Unis’ Elisia finds inspiration in Bini and SB19’s global success
If you had put her younger self in a room full of strangers to talk—much less sing—Elisia Parmisano says she would have probably just ended up crying. But after years of training and performing with the K-pop girl group Unis, she has become a confident performer—especially in her singing—so much so that she wouldn’t even bat an eyelash if asked to sing live on the spot.
How about a few lines of “Araw-Gabi” by her favorite Filipino singer Regine Velasquez? Sure thing. Filipino idols are often praised for their exceptional vocal ability—or “throat chakra,” as they call it—and Elisia proves she belongs in that tradition.
“We Filipinos are known for our unique voices and the color of our tone. And I do practice a lot—karaoke is a great way!” she tells Lifestyle Inquirer.
Exploding with pride
Elisia, who became part of Unis in 2024 after ranking first overall in the survival reality show “Universe Ticket,” is one of the two main vocalists of the eight-member group behind the catchy pop hits “Superwoman,” “Curious,” and “Swicy.”
But more than upholding that distinction and living up to its pressure, she also aims to be an example of Filipino “passion, loyalty, and dedication” to their craft on the global stage.
“Now that I’m working as a Filipino idol abroad, I try to bring not only the name of Unis but also that of the Philippines, wherever I go,” says Elisia, who started in local showbiz at around seven or eight, appearing in theater and on television, before moving to South Korea at 13 to train under Starship Entertainment
Speaking of bringing Filipino talent around the world, the 17-year-old singer says her heart is “exploding with pride” after seeing Bini take the spotlight at Coachella and hearing about SB19’s upcoming performance at Lollapalooza.
“Seeing them and all their achievements also ignited a fire in me, and maybe even the rest of the group,” she says. “Those are our ates and kuyas. We respect them. Parang mas nakaka-motivate to do better.”
Shared ambition
This kind of international exposure is something she hopes for herself, her fellow members, and all the “young Filipino dreamers out there.” Gracing the world’s biggest, most influential music festivals would be “an honor,” to which she adds, “when the right time comes.”
“I hope more Filipinos can have the same opportunity in the future,” she says. “We’re all rooting each other.”
Elisia knows that realizing such a goal would require tremendous perseverance and hard work. However, she’s comforted by the fact that she has found not only peers, but also “sisters” within Unis who share the same purpose and ambition.
“Even if we have different cultures and nationalities, it’s our dream that unites us—it’s the reason we click together,” she says of the group, which is composed of fellow Filipino Gehlee, Koreans Hyeonju (who is a half Filipino), Yoona, and Yunha, and Japanese Nana and Kotoko.” “I used to be an only child at home, but now we’re eight!”
Second home
The girls live together in Seoul, and she has grown comfortable in the city enough to now call it her “second home.” Still, she gets homesick every now and then despite the almost nightly calls she has with her family. “Sometimes, there are work events or schedules when we’re not allowed to use our phones,” she says.
Thankfully, whenever she misses the Philippines a little more, she can always turn to Gehlee, whom she describes as “my ate from the very start.” Their bond, she says, was one of the things that helped her adjust to life in Korea. “We clicked not just as people who have the same experiences, but as friends and individuals.”
Amusingly, it’s in moments like those that Elisia’s efforts in teaching her bandmates Tagalog words and phrases come in handy. They know “magaling,” “masarap,” and “maganda,” and have unwittingly picked up the honorifics “po” and “opo.” Hearing these words gives her a taste of home.
“It’s so funny because even the other members tell me, ‘Hello po,’ ‘Thank you po,’ or ‘Can you come here po?’” says Elisia, who has also taken up crocheting (“Nothing fancy, though!”) as a pastime. “I’m really glad I was able to bring a bit of our Filipino culture there.”
Hunger to improve
Elisia admits that life as an idol isn’t always as shiny as their stage performances make it seem. Aside from the rigors and the technical aspects of performing, public scrutiny is also something she has to live with. But while challenging, it’s something she already knew before entering the industry.
“It’s something I expected and prepared for,” she says. “I did my research and asked people about their experiences. I just had to set my mind that this is what I want. I think I have grown as a person, and that I now have what it takes to endure the hardships ahead.”
The feeling of holding a fan meeting last year in the Philippines before a crowd singing and cheering so loudly they could barely hear themselves was one of the most heartening and memorable moments she has had as an idol. Performing in New York earlier this year as part of Unis’ world tour, meanwhile, feels like they have finally made it.
But she doesn’t want to stop there. With her “hunger to improve,” Elisia believes she has it in her to keep fighting for her dream of “simply making people happy.” “That’s all I have ever wanted, but I didn’t know how at first,” she says. “But now I do, and I couldn’t be prouder,” she says.
How about another vocal sample? Maybe another Velasquez classic—“On the Wings of Love”? And then she goes off before anyone could even say please.
