Humingi ng paumanhin ang BenandBen matapos ireklamo ng fans ang magulong sistema ng pila at pagpasok sa entrance para sa Ben&Ben homecoming concert.
Ginanap ang event noong Linggo ng gabi, December 18, 2022, sa SMDC Festival grounds sa Parañaque City.
Read: Ben&Ben draws "65,000"-strong crowd at homecoming concert
Ang naka-schedule na umpisa ng show ay 7:30 p.m., pero hapon pa lang ay libu-libo na ang pumila sa venue.
Bandang 4:00 p.m. ay bukas na ang gate para sa concertgoers, pero pagsapit ng 6 p.m. ay punung-puno pa rin ang makapal na pila ng fans.
Halos sakupin na ang perimeter ng kalsada sa may parking building tapat ng MOA Arena (Marina Way Street) hanggang kalsada sa may bandang Solaire Resort & Casino (Asean Avenue) sa Parañaque City.
May mga marshal na umalalay sa fans na nakapila, pero sadyang dagsa ang tao na naghintay sa labas ng venue.
Bunsod nito ay naantala nang husto ang pagpapapasok sa entrance sa may Gate 1 ng SMDC Festival Grounds sa may Aseana Avenue.
Marami sa concertgoers ang humiling na sana ay hintaying makapasok ang lahat bago magsimula ang concert.
Kinalaunan ay binuksan ang Gate 2 sa may Aseana Avenue para papasukin doon ang senior citizens, pregnant women, at persons with disability.
Bandang 8:30 p.m. nga nang magsimula ang Ben&Ben homecoming concert.
Pagkatapos ng event ay marami ang nagpaabot ng mensahe sa social media para sa iniidolong OPM band.
Dismayado ang iba dahil sa kakulangan ng organization ng event, at tila wala raw balak sagutin ng Ben&Ben ang isyu.
Ngayong Martes ng hapon, December 20, naglabas naman ng official statement ang Ben&Ben.
"We hear you. We feel your pain, frustration, and anger," bungad ng banda sa Twitter page nito.
Nangako ang Ben&Ben na sa susunod ay mas magiging hands-on sila sa planning at preparations ng concert para raw hindi na maulit ang "stressful experience" ng fans na tinatawag nilang "Liwanag."
Nagpasalamat din sila sa libu-libong fans na nagparamdam ng pagmamahal sa banda sa pamamagitan ng pagdalo sa concert.
Sinasabing "65,000 fans" ang kabuuang bilang ng fans na nanood ng Ben&Ben concert.
BEN&BEN'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Narito ang kabuuang pahayag ng Ben&Ben:
"While we are grateful that the #BenandBenHomecoming2022 concert was an unforgettable night of music and emotions shared between the band and Liwanag, we'd like to sincerely apologize to those of you who had a deeply stressful experience with the queuing, the entry into the venue, and the general gaps in the organization of the event.
"We know that you have given so much in order to be able to attend our concert. Thus, we are deeply affected by the experiences of those of you who went through so much last Sunday.
"We will be more vigilant with everyone involved in the planning and preparations of our concerts to ensure that what happened won't happen again, most especially to you, our Liwanag. Because you deserve only the best.
"Again, pasensya na at maraming salamat.
"While we can't undo the pains that you've been through, we can help make things right moving forward. Thank you.
"Words can't explain how grateful we are for you, Liwanag. Thank you for coming to the #BenandBenHomecoming concert. Every song we sang was all for you."
OVATION PRODUCTIONS' OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Samantala, humingi rin ng paumanhin ang Ovation Productions na organizer ng concert sa mga na-hassle sa concert.
Ipinaliwanag nito kung bakit iisa lang ang designated entrance noong araw ng concert--na dahilan ng pagkaantala sa pagpapasok ng concertgoers.
Sabi sa official statement ng Ovation Productions, na may petsang December 21, 2022:
"We normally would have multiple entry points at both sides of the venue to facilitate fast and easy access and to keep the queuing short and fast-moving.
"The night before the concert, however, there was a joint decision made by event planners and venue management to keep gates on the right side closed to spare the people from walking over deep mud in that area.
"Since SMDC Festival Grounds was a new venue, there was ongoing construction work on the cement floor at the right side. The gates on the left side were deemed sufficient."
Malaki ang perimeter ng venue at malayo sa parking at public transportation drop-offs.
Pero hindi raw pinayagan ang Ovation na maglagay ng instructional signages para i-guide ang concertgoers patungo sa entrance.
Paliwanag pa ng Ovation: "Security procedures at the gates admittedly contributed in the slowing down of the flow but it was a necessary procedure.
"At some point, said security procedures were relaxed in order to unclog the choke points then later re-imposed when the situation improved.
"This was to prevent a potentially hazardous influx at the gates from occuring.
Sinabi pa ng pamunuan ng Ovations na naglaan sila ng sapat na marshals sa venue, may "proper coordinations" sa kapulisan, at may stand-by na medical teams sakaling kailanganin ang mga ito.
Ipinagpasalamat naman ng concert organizer na "by God's grace" ay walang anumang aksidenteng naganap sa event.
Pero diin ng Ovation: "Nonetheless, we still recognize that at the end of the day, it is the Ben&Ben fans who have been inconvenienced by all this and we apologize. We will do better next time."
Ang Ben&Ben concert ay iprinodyus ng Ovation Productions, Ben&Ben Music Productions, Sony Music Philippines, at Tap Go.
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