BINI, KATSEYE's Sophia lauded for Philippine representation at Coachella
MANILA, Philippines — Girl group BINI and KATSEYE’s Sophia Laforteza earned praise from the Department of Tourism (DOT) for “raising” the Philippine flag during their recent Coachella performances.
The tourism agency congratulated the P-pop group, known for hits such as “Pantropiko” and “Salamin Salamin,” for performing Filipino songs at the Mojave Stage of the popular arts and music festival held annually in California. BINI closed its set by flashing the Philippine flag on the large screen.
“As the first Filipino act to perform at Coachella, BINI delivered an electrifying 45-minute, 10-song set that drew global attention, with fans gathering early and proudly waving Philippine flags. Together with Sophia’s appearance, this moment highlights the rising global influence of Filipino music and talent,” the agency said in a statement posted on its social media accounts.
It also congratulated Laforteza, the leader of the global girl group KATSEYE, which performed over two weekends at the desert festival’s Sahara Stage. KATSEYE is behind hit songs such as “Touch,” “Gnarly” and “Gabriela.”
“Over the past weeks, you have brought pride and excitement to Filipinos around the world. Your performances showcased not just world-class talent, but the vibrant spirit, creativity, and identity of the Filipino people — bringing joy to global audiences in a way that is uniquely ours. We celebrate this milestone and look forward to your continued success as you inspire future generations and elevate the Philippines on the world stage,” the agency said.
BINI is the first Filipino girl group to perform at Coachella but past editions have seen other acts with Filipino roots perform at the annual festival.
Grammy-winning Black Eyed Peas with Filipino-American founding member Apl.de.ap were the guests of David Guetta in 2015.
Another Filipino-American artist, H.E.R., performed at Coachella in 2019, taking the stage at the Outdoor Theatre. London-based Filipino musician No Rome also performed with The 1975 that same year.
Filipino singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Eyedress (Idris Vicuña) performed in 2022. In the same year, Filipino-American rapper Saweetie also appeared as a surprise guest at the festival.
Filipina-British singer-songwriter Beabadoobee performed in 2022 and returned to the festival in 2025.
Filipino-American pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo has yet to headline Coachella, but she appeared as a surprise guest of American rock band No Doubt, fronted by Gwen Stefani, in 2024. She also debuted her latest single, “Drop Dead,” during her surprise appearance at Addison Rae’s Coachella set on April 18 (Philippine time).
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