MANILA, Philippines — Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay hailed SB19's historic performance at Lollapalooza 2026 as a milestone for the Philippines.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) organized simultaneous watch parties across the country on Friday to allow thousands of fans to witness the group's landmark debut together.
"We're proud of SB19. They just made history by being the first Philippine act to perform on a stage like Lollapalooza. It's a big feat, and because they're so far away, we wanted to give their fans the opportunity to watch them live," Angara-Mathay said in a statement.
The nationwide watch parties were held Friday as SB19 took the stage at Grant Park in Chicago, becoming the first Filipino act to perform at one of the world's largest and most prestigious music festivals.
The main gathering, dubbed "Lunetapalooza," took place at the Open Air Auditorium of Rizal Park in Manila, where thousands of A'TIN watched the performance together. Simultaneous viewing events were also held in Clark, Pampanga; Cebu City; Davao City; Bacolod City; Puerto Princesa; Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Butuan City; and Cagayan de Oro City.
The events were organized by the DOT in partnership with the National Parks Development Committee and the agency's regional offices.
Angara-Mathay said SB19 embodies the qualities the agency hopes to showcase through Philippine tourism, citing the group's talent, humility and commitment to promoting the country abroad.
"They're very talented. They're entrepreneurs. Most of all, they're very humble and kind. That's why it's easy to love this group. They have a different perspective on life and business, and they genuinely want to help the Philippines. They are proud to carry their identity wherever they go in the world," she said.
The tourism chief added that promoting the Philippines goes beyond showcasing destinations
"Tourism isn't just about places. It's also about food and culture. Earlier they were talking about Filipino dishes like sinigang and adobo. We want them to promote the whole Filipino experience," she said.
The nationwide celebration followed the DOT's recent appointment of SB19 as the Philippines' newest Tourism Ambassadors, recognizing the group's growing influence in promoting Filipino culture to audiences across North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.
The watch parties came days after another milestone for the quintet during its visit to Chicago, where SB19 became the first Filipino group to throw the ceremonial first pitch before the Major League Baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees.
Following their Lollapalooza debut, the group is set to continue its international performances at Summer Sonic 2026 in Osaka and Tokyo as it expands its presence on the global stage.
