First and foremost, happy 3rd year anniversary to MNL48.
It's been 3 years since the idol group was formed in 2018, and within those years filled with ups and downs, success and trials -- two names became prevalent within it -- Alice de Leon and Sheki Arzaga.
Two different names. Two different people. Two different paths before becoming well-known members of the idol group in the years to come.
De Leon is a former member of Kawaii 5, HalloHallo Entertainment (HHE) Inc.'s experiment of creating an idol group within the local music scene while having a partnership with a television company. The group, despite being used majorly in promotions for a J-Drama that was shown on the same network, created opportunities for her.
Arzaga is a champion of a singing contest in a noontime show. Before MNL48, she showcased her singing prowess their that it awed the audience and the judges.
De Leon and Arzaga's paths did not meet until around late 2017, the year HHE decided to open up auditions for the members of MNL48. Thousands of girls, including the two, dreamed to become part of the Philippine sister group of AKB48. The auditions were met with expectations from the wota community (those who dreamed of wanting this to happen in the first place since J-Pop is still striving within the niche environment of the anime conventions and MNL48 might be the ticket to turn the tides for them), and a lot of fanfare especially when AKB48 Team 8 happened to visit the country the second time around (the first one, if I remember correctly, was for an event in Market Market).
In the said auditions, De Leon had experience from Kawaii 5 and talent to boot, while in Arzaga's case, despite having zero knowledge about AKB48, or J-Pop in general, the only she had was her natural charisma and her skill in belting.
Luck would have it when both the two became part of the Top 100, then after elimination after elimination, they went on become part of the Top 48.
In the next days before April of 2018, the idol group is preparing its official launch with their first order of business -- the first oshi meet. From the event, both already had established fanbases, which is evident in the lines in front of them -- their first handshake event experience (and to many of those who are there, yours truly included, also their first handshake event experience).
Days after the event, their identity inside the group was marked -- Arzaga being the General Election winner and center girl; and De Leon being the group's first overall captain. Ever since then, both of them saw the growth of MNL48 in their own eyes. Both saw the potential they possessed as a group that could be their weapon in the coming years.
But both of them also saw the days where the group was facing roadblocks and struggles. Both Arzaga and de Leon fought hard to make the idol group relevant and "be noticed" by people along with their fellow members, especially those who doubted them -- the former during her stints in the 2019 AKB48 Group Asia Festivals and the latter during live events that was filled with local people, most of them not knowing MNL48.
Outside of the stage and bright camera lights, the two are the closest of friends. They supported each other thru thick and thin. That's why earlier this year, it is no wonder that de Leon entrusted Arzaga the position she held for almost 3 years -- the group's overall captainship.
For 3 years, they worked, cried, and laughed alongside their 'sisters'. In those same three years, Arzaga learned a lot from de Leon, and de Leon learned a lot from Arzaga as well.
As the idol group continues to move forward while facing existing and newfound challenges especially those that caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, both Arzaga and de Leon will use the same experiences they have from the past 3 years while learning new ones along the way.
2021 might be the breakout year MNL48 needs, and the heart and soul of the group needs the help of both the members and its fans to get that opportunity and fulfill its goal that both of these two ladies wanted since 2018 -- the goal that MNL48 will be loved, adored, and supported by all of their fellow Filipinos.
Happy 3rd year anniversary, MNL48.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and does not reflect the views held by the entirety of PAKSA MNL and fellow MNLo