BINI’s Sheena hopes Pinoys ‘Eyyyy’ their way to good vibes | ABS-CBN
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BINI’s Sheena hopes Pinoys ‘Eyyyy’ their way to good vibes
BINI’s Sheena hopes Pinoys ‘Eyyyy’ their way to good vibes
Sheena doing the “Eyyy” pose in a July 10 post. Courtesy: @bini_sheena / Instagram
Sheena doing the “Eyyy” pose in a July 10 post. Courtesy: @bini_sheena / InstagramMANILA — It’s everywhere these days. And if you haven’t encountered it online or in person, mag-“Eyyyy” ka muna.
MANILA — It’s everywhere these days. And if you haven’t encountered it online or in person, mag-“Eyyyy” ka muna.
The latest trending expression is not just verbal.
The latest trending expression is not just verbal.
To do it, you vocalize “Eyyyy” while holding out your hand (or hands if you’re feeling extra) in a “Y” sign—thumb and pinky out, other fingers curled down. Shaking is optional.
To do it, you vocalize “Eyyyy” while holding out your hand (or hands if you’re feeling extra) in a “Y” sign—thumb and pinky out, other fingers curled down. Shaking is optional.
Elsewhere, it’s called the “shaka” or “hang loose” gesture, Hawaiian in origin.
Elsewhere, it’s called the “shaka” or “hang loose” gesture, Hawaiian in origin.
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And while initially associated with surf or hip hop culture, its current popularity for Pinoys is connected with another pop culture phenomenon—the Nation’s Girl Group, BINI.
And while initially associated with surf or hip hop culture, its current popularity for Pinoys is connected with another pop culture phenomenon—the Nation’s Girl Group, BINI.
For BINI member Sheena Catacutan, whose use of the sign is credited with starting the local trend, it’s all about spreading positive vibes.
For BINI member Sheena Catacutan, whose use of the sign is credited with starting the local trend, it’s all about spreading positive vibes.
“Nagugulat ako na sa mga casuals…kung saan-saan ko na nakikita ‘yong ‘Eyy’, actually ‘di ko alam kung ano’ng mafi-feel ko,” she told ABS-CBN News on Saturday when asked about the trend.
“Nagugulat ako na sa mga casuals…kung saan-saan ko na nakikita ‘yong ‘Eyy’, actually ‘di ko alam kung ano’ng mafi-feel ko,” she told ABS-CBN News on Saturday when asked about the trend.
(I’m surprised to see it among casual fans. I’ve been seeing ‘Eyyy’ here and there, I actually do not know what to feel about it.)
(I’m surprised to see it among casual fans. I’ve been seeing ‘Eyyy’ here and there, I actually do not know what to feel about it.)
“‘Di ko alam isasagot ko (I don’t know how to respond). Eyy ka muna, eyyyy.”
“‘Di ko alam isasagot ko (I don’t know how to respond). Eyy ka muna, eyyyy.”
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True enough, the catchphrase has been latched onto in social media as a playful, even hopeful, response to a range of situations: Whether the “hugot” of the lovelorn or the day-to-day surprises and chagrin of life.
True enough, the catchphrase has been latched onto in social media as a playful, even hopeful, response to a range of situations: Whether the “hugot” of the lovelorn or the day-to-day surprises and chagrin of life.
The expression exploded in early July, springing from a video of Sheena posted by user @softlysheena of their meet-and-greet during the BINIverse three-day concert.
The expression exploded in early July, springing from a video of Sheena posted by user @softlysheena of their meet-and-greet during the BINIverse three-day concert.
Recalling the interaction, Sheena said she made the expression to calm down the emotional ‘Bloom’ or BINI fan.
Recalling the interaction, Sheena said she made the expression to calm down the emotional ‘Bloom’ or BINI fan.
“Mayroong ‘Bloom’ na nagsabing ga-graduate siya. Ta’s naiiyak siya—e alam niyo naman ayoko na umiiyak ‘yong mga tao, so sabi ko, ‘Eyy ka muna, eyyyy.’ So at least, nakapag-“Eyyy” muna siya bago siya humagulgol,” she said.
“Mayroong ‘Bloom’ na nagsabing ga-graduate siya. Ta’s naiiyak siya—e alam niyo naman ayoko na umiiyak ‘yong mga tao, so sabi ko, ‘Eyy ka muna, eyyyy.’ So at least, nakapag-“Eyyy” muna siya bago siya humagulgol,” she said.
(A Bloom said they were graduating and was about to burst into tears. You know how much I don’t like seeing people cry. So I said ‘Eyy ka muna, eyyyy.’ So at least they were able to say ‘Eyyy’ before breaking down.)
(A Bloom said they were graduating and was about to burst into tears. You know how much I don’t like seeing people cry. So I said ‘Eyy ka muna, eyyyy.’ So at least they were able to say ‘Eyyy’ before breaking down.)
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FIRST LETTER OF THE ALPHABET
The BINI girls do the “Eyyy” sign in an Instagram video released in April 2024. Courtesy: @bini_ph/Instagram
The BINI girls do the “Eyyy” sign in an Instagram video released in April 2024. Courtesy: @bini_ph/Instagram"Eyyyy” is actually not new to Blooms.
"Eyyyy” is actually not new to Blooms.
The girls’ guesting in “It’s Showtime” back in November 2023 could be the earliest public instance the gesture was made with them.
The girls’ guesting in “It’s Showtime” back in November 2023 could be the earliest public instance the gesture was made with them.
The girls had performed in an all-star production with drag artist Taylor Sheesh, who later exclaimed “What is the first letter of the alphabet?”, answering with “AAAAA!” and the “shaka” gesture.
The girls had performed in an all-star production with drag artist Taylor Sheesh, who later exclaimed “What is the first letter of the alphabet?”, answering with “AAAAA!” and the “shaka” gesture.
Over the next months that saw the group ride high on multiple song hits and gain wider recognition, the girls also carried the expression–especially Sheena.
Over the next months that saw the group ride high on multiple song hits and gain wider recognition, the girls also carried the expression–especially Sheena.
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Sheena at first answers jokingly when asked about where it began.
Sheena at first answers jokingly when asked about where it began.
“I adopted ‘Eyyy’ [at] two years old,” she said in the ABS-CBN News interview.
“I adopted ‘Eyyy’ [at] two years old,” she said in the ABS-CBN News interview.
“Randomly lang siya gumagalaw sa katawan ko (It just randomly moved with my body),” she later told viewers in a livestream on Saturday afternoon.
“Randomly lang siya gumagalaw sa katawan ko (It just randomly moved with my body),” she later told viewers in a livestream on Saturday afternoon.
But BINI’s main dancer—whose choreography gave the world the “Pantropiko” dance craze—calls the gesture a collaboration of two influences.
But BINI’s main dancer—whose choreography gave the world the “Pantropiko” dance craze—calls the gesture a collaboration of two influences.
“Nakuha ko talaga ‘yong ‘Eyyy’ sa tropa ko, like, sa Isabela, nagcha-chat siya: ‘Eyyyyy’ hanggang sa nakuha ko. Tapos mayroon kaming staff din here, ‘pag nagmi-meet kami, ‘geng-geng’ gumaganon,” Sheena said.
“Nakuha ko talaga ‘yong ‘Eyyy’ sa tropa ko, like, sa Isabela, nagcha-chat siya: ‘Eyyyyy’ hanggang sa nakuha ko. Tapos mayroon kaming staff din here, ‘pag nagmi-meet kami, ‘geng-geng’ gumaganon,” Sheena said.
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(I really got ‘Eyyy’ from a friend back in Isabela, who kept saying ‘Eyyyy’ in chat messages until I eventually got it. And then we had a staff member who kept gesturing ‘geng-geng’ and the like whenever we met.)
(I really got ‘Eyyy’ from a friend back in Isabela, who kept saying ‘Eyyyy’ in chat messages until I eventually got it. And then we had a staff member who kept gesturing ‘geng-geng’ and the like whenever we met.)
“Geng-geng” is a colloquialism for those whose fashion or behavior mimics gangsta style.
“Geng-geng” is a colloquialism for those whose fashion or behavior mimics gangsta style.
“So when you collab it, ‘Eyyy’. Naturally na lang siya nangyari—sa chat, in person, ganyan,” she said.
“So when you collab it, ‘Eyyy’. Naturally na lang siya nangyari—sa chat, in person, ganyan,” she said.
(It just happened naturally—in chat, in person, that’s it.)
(It just happened naturally—in chat, in person, that’s it.)
EVOLVING ‘SHAKA’
ABS-CBN News interns do the “Eyyy” sign with “TV Patrol” news anchor Noli De Castro. Courtesy: Kirstein Pilongo
ABS-CBN News interns do the “Eyyy” sign with “TV Patrol” news anchor Noli De Castro. Courtesy: Kirstein Pilongo
Filipinos are not the only ones putting the “Eyyy” on the “shaka” this year.
Filipinos are not the only ones putting the “Eyyy” on the “shaka” this year.
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Known for evoking warmth, taking it easy, and even epicness, it was declared this June by the Hawaiian legislature as the official state hand gesture to recognize its origins.
Known for evoking warmth, taking it easy, and even epicness, it was declared this June by the Hawaiian legislature as the official state hand gesture to recognize its origins.
In the US island state, the “shaka” has risen to a visual expression of the “aloha” greeting.
In the US island state, the “shaka” has risen to a visual expression of the “aloha” greeting.
A documentary by a Honolulu-based filmmaker which premiered last May tackled various backstories to the sign, but mainly traced it to a Hawaiian fisherman from the 1900s who had his three middle fingers cut off in a mill accident, which locals began to imitate when he waved.
A documentary by a Honolulu-based filmmaker which premiered last May tackled various backstories to the sign, but mainly traced it to a Hawaiian fisherman from the 1900s who had his three middle fingers cut off in a mill accident, which locals began to imitate when he waved.
In the century since, it has traveled the world and changed meanings or been interchanged with other similar gestures, among them the sign language symbol for the letter Y and the signal for calling on a telephone.
In the century since, it has traveled the world and changed meanings or been interchanged with other similar gestures, among them the sign language symbol for the letter Y and the signal for calling on a telephone.
Filipino millennials, for one, may remember the gesture as the emblem of the 2000s youth-oriented TV talk show “Y-Speak”.
Filipino millennials, for one, may remember the gesture as the emblem of the 2000s youth-oriented TV talk show “Y-Speak”.
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But in the land of BINI, at least for now, the “shaka” will accompany the expression that diffuses tension or breaks the dead air, or be raised in concerts or singalongs when everyone reaches “Ayoko maniwala, eyyyy!”
But in the land of BINI, at least for now, the “shaka” will accompany the expression that diffuses tension or breaks the dead air, or be raised in concerts or singalongs when everyone reaches “Ayoko maniwala, eyyyy!”
“It’s a big responsibility kasi mother na ako (because I’m now a mother), yes,” Sheena said, laughing, at the thought she helped launch this trend.
“It’s a big responsibility kasi mother na ako (because I’m now a mother), yes,” Sheena said, laughing, at the thought she helped launch this trend.
“Sige po, palaganapin niyo na siya, kasi wala namang harm, you know. Positive ka muna,” she added.
“Sige po, palaganapin niyo na siya, kasi wala namang harm, you know. Positive ka muna,” she added.
(Yes, keep spreading it around because there’s no harm in it, you know. Stay positive.)
(Yes, keep spreading it around because there’s no harm in it, you know. Stay positive.)
“So, everybody if you’re happy, say ‘Eyyyy’!”
“So, everybody if you’re happy, say ‘Eyyyy’!”
—with Chawie Vergara, ABS-CBN News
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