A first of hopefully many, ALON Concert is a fundraising concert and a tribute to the seafarers who have sacrificed their lives to provide for their families – a story that isn’t stranger to most Filipinos.

The indie folk-pop-rock band, Ben&Ben will headline a tribute concert for Filipino seafarers and their families, via ALON: Pag-ibig, Pangarafi, Pag-asa, happening on June 28, in celebration of Filipino Seafarers Month. The event will be at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Adriatico Street, Malate, Manila.

ALON is more than a concert. It’s a fundraising initiative supporting the Gregorio Oca Leadership and Development (GOLD) Foundation’s programs in leadership development, welfare, and holistic family support for seafarers.

ALON Concert director Gelo Ruiz opened the media conference with a heartwarming statement on what ALON is, “Ang ALON ay may tatlong mukha: kwento, musika at ang pinaka-maganda sa lahat, adbokasiya. Gusto natin ikwento ang hindi naririnig na kwento ng mga marino at kanilang mga pamilya. Ito ay alay natin sa mga bayani ng dagat at sa mga pusong palagi na lang naghihintay. Growing up, nakita ko, naramdaman ko ang pakiramdam nang maiwan. Lumaking walang tatay sa mga mahahalagang sandali ng buhay pero dahil sa pagisisikap niya, nandito ako, nagkukwento sa inyo kaya napakapersonal nito. Ikalawa, musika. We want to harness the power of music. Sa barko, ito ang lifeline ng ating mga marino. Ito ang naguugnay sa marino at sa kanilang mga pamilya na nasa mga tahanan na laging hinihintay silang makauwi. At ang pangatlo ang napakahalaga, ang adbokasiya. Sinasabi ko paulit-ulit, ALON is a movement. This is a movement of gratitude, recognition and of collective action. Tayo ay lumilikha para maka-inspire ng mga tao at tumulong dahil ito ay benefit concert.”

Will there be seafarers who will be performing as well?

“Dahil ang kwento ang bida, hindi lang audio visual. They will be live on stage. It’s an audiovisual, combined with on-stage storytelling and mixed with the songs of Ben&Ben. Right now, we’re on the process of production and talking with real-life seafarers and families para iugnay ang bawat eksena at kwento,” Ruiz answers.

What specifically are the Ben&Ben songs to be used?

“Siyempre hindi mawawala ang top hits talaga. ‘Sa Susunod na Habangbuhay,’ ‘Araw Araw’ – dahil ang daming relate much dun. Share ko lang, sinabi ko sa management ng Ben&Ben na we did an online survey, and Ben&Ben topped that survey na magbigay ng pag-aalay sa mga marino at kanilang pamilya. Shinare ko sa Ben&Ben, sabi mabuti hindi sila nagsu-suicide, no? It’s a joke but it’s a reality. Part of the storyline of ALON will dive sa mental health issues,” Ruiz shares.

One of the performers, John Mark Saga shared his experience as a son of a seafarer, “I think mga teens na din, although ‘yung mga last na sakay niya, hindi pa din ako sanay na umaalis siya. And before nagkaroon ng internet, may mga days na hindi namin siya ma-contact. So, ‘yung mga ganung experience, I never thought na universal siya like I thought ‘yung mga ganung experience, sa amin lang. Hearing those stories made me feel na hindi lang kami ang nakakaranas.”

“May mga times kasi na siya ‘yung critic ko din. Kapag may mga performances ako, siya ‘yung nagbibigay ng mga feedback. And I think ‘yung musicality ko as an artist, majority dun galing sa kanya kasi lagi siyang nakikinig ng music, siya nag nag-introduce sa akin kay Freddie Mercury, mga ganung kaseng artist, sa kanya ko na-discover,” Mark continues.

Calista members, share how they relate to the experiences of the families of seafarers:

“Actually, wala akong family or friends na nagta-trabaho sa dagat pero ‘yung family ko malayo din sa akin, OFW, nagta-trabaho sa Dubai. That way, I think nakaka-relate ako and si Denise, with that na malayo ang families and mahirap lumaki na wala o malayo ang pamilya,” Calista Dain shares.

Why Ben&Ben as The Main Feature Artist?

Ben&Ben’s music reflects the lives of every Filipino–their love, their aspiration, and their hope. Like the waves, the band’s songs carry both the sadness and even the fortitude of the seafarer’s journey, riding along the ocean’s vastness and their sacrifices. In a recent online survey, Ben&Ben songs topped among other songs due to their hugot-filled (evoking) and soul-stirring melodies.

Kelvin Miranda: One of The Key Feature Artists. He’s a Filipino film and television actor and model who had his breakthrough role in 2019 when he portrayed the role of Mark Santa Maria in the first Filipino Netflix Original film, Dead Kids. Also, he’s a recording artist and released his single Slow Dance, which took the second spot on the iTunes PH chart on the day of its release. Today, he stars as the prince slave as Diwan Adamus of Lireo, Alena’s second son and the only son of the late Chief Memfes of Gunikar tribe. He is part of the next generation of Sang’gres. Like his character in the fantasy series, he’s ľhe keeper of the Water Gem. In real life, he is an ally to the seafarers

John Mark Saga: A Singer and Son of a Seafarer. Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 3’s second placer, Saga steps on stage to share a heartfelt tribute to his father, a Filipino seafarer whose sacrifices paved the way for the life he has today.

Added Feature Artists. The four-member girl group under Merlion Entertainment, called Calista will be performing in the concert as well. They are composed of Anne, Denise, Elle, and Dain. Then there’s the performance of a choir, the children of Filipino seafarers, honoring the sacrifices of their parents.

Gelo Ruiz a seafarer’s son, directs ALON: Pag-ibig, Pangarafi, Pag-asa, produced by OrangeSkies Productions with its partner beneficiary, the GOLD Foundation, Inc.

For tickets, log on to https://ticket2me.net/ALONConcert.

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Who is GOLD Foundation, Inc.? The Gregorio Oca Leadership and Development (GOLD) Foundation is a non-profit, non-stock Foundation led by Ms. Marissa Oca as founder and president. It is focused on the preservation of the transformational values of tenacity, integrity, and excellence, that Capt. Gregorio Oca stood for and has helped shape and strengthen the maritime and seafaring industries.