“So, everybody if you’re happy, say ‘Eyy!'”
Sheena of P-pop girl group BINI explained the origin and impact of her self-made expression, “Eyy ka muna eyy,” which has since become popular among fans, also known as Blooms, across the country.
ABS-CBN News has reached out to the group’s lead dancer, whose real name is Sheena Catacutan, in an interview regarding the trend.
“Nagugulat ako na sa mga casuals… kung saan-saan ko na nakikita ‘yong ‘Eyy’, actually ‘di ko alam kung ano’ng mafi-feel ko,” the P-pop idol told the news outlet on Saturday.
“‘Di ko alam isasagot ko. Eyy ka muna, eyy,” she remarked.
At first, Sheena jokingly answered that she adopted the expression “Ey” at the young age of two years old.
“I adopted ‘Eyy’ (at) two years old,” she said in the ABS-CBN News interview.
Sheena later explained that the gesture evolved naturally from two influences: a friend in Isabela who frequently used “Eyy” in chats and a staff member who often made “geng-geng” gestures, mimicking gangsta style.
“Randomly lang siya gumagalaw sa katawan ko,” she later told viewers in a livestream last Saturday.
“Nakuha ko talaga ‘yong ‘Eyy’ sa tropa ko, like, sa Isabela, nagcha-chat siya, ‘Eyy,’ hanggang sa nakuha ko. Tapos mayroon kaming staff din here, ‘pag nagmi-meet kami, ‘geng-geng’ gumaganon,” the artist explained.
Combining these influences, “Eyy” became a spontaneous part of her interactions, both online and in person.
“So when you collab it, ‘Eyy.’ Naturally na lang siya nangyari — sa chat, in person, ganyan,” she shared.
Meanwhile, the expression, “Eyy ka muna, eyy,” originated from a video uploaded by X user @softlysheena which captured a heartfelt yet hilarious moment during a meet-and-greet session with their fans at the BINIverse three-day concert held last June.
Sheena recounted an interaction with a BINI fan, fondly known as a “Bloom,” who was emotional about graduating from college.
She then used the expression to “calm” fan to briefly compose themselves before crying.
“Mayroong ‘Bloom’ na nagsabing ga-graduate siya. Ta’s naiiyak siya—e alam niyo naman ayoko na umiiyak ‘yong mga tao, so sabi ko, ‘Eyy ka muna, eyy,'” Sheena narrated before adding, “So at least, nakapag-‘Eyy’ muna siya bago siya humagulgol.”
Sheena, amused by her role in starting this trend, acknowledged the responsibility with humor, likening herself to being a “mother” of the expression.
“It’s a big responsibility kasi mother na ako, yes,” Sheena said with a laugh.
She also encouraged everyone to spread the expression, emphasizing its harmless and positive nature, stating, “Sige po, palaganapin niyo na siya, kasi wala namang harm, you know. Positive ka muna.”
“So, everybody if you’re happy, say ‘Eyy!'” Sheena further remarked.
Through BINI, the “Eyy” expression allows fans to ease tension, fill awkward silences, or be used during concerts. As the popular lyric to their hit song, “Salamin, Salamin,” goes: “Ayoko maniwala, eyy!”
