Today, June 13, K-pop superstars, world-record holders and Grammy nominees BTS are celebrating their eighth anniversary since debuting in 2013 and to mark the milestone, fans in the Philippines did different projects for them.
One is a donation by Filipino BTS ARMYs of P80,000 (about $1,674) to the Malabon Zoo. According to the ARMY Cavite Fanbase, the zoo is lacking in funds for food for the animals.
“Many ARMYs tagged us on that post so we decided to make a donation drive. At first, we just planned on donating a small amount since it’s a very abrupt plan. But we are surprised with PH ARMYs’ support. In just one hour, we raised 10k already. At the end of the donation drive, we raised 80k,” the fanbase told Manila Bulletin.
They added, “We are so happy because we are able to help not just people but animals as well. It’s also a great project in celebration for BTS’ 8th anniversary. Our head admin went personally to the Malabon Zoo and had a chance to talk with Mr. Manny Tangco.”
"Maraming salamat po to the BTS ARMY. Talaga pong malaki pong tulong ang ginawa niyo sa amin to feed our animals in Malabon Zoo (Thank you to BTS ARMY. What you did is a big help to us to feed our animals in Malabon Zoo),” said Tangco, zoo owner.
In addition, numerous billboard ads celebrating BTS’ anniversary have sprouted in Metro Manila, Davao City, Cebu City, Iloilo and Cavite, which are projects spearheaded by ARMY Cavite Fanbase, TaehgersPh and Bangtan Boys Philippines.
Philippine BTS ARMYs also ran an ad on SM Mall of Asia’s Globamaze, a 360-degree electronic giant globe billboard at the complex's rotunda.
BTS ARMYs all over the world have different projects for BTS’ eighth anniversary. On Twitter, fans trended the hashtag #8YearsToInfinityWithBTS to mark the occasion.
As part of their eighth anniversary, BTS will hold their BTS 2021 MUSTER SOWOOZOO online live streaming event on June 13 (6:30 p.m. KST, or 5:30 p.m. Philippine time) and June 14.
BTS released their new digital single “Butter” on May 21, which broke five Guinness World Records titles: most viewers for the premiere of a video on YouTube with 3.9 million concurrent viewers, most viewers for the premiere of a music video on YouTube, most viewed YouTube music video in 24 hours with 108.2 million views, most viewed YouTube music video in 24 hours by a K-pop group and most streamed track on Spotify in the first 24 hours.