In 2024, Filipino singer-songwriter Colet Vergara wrote a message to the little girl that she once was: “Thank you for staying alive.” Even as a child, Colet knew what it was like to struggle. Of course, she would eventually become one of the main vocalists, lead dancers, and lead rappers of BINI, the most successful P-Pop girl group out right now. Though the path to stardom was rocky, she has risen to the challenge time and time again.
The girl she’s always been
Born on 14 September 2001, Colet grew up in a musically inclined household in Bohol, a rural province in the Philippines. Her father was a drummer and her entire family loved to sing. Though her childhood was filled with love and music, her family suffered from debt and poverty. Sometimes, their only sustenance was rice that they borrowed from neighbours, mixed with coconut milk.
Colet’s voice has always been golden. In fact, in high school, she earned a coveted spot on Tawag ng Tanghalan (Call of the Stage), a prestigious singing contest that dates all the way back to 1954. But she had to back out to focus on her education. Despite Colet’s prodigious raw talent, her future seemed uncertain.
But she persevered until she got to where she is today. Four years after BINI’s debut, millions of other people now share the sentiment: thank you for staying alive, Colet. Her legions of admirers are grateful for the chance to see Colet bloom.
LJ Guevara, a teenage fan, shares in Bisaya (via her mother):
Colet, ganahan ko nimo kay kalma ka, buotan, ug naa kay presence nga makalipay bisag gamay ra’g istorya. Padayon sa imong kaayo, kay inspiring ka. Ma inspire ko sa imo pagka dancer and at the same time nindot mo kanta… soon hope I will also be good at dancing and singing pud. I love you BINI Colet!
(Colet, I admire you because you’re calm, kindhearted, and your presence makes others happy even though you’re not super talkative. Please continue being good, because you’re so inspiring. You inspire me as a dancer and at the same time you sing beautifully… soon hope I will also be good at dancing and singing too. I love you BINI Colet!)
Colet, the voice without limits
Colet is often the first person to reject praise. She excels at a lot of things: she can dance, rap, write songs, and play instruments, even teaching herself how to play the piano just by watching online tutorials. Last but certainly not the least, she’s a gifted vocalist, capable of singing the lowest of lows and highest of highs yet making it all look effortless. Despite this, Colet is never content to rest on her laurels. She is massively talented, but massively interested in bettering herself too.
Fan Kitty Grace shares in Hiligaynon:
Nag request gid ako sang bakasyon from abroad para lang makalantaw sang BINIfied concert, kag wala gid ako naghinulsol. Grabe guid ang beauty kag talent nila tanan labi na gid sang bias ko nga si Colet. Aside sa iya nga vocal control, range kag technique, pati pa gid sang iya precise kag smooth nga dance moves, natulala guid ko sa pag drums ya sa iya nga solo stage. Pang expert level. Gin pamatud-an ya gid kung ngaa siya ginatawag siya nga Nation’s Ace.
(I requested a vacation from abroad just to attend the BINIfied concert, and I didn’t regret it. All of the BINI girls’ beauty and talent blew me away especially my bias Colet. Aside from her vocal control, range and technique, and her precise and smooth dance moves, I was stunned by how she played the drums during her solo stage. It was expert level. I truly understood why she is called the Nation’s Ace.)
She’s always been a team player, and for a good reason: BINI move with astounding synergy. When they come together, Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena form one of the best teams a person could ever ask for.
While Colet might prefer staying out of the limelight, she deserves individual appreciation too. Her voice resonates in more ways than one. In the traditional sense, Colet’s belts and head voice are so strong, they can fill up a whole stadium.
Listener Yeonjun Lee (이연준) shares in Korean:
콜렛은 넓은 보컬 범위, 탄탄한 발성, 뛰어난 목소리 컨트롤을 갖춘 올라운더 아티스트다.
(Colet has an impressive vocal range, with strong technique and excellent voice control, making her a captivating all rounder performer.)
With a wide vocal range, the main vocalist is the silent backbone of BINI. Colet possesses the power to body any and all vocal flexes she’s bestowed. And once you hear it, you won’t be able to forget it. With beautiful timbre and a richness to die for, Colet’s voice is one of the many facets of BINI that make them such a flawless team.
Beyond singing, however, Colet also uses her voice to guide the people around her. For instance, Stacey credits Colet for “discovering” her whistle register, helping Stacey gain confidence in unlocking this range.
Many people try to silence her, with hate against her sometimes even escalating to violent threats. Still, the young artist stays candid in her self-expression and true to her Bisaya ethno-linguistic identity.
Colet’s solo presence has been steadily climbing this 2025. In February, she performed “Puhon”—a song in her native language Bisaya (Cebuano)—at the Araneta Coliseum on the main stage of TJ Monterde’s sold-out concert.
On 30 May, Colet was crowned EveryJuan’s P-pop Powerful Vocal Female on JuanCast, the official P-Pop platform of top newspaper The Philippine Star. She won over other formidable nominees like G22’s Jaz Henry. Colet received a billboard at the Robinson’s Galleria shopping centre in Quezon City, Philippines, in honour of the award.
Fan Rauha Huigiok Lim (林慧玉) shares in Hokkien:
我兩年咧聽Bini，嘛愛唱𪜶兮歌。毋句我到今仔毋捌看著Colet家己表演。伊毋但唱Madonna兮四分鐘閣𫝛時跳舞；伊若像閣會曉敲鼓！奐𠢕啊 !
She has also inspired a lot of creative works. For example, Filipino musicians Owen Greyson and Yong released a track titled “BINI Colet (Morena)” in July. The sparkly pop song expresses appreciation for the beauty of Filipino women with morena (tan) skin like Colet.
Filipino-American novelist M.S. Ocampo also drew inspiration from Colet to create Lena Diaz, one of the leads in her upcoming YA horror book Drama of the Undead. Colet is her dream actress for Lena because “I need someone who can sing like Christine [Daaé from Phantom of the Opera] and be able to sing opera songs,” which Colet has certainly proven herself to be.
In fact, Colet once sang “Think of Me” from Phantom when she was sick, and still did a brilliant job, a clip that Ocampo has seen. Ocampo added in her statement to &ASIAN:
I watched an interview where Colet talked about how being Bisaya gave people some pre-conceived ideas about her. The prejudices Bisaya people face will factor into how Lena acts as well.
On 13 September, at her pre-birthday event “Kani Si Colet” (“This is Colet” in Bisaya), singer Ferdinand Aragon covered Colet’s untitled Bisaya composition onstage and told her she has a huge impact on the music industry. He’s right, and at 24, Colet’s just getting started.
Her future’s more than just bright; it’s infinite. Sinugdanan palang ni para kay Colet, ang tingog nga walay kinutoban: this is just the beginning for Colet, the voice without limits.
Colet can be found on Instagram. Thanks go to fans and listeners who contributed quotes.