A new Senbatsu roster for MNL48‘s upcoming third single was announced on Sunday during the idol group’s Valentine Mini-Live event held at Movie Stars Cafe in Eton Centris, Quezon City.
The new Senbatsu, or the Top 16 members, were chosen to be the third single’s front-liners. First-time Senbatsu members Ruth, Dana and Dian will join Kay, Lei, Faith, Mari, Jem, Belle, Coleen, Abby, Sela, Rans, Brei and Sheki for the said single. Sayaka will also return as a Senbatsu member.
Sheki will remain as Center for the third single. She was also the first member of MNL48 to hold the Center position after winning the General Election in April. Sheki was also chosen to be the Center for the second single, “Pag-ibig Fortune Cookie”.
The first time Senbatsu members expressed their gratitude for the said opportunity.
“I want to thank God for giving me such a big blessing sa buhay ko, and sa trust po ng MNL48, sa lahat ng MNL48 sisters ko, sa lahat ng MNLoves maraming maraming salamat po. Being a Senbatsu is a privilege po, I will do my very best po para magampanan nang maayos ‘yung position ko,” Dian said.
Aside from the new Senbatsu lineup, a teaser of MNL48’s first documentary was also previewed at the event. In the sneak peak, Sheki, Sela and Brei looked back on their journey and experiences being in the Manila-based idol group.
Details about the third single and the documentary are yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, another teaser for the upcoming music video “Palusot Ko’y Maybe”, which is the Filipino cover of the AKB48 single “Iiwake Maybe”, was previewed at the mini concert. The music video is set to be released on February 23, 2019.
MNL48 is an international sister group of the Japanese idol group AKB48, following the previous units Jakarta-based JKT48 and Bangkok-based BNK48. The idol group is continuing the Japanese group’s concept of “idols you can meet.”
AKB48 was formed in 2005, regularly hosting events where fans can interact with its members, including taking pictures or shaking hands.
Since then, they have been one of the most successful girl groups in the world, releasing several singles and albums which are being sold in millions worldwide.
The Filipino idol group is managed by HalloHallo Entertainment together with ABS-CBN.
UPDATE (Feb 22, 12:45am): The article’s subtitle previously stated that “Palusot Ko’y Maybe” is the upcoming single, where in fact it will be a different song. We apologize for the confusion.
UPDATE (Feb 22, 02:00am): The Bangkok-based international sister group of AKB48 is BNK48, not BKK48 as previously stated in the article. We apologize for the error.
