Ben&Ben on handling misunderstandings, visiting a cancer patient

Being a nine-member band, Ben&Ben acknowledges that they won’t really see eye to eye all the time.

The popular OPM band is comprised of twins Paolo and Miguel Guico (lead vocals and acoustic guitars), Poch Barretto (electric guitar), Keifer Cabugao (violin), and Patricia Lasaten (keyboards).

Toni Muñoz (percussion), Andrew de Pano (percussion), Agnes Reoma (bass guitar), and Jam Villanueva (drums) are also part of the group.

In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press, the band members reveal how they fix their misunderstandings.

“Pag may mga ganyan na mga personal na hindi pagkakaintindihan, proud lang na we are able to do the work that needs to be done.

“Kunwari, may something man na [hard] feelings, hindi namin siya ipapakita sa ibang bandmates or lalo na siyempre sa stage,” says Agnes.

Then she points at Miguel as the “bridge” when they encounter “mga sobrang malalaki talagang issue.”

The whole band then erupts into laughter as they jokingly tease Agnes about the way she namedropped Miguel.

Andrew explains, “Yung phrasing lang niya nakakagulat lang minsan. Si Agnes yung known to be very misunderstood.”

Then Miguel cites how Ben&Ben has built a strong bond over the years that they already understand each other’s quirks.

“Actually, ang ganda kasi nakita niyo real-time yung nangyayari. Ganon din actually nangyayari kapag meron kaming hindi kami pagkakaintindihan.

“Biglang may ihihirit si Agnes na sobrang left field na out of place.

“Pero sa sobrang out of place niya, maa-amaze ka, parang, ‘Paano mo naiisip yung mga ganoong bagay?’ Tapos wala nang away.”

Miguel adds that nothing beats talking things out as the key to solving any conflict.

“Feeling ko over the years, nagkaroon na rin kami ng dynamic na ang pinaka-baseline, I would say, ay pinag-uusapan namin.

“I mean, as basic as that sounds.

“So totoo lang, that in itself, para sa amin at para sa maraming tao rin, minsan napakahirap niyang gawin.

“Kasi palagay ko sa kultura natin, minsan mas magaling tayo yung kikimkimin mo. Tapos, ‘Alam mo 10 years ago…’

“Pero feeling ko sa amin, sinusubukan namin pag-usapan kagad.
Tapos naga-adjust kami.”

Miguel is looking forward to the upcoming The Traveller Across Dimensions World Tour of Ben&Ben as they would get to perform “Saranggola,” which, he says, tells the story of the band’s journey for the last eight years.

Chiming in, Kiefer elaborates, “When we write the songs like Saranggola, may laman talaga yan. May history kung saan siya nanggagaling

“And so masarap talaga tugtugin because yung mga realities of our own experiences with our own relationships. Nakikita namin siya.

“And so going back to what Migs says, we always make sure to actually talk about things.

“So hindi po kami perfect na tao. Nag-aaaway talaga kami. Both creative, sa relationship, sa mga personal things, pet peeves even.

“But our love for each other is much deeper than anything.”

Miguel notes that he and his co-members are willing to be vulnerable to each other.

“Sa isang hindi pag kakaintindihan, ta’s mag-uusap, may magagalit, may iiyak, may magpapatawa. Tapos may magme-mediate, usually nga ako yun. Tapos okay na.

“Parang ganun lang din talaga. Tatanggap na namin bahagi ng buhay namin yan.”

BEN&BEN ON REAL STORIES OF COURAGE

The Traveller Across Dimensions is the third album of Ben&Ben featuring 14 tracks including Saranggola, Courage, and Autumn, which they performed live at a recent mediacon.

Ben&Ben is set to kick the global tour for the album on May 24 at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, followed by a concert at University of St. La Salle in Bacolod on June 22.

Then they will be heading to Lincoln, California for the concert at Thunder Valley Casino on July 12 and at the Arena@Expo in Singapore on December 14.

“This tour is a tour where we’re gonna try to present an animated visual universe about a character named Liwanag, which goes through phases of learning, struggle, and growth.

“People have often asked us in the past bakit namin siya sinulat na ganitong kuwento. Ang sagot namin, gusto naming gumawa ng kuwentong sumasalamin ng kuwento mula sa totoong buhay,” says Miguel.

Then he cites “Courage” as an example of a song that the band dedicates to a “little girl named Maxel.”

“Back in 2023, si Paolo and si Mavi they visited this little girl who is battling a very difficult battle with cancer.

“That was the time when it was very difficult for their family because they didn’t know their way out of that very dark period.

“And just two days ago minessage kami ng family ni Maxel…,” says Miguel.

Paolo adds, “Hindi pa siya cancer-free pero nag-graduate na siya ng chemo. Kasi galing siya ng stage-4 bone cancer.

“From that, naggraduate ng chemo, tapos makakapag-regular school na siya.”

Touching lives through the songs of Ben&Ben never fail to inspire the band to keep doing what they do.

“It’s honestly something na we didn’t sign up for nung naging band kami.

“But, from 2017 until now, parang every year, meron kaming several deep encounters na gano’n, na either mag-message, asking if puwede kami mag-visit, or, as in, like, na-encounter lang namin.

“Minsan, nag-grocery lang kami tapos biglang may lalapit, tapos biglang i-open up yung life story.

“So, we learned to embrace it as part of our duty and our calling as a band.

“And it definitely inspires yung work po that we do.”

@pepalerts Miguel Guico of Ben&Ben talks about how “Courage” is inspired by a young cancer patient who is fighting her way to full recovery. For all those who are battling sickness or any other difficult trial, this song is for you. #PEPNews #EntertainmentNewsPH #NewsPH #PEPvideo #TheTravellerAcrossDimensionsTour ? original sound – PEP.ph

BEN&BEN ON HOW THEIR SONGS MARK JOURNEY OF FANS

Paolo also points out how their songs define unforgettable chapters in the lives of their fans.

Continuing, “Kasi, parang, for example, itong latest na song namin, yung ‘Saranggola,’ sinulat namin siya inspired by our friendship as a band and as friends.

“Hindi namin akalain na sabay pala siya ilalabas sa graduation season.

“So, parang, basically, naging graduation song siya ng maraming barkada, ng maraming class, ng maraming high school, ganyan.

“Yung pagiging bahagi ng buhay ng mga tao ng music. Vice versa, kasi sila, nagiging bahagi din, nag-iinspire sa amin para sa mga future songs.

“And I guess, nagiging beautiful component siya ng work namin.”

Ben&Ben’s The Traveller Across Dimensions world tour is presented by Ovation Productions (Philippines and Singapore), AEG Presents Asia (Singapore), and NY Entourage Productions (U.S.).