It was Ed Sheeran's turn to share the spotlight with a Filipino artist.
Barely three months following Coldplay's invitation to local bands Lola Amour and Dilaw during their sold-out two-night shows, Ed followed suit, acknowledging folk-pop band Ben&Ben halfway through his set.
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Ed performed before a jam-packed crowd as he took his Mathematics Tour to the Philippines on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City.
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The English singer-songwriter called Ben&Ben vocalists Paolo and Miguel Benjamin to the stage before launching into the band's hit song, "Maybe the Night."
Released in 2017, "Maybe the Night" shot to widespread popularity after it was used as the theme song of the romantic drama Exes Baggage starring ex-lovers Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino.
Ed, Paolo, and Miguel took turns signing the song and sang together in some parts during the performance.
@pepalerts Ed Sheeran joins Miguel and Paolo Guico from Ben&Ben on stage to perform their song "Maybe The Night" during the Manila leg of his Mathematics Tour at the SMDC Festival Grounds on Saturday night, March 9, 2024. #EdSheeran #MathematicsTourinManila #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
BEN&BEN AND ED SHEERAN CONNECTION
Ben&Ben served as one of the front acts that night, taking the stage after British singer-songwriter Calum Scott.
Among the songs they played were the hits "Pagtingin" and "Kathang Isip."
@pepalerts OPM band Ben&Ben took the stage as one of the opening acts for Ed Sheeran's Mathematics Tour in Manila on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Paranaque City. During their set, the group performing their hit song "Kathang Isip." #EdSheeran #MathematicsTourinManila #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
The nine-piece band showered Ed with praises during their set, thanking the "Thinking Out Loud" hitmaker and his team for having them as a guest performer.
It was a surreal and full-circle moment for the band, for sure.
Talking to the crowd, the band reminisced about making a cover of Ed's song "Perfect" and uploading it on YouTube a couple of years ago.
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Now, Ben&Ben is among the country's top acts with a huge fanbase and several hit songs under its name.
Ed returned the favor later that night, singing "Maybe the Night" with Paolo and Miguel visibly looking proud and in disbelief.
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The moment brought to mind last January when Coldplay vocalist Chris Martin called Lola Amour of "Raining in Manila" fame, and "Uhaw (Tayong Lahat)" hitmaker Dilaw up on stage to sing their songs.
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Ed Sheeran's Mathematics Tour resumes on March 16 in Mumbai, India.