P-pop groups like VVINK, who debuted back in July 2025, carry a national language of innocence, pop sensibilities, and a taste for quirkiness through the lens of youth culture. Ever since releasing promising singles like “Tulala,” “Baduy” — a collaborative single with budots pioneer DJ Love and rapper Pio Balbuena — and their latest single “Kailan Ka Aamin,” released on March 13, their machinery has remained surprisingly intimate between the songwriters and producers of the revered production company and label house FlipMusic.
Without a doubt, FlipMusic has already made a name for itself in the pop culture sphere. The label has worked on singles and pop hits ranging from the fan favorite Diary ng Panget soundtrack to Sarah Geronimo’s monumental electropop dance single “Tala.” With a stacked résumé responsible for some of the most recognizable pieces of pop culture, FlipMusic did not form VVINK overnight, much like many P-pop groups.
Consisting of members Angelika, Ayaka, Jean, Mariel, and Odri, the name VVINK derives from the idea of “second chances,” with the two Vs forming a “W,” symbolizing wins forged through growth and the decision to rise after every fall. The symbol has also been described as representing a link between past experiences and future aspirations, encouraging reflection on one’s journey within the P-pop scene.
What is fascinating about the background of their name is not necessarily the meaning itself, but the implications behind “second chances.” Angelika previously dipped her toes into songwriting with BINI’s “Pantropiko” back in 2024. Mariel has also penned “Alas Dose” for Calista. Meanwhile, FlipMusic’s chief producer Jumbo “Bojam” De Belen has long carried a reputation for his Midas touch in the industry. Over the past two years, the work and preparation behind the group have been evident in how they continue pushing the envelope for the P-pop scene.
In their latest single, “Kailan Ka Aamin,” FlipMusic headwriter and “Rosas” hitmaker Nica Del Rosario already had a clear sense of what young girls might relish within a pop context.
“VVINK stands for second chances and double victory. For us, this group really is our second chance to pursue music again,” Ayaka tells Rolling Stone Philippines. “Before this, we were solo artists. We each had our own songs, so becoming a group meant learning how to blend our personalities and creativity together.”
Funnily enough, for a girl group known to have lent their hands to songwriting for many artists, the collaboration between experienced writers within P-pop becomes something of an experiment — one that has proven to be a workable formula.
“We have our own individual styles [of writing],” Angelika says. “Instead of removing that from the group, we actually made them stronger because we use each other’s strengths. We learn from each other.”
Girlhood in P-pop
Del Rosario, who wrote their latest single, did not hold back on her influences. She mentions witnessing the growth of VVINK during their developmental years, from their training period to their debut and the expansion of their fanbase. Observing that growth informed the lens she used while writing the song.
“Lately, being a queer woman, I discovered Thai GL (Girls Love). There’s one pair that I like. Their dynamic is very push and pull. They have a will-they-won’t-they kind of thing going on,” Del Rosario says. “Are they going to confess to each other or not? It took me back to the days when you had feelings for someone. And it’s very bubbly. It’s very bubblegum energy.”
VVINK also notes that authenticity matters — and in their case, that authenticity often means embracing their Filipino identity, including the kind of “cringe” that rarely appears elsewhere in P-pop. “[Filipinos are] not afraid to lean into the cringe. We’re all just very collaborative, and we’re having a fun time,” Del Rosario says. “We’re not trying to make things sound cool or make things sound maangas or whatever. We’re just making music, and these girls are enjoying recording the songs. I think that reflects something very Pinoy — just having fun and being comfortable with yourself.”
