Movies, Music, TV
Enter the World of SB19 Through the Simula at Wakas Experience
A month-long exhibition showcases the P-pop group's most ambitious era yet.
Published on Jun 3, 2025
(SPOT.ph) Anyone who hasn’t heard of P-pop group SB19 has been living under a rock. Having come off the success of a sold-out Philippine Arena concert and charted all songs from a single EP on Billboard Philippines Hot 100, it was only natural for the group to take the next step: opening an immersive, fan-centric exhibit.
The Simula at Wakas Experience was launched in celebration of the group’s latest EP, Simula at Wakas (SaW)—the final chapter in a trilogy following Pagsibol in 2021 and PAGTATAG! in 2023. It’s a concept years in the making. We learn from the exhibit that SB19’s Pablo had been dreaming of creating a vivid album that told a story of growth. Of course, there was no better inspiration than the journey of SB19 themselves. Now, that vision has finally come to life—and we’re seeing it with our own eyes.
A tour of the Simula and Wakas Experience
Be prepared: This isn’t your typical walk-in, walk-out gallery. It’s well-thought-out, structured, and, yes, in high demand.
The exhibit opened to the public on May 24 at Gateway Mall 2 and will run daily (including holidays) until June 29. Hourly time slots are available from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends, with a cap of 140 visitors per hour. Heads-up: it fills up fast. To manage the crowd, each group is divided into smaller batches before entering the space so it never feels too packed.
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Fans wait at the entrance before the exhibit opens at 12 p.m. Photo by Millany Cua.
The good news is there’s more than enough time to see the exhibit for yourself. Pro tip: go on a weekday after lunch, specifically between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.—it’s the least crowded slot, while Thursdays to Sundays are often fully booked.
That said, here’s what you can expect from the Simula at Wakas Experience.
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VR ZONE
The exhibit begins with a white room filled with DAM memorabilia, outfits, and trivia about the members—a treasure trove of SB19’s lore. This is also where you’ll find the VR zone (it’s hard to miss!).
This VR immersion experience features exclusive SB19 performances recorded specifically for the exhibit. There are four possible performances—"DAM," "DUNGKA!," "Time," and "Quit"—but you’ll only get to see two, which are chosen at random per session. "DAM" and "DUNGKA!" showcase the group’s high-energy choreography, while "Time" and "Quit" are more intimate, featuring just the boys. Don’t worry, VRs are sanitized after every use.
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Fans prepare watch the up-close VR performances of the group. Photo by Millany Cua.
Arguably, the most entertaining part was watching how fans reacted to the VR performances. You could feel the excitement in the air. The moment the headset goes on, you’ll hear gasps turn into full-on shrieks—especially when Stell or Josh break the fourth wall and lean in just a little too close to the camera. There's nothing like being in a room full of expressive fans who love the same group as you.
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The most dynamic outfits in the DAM music video. Photo by Millany Cua.
Once your VR session ends, you are free to roam the spacious white room to see the "DAM" music video installations. Costumes from the video are on full display: The Wolf King (Pablo), The Cursed Hunter (Josh), The Golden Bard and his evil counterpart (Stell), The Crow Knight (Ken), and The Wise Seer (Justin). Looking at them even closer, you’ll find details in the outfits you may have missed while watching the music video.
Each display also comes with informational panels explaining the characters' backstories, the creative process, and even concept sketches by the designers. Even if you’re not the biggest fan, the craftsmanship here is hard to ignore.
And we're only getting started.
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THE LAIR
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Walk through this enchanted forest before approaching the Wolf King's lair. Photo by Millany Cua.
Walking to the next location is already an experience in itself. The walkway is designed to look like an enchanted forest, where you make your way to what fans would recognize to be the Wolf King’s lair.
Open the gate and you’ll find the throne used in the music video. Yes, you can sit on it and take as many pictures as you want. (The Wise Seer isn’t using his magic to cause an earthquake here anymore, so you’re safe!)
You’ll also be able to see the iconic "DAM" tree in its full glory, now grander than ever as it combines both the actual trunk used in the music video with the installation that was previously displayed in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) last April.
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Feel like royalty by sitting on the Wolf King's throne. Photo by Millany Cua.
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THE ART OF SAW
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It's a full house even on the 12 p.m. Monday timeslot. Photo by Millany Cua.
This room features exclusive behind-the-scenes details of the entire Simula at Wakas era, from the planning and development of the concept to the final style guides and outfits used by SB19.
It’s the kind of room you’ll want to linger in if you’re into the details. There’s a breakdown of everything: the early iterations of the SaW logo, how the storyline was built, and even the hidden meanings behind some teasers.
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The final iteration of the SaW logo. Photo by Millany Cua.
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Actual sketches for the Simula at Wakas era. Photo by Millany Cua.
Fans would especially love the breakdown of details in the Simula at Wakas map teaser. Every single symbol on that map is an Easter egg—whether it’s a nod to previous releases or hints at what’s to come, including possible world tour locations. It’s impressive how much they managed to pack into one tiny map.
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Modern takes on SB19's characters in the DAM music video. Photo by Millany Cua.
PROJECTION GALLERY
The experience so far has been full of photo ops, but if you’re looking for something a little more artsy—or something more subtle about SB19—to post, this next room is for you.
The Projection Gallery surrounds you with hyper-realistic backgrounds from the DAM music video, featuring three walls that cycle through new scenes every few minutes. These backdrops can really make you feel as if you’re outside the castle with the Crow Knight or inside the Wise Seer’s chaotic library.
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Take silhouette pictures against these medieval backdrops. Photos by Millany Cua
THE SHOP
You’ll find the group’s outfits and props from the DUNGKA! music video and live performances on display here. Information boards and style guides are also posted for anyone interested in the song’s message and the deep influence of Filipino street culture in the music video.
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SB19 took inspiration from Filipino streetwear for the DUNGKA! music video. Photo by Millany Cua.
You’ll also find more DAM settings here as photo hotspots.
One corner of the exhibit recreates the Wise Seer’s chaotic library. Nearby, the mirror where the Golden Bard comes out from sits in a dramatic gold frame, surrounded by empty picture frames (CGI mirrors in the music video), scattered crow feathers, and piles of fake treasure.
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Easily one of the best spots to take a picture in. Photo by Millany Cua.
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The Golden Bard's table where all five characters are finally reunited. Photo by Millany Cua.
This room also doubles as a merchandise store, offering exclusive items that can only be found at the exhibit—lightsticks (P3,899), photobook set (P1,599), t-shirts (P1,399), keychains (P349), and other memorabilia. They accept multiple payment methods—cash, GCash, credit cards, and debit cards—so you’ve got options. Fair warning: stocks are running low, so grab your merch while you can. With the demand this high, a little birdie told us there's also a good chance an online sale could drop soon.
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Fans line up to buy SB19 merchandise. Photo by Millany Cua.
DISCOVERY SPACE
This interactive space is SB19's way of inviting visitors to leave a little bit of themselves as part of the installations. Here, you can write heartfelt messages for no one in particular, put up strings of yarn on a tapestry to represent your "newfound hope," and leave your fingerprints on tree paintings to represent yourself in the growing fan community.
You’ll also find the concept art and style guides for the other EP tracks "Time," "8TonBall," "Quit," and "Shooting for the Stars." It’s a quieter but meaningful way to reflect on the themes of the album, especially if you’ve been following the group’s creative direction for a while.
A room where fans can reflect on what SB19's journey means to them. Photos by Millany Cua
By the time you reach the end of the Simula at Wakas Experience, one thing becomes clear: there’s more to the journey than just the beginning and the end. The latest EP may close out a trilogy, but it's far from being the group's conclusion. If anything, it emphasizes how far SB19 has come—and how much more there is still to explore.
Simula at Wakas Experience is located at Level 4, Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City. For more information, visit the official Ticketnet page.
Micah believes that writing is always political. Beyond the byline, you’ll find her bruising herself in a pole studio or napping with her beagle. Reach her at micah@spot.ph.
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