This December, a new girl group is set to represent Cebu in the P-pop scene: ARZA, a play on the Cebuano word ‘alsa’, which means ‘to rise.’
The six-member group consists of Isaiah, Dorothy, Sophia, Jana, Niña, and Angel – managed by Music n Motion Academy and Stage K.I.T. Artists Management.
‘Our group’s mission is to lift and rise and to inspire others to rise as well,’ said Isaiah, the group’s leader, lead dancer, and sub-vocalist, during an interview with The FREEMAN at the music school in Parkmall, Mandaue.
‘I usually get mistaken as the youngest in the group when I am actually the oldest,’ the 18-year-old added.
ARZA’s youngest member is Angel, 13, the lead vocalist. She has been doing commercials since she was five years old.
The main vocalist and lead dancer, Niña, 15, is a school athlete who plays volleyball and badminton. She is also a campus journalist, combining her two interests when she competed at a press conference last year as a sports writer.
Jana, 16, is the group’s main rapper and lead vocalist. She also runs a small bracelet-making business.
Dorothy, also 16, is a fast learner when it comes to choreography, while Sophia, the same age, has a twin brother who can also sing.
While they had different interests growing up, all members share a desire to perform onstage.
‘Since I have the ability to sing, I wouldn’t want to waste that. So I showcased my talents when I was little,’ Jana said.
‘My passion as a dancer started when I would watch the festival queens performing at the Sinulog Festival. Then I would see singing competitions on TV like The Voice Kids, and I grew up loving to sing,’ Dorothy added.
Sophia chimed in, saying, ‘I sang a lot when I was little, even though I was off-key. As I grew older, I wanted to make my voice better, so I took lessons here at Music n Motion.’
While the girls have a wide range of influences – from soloists like Olivia Rodrigo and Sarah Geronimo to K-pop acts such as TWICE, Stray Kids, and ENHYPEN – they cited BLACKPINK and KATSEYE as the groups they most want to emulate.
‘When we saw the members of KATSEYE in their performances and their journey in fighting for their spot in the group, they showed they can be successful and inspire others with their passion and talent,’ Dorothy explained. ‘Their bond as members is so strong that their connection shows in their performances, and they have such a powerful aura.’
‘As for BLACKPINK, we want to be like them, to show a different type of sound that showcases so many styles we can explore,’ she added.
Among the members, Niña and Dorothy have trained with Music n Motion the longest. Niña started in 2018, taking a break to focus on her studies before returning. Dorothy joined in 2016, later transferring to another music school in Lapu-Lapu City, before returning in 2023.
Angel briefly joined during the COVID-19 pandemic through virtual lessons before rejoining in 2023 when in-person classes resumed. Sophia joined around the same time as Angel. Jana is the newest trainee, having joined only a few months before being enlisted as part of ARZA.
Despite being new, Jana appreciated how warmly she was welcomed. ‘All of the members were so approachable, kind, and patient since I still need to work on my dancing,’ she said.
It’s this collaborative dynamic that assured ARZA’s managers of their ambitious decision to debut their in-house idol group after seeing their performance at a recital earlier this year.
‘The chemistry they have is that they always have the same idea when it comes to dancing. They work well together. It’s when they have the attire on that the magic comes. This group has so much potential, which is why we are molding them as a P-pop group,’ said their manager Brian Keith Sianson.
‘I am so happy that I found these members because it’s not easy to form a group. You have to consider their voices, charisma, and sometimes looks – but they’re all pretty. I can see so much potential in them,’ added Music n Motion founder Leonyl Navarro, who established the school in 2014 when it was located at J Center Mall (now SM JMall).
Building chemistry requires fostering genuine friendships. ‘The friendship we built is the foundation of ARZA. I hope that bond we built can resonate with audiences,’ Isaiah said.
‘It wasn’t hard for us to build that connection because from the first practice alone, we instantly clicked and knew what our positions would be,’ Niña added.
Isaiah also said it’s about being harmonious despite their different personalities, which she believes makes the group stand out. ‘Some of us can be naughty, some can be demure, one can be nonchalant. I think that’s what makes us whole. We balance each other out.’
This comes as an advantage for Isaiah as the leader. ‘Since they are younger than me, I have to show that I am a good role model for them. But they make this job easy because they always listen to me when there are announcements, reminders, and advice. They don’t make it heavy for me.’
Considering that they are ‘academic achievers’ in school, they dedicate their weekends to rehearsals, emphasizing time management so they don’t compromise their education.
‘They were quite committed before they signed the contract. Our goal is to make them unique, especially vocally. They may have similar dances to other groups, but their core is their voice – that’s what will make ARZA different from others,’ Sianson said.
Navarro praised their dedication, saying, ‘They have the perseverance, willingness, and desire to learn more,’ noting that their training has become more challenging.
As for their upcoming debut single, ARZA is brainstorming ideas, leaning toward a ‘girl power empowerment’ concept, with a track produced by LG Fuentes.
‘I am excited for when we release our first song because what’s important is that people enjoy our sound and feel inspired,’ Dorothy said.
ARZA will officially debut on Dec. 14 at SM Seaside City during Music n Motion’s recital concert.
‘I hope Cebuanos support us in this journey because we’re not doing this just for us but for Cebuanos. We have so much in store for our potential fans, and they have a lot to look forward to,’ Isaiah said.
‘If they’re going to be our fans someday, we promise we’ll work hard and improve ourselves every day,’ Sophia added.