Supergroup status, undeniable talent, and magnetic charisma are just some of the reasons BTS commands such a massive global following.
Beyond their music, BTS members Jung Kook, V, Jimin, SUGA, RM, Jin, and j-hope have inspired a movement—comforting listeners through life’s hardest moments and empowering fans to make a difference.
Read: Inside BTS Manila comeback: Rhiza Pascua shares exclusive details
Here are the stars who proudly wear their ARMY hearts on their sleeves.
ARCI MUNOZ ON BTS
Among local celebrities, Arci Munoz is one of the most vocal about fangirling over BTS.
Her BTS bias is Jimin and her bias wrecker is Jungkook.
"But I love them all. Kaya talaga seven sila, e, one for each day of the week," she quipped.
Arci could hardly get enough of seeing them live that she watched more than 20 concerts since she became a fan in 2019.
Recalling the craziest things she did as a fangirl, Arci admitted that it came to a point where "as in natutulog talaga ako sa kalsada, naninigas ako sa kalsada" when lining up for BTS concert.
Arci already saw the super group's Arirang concert in Spain last June, but she also secured a ticket for the Manila leg in March 2027.
"Kaya nakapanood ako sa Madrid because aksidente lang din talaga. May show lang din talaga kami doon. So yun. Pero sobrang sulit," she said.
Asked what made her love BTS so much, Arci described that it was their character that drew her to them.
Elaborating: "Oh my gosh. Well, they came at the right time when I needed them most. So, 2019 was really, that was before pandemic, e.
"Out of nowhere, I discovered them na hindi ko... unconsciously kailangan ko pala yung music nila.
"It's not just yung napakaganda ng message na lahat ng kanta nila, and sobra sila, they're superstars. Like, yung superstar na iba pa, mas mataas pa, pero they remain humble.
"Makikita mo sa kanila, iba-iba silang karakter. Parang, they inspire me in so many different ways.
"Na parang once talaga na-hook ka, hindi ka na makakaalis talaga. Pero that's for a good reason."
Then Arci shared that her fangirling over BTS has evolved into advocating for an environmental cause.
"Kagaya kay Jimin, nung birthday niya nung [October] 13, dinalaw ko yung mountain na niregalo ko sa kanya seven years ago," she revealed.
Arci went on to describe that she and some fellow ARMYs planted trees in a deforested area somewhere in Pangasinan.
She called it the Jimin Park, named after her bias Jimin.
Continuing: " So dati po, medyo naging victim siya ng illegal logging. So nakalbo talaga yung mountain.
"So nung binigay sa amin, na parang kailangan talaga namin siyang taniman.
"Grabe ate, before, nung nagpunta kami seven years ago, dry yung river.
"[Ngayon], ang laki na ng mga puno. Tapos nakakatulong kami doon sa mga indigenous peoples there kasi sila din ang nag-aalaga.
"So sobrang flourishing talaga na. Na-nurture ng mga kasama natin.
"Tapos may mga pangalan po yung puno, e. Yung seven boys tas yung mga BT21 na characters nila."
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ISABEL OLI ON BTS
For Isabel Oli, her BTS bias is V.
Describing her love for the group, she said she goes as far as dressing up like V and purchasing what the boys are endorsing.
Even her husband John Prats supports her in fangirling over the supergroup.
"My gosh. Ewan ko ba kung normal pa ba kami. Sobrang kung may mga bago, like may in-endorse sila, siya talaga mismo mag-o-order. May headphones? Pre-order agad. Ganun siya.
"Pati sa concert, siya talaga nag-push. Manood ka, manood ka. E, di ba, yung first inulan, tapos sobrang basa."
She was referring to the very first Arirang show in Goyang, Korea last April.
It was "pure magic" and "surreal" for Isabel to finally see the boys for the first time since she became a fan in 2018.
She had wanted to see them in person even before the pandemic, but was unable to get a ticket at the time.
"Ang dami na naming laptop, even phone, naka-on ng lahat. Naka-ready. Pero wala pa rin kami nakuha.
"After that, grabe yung luha ko. Humiga ako sa bed tapos lumuluha.
"Pinagtatawanan ako ng asawa ko. Sabi, 'Anong nangyari sa iyo?' Ganun akong ka-faney."
Isabel added: "Tapos binigay ko na lang yung mga merch. Kasi sobrang sad. Ayaw ko na. Ang sakit. Ganun ka-OA. Tapos isyempre binawi ko na lang yung mga merch."
It was as simple as loving the supergroup's music that hit Isabel.
"Mayroon messaging yung kanta kasi nila which I really, really like. And for some people din, mentally, para mental health nila, nakakatulong din kasi yun.
"But for me, it's just really, yung nakaayon lang ako sa song nila. Positive lang kasi. Yeah, that's why I love them."
At present, she loves "Please" from the Arirang album.
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YSABEL ORTEGA
Ysabel Ortega fell for BTS during the pandemic.
"I feel like, you know, palagi tayo lahat sa bahay nung time na iyon tapos na-discover ko sila through 'Dynamite.' So 'Dynamite' baby ako," she excitedly gushed.
"And then ever since then naging super-super big fan na ako talaga ng BTS.
"Then feeling ko naging inspiration din sila sa lahat ng ginagawa ko nun time na yun."
BTS released "Dynamite" in August 2020 to bring about positivity despite the lockdowns around the world at the time.
Admittedly, the global group's songs gave Ysabel comfort during that period of uncertainty.
"Lahat tayo may pinagdadaanan nung pandemic, di ba? So ako, nagustuhan ko yung message nila, yung friendship nila.
"Nung na-discover ko na sila, parang ang lalim na nung lore nila na sobrang na-enjoy ko.
"And talagang pinanood ko lahat pati mga reality shows nila, yung mga performances nila, everything. I love everything about them."
When asked how supportive her boyfriend Miguel Tanfelix is of her love for BTS, Ysabel admitted, "Si Miguel, naku, may era siya na puro BTS yung pinu-perform niya sa AOS kasi alam niyang favorite ko yun.
"So nag-BTS medley siya. So ang happy ko kasi best of both worlds, napagsama silang dalawa. Haha!"
To date, Ysabel said she's still checking how she could secure tickets for BTS's Arirang tour.
She failed to do so in the Philippines even after two days of trying to purchase tickets online.
"So now we're trying to get tickets in Australia or somewhere else."
Who is her bias?
"Si Jungkook. Pero ang dami kong bias wrecker. Parang lahat ata sila bias wrecker. Si J-Hope...
"Nung nag-release sila ng kanya-kanya nilang solo careers, lahat sila naging bias wrecker ko at some point. Mahal namin sila lahat."
And Ysabel's favorite BTS song is "Whalein 52."
"Ang ganda kasi ng message niya. And yung message niya is about having friend pag feeling mo mag-isa ka lang.
"Lalo na nung pandemic lahat tayo nakakulong lang sa mga room natin. So I feel like nag-resonate sa akin nung time na yun. Until now favorite ko pa rin."
SHAIRA DIAZ
Shaira Diaz became an ARMY in 2018, and her bias is Jungkook.
"Ako naman, sa totoo lang hindi kasi ako ma-YouTube, ma-Spotify noon. So narinig ko lang sila sa radyo. 'Fake Love' naman 'to," referring to the BTS song that was released that year.
It was the BTS's music that got Shaira hooked.
"So dun ko lang inaabangan lagi. So tuwing naririnig ko lang sila sa radyo, alam mo yung kahit na parang hindi ko maintindihan yung sinasabi nila, but somehow talagang na, parang nararamdaman ko.
"Sabi nga nila, music is universal, di ba? Parang naiintindihan mo sila at parang ang ganda-ganda nung mensahe.
"At then, nung sinearch ko na yung lyrics nila, yun nga, totoo na yung mga songs nila, may halaga, may meaning, may message na nakaka-relate lahat."
On the boys' personalities, she said, "And yun na very comforting sila bilang tao din na napakabuti.
"Kapag sinundan mo talaga yung journey nila, doon mo malalaman na ito, totoong mga tao, mga deserve itong mahalin, deserve itong maging stan."
Shaira went on to say that even her husband EA Guzman supports her love for BTS.
"Sobra! Binabato na niya ako kay Jungkook, e!" Shaira laughingly exclaimed.
She added that EA can be considered a "low-key ARMY" because he knows the songs of the group.
Shaira already saw Arirang in Korea last April, but she said she's planning to watch them again in Indonesia.
Crossing her fingers, she added, "Sana matuloy."
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and a select group of entertainment editors and reporters interviewed Arci, Isabel, Ysabel, and Shaira on the sidelines of the launch of Arih, a Korean noodles brand that was co-created with BTS.
BTS members approved of the idea, taste, and packaging design of these instant noodles, which are said to offer "restaurant vibes" even when cooked in the comfort of one's home.
Three of its variants that are now available in Manila are Truffle Bulgogi, Soy Sauce Butter, and Black Pepper Tteokbokki.