Mariing pinabulaanan ng Filipino folk band na Ben&Ben na sila ang dahilan kung bakit hindi nakapag-perform ang kapwa OPM artist nilang si Dwta sa iTam Night 2024 ng FEU Diliman noong August 17, 2024.
Ito'y matapos maghimutok online ang mga tagahanga ni Dwta nang malamang hindi natuloy mag-perform ang singer dahil sa biglaan daw pagkansela ng organizer para bigyang-daan ang ibang performers.
Nag-post pa si Dwta sa Facebook para humingi ng pasensiya sa fans niyang naghintay at umasa na siya'y makita onstage.
Habang isinusulat ang artikulong ito ay burado na ang nasabing post sa Facebook page ni Dwta, pero ilang netizens ang nakapag-screenshot nito.
Mababasa sa post na ni-reshare ng netizens:
"Hi mga padaba ko! We just want to apologize for not being able to perform for ITAM
Night at FEU Diliman.
"Although we were at the venue and ready to perform, our set was unexpectedly cancelled to make room for other performers.
"We understand this is disappointing. especially since some of you were looking forward to seeing us perform.
"However, we hope you still enjoyed the night and we look forward to making it up to you soon. Thank you for understanding."
Wala mang pangalang binanggit si Dwta kung sinong performer ang prinayoridad umano ng organizer, marami sa kanyang fans ang nagdiin na ang bandang Ben&Ben ang umagaw sa spotlight na dapat ay sa kanya.
Base sa inilabas na performers list ng FEU Diliman noong August 13, makikita ang Ben&Ben at si Dwta na nasa lineup ng kanilang performers.
Si Dwta ang nasa likod ng mga viral na kantang "Padaba Taka," "Pauwi Na 'Ko (Dito Ka Na Lang)," "Tahan," "Delikado," at "Santigwar."
Habang ang Ben&Ben naman ang nagpasikat sa mga kantang "Kathang Isip," "Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay," "Leaves," Paninindigan Kita," "Upuan," at "Maybe the Night."
Bukod kay Dwta at sa Ben&Ben, kasama rin sa lineup sina Arthur Miguel, Lirah Bermudez, Sean Archer, Shane G, Young Cocoa, AC-exude, Hyacinth, at Pseudotrack.
Bagamat nakiusap si Dwta sa publiko na tigilan na ang paninisi at pamba-bash sa Ben&Ben, marami pa rin sa kanyang fans ang nanindigang ipagtanggol siya.
Post ni Dwta, "We kindly ask everyone to refrain from mentioning any artists, as this is getting out of hand. The responsibility for what happened lies with the organizers, and they should be the ones to address it. Thank you for your understanding."
BEN&BEN CLARIFIES GIG ISSUE
Tila agad namang nakarating sa Ben&Ben ang paninisi at pagdidiin sa kanila ng netizens tungkol sa nangyari kay Dwta.
Kaya nitong Lunes, August 19, sa pamamagitan ng isang official statement, pinabulaanan ng banda na may kinalaman sila sa bigla-biglang pagkansela sa performance ni Dwta.
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Ayaw na raw sanang patulan ng Ben&Ben ang patuloy na pambabatikos sa kanila online, ngunit hindi naman daw tamang manahimik na lang sila at hindi magsalita base sa alam nilang katotohanan.
Ayon sa "Kathang Isip" hitmaker, noong araw ng kanilang performance ay sinabihan sila ng organizer na may konting aberya at delay sa event, at pupuwedeng maapektuhan ang oras ng kanilang pagpe-perform.
Tinanggap daw nila ito nang maluwag sa dibdib dahil alam daw nilang hindi talaga maiiwasang magkaroon ng aberya sa anumang pagtatanghal.
Siniguro rin daw nila sa organizer ng event na kahit ma-delay man ang kanilang performance ay susundin pa rin nila ang flow ng programa base sa kanilang napagkasunduan.
Kaya hindi raw matanggap ng Ben&Ben kung bakit sila ang itinuturong may kasalanan sa hindi pag-perform ni Dwta.
Mababasa sa kanilang pahayag (published as is): "For years, we have chosen not to speak on the issue of the band being the cause of other performers not being able to perform on certain events. This has caused the band to be dragged left and right with baseless accusations and maligned statements.
"This being an attack on the band’s integrity, and an injustice for all those who support the band’s music and message, we have decided to end this issue, once and for all.
"The band performed in an event in FEU Diliman last August 17. It was communicated to the band’s on-ground team earlier in the day that there had been delays at the event.
"Upon learning about this, the management had been in constant communication with the organizers of said event, and at all times, the management of the band CLEARLY expressed that it is a priority to ensure that the event goes as planned and all performers are able to perform, as we have always done in the past.
"As such, the band will be on standby and adjust to any changes made in order to fulfill this.
"And so, it was heartbreaking on the band’s end to learn that in spite of all these preventive measures and constant communication, Dwta, an artist that the band admires and has long been a fan of, was unable to perform, as decided upon by the event organizers."
BEN&BEN FIGHTS for artists’ rights
Alam daw ng Ben&Ben ang pakiramdam na maitsapuwera kaya anuman ang mangyari ay hindi nila hahayaang maramdaman din ito ng iba, lalo na ng kapwa nila artists at musicians.
Malaki rin daw ang respeto nila sa oras at talentong ibinibigay ng kasamahan nilang artists kaya hinding-hindi raw sila gagawa ng rason para iparamdam sa mga itong may espesyal na pagtrato sa kanila.
Anila: "In these instances, it has always been a tough challenge on the management’s end to balance our professional obligations to the organizers of the events we perform in, while ensuring that the band’s fellow artists are able to perform at their agreed performance time and space.
"Though delays in events are unavoidable, our management exercises whichever help is needed to ensure that no artist is dropped out of the program for whatsoever reason.
"The band has always been passionate about fighting for artists’ rights, and even always being willing to accommodate to uncertainty. And we will continue to do so."
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Diin pa ng banda, ang nangyaring kaguluhan sa FEU Diliman ay hindi sila ang may kasalanan at dapat sisihin.
Katulad ni Dwta, nagpunta rin daw sila doon para magbigay-saya at hindi para magmataas.
Saad ng Ben&Ben,"We would like to clarify that, in all events that the band performs in, it is the event organizer’s prerogative as to the decisions surrounding the event.
"But knowingly so, to be able to protect the rights of fellow artists, and as a proactive measure, the band’s management has decided to include in the contract the stipulation that the band will only agree to perform if the program of events is followed and no artist performance gets cancelled or moved around."
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Dagdag pa nila: "In the event that there are unforeseen delays, the band’s management will take the necessary steps in communicating with the organizers to ensure that no artist gets sidelined.
"We will not take these issues sitting down any longer.
"We believe it is important to bring truth to matters like these, and hold the proper entities accountable for these untoward incidents."