Just when fans thought things are going smoothly for MNL48, four of its members suddenly announced they are leaving the idol group.
Kami 7 girls Zen Inot and Trixie Tano, Undergirls member Van Yap, and Next Girls member Mae Batocael revealed their decision during the group’s online update on Friday.
Inot, who ranked 5th on the General Election, explained she is quitting because of homesickness and the group’s difficult training. Tano (Rank 7) decided to quit after learning that she would not be graduating from high school this year.
“Super nagpapasalamat talaga ko and nagso–sorry sa mga fans ko. Thank you po sa lahat po ng sumuporta at sa nagmahal po,” Tano said.
(I really want to thank my fans and apologize to them. Thank you, everyone, who gave their support and their love.)
Because of this, Ella Amat (Rank 8) and Ash Garcia (Rank 9) are will take over the vacated spots as part of the new Kami 7.
Alyssa Garcia (Rank 16) and Erica Sanico (Rank 17) are also promoted to the Senbatsu roster.
Meanwhile, Yap (Rank 30) and Batocael (Rank 43) also bid goodbye to the group. Yap cited the difficult training to be her main reason for leaving while Batocael believes being an MNL48 idol may not just be for her.
Kenkyuusei members Andi Garcia, Coleen Trinidad, Rans Rifol, and Niña Guirnalda were also promoted from being research trainees to official First Generation members.
Kenkyuusei Rans, Nina, and Andi enter Team MII as part of MNL48 members.
Ella and Ash enter Kami 7.
Alyssa and Erica enter Senbatsu after Trixie, Zen, Van, and Mae's exit. #MNL48Appreciation pic.twitter.com/3ejVmy4jps— MNL48 (@mnl48official) June 8, 2018
“Para po do’n sa mga nag-backout po, para sa inyo, talagang gagalingan namin,” Amat assured the now-former MNL48 idols.
(For those who backed out, for your sake, we’ll do our best.)
The said announcement garnered mixed reactions from fans.
Good luck on your individual journies, Trixie, Zen, Van, and Mae. We will miss you. Congrats to the KKS that got promoted. Good luck to my kamioshi Ash. You can do it. #MNL48Appreciation
— Ian Titular (@UkiyaSeed) June 8, 2018
Even though may umalis, let us still support the group. We know the system(graduating or leaving) and it is inevitable. But still it hurts. But we as their fans let's accept it and support them and the group.#MNL48Appreciation
— Haruka (@hmiintasuha) June 8, 2018
Life on an idol; sometimes you stay with the team, sometimes you step down for important reasons. #MNL48Appreciation
— Leopaul C. del Rosario (@Leopauldelr) June 8, 2018
OMG! Pasabog nga ang announcement kanina. D ko in-expect yon. It's so sad that 4 of them leave their journey as an #MNL48 idol but good luck on their individual endeavor. It's a mix feelings but congrats to all members that was nominated in their position. #MNL48Appreciation
— Nana_Desu はじめまして (@nanaart48) June 8, 2018
A day later, MNL48 returned to ABS-CBN’s noontime variety show It’s Showtime to introduce the new Kami 7, as well as performing the Filipino-translated version of AKB48’s hit song “Sakura no Hanabiratachi” for the first time on television.
UPDATED (17 September 2021): As per request, one of the tweets previously embedded on this article has been removed due to privacy reasons.
