Permission to stan: Why these moms are BTS ARMYs

“Permission to stan: Why these moms are BTS ARMYs”
SunStar Davao, Dec. 11, 2021

All over the world, legions of dedicated fans have bonded together because of their overwhelming love for the phenomenal seven-member K-pop group BTS.

Regardless of race, gender, social status, language, and age, these devoted BTS stans are unabashed to declare their all-out support for their boys Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.

What makes them fiercely loyal BTS supporters? Charissa “Maimai” Lim, Dr. Jennifer Christine Lim, Ena Tai, and Marjorie Luy Tan spill the tea about their fascinating passage as proud ARMY moms.

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When did you become a BTS ARMY?

MAIMAI: I first knew about BTS in late 2016. My daughter Ianne who was 8 y.o. then started listening to K-pop music and watching music videos on YouTube. Because she was young, I had to screen the videos she was watching and that was when I heard about this fairly new idol group. 

                       

JEN: It began during the start of lockdown of March 2020 so I’m a pandemic ARMY. But I was already listening to their music way before.

ENA: I started listening to “Boy with Luv” and “Make it Right”, March of 2020. Officially declared myself an ARMY, July of 2020 when I began to research their names and binge-watched their “Bon Voyage” and “Run” BTS shows.

                  

MARJ: Their first song that I listened to was “Boy with Luv” which I heard in a wedding being danced to by the family of the couple. It had that funky vibe that I started searching for it on YouTube so I could listen again. Then, I started watching some “Run” BTS episodes and knew of the boys’ personalities and loved them even more. So, it was around early 2020 when I officially became an ARMY.

               

What is/are your favorite BTS song/s? Why?

MAIMAI: My all-time favorites among their songs are “Idol”, “Spring Day”, “Euphoria”, and “Life Goes On”. I also like their collaborations with Steve Aoki mainly for the catchy beat and of course, all their English releases because they are upbeat and just fun to listen to and sing along. 

JEN: “Make It Right”. It is about being with a friend or someone who understands you and stands beside you no matter what.

ENA: I have a lot of favorite BTS songs. But if I must choose just one, it would be “Mikrokosmos”. Hearing this song, I finally understood the meaning of “Music is universal”. You do not need to know the meaning of the song; you can just feel it.

MARJ: Favorite song on repeat is “Spring Day” and “24/7” because of the melody. But I recently heard the song “Magic Shop” and fell in love with the lyrics. It has that uplifting message for people who feel hopeless and weary. I also love “Danger”, “Dope”, “DNA” and “Epiphany”.

Who is/are your favorite BTS member/s? Why?

MAIMAI: It is hard to choose just one because they are all good performers and cute in their own way, but if I were to single out, I like Jungkook's face and Suga for his sense of style and his airport fashion is oftentimes polished and well put together. 

JEN: I am all for the 7 boys. It’s called OT7.

 

ENA: I am an OT7 ARMY. Meaning, One True 7. I stan them all. Each one of them has a major contribution to their success now. BTS won’t be the BTS now if they are not seven.

MARJ: V is just the apple of my eyes. He has an amazing stage presence not to mention very handsome. But his personality in real life is far from his stage personality. My second favorite performer is Jungkook because he can do all things very well. Another favorite member is J-Hope for his sunshine personality. But I love all 7 of them.

Do you collect BTS merchandise?

MAIMAI: I am not much of a merch person just because I avoid any kind of clutter at home. I follow websites and fan pages dedicated to them though, so I am updated with the latest news and happenings about them. 

JEN: I have started collecting photocards, albums, army bombs, t-shirts, and even food merchandise if they are endorsed.

ENA: My most memorable BTS merch is my IDOL TinyTans. I searched all over just to complete them all and got them from Korea, Chicago, and Manila. I am currently trying to purchase all four ARMY BOMB versions. It is my way of making up to the boys and myself for not knowing them sooner.

MARJ: My biggest BTS merch purchase was my purple Samsonite luggage which was a collab with BTS. I also have some keychains, keyrings, and mini figurines. I also bought their BTS meal in McDonald’s.

What do your husband and kid/s feel about your fangirling?

MAIMAI: I'd like to think my husband Joel supports me and our daughter because he had to go to great lengths to secure our tickets when we watched the BTS 2017 Wings Tour concert in Manila. As early as now, I give him feelers to allow us to travel to Korea (hopefully!) come March 2022 for the BTS concert there, and keeping my fingers crossed that travel restriction will already ease by then.

JEN: Although they are not fans, they support me and know that it makes me feel good and happy.

ENA: They are very supportive. My husband Hubert would say to buy the merch I want before it gets sold out. My daughter Hailey would draw me a BTS concert ticket and ARMY bomb back when I did not own one yet.

MARJ: My husband Jay was used to me fangirling over Menudo and F4 before, and now BTS. He bought me a personalized V standee, so that means he fully supports my obsession. My daughter, on the other hand, liked BTS before me but now her interest has shifted to other things while I continue to stan the boys. She sometimes thinks I’m cringy, but I always tell her that it is my only way of giving back to the boys for the happiness they give me.

What is the ultimate thing you did as a fan, so far?

MAIMAI: Last 2017, my daughter and I watched their Wings concert at the Mall of Asia Arena. The venue was jampacked and the deafening screams were on a level of their own. I remember we were seated beside a Korean girl who flew to Manila just to watch their concert there. I asked her why and she said she collects merch from their concerts in different countries.  It was definitely a worthwhile experience seeing BTS perform live onstage.

JEN: Traveling all the way recently to Los Angeles to watch their “Permission to Dance On Stage” concert. It was my first time to experience being together with BTS and fellow ARMYs coming from other countries in one big stadium.

                  

ENA: For my birthday this year, I made myself my own BTS cake and gave BTS loot bags to my ARMY friends.

MARJ: I joined an online concert organized by some Titas of BTS Davao to watch their recent LA concert together. I always watch them on YouTube; stream their songs endlessly on Spotify so they get more stream counts; and enter all voting pages if they are nominees to help them win the poll.

What made you stan BTS among all other K-pop groups?

MAIMAI: There are other K-pop groups that I also follow like Super Junior, MonstaX, CN Blue and EXO but it's BTS that really stands out mainly because they always have new song releases which are appreciated by ARMYs from all over the world. BTS is a solid septet and almost always works as a team. The fact that they create their own choreography for each song and not copy from other performers is something that is praiseworthy. 

JEN: Despite their global popularity, they remain humble just the way they were from the start of their debut way back in 2013 and their music focuses on self-love and social issues which is of concern in this current generation.

      

    

ENA: I stan the boys for their hard work and ingenuity. They promote self-love and acceptance.

MARJ: I love BTS not only because they are very talented people, but they work extremely hard, and it shows in their performance. Despite their success, these boys have continued to be down-to-earth and ever grateful to fans who support them since their debut in 2013. They inspire positivity to their fans and inspire fans to pass it on to others. If only I have a son, I wish for him to be like them!

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.