BINI’s Jhoanna, Maloi make waves after TV Patrol stint, pencil-sharpener deed

BINI members (from left) Jhoanna and Maloi. Images: X/@bini_ph

BINI is again winning the hearts of fans, with the group’s leader Jhoanna appearing on ABS-CBN’s flagship newscast “TV Patrol” as a Star Patroller, and Maloi drawing laughs from fans after sharpening a fan’s pencil at a recent mall show.

Jhoanna took on the reins of a Star Patrol broadcast journalist on the newscast’s April 15 episode, where she reported the entertainment news of the day.

“Dream come true para sa’kin na maging Star Patroller. Bago ako maging member ng BINI, pangarap ko nang magsilbi sa bayan sa pamamagitan ng paghatid ng balita,” she said in one of her spiels. (It’s a dream come true for me to be a Star Patroller. Before I became a member of BINI, serving the country through news reporting was a dream of mine.)

The P-pop artist then shared that her broadcasting dreams started in Grade 6 when she was tapped to represent her school at the Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) under the Radio Broadcasting category.

“Hindi ko inaasahang mananalo ako sa Radio Broadcasting category. Dahil doon, napabilang ako sa Regional Schools Press Conference o RSPC, kung saan maglalaban ang mga kinatawan ng mga eskwelahan ng buong CALABARZON,” she added.

(I didn’t expect to win in the Radio Broadcasting category. Because of this, I was part of the Regional Schools Press Conference or RSPC where representatives from different schools in the CALABARZON region will compete.)

The top students per category will then qualify for the RSPC, from which the top three per region (or depending on the area) will advance to the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC).

In her spiel, Jhoanna shared that she advanced to the RSPC under the TV Broadcasting category at one point, but had to put her plans on hold after being selected as a Star Hunt Academy trainee. She eventually made it as a member of BINI.

Before her Star Patrol stint, the P-pop artist was also tapped as the “Showbiz Ganap” broadcaster for the radio show “Sakto Teleradyo,” and she read the news for the newscast’s Express edition.

The official X (formerly Twitter) page of BINI congratulated Jhoanna on her recent milestone.

“BINI leader sa umaga, Star Patroller sa gabi! Baka @bini_jhoanna yern,” the post read. “Congrats and we’re so proud of you, our one and only, Master Jho!”

#BINI : BINI leader sa umaga, Star Patroller sa gabi! Baka @bini_jhoanna yern!! 👀🙌🏻

Celebrating #BINI_TalaarawanMallShow and #PantropikoDayOnASAP on @TVPatrol, BINI style! Congrats and we’re so proud of you, our one and only, Master Jho! Eyy! pic.twitter.com/oBAXGaZzGH

— BINI_PH (@BINI_ph) April 15, 2024

Maloi’s sharpening skills

Meanwhile, BINI’s main vocalist Maloi drew laughs from netizens after she had an unconventional interaction with a fan at the group’s mall show in Taguig last April 14.

In a video recorded by fan account @jhotaime_ on X, Maloi was seen approaching a fan who offered her a dull pencil, which the P-pop artist sharpened herself.

SA JULY KA NA MAGBOARDS @gureumanoban https://t.co/ATjXzwZTMz pic.twitter.com/8ON3exmKPY

— lali (@jhotaime_) April 14, 2024

Maloi then addressed the interaction a day later, saying it’s been a while since she sharpened a pencil.

“Ngayon nalang ulit ako nagtasa ng lapis after years (It’s my first time sharpening a pencil after years),” she wrote.

ngayon nalang ulit ako nagtasa ng lapis after years #BINI https://t.co/FUojO0MGmt

— Maloi Ricalde ౨ৎ (@bini_maloi) April 15, 2024

Maloi’s interaction then caught the attention of netizens on social media, including TV host Bianca Gonzalez who asked why the P-pop artist opted for this kind of interaction.

huyyy bakit may nagpa-tasa ng lapis kay Bini Maloi 😳

— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) April 15, 2024

One @chrissoberyl explained that sharpening a pencil is a “good luck charm” for board exam takers, with the superstition “evolving” as the years went by.

“Now exam takers ask people who they look up to to sharpen their pencils. This happened nung Leni-Kiko campaign, maraming nagpatasa kay Doc Tricia,” the post read.

(Now exam takers ask people whom they look up to to sharpen their pencils. This happened in the campaign of Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan, where many asked Robredo’s daughter Tricia to sharpen them.)

Pamahiin kasi sa board exam na magpatasa sa mga topnotchers/passers for luck but that practice evolved throughout the years. Now exam takers ask people who they look up to to sharpen their pencils. This happened nung Leni-Kiko campaign, maraming nagpatasa kay Doc Tricia.

— j. d. (@chrissoberyl) April 15, 2024

BINI is an eight-member group consisting of Jhoanna Robles, Aiah Arceta, Colet Vergara, Maloi Ricalde, Gwen Apuli, Stacey Sevilleja, Mikha Lim, and Sheena Catacutan. They were catapulted into superstar status with their hit song “Pantropiko.”

The P-pop octet released their first EP “Talaarawan” in March.