Friendship is the foundation of Cebu's new P-pop group ARZA

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.”

- By JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

ARZA members (L to R): Sophia, Niña, Isaiah, Angel, Jana, and Dorothy / PHOTO BY JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

(JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA)

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.”