MNL48 (read as M.N.L. Forty-eight) was a Filipino idol girl group based in Manila, Philippines, and formed in 2018, they are the fourth international sister group of AKB48, after Indonesia's JKT48, China's SNH48 (former), and Thailand's BNK48. The group is named after Manila, the capital of the Philippines. MNL48 is AKB48's only sister group to debut with exactly 48 members.
Dubbed as "P-Pop (idol) Pioneers", MNL48 paved the way to the new era of Philippine pop idol industry and is known within the 48 Group as "Vocal Queens" for their singing ability.Citations for MNL48 as pioneers of P-Pop:
On May 20, 2026, its management announced the group's disbandment.
History
2016–2018: Formation On March 26, 2016, the formations of MNL48, BNK48, and TPE48 were announced at Minami Takahashi's concert.
On October 13, 2017, Hallo Hallo Entertainment announced registration and audition tour dates for the group's first generation. The following month on November 10, Hallo Hallo Entertainment held the first audition for MNL48.
In early 2018, a segment was hosted on It's Showtime by Anne Curtis, Billy Crawford, Karylle and Jhong Hilario which determined the members of the group's first generation. It was a segment in search of the ultimate all-female Filipino idol group whose name would be derived from its base city of Manila. It conducted nationwide auditions for women aged 15–20 years old to become sought-after "idols you can meet". Thousands of women took part in the audition, with only 200 qualifying to start the 13-week challenge rounds that tested their singing and dancing skills. From the Top 200, the aspirants were reduced to a Top 75 that faced public voting until the General Election using the MNL48-Plus App developed by Hallohallo Entertainment Inc. in partnership with ABS-CBN and one of the world's top multimedia, entertainment and IT agencies, AKS. From Top 75, only 48 women became the official members of the group.
From the Top 48, there was a ranking system that followed AKB48's Senbatsu Sousenkyo concept. Top 33-48 were hailed as the Next Girls, the Top 17-32 as the Under Girls, and the Top 16 as the Senbatsu members. From the Top 16, 7 women secured the Kami 7 slots, performing as opening acts, joining AKB48 and all of its sister groups worldwide in concerts; the Kami 7 were also given international endorsement deals and an exclusive training program in AKS. From the Kami 7, the winner (as the Center Girl) of the general election became the face of MNL48 worldwide.
2018: First Generation, Aitakatta – Gustong Makita and Pag-ibig Fortune Cookie On April 22, the "Meet Your Oshimen" event was held at TriNoMa, where three hundred lucky ticket-holding fans met and greeted their favorite MNL48 aspirants. Six days after the event, the first general election took place at Studio 4 and Center Road in ABS-CBN. Before the election on April 28, challenger Kris Torrejos, along with two other eligible contenders Aria Cariño and Eunice Santiago, announced their departure from the group and consequently also withdrew from the upcoming election. A few days after the election, eight trainees, Reiko, Reina, Nix, Ann, Celine, Arol, Kana, and Ikee, also left the group. The newly recruited trainee Cole came in as a replacement member.
On June 3, MNL48's fan-meeting event was held at the Eton Centris Elements. The group performed the Tagalog versions of "Aitakatta", "Heavy Rotation", "Skirt, Hirari", and "Sakura no Hanabiratachi" for the first time. On June 8, members Trixie, Zen, Van, and Mae announced their departures from the group. To fill in the spots, the kenkyuusei members Rans, Nina, and Andi were promoted as members of Team MII. Meanwhile, kenkyuusei Coleen was then promoted to Team NIV. For the rankings, Ella and Ash entered the Kami 7, while Alyssa and Erica joined the Senbatsu. On July 9, Nina and Vern both announced their departures from MNL48, with Cassey filling Nina's position in Team MII.
On August 17, the group premiered the music video of their debut single "Aittakata – Gustong Makita". While their debut extended play Aitakatta was released on September 14, the single was released on September 28. On October 5, MNL48 were announced as one of the participants of Himig Handog 2018. The group interpreted the song "Dalawang Pag-ibig Niya" alongside Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids alumni Krystal Brimner and Sheena Belarmino. On October 26, MNL48 premiered their second music video "Talulot ng Sakura". On November 7, 18 days before the official release of the second single, trainee Niah left the group. On November 25, the group premiered the music video of their second single "Pag-ibig Fortune Cookie" the same day they performed the said single on another "Handshake Event" held on Movie Stars Cafe. On December 12, 2018, trainee Eda left, leaving nine trainees remaining.
On December 11, AKS announced that the group will join the "AKB48 Group Asia Festival 2019" event on January 27, 2019, at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand after BNK48's sixth Single Senbatsu General Election. At the event, MNL48 performed with their sister groups AKB48, JKT48, BNK48, AKB48 Team SH, AKB48 Team TP and SGO48, with members Abby, Brei, Coleen, Faith, Gabb, Jem, Mari, Rans, Sela and Sheki in attendance. On December 14, it was announced that MNL48 will be having their first mini-concert at Movie Stars Cafe, Centris Station, Quezon Ave on December 23, 2018.
On December 21, MNL48 released "Amazing Grace" music video with MNL48 Gospel unit members Sheki, Belle, Brei, Rans, Faith and Aly. The single was digitally released on December 24, 2018.
2019: Second Generation, 365 Araw ng Eroplanong Papel, Ikaw ang Melody, High Tension & Kapamilya Management
On January 26, the group performs for the first time outside the country at the "AKB48 Group Asia Festival 2019" event on January 27, 2019, at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand after BNK48's sixth Single Senbatsu General Election. MNL48 performed with their sister groups AKB48, JKT48, BNK48, AKB48 Team SH, AKB48 Team TP and SGO48. On February 10, they unveil the music video of the second coupling song from Pag-ibig Fortune Cookie, Palusot Ko'y Maybe as a tagalized version of AKB48's Iiwake Maybe which was performed by Team NIV and Coleen selected as the center girl of the said team's song. On February 22, MNL48 conducts a casting for second generation to take part in the upcoming General Election. On March 1, 2019, they released a third single, 365 Araw ng Eroplanong Papel. On March 25, the 20 members from the second Generation were selected. On April 6, they held their concert at the New Frontier Theater (formerly Kia Theater) near Araneta Coliseum where its tickets were confirmed sold out through their bookings or reservations.
Second general election On April 27, the group celebrated its first anniversary back-to-back with the second General Election where all 77 members over two generations competed for spots in the Top 48. On the said event, 29 members who did not make it to the Top 48 immediately graduated from the group. 12 First Generation members (namely Cassey, Ella, Erica, Essel, Gia, Hazel, Jewel, Madie, Necca, Nice, Princess, Sha), 4 First Generation trainees (Karla, Mela, Vira, and Yna) and 13 Second Generation members (namely Alex, Ara, Frances, Gail, Ish, Isylle, Jean, Naomi, Nile, Sam, Sandra, Sun, and Trisha) were eliminated from the Second General Election, with the 12 remaining trainees (5 from the first generation & 7 from the second generation) replacing the 12 promoted members of the first generation who did not rank in the said event. Team NIV's Aly was hailed as Sheki's successor as the "Center Girl" of the group. On May 1, MNL48 held the graduation event for the 29 unranked members in the Second General Election at Movie Stars Cafe at Quezon City to showcase their talents for one last time.
To fill-in the 12 empty spots from Top 48, 6 trainees were promoted to Team MII, 3 to Team NIV and 3 to Team L. Cole, Yzabel, Emz, Jamie, Klaire & Laney were promoted to Team MII, Dani, Rowee and Miho were promoted to Team NIV and Amy, Yssa & Ice were promoted to Team L.
On May 23, 2019, Quincy, a member of Team L, confirmed her resignation from the group. She was replaced by Ella, a returning member from the first generation. The following month, Sayaka of Team MII announced her graduation in their Interaction Live on June 3. Sayaka formally left the group after her final performance on June 9 at the Movie Stars Cafe. She was then replaced by Princess, also a returning member from the first generation.
Ikaw Ang Melody On July 29, MNL48 released a new song, "Ikaw ang Melody", a translated version of AKB48's "Kimi wa Melody". On August 24, eight members of MNL48 participated in the AKB48 Group Asia Festival 2019, held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China. They joined AKB48 themselves, AKB48's Team SH and Team TP, and their other international sister groups based in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This is the second time MNL48 performed abroad, with the first time being the AKB48 Asia Festival in Bangkok last January. Their acapella rendition of their single, "365 Araw ng Eroplanong Papel." went viral on twitter.
On September 4, 2019, Ash, a member of Team L, announced her graduation from MNL48, making "Ikaw ang Melody" her last single from the group. After two days, the promotion of Kenkyuusei member Frances was announced on MNL48's official website. She became part of the Next Girls and also consequently joined Team L.
On October 4, the group, together with K-pop girl group Momoland, signed an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN.
High Tension On September 21, the senbatsu members for the group's fifth single was announced on the group's official YouTube channel, with Gabb of Team L as the center. The following month on October 19, the main title of the single was announced. The fifth single track is called High Tension, a cover of AKB48's 46th single of the same name. On November 5, due to committing several house rule violations, Cess of Team MII was officially dismissed from the group. Gia was then promoted to Team MII replacing Cess. This is Gia's comeback to the group after not ranking in the previous election.
On December 31, the annual "NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen" featured yet again AKB48 with MNL48 included as well as several members from its official local and international sister groups from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India, for a performance of their hit song, "Koisuru Fortune Cookie." Abby represented the group as she sang a line of the song in Tagalog. She became only the third performer from the Philippines to grace the prestigious "Kohaku Uta Gassen" stage, following Gary Valenciano in 1990 and the band Smokey Mountain in 1991. Some of those included in that years lineup were iconic rockers Kiss, Japan's pop legends Arashi, and K-pop stars Twice.
2020: Third Generation, High Tension, and River After committing a major violation, Hallo Hallo Entertainment fired Dani of Team NIV from the group on January 13. She was then replaced by kenkyusei member Karla who was promoted to Team NIV on January 18. On January 25, MNL48 announced the third generation audition to determine who would be promoted to Training and Development Team as candidates for third year members. Its third general election's protocol was followed through AKB48's General Election, and JKT48's Promotion-Demotion system. For those members who will be included in Top 48, they will be promoted to Teams MII, NIV & L, while for those who are outranked, they will be demoted to Training and Development Team. Unlike on the previous General Election, no force graduations occurred.