(From left) Chito Miranda, Stell Ajero of SB19. Images: Screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network, Instagram/@mac_igarta
Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda has expressed admiration for Stell Ajero of SB19, his fellow “The Voice Generations” coach, as he described the latter as a “revelation.”
Miranda described the SB19 member as someone who’s “good at playing the game” during a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview, which was uploaded on GMA Network’s YouTube channel last Wednesday, July 12, when he was asked about a coach whom he feels threatened by.
“Not naman threatened pero sobrang nakita ko how good this guy is when it comes to playing the game, si Stell [Ajero] (I’m not threatened but I really saw how good this guy is when it comes to playing the game, Stell Ajero),” he said, in response to Abunda’s question during the show’s fast talk segment.
In a follow-up question, the veteran host then asked the singer if he’s “discovering” Ajero for the first time.
“He’s such a revelation for me kasi ang pagkakakilala ko lang kay Stell is [that he’s] one of the members of SB19. I am familiar with SB19, I’m sobrang fan ng work nila, pero as individuals, I didn’t know them,” he said.
“Tapos noong na-meet ko si Stell, he was just the guy from SB19 and never kami nag-talk. As we [got] to hang out, mga pictorials and everything, everything that he does is so entertaining, and everything that he says is so humble and may wisdom. Alam mo ‘yung hindi nagma-marunong,” he continued.
(He’s such a revelation for me because I initially knew Stell as just one of the members of SB19. I am familiar with SB19, I’m a big fan of their work, but as individuals, I didn’t know them. Then when I met Stell for the first time, he was just the guy from SB19 and we never talked. As we got to hang out through pictorials and everything, everything that he does is so entertaining, and everything that he says is so humble and there’s wisdom. You know that he’s not trying to act like he knows everything.)
During the interview, Miranda admitted that he’s a “sucker” for people who have such admiration for their fellow bandmates, saying the SB19 member has remained appreciative of his members.
“Kung paano niya i-push ang sarili niya, how hardworking [he is]. And kung paano niya purihin ang mga [kasama niya] sa [SB19] because I’m a sucker for that,” he said. “Kasi that’s how I talk pagdating sa’king mga bandmates. Alam ko lahat sila may saltik, pero I see the good in them. Siya din, gan’un. Lagi siyang may puri [sa] grupo niya.”
(I admire how he pushes himself, and how hardworking he is. And how he praises his SB19 bandmates because I’m a sucker for that. That’s how I talk when it comes to my bandmates. I know they’re all crazy in some way, but I see the good in them. He’s also like that. He always has something nice to say about his group.)
The “Harana” singer also recalled a time where Ajero opened up about the struggles of his group and how he and his bandmates had to be “strong” for one another when one feels “weak.”
“May sinabi siyang very important sa ‘kin na, ‘Kung sino ‘yung weak, the other guys need to be strong.’ Sobrang ganda nu’n diba?’ Like when your bandmate is weak, I’ll be strong for you on that part. Saluhan, where someone chips in for the team rather than to stand out,” he said.
“It took Parokya years to do that, and they’ve (SB19) been together for five years only, tapos gan’un na siya magsalita. Wala lang, bilib lang ako sa kaniya. Galing niya,” he further added.
(He told me something very important, “If one’s weak, the other guys need to be strong.” It’s really nice, isn’t it? Like when your bandmate is weak, I’ll be strong for you on that part. Teamwork, where someone chips in for the team rather than to stand out. It took Parokya years to do that, and they’ve been together for five years only, then he talks about them that way. I just really admire him.)
Miranda then praised SB19’s musical prowess, as he pointed out that they make sure to have “artistic input” in their work.
“[I have] nothing against singers or performers na hindi kasama sa creative side. I respect them. Natuwa lang ako kasi I’ve been following K-pop groups na manufactured talaga,” he said.
“Tapos noong nag-usap kami, sila pala ‘yung nasa creative side. May team sila for choreography but they write their own lyrics and everything. Kumbaga, they have artistic input to what they’re doing and that boosts my respect for them even more,” he continued.
(I have nothing against singers or performers who are not involved with the creative side of things. I respect them. I’m just happy about it because I’ve been following K-pop groups who are manufactured. Then when we talked, I discovered that they’re involved with the creative side of things. They have a team for choreography, but they write their own lyrics and everything. To put it another way, they have artistic input to what they’re doing and that boosts my respect for them even more.)
Ajero debuted as the main vocalist, lead dancer, and choreographer of SB19 in October 2018. The boy group, who released their album “Pagtatag” last June, is best known for their hit songs “Gento,” “Mapa,” “What?,” and “Go Up.”
Aside from his activities with the group, he’s confirmed as one of the coaches in the upcoming GMA show. He previously performed with Zephanie Dimaranan and Janella Salvador during the launch of streaming platform Disney+ in the country in November 2022.
Meanwhile, Parokya ni Edgar is known as one of the leading bands in the country, and is known for their hit songs “Gitara,” “Mr. Suave,” “Your Song,” and “Pangarap Lang Kita,” among others. EDV