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Colet (singer)
Filipino singer and dancer (born 2001) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ma. Nicolette Florenosos Vergara (born September 14, 2001), professionally known as Colet, is a Filipino singer, songwriter, dancer, and rapper under Star Magic. She is one of the main vocalists, lead dancers, and lead rappers of the Filipino girl group Bini.[2]
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Early life and education
Ma. Nicolette Florenosos Vergara was born on September 14, 2001,[3][4] in Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines to Arnulfo and Maria Regina Vergara.[5] She came from a family of eight siblings.[6] Her father was also a singer and drummer.[7] Colet participated in her school's singing groups and in singing competitions. She also joined her school's dance group and competed in inter-school dance competitions.[6] In eighth grade, she wrote the lyrics to what subsequently became the Bini track "8" in 2021, which was initially conceived as a graduation song.[8] She studied at Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School, where she chose the Special Program for the Arts (SPA) curriculum. She majored in vocals and was trained in singing under the SPA.[4]
She completed senior high school at the Japan Philippine Institute of Technology in Bulacan as a scholar, where she graduated along with fellow Bini member Maloi in 2024.[9] As of 2025, Colet is studying communications at Thames International School.[a][11]
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Career
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2018–2020: Early career and TV show auditions
In high school, Colet was accepted as a contestant for the Tawag ng Tanghalan singing competition segment of the ABS-CBN variety show It's Showtime but was unable to compete due to conflicts with her schooling. Following a failed audition for Pinoy Big Brother: Otso in Bohol,[8] Colet auditioned for Star Hunt Academy in Bohol in 2018[12] and was selected as a trainee in early 2019.[13]
2021–present: Bini debut, solo ventures
During the early stages of her training with Bini, Colet faced challenges in interacting with other members due to a language barrier, as Cebuano (Bisaya) is her first language. She has mentioned that she often declines solo interview requests because she finds it difficult to speak Tagalog.[14][15]
On October 10, 2020, Colet was one of the last eight members of the Star Hunt Academy Girl Trainees to graduate from the academy and was officially announced as a member of an idol group.[16] In November 2020, Colet officially became a member of the Filipino girl group Bini,[17] which officially debuted on June 11, 2021.[18]
In June 2024, Colet's vocals were featured on the song "Kalma Kahit Magulo" (transl. Calm Despite Turmoil), alongside fellow Bini member Jhoanna, as well as Juan Karlos Labajo. The track is part of the official soundtrack for the Philippine mystery drama series High Street.[19] In July, Colet was interviewed by Melai Cantiveros on the talk show Kuan on One,[b] where Colet also performed her unreleased original composition in Cebuano.[14] In September, she appeared on an episode of It's Showtime's Kalokalike contest for celebrity lookalikes and met her impersonator.[20]
On February 2, 2025, Colet performed the Visayan pop song "Puhon" (transl. Someday) with singer-songwriter TJ Monterde at his Sarili Nating Mundo (transl. Our Own World) concert at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.[21] She sang high notes as the screen displayed the song's original Cebuano lyrics, paired with Tagalog subtitles, behind her and Monterde.[22]
She appeared in a dramatization of fellow Bini member Sheena's life story in the anthology series Maalaala Mo Kaya (transl. Would You Remember), which premiered on May 1.[23] In June, the Filipino-Australian singer Ylona Garcia praised a cover of her song "Win the Fight" that Colet performed along with Stacey when the latter two were still Bini trainees. Colet and Stacey contributed additional lyrics to their cover. On social media, Garcia expressed an interest to record a version with the two.[24]
She is credited as a co-writer on the Bini songs "Golden Arrow",[25] "Kinikilig" (transl. Smitten),[26] and "Karera" (transl. Race).[27] She is also the sole writer of her original composition "8".[14]
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Other ventures
Colet franchised a Korean food business called Egg Cloud in Bohol. Its menu was inspired by her personal love for the country's cuisine.[28]
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Many fans refer to Colet as "Anger", the always angry character from the Inside Out films, due to her "tough" demeanor.[7][29] However, Colet herself has pushed back against the nickname, repeatedly telling the public that she is not constantly angry.[30] She has attributed her personality, which Elaine Carag-Calderon of Metro called "fierce", to her Visayan upbringing. She added, "I realized when I started to work in showbiz that it's not healthy to say yes to everything. It's not healthy in general, for your heart and your mind."[29] On Kuan on One, she further explained that as a Visayan, her manner of speaking has been misunderstood as "angry".[31] An essay published in The Philippine Daily Inquirer's Young Blood column[c] identified the persistence of the Anger nickname as an example of negative ethnic stereotyping towards Visayan people.[30]
Writing for the American magazine Positively Filipino, Julienne Loreto credited Colet for increasing the general public's interest in the Cebuano language.[22] Similarly, a research paper published in 2024 recognized her as a celebrity who provided representation for Visayans and Cebuano speakers in the media.[32] Jessa Ngojo of Cebu Daily News hailed Colet as one of the "Bisdak beauties" who have become "beloved icons for Cebuanos, Boholanos, and Visayans alike".[7]
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Artistry
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Various publications have recognized Colet's musicianship and diverse talents. In an article published on September 26, 2022, Hans Ethan Carbonilla of the Philippine magazine Parcinq lauded her singing skills. He wrote, "Maybe if we had that kind of vocal ability, we wouldn't shut up. But then again, some people like Colet were naturally born to be a star."[33]
Rappler's Gelo Gonzales noted that her solo performance was the night's only fully acoustic song during a Bini live show in Alpas, an event venue in La Union, which took place on May 30, 2024. He wrote that Colet's decision to sing a fully acoustic number allowed her voice to speak for itself.[34] Dubai-based newspaper Gulf News quoted a fan, Lei Redulla Lopez, who described Colet as "multi-talented". Lopez, who attended Bini's concert in November, praised the singer for her vocal, dance, and rap skills, adding that she knew how to play instruments such as the guitar and drums.[35] Colet also taught herself how to play the piano by watching YouTube tutorials.[28]
A Positively Filipino article quoted Caroline Parry, a British voice teacher, who praised Colet's breath control and diaphragm support when singing. She described her as a "very, very good singer" and said that while all of the Bini members are good singers, Colet's voice is the "crown jewel" of the group. Parry described her as the group's best vocalist in terms of technique. Jessica Robb, another voice teacher from the USA, also lauded Colet's ability to resonate in her pharynx, which produces "highly refined, robust" high notes. Writing for the magazine, Julienne Loreto praised the "unbeatable calibre" of Colet's singing and described her as the best female vocalist in the current generation of P-pop.[36]
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Personal life
Colet has suffered from mental breakdowns and panic attacks.[37]
Discography
Songwriting credits
Credits are adapted from Apple Music,[25][26][27] unless otherwise stated.[14]
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Filmography
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Awards and nominations
On July 1, 2024, the local government of Tagbilaran awarded Colet with a plaque of recognition for her dedication to music. They credited her musical career for inspiring pride and admiration among the residents of the city. Her parents received the plaque on her behalf, as she was in Manila at the time due to work schedules.[5]
Notes
- This refers to a school in Quezon City, Philippines, not the Thames International College found in Nepal.[10]
- Translation note: the title is a play on the Cebuano word kuan and the English phrase "one on one"
References
External links
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