How Ben&Ben stays strong after nearly a decade
CEBU, Philippines — The members of Ben&Ben hold Cebu dear to their hearts, and it’s not just because they appreciate Cebuanos as fans of their music. One of the Benjamin twins, Miguel Guico, revealed a butterfly effect story of how the word “puhon” (someday) became an integral part of their creative process.
“In 2018 when we were backstage after a show in Mandaue, these two excited kids showed up, and one of them told the other: ‘See? I knew we were going to see Ben&Ben someday. Like I always said: puhon,’” he shared during a press conference Thursday, May 22, at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
“I kept hearing that word ‘puhon’, so I asked them what it means. They told me that it’s difficult to fully translate unless you understand it from experience, but it roughly means ‘In God’s time’ or ‘God willing.’ We took that word to heart so much that it became a lyric in ‘Fall,’ a song from our first album, Limasawa Street.”
"Puhon" has remained a part of Ben&Ben’s vocabulary ever since. In their latest record, “The Traveller Across Dimensions,” released last November by Sony Music Philippines, the concept album with a fantasy backdrop centers on Liwanag’s journey of self-discovery and inner peace. Along the way, she encounters Dilim and its minions, manifestations of her darkest thoughts.
The titular protagonist is later saved from her own darkness thanks to her pet companion, aptly named Puhon. Liwanag also meets other allies such as Gabay and Mahiwaga.
“When we were conceiving the characters, we wanted someone who could symbolize hope and give Liwanag the strength she needs during a dark point in her story,” Miguel said. “It’s amazing how a word you keep hearing can evolve into someone like a character in a project like this, nearly a decade later.”
“Those two kids are probably adults now, so if they can hear this, I want to thank them. They have shaped our music in ways they could never imagine.”
Translating a narrative album into an immersive tour
Cebu City marks the first stop in their “The Traveller Across Dimensions World Tour,” kicking off tonight, May 24, at the Waterfront’s Pacific Grand Ballroom, before heading to Bacolod and Davao in June and California in July.
Produced by Ovation Productions, the concert will deepen the narrative of their album, which was accompanied by the music video for the track “Triumph,” animated by Puppeter Animation Studios, which will also bring the tour’s visuals to life onscreen.
On the tour’s concept that brings their story to life, Miguel’s twin Paolo said, “This kind of storytelling unlocks our inner child. We want to deliver a deep message, but in a lighter medium. It’s basically like reading The Little Prince, a light read, but it carries messages that stay with us through life.”
The concert’s setlist will also include their earlier hits such as “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay” and “Araw-Araw,” as well as their latest single, “Saranggola,” which they previewed for the media during the presscon.
“This [current direction] is so far from what a lot of people know Ben&Ben as. They are the hitmakers behind the love songs and the ‘hugot’ tunes, yet we now have these animated stories about the struggles of life,” said guitarist Poch Barretto.
He added, “It’s such a drastic change, and we hope that gives our Cebu audience inspiration to reexplore music by learning the different facets of their favorite local artists and being open to seeing them differently.”
Looking back on older hits
While a narrative concept album on the surface, “The Traveller Across Dimensions” still matches the consistency of their earlier works — songs drawn from real-life experiences. In this case, the characters are also influenced by the people they meet.
“These characters were shaped by real people and experiences in our lives. It’s like how Saving Mr. Banks focuses on the author of Mary Poppins and how a whimsical character like her had a lot of real-life inspirations,” Miguel said. “At some point in our lives, Liwanag’s journey resonated with us. There are people like Puhon and Mahiwaga who brought us hope. And there are people who guided and shaped who we are, like Gabay.”
Formed in 2016, the band also reflected on how their “in-the-moment” songwriting in earlier songs currently carries new weight, now that they are in their 30s.
“As our percussionist Andrew pointed out earlier, growth is reflected in the songs that we write,” Miguel said. “I was 22 when I wrote a song about commitment, and what did I know about commitment as someone in their early 20s? But now, as a 30-year-old, I understand it a lot more. It’s beautiful how songs can grow and evolve, and how we grow and evolve, as well as our listeners. That’s shown in our latest album.”
Living in the moment is what will keep Ben&Ben going, as they don’t want to think too far ahead.
As the band nears its 10th anniversary next year, they note that no member has ever left the group since their formation, originally under the name The Benjamins, before adopting their current moniker. Knowing their place and their role within the group has been one of their tricks to staying intact for nearly a decade.
“Our band is kind of like a cookbook where each of us is an ingredient and a song is a dish. If we’re cooking sinigang, for example, and you’re a pepper, you can’t put too much of yourself because it won’t taste as good and it’ll be overpowering,” said Andrew De Pano, who also serves as a backup vocalist.
He continued, “Staying together for so long has helped us understand how we work together and share a similar vision and goals. That’s why I give only what’s necessary — not more, not less, just what’s right.”
Pat added, “To make a band with this many members work, you have to set aside your ego because there’s no room for that in the creative process. There’s no room for pride in songwriting — just honesty and humility.”
Trust is also crucial in Ben&Ben’s dynamic, which drummer Jam Villanueva emphasized for any up-and-coming band.
“You all want the best to come out of what you’re creating, and you trust that you’re in a group of people who want the same things as you. Conflict and creativity bring out things you might not have seen before, so listening to each other is key,” she said.
“You’ll always know when you’ve made it through together and that it was done out of love — even if it sounds cheesy — but it’s true. It’s what moves us through everything.”
Next collaborations
Ben&Ben enjoys frequent collaborations with other talents — with loveteams like Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla starring in a music video, and artists such as SB19, Moira dela Torre, Juan Karlos, and KZ Tandingan in their previous album “Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno” — but won’t do it just for the sake of it.
They do have a few on their wishlist, such as Ed Sheeran, whom they opened for during his Manila stop of The Mathematics Tour last year.
“We’re shooting for the stars here. Our musical wavelengths are so similar that I think we’d be able to create something together,” Paolo said.
A few international acts have already reached out, including the Thai group Tilly Boys, who visited the Philippines to record a song with them, and Fil-Am R&B singer H.E.R., who told the band she hopes to collaborate with them someday.
But the most meaningful “full-circle” moment on their wishlist is working with James Andrew, known for covering their songs on TikTok and now releasing his own music.
“We’re mutual fans of each other. He’s a really talented guy, and he’s in a community full of equally talented artists. He’s someone we want to record with someday when the time is right,” Paolo said.
Tickets for Ben&Ben’s Cebu leg of The Traveller Across Dimensions World Tour, taking place tonight, May 24, at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, are available via SM Tickets. Prices are P1,000 (general admission), P2,000 (silver), P3,200 (gold), P4,500 (VIP), and P5,500 to P6,500 (SVIP tiers).
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