BINI made sure their Summer Sonic debut was unmistakably Filipino, from the songs they performed to the clothes they wore on stage.
The Nation’s Girl Group took over the festival’s Mountain Stage, the event’s second-largest venue, during the Osaka leg on August 14, performing some of their top hits alongside Japanese-lyric-infused versions of “Born to Win” and “Salamin, Salamin.”
READ: BINI performs 'Salamin, Salamin' and 'Born to Win' with Japanese lyrics at Summer Sonic 2026
But while their music introduced BINI to the Japanese crowd, it was their fashion that gave the audience another glimpse of where they came from.
Designed by Cheetah Rivera with visual direction by Ica Villanueva, the eight members stepped onto the Mountain Stage in vibrant, feathered ensembles inspired by the Sarimanok.
According to the official website of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Sarimanok is a "legendary bird that serves as the symbol of the Maranaos. Came from the words “sari” (a garment of different colors deeply related to their culture) and “manok” (rooster with its beautiful and colorful feathers), it, accordingly, represents good fortune and prosperity and is also an essential trademark of their art forms".
The inspiration was brought to life through an elaborate design process.
Cheetah documented the evolution of the looks on Instagram, from the initial studies and drafts to the finished outfits. She also gave fans a glimpse into the hard work behind the colorful pieces, revealing that the feather-like details were created with fabric through laser cutting and sublimation printing.
The technique allowed the fabric to mimic the movement of actual feathers while responding beautifully to the different lighting conditions on stage.
The scaling details were just as intricate. Hundreds of individual cutouts were hand-dyed and airbrushed to achieve the vibrant colors associated with the Sarimanok before being hand-embroidered to create a seamless scaled and feathered effect.
Ica likewise shared on her Instagram stories that the visual backdrop for BINI's Summer Sonic performance incorporated the Sarimanok together with BINI’s Sampaguita logo, with a subtle silhouette of the eight members placed below on the opposing side of the bird as if giving a reverent nod to the legendary creature.
The thoughtful details did not go unnoticed by Blooms and other netizens, who praised BINI for presenting Filipino culture through music and fashion.
“Fashion statement is BINI's identity apart from their music. Pop culture goes beyond just music. And the best part of it? BINI showcases it not just for themselves and here at home but for the Philippines in general, incorporating every fabric of PH history, community and society in every iconic outfit on international stages,” one fan posted on X.
“ang talino! the details, the colors, the whole concept, ang ganda ng way they incorporated filipino culture into their look without making it feel forced. It’s giving modern filipina, but with such a strong nod to our roots,” another one added.
“BINI's Osaka fits are so colorful and whimsical. the bold colors and feather detaols beautifully reflect the mythical bird's vibrant and majestic character while giving it a fresh modern BINI twist. Carrying a piece of Philippine culture wherever they go. this is representation! 🇵🇭,” one more fan wrote.
the SARIMANOK inspiration? 🐓✨
— POGANDA 🌸📸 (@poganda_daily) August 14, 2026
BINI's Osaka fits are so colorful and whimsical. the bold colors and feather detaols beautifully reflect the mythical bird's vibrant and majestic character while giving it a fresh modern BINI twist.
carrying a piece of Philippine culture… pic.twitter.com/hXK4sVpWm6
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN also used the Sarimanok during its transition to colored television in 1966 and it later became part of the network’s station ID in the 1990s. It was also used for the Sarimanok News Network (SNN), the country’s first 24-hour news channel, which was eventually renamed the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).
Because of this shared history, several netizens also pointed out how BINI’s use of the Sarimanok felt like a continuation of the network’s long-standing connection to Filipino culture and history.
And this is not the first time BINI has used their fashion to carry Filipino identity onto an international stage.
During their Coachella debut, the group also showcased Filipino-inspired looks drawing from the country’s land and sea, once again turning their stage wardrobe into another avenue for cultural representation.
After making their mark in Osaka, the girls will return to the Mountain Stage on August 16 for the Tokyo leg of Summer Sonic 2026.