DESPITE the heavy downpour, thousands of Tarlaqueños still flocked to the 150th Tarlac founding anniversary concert of the famous folk-pop band Ben&Ben at the Maria Cristina Park, evening of May 26.
The Ben&Ben concert, which started after the cultural show, likewise had artists Carol Bello and Joey Ayala as front acts for the concert.
The band was able to render five of their original songs before the organizers decided to end the concert because heavy rain coupled with thunder and lightning. Ben&Ben sang Paninindigan Kita, Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay, Kathang Isip, Maybe the Night and Araw-Araw.
According to Tarlac Tourism Focal Person Arsenio “Baby” Lugay II, the estimated attendance to the nine-piece musical band was around 15,000.
“Despite the heavy rain, people stayed,” Lugay II said.
Ben&Ben was formed in 2017 and they have been named the Spotify’s Most Streamed Artist in 2020 in the Philippines and Most Streamed Artist from 2021 and 2022. They wonseveral awards including multiple Awit Awards, Myx Awards, Wish 107.5 Music Awards and NME Award for Best Asian Band.
Ben&Ben is composed of Paolo Benjamin Guico–lead vocals, acoustic guitar; Miguel Benjamin Guico–lead vocals, acoustic guitar; Poch Barretto–lead guitar, backing vocals; Jam Villanueva–drums; Agnes Reoma–bass; Andrew De Pano–percussion, backing vocals; Toni Muñoz–percussion, lead and backing vocals; Keifer Cabugao–violin, backing vocals and Patricia Lasaten–keyboards.—Arvin F. M. Cabalu
