Filipino folk-pop act Ben&Ben just played their biggest show so far.

On 18 December, the 'Paninindigan Kita' act held their much-awaited Homecoming Concert at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Pasay City. Singer-songwriter Clara Benin opened the show, while special guests like KZ Tandingan, Zild Benitez, and Juan Karlos also went onstage to jump on their collaborations from Ben&Ben's sophomore album, Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno.

According to concert director Paolo Valenciano, a 65,000-strong crowd showed up at the concert. He shared a drone shot of the massive audience on Instagram.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano)

Fans took to Twitter to express their feelings about the show, which has been said to be a historic moment for the band, Liwanag (fans of Ben&Ben), and Filipino music. The concert was originally scheduled for September, but had to be postponed to this month, so fans were more than ecstatic to be finally seeing their favourite band live on stage.

Super happy and grateful to be part of this WIIILLDDD homecoming concert. it was surely magical ✨ THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC, @BenAndBenMusic 💙 pic.twitter.com/NrEJp57w74

— Nekol 🌸 (@NekolBarbadillo) December 19, 2022

My first concert experience. Grabe Ben&Ben, the best talaga🥹🥹🥹🥹🫶 Ang saya ko🥰 pic.twitter.com/jncnAhXGlg

— 박종성 (@cyrusjarder) December 18, 2022

barely a few weeks into casually talking, you sang ben&ben's rendition of 'make it with you' to me as if you were so sure we'd end up together. 3 years later, we attend our first concert together and it's @BenAndBenMusic's. you were right. we did make it, @_francomorante 🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/FE76Uw3v48

— chi 💍 (@lockedkrissy) December 18, 2022

Just got home from the concert... love it a lot... i danced and screamed and cried... hay... @BenAndBenMusic is more than a band... theyre an experience...

And i love the subtlety here *wink wink*

Song: Liwanag
Red Background + Red Lighting
Pink flood on the artists pic.twitter.com/tio67288DH

— SoulDivaPH🎙🌟 (@AncientLoreSong) December 18, 2022

However, a number of fans also shared their disappointment at the concert experience, citing concerns like long queues that allegedly reached MOA Arena and crowd control issues. 

#BenAndBenHomecoming2022 experience

(A THREAD)

This was my very first time attending a concert but I wasn’t expected this very unorganized concert. Iisang pila for all which is meron dapat designation per ticket purchased, so ang pila from MOA Arena and 4 na ikot pic.twitter.com/QVVbuFyMwI

— MARSOOO (@activeanhourago) December 18, 2022

Inenjoy nalang namin mag lakad kanina pero sobrang tagal at ang sakit sa paa. Wala naman palang pila. Kanya kanya tas ang aggressive pa nung iba. Pag pasok wala nag checheck nung tix and bag. Parang walang nag organize.

Sad. #BenAndBenHomecoming2022 pic.twitter.com/arySpJFxEv

— angel (@angeldznnn) December 18, 2022

Ben&Ben Homecoming has to be one of the worst concerts ever organized/produced.
1. Disastrous queueing system (uninformed ushers, no signages, very minimal and lenient security, basically free for all ang setting Useless ang VIP, Gen Ad, etc dahil sama sama kayo magkakagulo)

— Ken Allen Guevarra (@maKENithappen23) December 18, 2022

No ticket scanning
No bag checks
No marshalls to maintain the lines
No segregation of quadrants
No fcks given for the safety of the attendees 🤷🏽‍♂️

The Ben and Ben homecoming is probably the worst concert I've been to tbh 🤦🏽 pic.twitter.com/2lXUFGNrtF

— Austin® (@_AustinReyes) December 18, 2022

I love Ben&Ben but tonight’s concert is disappointing. The queue is unorganized, poor fireworks display and the seating is not fair.

I worry for those who came from far provinces/cities. We’re lucky that our hotel is only a few mins away from the venue.#BenAndBenHomecoming2022

— Eds (@edsgineer) December 18, 2022

I love you @BenAndBenMusic pero jusko this was by far the worst concert i’ve been to. Event organizers chose a an unappealing venue, security was the worst just letting anyone and everyone in kahit walang tix, yung pila basta basta lang. By intermission almost half the crowd left

— ana 🍌 (@us8hakim) December 18, 2022

Sayang oras, pera, diesel, at pagod ko, @ovationprod I waited months to see @BenAndBenMusic. Aminin niyo na, you overbooked this event and had no idea how to handle the crowd.#BenAndBenHomecoming2022

— Adrian Paul De Leon (@DeLeonAdrian) December 18, 2022

Some fans also demanded refunds from concert organisers Ovation Productions, stating that they seem to have attended "a free concert" and not a ticketed one.

Hoping for a refund to our tickets, Hindi kami nainform free concert pala to. #BenAndBenHomecoming2022

— yourfutureXlover_ (@strawberray_jam) December 18, 2022

PWEDE BA HUMINGI NG REFUND?Haha wala nagccheck ng bag, wala nagsscan ng code, pwede maglipat lipat ng section!! Haha shuta sana kung mura lang ticket pero 2,750 x 3 to! Sinama pa namin parents namin para ihatid sundo kami pati sila nastress pota hahaha #BenAndBenHomecoming2022

— val ❤️ (@valinegeneve) December 18, 2022

Bakit niyo pa kami siningil @ovationprod para sa #BenAndBenHomecoming2022 @BenAndBenMusic kung mas maayos pa pag-organize sa mga free concert kaysa dito? Dapat kami binayaran niyo eh hindi siningil KASI FANS NA NAG-SELF REGULATE NG PILA SA LABAS NG VENUE

— 🍩 (@icchonwakaran_) December 18, 2022

RETWEET THIS PARA UMABOT SA ORGANIZER!! WE WANT REFUND!!!! #BenAndBenHomecoming2022 https://t.co/ou62RykGUf

— Boycott Ovation (@boycottovation) December 18, 2022

As of writing, neither Ben&Ben nor Ovation Productions have released a statement regarding the matter.

Update (20/12): Ben&Ben have released a statement about their Homecoming Concert. Read more about that here.