G22 shatters the happy-go-lucky girl group mold, bringing in a sonically and visually progressive approach to P-Pop. These members don’t just dance and sing; G22 advocates fiercely for women’s rights in a male-dominated music industry. Their latest music video for “Pa-Pa-Pa-Palaban” makes their mission clear: opening with the trio in a political office crafting a statement before transitioning through several costume changes — all without a single man in frame.
Flashy sequences shift from gym to garden to locker room as the lyrics build into an electrifying chant: “Pa-pa-pa-palaban / Pa-pa-pa-padaan / Inyong tatata-tandaan / Kami ‘yong tipo na hindi basta mapapa-pa-andaran.” The rhythmic assonance does double duty where it acts as both an earworm hook and a battle cry for women claiming space across all industries.
At the H&M Spring Summer Collection launch at Greenbelt 3, the trio sat down with Rolling Stone Philippines backstage to discuss P-Pop’s evolving landscape. Between pre-show rituals such as group prayers and empowering affirmations, the group’s main rapper, AJ reveals their mindset. “We tell ourselves every time we go on stage: ‘There are really cool new girls out there rooting for you, whatever happens.’ That’s why we do affirmations. It boosts your energy, your confidence.” While main vocalist Jaz reframes industry pressure as motivation: “It drives us and gives us that fire para mag-ensayo ka. It’s good pressure, striving for excellence.”
Despite being a three-piece girl group in an industry full of five or more-member acts, G22 is unfazed. “We never felt na kulang kami,” lead vocalist Alfea says. “Even with vocals on a track, there are layers we need to fill. When it comes to styling, you have to be distinct but still look like one [group].”
Ever since debuting with “BANG!” three years ago, what G22 wanted to prove was the advocacy and messaging being at the forefront of their visuals and sound choices. AJ emphasizes this dilemma of delivering an important message as a trio. “When you’re just three, it’s so easy to pinpoint a lot of things,” she says. “Mas madali siya makita, everything is on like a microscope na mas madali to pinpoint. Visually mas konti ‘yong makikita mo.”
G22 isn’t afraid to showcase whatever powerful statement they have as a trio in their genre. AJ doubles down on the importance of empowerment in the field of P-Pop: “The song [‘Pa-Pa-Pa-Palaban’] acknowledges the struggle of past women to have the voice that we have now,” she says. “Women have been repressed before. So now, we have the power and the voice. ‘Di lang kami basta nagbibigay ng song e. Meron din kaming nakukuhanan ng empowerment. Sobrang important na na-release namin ‘yon on Women’s Month [as a way to] commemorate our history and fight for the future.”
For the girls, existing in a time where girl groups are a dime a dozen isn’t also a challenge to overcome. If anything, for them, having different female voices is net-positive. “‘Yon ‘yong beauty ng girl groups: Iba’t-ibang putahe, different sounds, different visuals,” Jaz adds about P-Pop’s future, “We’re excited for more debuts [to come].”
And with every performance, G22’s “Pa-Pa-Pa-Palaban” proves P-Pop can be both bop and revolution.
