Colet (singer)

Early life and education

Ma. Nicolette Florenosos Vergara was born on September 14, 2001, in Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines to Arnulfo and Maria Regina Vergara. Her father was also a singer and drummer. In her younger years, she 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. As a student, she wrote the lyrics to what became the Bini track "8" in 2021, which was initially conceived as a graduation song. She is a survivor of the 2013 Bohol earthquake. In 2024, she completed senior high school at the Japan Philippine Institute of Technology in Bulacan as a scholar.

Beginnings

In high school, Colet was accepted as a contestant for Tawag ng Tanghalan (lit. 'Call of the Stage'), a televised singing contest. She planned to cover "'Wag Ka Nang Umiyak" (lit. 'Don't Cry Anymore') by KZ Tandingan, but withdrew to focus on her education before she could compete. In 2018, she joined ABS-CBN's Star Hunt Academy (SHA) training program for aspiring P-pop idols. As a trainee, Colet had difficulty interacting with the others due to a language barrier, as Cebuano (Bisaya) is her first language. She has also mentioned that she often declines solo interview requests because she finds it difficult to speak Tagalog. SHA director Lauren Dyogi worried that Colet could not endure the "rigorous" training, as she would sometimes be brought to the clinic due to exhaustion. Colet also had concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, Colet officially became a member of the Filipino girl group Bini. In December, it was confirmed that Colet would hold the positions of main vocalist, lead dancer, and lead rapper within Bini.^: 5:57

2021–present: Debut in Bini, career expansion

"Lagi"

A 16-second sample of Colet singing the "climactic" third chorus in "Lagi" by Bini, described as the track's "greatest part" by Rolling Stone Philippines. In it, she sustains a belted B₄ note.

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In June 2021, Bini debuted with the single "Born to Win", with Colet as one of the members. She also contributed to the song's vocal arrangement. According to the Filipino online magazine Zeen, she has cultivated a reputation for moving across her roles within the group "without losing what makes her distinctly Colet". Tatler Asia has credited her for molding the group's sound as well. On Erwan Heussaff's Kitchen Conversations program, fellow Bini member Aiah referred to Colet as the group's "back-up vocal coach", next to their official instructor Anna Graham. Her performance in Bini's 2022 single "Lagi" (lit. 'Always') earned praise especially. Rolling Stone Philippines writer Pie Gonzaga called the third chorus sung by Colet "the greatest part" of the track.

Colet covered "When We Were Young" by Adele at Spotify's "Parinig Mo" (lit. 'Let Them Hear') event in 2023. In July 2024, Colet was interviewed by Melai Cantiveros on the talk show Kuan on One, where Colet also performed her unreleased original composition in Cebuano. In December that year, she performed a solo acoustic set at the Café Conchita in Bohol. On February 2, 2025, Colet performed the Visayan pop song "Puhon" (lit. 'Someday') with singer-songwriter TJ Monterde at his Sarili Nating Mundo (lit. 'Our Own World') concert at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. She sang high notes as the screen displayed the song's original Cebuano lyrics, paired with Tagalog subtitles, behind her and Monterde. In September, Colet was one of the guest mentors for the televised children's singing competition Idol Kids Philippines.

Business

In 2026, Colet co-founded a fashion brand called Colieair (stylized in all lowercase) with some of her friends.

Philanthropy

In October 2024, Colet participated in Aiah's Aiahdvocacy initiative. Along with fellow Bini member Maloi, they visited a nursing home as a part of the outreach program. In March 2025, Colet collaborated with her fan group for Project Colipay, in which she hosted Jollibee parties for children with disabilities. She explained that, having grown up in poverty, she never had the chance to experience a Jollibee birthday party herself as a child. In April, she donated goods to children in Bohol through Project Puhon. In May, a fan group also launched a project called Colaiah (Colet and Aiah) Cares, which provided food, hygiene kits, and school supplies to disadvantaged children in Quezon City. Both Colet and Aiah showed their support for the charity initiative. On November 9, she and Aiah distributed relief goods to survivors of Typhoon Kalmaegi (Tino) in Cebu.

On her 25th birthday in 2026, Colet performed pop ballads in an acoustic jam session at Dancing in the Rain, a charity fundraiser organized by her fan group Colet Fan Suporta (lit. 'Colet Fan Support') at the World Trade Exchange building in Binondo, Manila. Her set list included a cover of "Slow Motion" by Karina Pasian and a duet with Arthur Nery, "Palayo Sa Mundo" (lit. 'Away From This World'), originally by Nery and Jolianne.

Ethnic identity

Many fans refer to Colet as "Anger", a reference to the personification of the emotion in the Inside Out films. Jessica Ngojo of Cebu Daily News attributed the nickname to Colet's "angry" skits on her live broadcasts online. However, Colet herself has pushed back against the nickname, repeatedly telling the public that she is not constantly angry. An essay published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Young Blood column identified the persistence of the Anger nickname as an example of negative ethnic stereotyping towards Visayan people.

In an article analyzing the history of Visayan pop music for the American magazine Positively Filipino, Julienne Loreto credited Colet for increasing the general public's interest in the Cebuano language. Similarly, a research paper published in 2024 recognized her as a celebrity who provided representation for Visayans and Cebuano speakers in the media. Ngojo described Colet as a "beloved icon[...] for Cebuanos, Boholanos, and Visayans alike".

Musical style

Various publications have recognized Colet's musicianship. 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 2024, praised the singer for her vocal, dance, and rap skills, adding that she knew how to play instruments such as the guitar and drums. Bini's songs are known for being fast and upbeat, but in Colet's solo work, she often performs ballads.

At Bini's Binified concert in 2025, Colet covered "4 Minutes" by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake in a solo production number, where she also played the drums. Her drum performance was described as "rocking" and "jaw-dropping" by Billboard Philippines' Gabriel Saulog. Likewise, writers from Pulp likened her drumming to a rock star's. In 2026, Zeen said that Colet brings "range" to Bini's generally "bright" pop discography.

Vocals

"Unang Kilig"

Colet displaying her raw belting vocals in the "Unang Kilig" recording session with Jeremy G

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Nica Jose of Philippine Entertainment Portal wrote that singing is the "cornerstone" of Colet's artistry. Zeen's Francesca Bacordo said that Colet brings "powerful" vocals and "high-energy" stage presence to Bini. 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. In a Positively Filipino article, a British vocal coach named Caroline Parry described Colet as Bini's best technical singer, calling her voice the group's "crown jewel".

Colet is a soprano. Writing for the Filipino online magazine Parcinq, Hans Ethan Carbonilla characterized Colet's singing skills as "heavenly". He added, "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." Parry has named breath control and diaphragm support while singing as two of Colet's notable skills as a vocalist. Jessica Robb, an American vocal coach, further lauded Colet's ability to resonate in her pharynx, which produces "highly refined, robust" high notes. Through the Visayan magazine Kasing2, American vocal coach Karen Lyu praised Colet's singing for being well-supported and called her upper range "effortless".

Songwriting credits