Viva Music’s newest girl group RAYA is starting strong by resurrecting Hotdog’s 1979 Manila Sound classic “Bongga Ka Day” as their pre-debut single. Ever since debuting as PPop Gen back in 2023, the rebranded Raya is set to make their mark with an Instagram post showing a calendar of announcements: the fandom name, three teasers, and a trailer of their upcoming singles. The group, consisting of Abel, Anna, Ash, Aviona, Jemima, Kash, Priscilla, Rona, and Sofia, has teased on their socials about every member’s favorite stones, each signifying their personality.
The nine-member ensemble follows a proven P-Pop blueprint: leveraging OPM’s golden era to forge modern superstars. The strategy isn’t new. BINI’s pandemic-era “Coconut” cover proved its viability, but RAYA’s execution suggests they’re playing the long game. The “Bongga Ka Day” performance video is a masterclass in balancing nostalgia with contemporary flair. The track’s original boogie basslines and sugar-rush harmonies remain intact, now polished with modern-day production sheen. Choreography oscillates between playful with hip swings mirroring the ‘70s vibe and precision-tooled such as K-Pop-worthy formation switches, while the candy-colored aesthetics is a nod to both eras.
Crucially, RAYA avoids pastiche. From that sneaky jersey club section in the dance break to the signature “ahhh!” disco vocal harmonies, new listeners could already tell that the members excel at recontextualizing rather than replicating.
After releasing their “Bongga Ka Day” music video with much fanfare, their real test comes next. Can RAYA transition from skilled interpreters to definitive voices of their generation? For now, their “Bongga Ka Day” gambit achieves two goals: honoring OPM’s legacy while announcing new contenders.
