How Ben&Ben stays strong after nearly a decade

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.

- By JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

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 -