SB19 are moving onto newer and greater heights. 

The Kings of P-pop have returned with their latest EP, PAGTATAG!. Released as the second instalment of their ongoing album trilogy, the record serves as the group's launching point for a new era in their music and careers. 

PAGTATAG! follows 2021's Pagsibol—a record symbolised with a question mark, where Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin question who they are, piecing together what makes SB19 SB19. In this new EP, they finally find their answer. 

Led by the powerful 'GENTO', SB19 equate their journey to the gruelling and tiresome process of finding gold. "'GENTO' summarises the whole journey of SB19, yung buong story namin [our whole story]," says Ken, explaining that the title is a play on the Filipino words 'ganito' (which means 'like this') and 'ginto' (which means gold).

“It isn’t luck na nandito kami ngayon na pinagsama-sama kaming lima—kungbaga yung gold, matinding processo yung dinaanan niya gaya samin, matindin din yung pinagdaanan namin, yung hard work namin. Ang daming blood, sweat, and tears yung binuhos namin para makarating sa ganitong kalayo," he adds. 

["It isn't luck that brought the five of us together—like gold, it goes through a difficult process and like us, we also went through a difficult journey together. We poured a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to reach where we are today."]

Growing and learning from Pagsibol, PAGTATAG! sees SB19 sure of their footing, ready to conquer the world. 

"Yung Pagsibol, it was our way of figuring out who we are so even when we were making [the EP], we were still not sure at palagi kami nagtatanong will people like this, will people enjoy this song, or tama ba yung ginagawa namin. This time, with PAGTATAG!, eto yung gusto namin ipalabas. Eto yung story ng SB19, hindi na namin kailagay i-mould sa kagustohan ng tao, eto kami. [...] Musically and sonically for this EP, bukod sa may freedom kami, sigurado na kami sa pupuntahan namin," explains Pablo, who primarily wrote and produced the EP. 

[Pagsibol was our way of figuring out who we are so even when we were making [the EP], we were still not sure and we always asked will people like this, will people enjoy this song, or whether we were doing the right thing. This time with PAGTATAG!, this is what we want to release. This is the story of SB19, one that we didn't have to mould to fit what people liked, this is us. Musically and sonically for this EP, besides the fact we have freedom, we're sure of where we want to go."]

PAGTATAG! serves not only as a new venture for the group musically but a starting point for one of the biggest changes in their career so far: 1Z Entertainment. Living out a dream they had during their trainee days, SB19 have transitioned into being entirely self-managed as they set up their very own company. 

"SB19 is not just SB19, para saamin movement na siya so dyan po papasok yung 1Z [it's a movement and that's where 1Z Entertainment comes in]," said Pablo. 

"It all started with a crazy idea during our trainee days na balang araw, gagawa kami ng sariling company [that one day, we'll build our own company]," added Josh. 

Set up to be an "ecosystem" for them to fully actualise their dreams and goals as artists, SB19 created 1Z Entertainment to turn their frustrations as musicians into motivation to challenge the norm and exceed boundaries, not only for themselves but for Filipino artists everywhere. 

"Ang goal namin is to create an ecosystem for artists like us kung saan sila magbe-benefit and mage-excel. Yun po talaga ang motivation namin sa ginagawa namin. Yung frustration namin as an artist ang naging motivation namin," said Pablo.

["Our goal is to create an ecosystem like us where they'll benefit and excel. That's really our motivation for doing this. Our frustrations as artists is our motivation for this."]

"Etong 1Z, we built it not just for SB19 but for the whole P-pop, OPM industry—we want to challenge the industry. Alam namin na ang daming talented Filipinos so in the future, we want to host different acts as well and ipagpatuloy yung [momentum namin] ngayon," said Josh. 

["We built 1Z not just for SB19 but for the whole P-pop, OPM industry—we want to challenge the industry. We know that there are so many talented Filipinos so in the future, we want to host different acts as well and continue the momentum we have right now."]

"Aside sa pagiging artist and performer, napag-usapan namin na gusto naming ma-experience ang acting, theater, kahit actually hosting. Gusto naming ma-experience on what we can learn, and gamitin ang natutunan namin to improve our company 1Z," added Justin, explaining that their goals with 1Z Entertainment goes way beyond their dreams as a group. 

[Aside being an artist and performer, we've been talking about how we want to experience different things like acting, theater, and hosting. We want to experience these to learn and use them to improve our company."]

This new era, of course, didn't come without bearing risks but one they're willing to take over and over again. Described to be a difficult journey, full of trials and tribulations, setting up 1Z Entertainment and piecing together PAGTATAG! comes as one of SB19's proudest moments yet. 

"Bago mabuo ang PAGTATAG! and [1Z Entertainment], sobrang dami naming pinagdaanan na challenges, problems. And yung SB19 mismo na name, sobrang malaki siya. Pero right now na seeing this event, sobrang happy kami talaga and kahit hindi pa namin naabot ang rurok na tagumpay na [inaasa] namin. Ngayon pa lang, masasabi namin na happy and successful na kami talaga," said Stell.

["Even before building PAGTATAG! and 1Z Entertainment, we went through a lot of different challenges and problems. And even with our group name, it was a big thing. So seeing this event, we're really happy and even if we haven't reached our biggest goal yet, we already feel so happy and successful."]

Now, with complete reign over their music and artistry, SB19 have big plans for what lies ahead. Surrounded by a team they trust and an unwavering passion for what they do, the members promise bigger and better things in the future. 

"It's refreshing and exciting to explore this kind of field cause for us, we value our craft so much. Now, that we have the full control, the full capacity and even the manpower, we can freely express and maximise what we've been doing. It'll help us push boundaries and achieve greater heights, not just for us but also the whole OPM industry," said Josh.

"Now that we have full control and people that we trust, the quality will only get better and better. And with the power of the people who believe in us, hindi malayo na makikilala yung music ng Filipino [it won’t take long before people learn more about Filipino music]. We're really thankful that we are in this position right now, we're really excited to do different things and share our knowledge with other artists [in the future]," said Pablo. 

Listen to SB19's PAGTATAG! here.