath her on-stage prowess, Colet admits she’s naturally shy. But her Bisdak roots keep her tough enough to push through her comfort zone.

Although naturally introverted, Colet surprised herself when she mustered the courage to audition for “Tawag Ng Tanghalan” and made it through. Unfortunately, she had to skip performing on the “It’s Showtime” stage because she was graduating high school and needed to prioritize her studies over her singing ambitions at that time.

Her breakthrough came when she auditioned for “Pinoy Big Brother.” This was a significant step away from her usual reserved self. During the audition, she felt an inexplicable confidence, as if everything else, including her classmates and friends who came with her, faded into the background, leaving only her and her talent on stage. She kept her plans a secret from her parents because they had previously denied her permission to travel to Cebu for another audition. Determined not to miss this opportunity, she promised herself she would seize any chance that would come her way once PBB hold auditions in Bohol.

On the day of the audition, Colet woke up early, got ready, and only then informed her parents about her plans since she needed a ride to the audition venue in a mall. Although she didn’t make it into the PBB house, she was accepted into the Star Hunt camp, where she trained to become part of what would become one of the hottest P-Pop groups today, BINI.

But joining BINI was just the beginning of her journey. As BINI Aiah mentioned in the previous episode, Colet experienced the same struggles and moments of wanting to give up. The pandemic locked them in a training house, cut off from their families who could only wave from outside. Despite the isolation, they continued to train, maintaining strict diets and balancing online classes. The ABS-CBN shutdown further cast uncertainty over their future, adding to their challenges and testing their perseverance.

The journey to transform BINI into the world-class performers they are today was no easy feat. What kept Colet motivated was her determination not to let her efforts go to waste and not to abandon what she had started. The girls drew strength and inspiration from each other throughout.

A line from BINI’s song “8,” which Colet wrote in Grade 8, captures this spirit perfectly: “Mga tawa, iyak, at sigaw ng tagumpay, lahat ng ‘to sa atin nagpapatibay. Sa bawat alaala, akin itong iaalay.” This song, written long before she joined BINI or even dreamed of becoming a P-Pop idol, feels like a premonition of her journey with the group. It symbolizes sharing dreams, joys, and struggles with her fellow members.

Fangirl Moments

There’s no denying that BINI has millions of fans now, but for Colet, her inner fangirl is still alive and well. She began by idolizing Sarah Geronimo, whose talent and performances inspired her to hone her own skills. Colet is also a huge fan of K-Pop groups like EXO and Korean actors such as Lee Jong-suk and Park Seo-joon, and she’s totally hooked on K-Dramas.

Given her love for Korean dramas, Colet is also intrigued by the idea of trying her hand at acting someday. While she has participated in acting workshops alongside her training in dance, singing, and modeling, she finds the thought of acting quite appealing. Her dream genre would be action-drama alongside Angel Locsin and Nadine Lustre. When Kuantie Melai pointed out that she resembles Nadine, the modest Colet just smiled and gave a charmingly funny Bisaya reaction.

“Walo hangtod sa katapusan”

No matter how popular BINI has become, their success was earned through hard work and prayers. That’s why Colet remains humble and grateful for what the group has achieved. As they say, “Malayo na pero malayo pa.

“Chini-cherish lang namin kung ano ang meron kami ngayon. Mahirap kasi kung mawala ito. Kapag bigla kasing nag-boom, sa isang iglap, lalo na kung magkasala kami, magka-issue lang, mawawala agad ang kasikatan,” she reflected.

BINI is a group of eight talented girls from different backgrounds. Colet admits that they initially had their share of conflicts, partly because, as a Bisaya, her loud voice was sometimes misunderstood as anger. However, they’ve learned that true unity requires understanding and adjusting to each other’s traits and moods. They’ve grown to support and understand each other, truly embodying their motto: “Walo hangtod sa katapusan” (walo hanggang dulo).

In the “Dakong Problema” segment, BINI Colet showed off her songwriting talent by performing a Bisaya piece she quickly put together at the special request of Kuantie Melai.

As the episode concluded with the “Ultimate Yawyaw” segment, Kuantie Melai expressed her pride in BINI’s journey and how they’ve achieved their dreams despite the time it took. She reminded everyone of the classic saying, “Patience is a virtue.”

Colet echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of perseverance. She used her favorite word, “puhon,” which means “someday,” as a reminder that with patience and determination, we’ll eventually achieve what we desire and deserve.