Ben&Ben: Music That Brings Hope

Hi, wholesome reader!

I am very glad and excited to write about this unforgettable event in my life. This was the first time that I attended a concert after the pandemic has erupted.

And guess what? What? It was one of my favorite Filipino bands who performed - tada it's Ben&Ben!

But before I jump into the most exciting part, let me tell you the story of how I discovered the band and how I instantly loved their music.

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Get to Know Ben&Ben

Ben&Ben was formerly known as The Benjamins. It was initially just the twins, Miguel Benjamin and Paolo Benjamin, who are the band's lead vocalists. The band, Ben&Ben, was officially formed in 2017, making it a 9-member band: Migs and Pao on acoustic guitars, Poch on electric guitar, Jam on drums, Pat on keyboard, Agnes on bass guitar, Keifer on violin, Toni and Andrew on percussions.

The band is one of the most-streamed Filipino artists on various music streaming platforms, including Spotify. For two consecutive years (2020 & 2021), they were able to attain this title. Their music usually revolves around the folk pop/pop rock genre, mostly with messages of love and hope.

Liwanag, or light in English, is how the band calls their fandom. It was initially Lights, but after discovering that it was already a fandom name supporting a Korean boy group, the band changed it to the Filipino equivalent of the word, which I personally think is better.

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My Liwanag Journey

Wayback 2019, I and some of my friends went to an art caravan in Ayala Center Cebu, one of the malls in the city. Coincidentally, another friend invited us to watch a local band show, which was also happening at the mall where we were already at.

At that time, I barely listen to OPM songs so I really had no idea about this band. But as I love music so much, I decided to give it a chance and stayed to watch their show.

I've learned that the show was part of the band's Limasawa Street Tour to promote their debut album, Limasawa Street, which was released last 2019. The album contains 13 songs, a mix of Filipino and English songs, including their singles Pagtingin and Araw-Araw.

Contrary to what I've said, the I-don't-know-this-band thoughts, I was surprised when they performed their hit singles Maybe The Night and Kathang-Isip during the show. I've listened to these songs a couple of times already but did not know that it was Ben&Ben who was the artist behind these masterpieces.

After the show, I instantly picked some favorites! The songs, entitled Fall and War, captured my heart in a beat! I love how these songs express love and hope, accompanied with their perfect melodies.

Since then, listening to Ben&Ben on Spotify became a beautiful addiction. I started following the band and its members on the different social media platforms, got updated by their music and song releases, and their different ventures in life. Their music, especially, comforted me during the lowest points of my life. They also helped me cope up with the stress that the pandemic has brought upon us all.

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Ben&Ben Live in Cebu

Last April, I heard the news that Ben&Ben was coming back to Cebu on June 18. I told my sister, who was a also a big fan, that it was something we shouldn't miss! Without second thoughts, we both agreed and waited for the release of tickets.

Fast forward to the big day! We were able to buy two VIP tickets during the release. I found out that they were seated tickets and had a mix of emotions: happy that we were close to the stage but also dismayed because we were not allowed to stand. I wanted to jump and dance to the songs, come on!

The concert was held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. To set the mood, DJ Steelo graced the night by dropping heart-drumming beats and was followed by rapper Kiyo, who shared us his music.

Ben&Ben

The part we've been waiting for has finally come and Ben&Ben was finally in sight! The crowd went wild when they appeared on stage and performed. They sang Pagtingin as their opening act and the rest was a dream-like moment. The last two songs that they performed were Ride Home and Araw-Araw. And by the way, I made a Spotify playlist of the songs at the concert to remember how happy I was that night!

I felt like I was in Cloud Nine when they performed some of my favorites: Fall, Leaves, Make It With You, and Araw-Araw. It hit different when I heard my favorite songs being performed live compared to just listening on a music-streaming platform. Up until now, it still feels surreal!

It's silly to think how much we fangirl over artists when they're as ordinary as we are! But not everyone knows how much their music has helped us go through everything we've already gone through. And that's what makes us cling to the hope their music has grown within us, how they spark the dying embers inside of us, how the lines from their songs sing the things we always wanted to say or the things we so long to hear, that we don't always have to be alone.

Indeed, it was a night full of love and hope! I was very happy I was not able to miss the opportunity to see one of the music bands that helped me through and through.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about one of the most memorable nights of my life!

I'll take delight in writing for you again soon. See you around!

Love,
Sam ♡

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_{All photos in this post are owned by me, unless stated otherwise.}

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