New bloc in Congress generated awareness for BTS fans, says lawmaker

Camarines Sur 2nd Dist.Rep. LRay Villafuerte. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The new BTS sa Kongreso (BTS in Congress) bloc in the House of Representatives is already a success as it has created “awareness” among fans of the Korean boy group where it was named after, Camarines Sur 2nd District Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. said Friday.

Villafuerte said fans of BTS, who call themselves the ARMY, became aware of the goals of the newly-formed House bloc because of its name.

“We don’t want to anger anyone, whether the ARMY or anyone, but the fact that it created awareness. Now a lot of BTS fans are now attuned to what we want to do, I think in that sense, it’s a success already,” he said on ABS-CBN News Channel. 

He even said that non-millennials started to listen to songs of the widely popular boy group after the creation of the bloc.

“In fact, a lot of non-millennials, 40 and above, some of them don’t even know BTS but after we were called BTS, suddenly it created more awareness for BTS and [they] started listening to their songs. Sa akin (To me) it’s not more of the name, it’s why, why we are forming this, why we are doing this,” he added.

BTS sa Kongreso was launched by former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies.

Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco took over from Cayetano in October last year.

Cayetano said their version of BTS, which is also composed of seven members like the boy group, means “Back to Service.”

This, however, did not sit well with fans of the real BTS, who even warned that using the band’s name without permission is forbidden.

But according to Villafuerte, some fans of the BTS have told him that they support their bloc. 

“You can’t please everyone eh. For example, 3,000 tweeted and it became viral, there is also the silent majority. Marami namang BTS fans din na nagtext at message sa akin sa Facebook na we support you. So okay lang ‘yan, you can’t please everyone,” he said. 

(There are also a lot of BTS fans who texted me and messaged me on Facebook and told me they support us. So that’s okay, you can’t please everyone.)

He added that their bloc “never used their logo or imagery.”

Meanwhile, Villafuerte also explained that the bloc wants charter change discussed but they are questioning why it should be prioritized by the House leadership at this point.

“What we are trying to point out is yung let’s discuss charter change, sure why not? There are really certain provisions that we need to change in the present constitution, but why prioritize it? Siguro (Maybe) do it side by side with other issues such as rebuilding the economy,” he said.

“Why don’t we do it side by side with charter change as against why only charter change now?”

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