Filipino visa struggles inspire SB19’s new single
Not the type to rest on their laurels, P-pop Kings SB19 just dropped a new single entitled “Visa.” The quintet is set to wrap up their EP trilogy with their upcoming “Wakas at Simula” concert at the SMDC Festival Grounds in April, but even before that finale, they’re already gearing up for a new era.
Bold and brassy, the track’s sound reflects the loud message the song aims to impart, all while infusing it with a dancey, earworm-worthy hook. “Visa” is a dynamic track that melds references that are truly Filipino: from allusions to cultural beliefs and the use of colloquial parlance to expressing Filipinos’ actual lived experience—which, unfortunately, is colored by frustration amid resilience.
To hear these ideas expressed in a pop track is a statement in itself. As leader Pablo expressed in a livestream leading up to their music video release, “Everything is political; it’s impossible to be apolitical,” he says, as everything we experience and encounter ties up.
The track, the group says, is their way of telling listeners that they, too, want to challenge and raise questions about the way the current systems in society are run.
“We have always been known for being vocal, but this time it is even stronger. We are addressing sensitive and current topics that people can relate to, even if not everyone agrees with us,” Stell says in a release. “We are ready to face any reaction. This release is very powerful and a strong way to start the year and introduce this new era.”
In “Visa,” SB19 sings of the challenges Filipinos face, especially as they pursue greater opportunities, often abroad. “Ang hirap talaga lumipad kahit na may patunay na kaya mo na / kailangan pa ng visa,” they sing. “Wa epek, wala pa ring dating, kahit na ano pa ang gawin. Baka naman kailangan lang ng visa?”
This directly alludes to the many systemic circumstances that Filipino talents—athletes, artists, and other professionals—have faced in their work and goals.
The Philippines has one of the weaker passports globally, currently ranking 68th on the Henley Passport Index. The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association. At 68th out of 199 passports, the Philippines can only travel visa-free to 65 destinations (out of 227). Ironically, the Philippine passport was considered one of the “most aesthetic passports” in the world, according to Hypebeast. Too bad our aesthetic sense can’t get us into more countries visa-free.
The bureaucracy, red tape, and other systemic challenges in obtaining requirements to even simply apply for a visa serve as additional hurdles for Filipinos. Many Filipino athletes have already been reported as being unable to participate in international sports events, even as they are supposed to represent the country.
Tennis sensation Alex Eala, Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena, and several Gilas Pilipinas members are among those who have faced visa denials or delays, affecting their participation at overseas bouts.
SB19 is also no stranger to these travel woes. “We were very affected by visa applications during our tour,” Pablo shares in a release. “SB19 has been active for seven years, and we hope that songs like these can reach officials and encourage laws that make it easier for athletes, artists, and others working overseas to access visas. This is not just an attempt to produce music, but to push Filipino culture forward. There is little support from the government, so it is important that our work can make an impact not only personally but also on a national level.”
Conversely, the Philippines is one of the most welcoming destinations, offering “visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to far more nationalities than Filipinos receive in return,” says Dr. Alicor Panao in an Inquirer.net data story.
This easing of visa rules for entry into the Philippines is said to be a tourism strategy so we can compete with other regional destinations by lowering travel barriers. Despite this, Filipinos are not extended the same generosity when traveling abroad.
Beyond the evident point on visa challenges, the song also opens up discussions on the idea of Pinoy Pride and our concept of who deserves success, approval, or acceptance.
It challenges the qualifications for success: You could be excellent at what you do, but perhaps will only attain acknowledgment if you achieve something on foreign land. But should that be the case?
In the song’s bridge, Pablo lists down well-known artists of Filipino descent or half-Filipino status. We’re proud of these international artists and proudly call them one of our own, never mind if they acknowledge their Filipino identity or not (though most of them do).
“Ay baka naman, Pablo,” the SB19 leader continues—a symbolic wish that hopefully, next time we think of Filipinos worth admiring, it can be someone who’s in the Philippines. With a Filipino passport. One who’s just like us.
The song also brings to mind the long-standing discourse of why we tend to seek global validation. Why do we think a Filipino is worth celebrating only once they’ve been put on global stages, seen in international shows, or ranked on “world’s best” lists?
SB19’s “Visa” bursts through the current music landscape, with a dynamic sound that proves entertainment can also be commentary.
