17/04/2026
Campus News | From Songs to Stories: Ben&Ben Shares Creative Journey in Book Talk
As part of the celebration of National Literature Month, a Book Talk featuring Paolo Benjamin and Miguel Benjamin of Ben&Ben was held on April 15, 2026, at the GT Foundation Hall, gathering students from Senior High School and College students in Manila Tytana Colleges. The event was led by the College of Arts and Sciences through the General Education Department and the Bachelor of Arts in Communication program, in coordination with the Marketing and Public Relations Office and the Tytana Learning Resource Center. Upon their arrival on campus, the twin artists were warmly welcomed as they checked the first-ever physical copy of their book, personally signing copies for attendees. They were also invited to participate in a podcast session, where they shared insights about their work and helped promote the book to a wider audience.
The program formally began, and as the host, Mr. Gerome Dela Peรฑa, faculty of the General Education Department, and Ms. Marielle Garcia, Program Coordinator of BS Holistic Nutrition with Culinary Arts, introduced the theme of National Literature Month, โBekรซt Panitikan: Para sa Katwiran at Kalikasan,โ setting the tone for the dayโs celebration of literature. The event continued with a special performance by Brailey and Stanley Espiritu, as Tytanaโs very own Ben&Ben from the Senior High School Department, who performed โKathang Isip.โ The moment became even more memorable as the guest artists themselves joined in, creating a collaborative performance that resonated deeply with the audience.
The authors introduced their book โThe Traveller Across Dimensions,โ which was officially released on November 29, 2024, as an Ebook, now having its first physical copy. The event started with the authors asking the audience, โWhat is your dream?โ The discussion created a meaningful connection between the speakers and the audience, allowing students to relate the bookโs message to their own lives and experiences. The authors explained that the book's narrative places the reader in the character Liwanag, an interdimensional traveller who journeys across various realms in search of inner peace. The story is structured in 3 dimensions: Light, Energy, and Feel. Each symbolizes different stages of life and human growth, such as innocence, struggle, and maturity.
The authors shared that the book goes beyond your typical fantasy book story, serving as a reflection of real-life emotions and personal experiences. Through Liwanagโs journey, readers are encouraged to see themselves within the narrative, making the story immersive and introspective. The concept of exploring dimensions within the story shows how we as individuals go through different phases in life.
Afterwards, the authors participated in an interview moderated by Prof. Ofelia Mallabo-Mutas, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Evelyn P. Antonio, Chairperson of the General Education Department. During the interview, Paolo Benjamin responded first to the question, discussing the presence of Filipino themes in their work inspired by Filipino mythology, folklore, and traditional storytelling. They also opened up about the challenges of transitioning from writing songs to writing a book, with Paolo Benjamin describing the experience as โwearing the other shoe,โ saying it felt unfamiliar compared to songwriting yet still part of the same creative path. He explained that songwriting is more concise and emotionally direct, while writing a book requires a slower and more detailed approach to storytelling. Miguel Benjamin also added that story writing takes much longer because it involves carefully choosing words, building scenes, and developing ideas, while songs are typically only around three to five minutes long but still aim to deliver emotion and meaning in a shorter form.
As the event ended, Ben&Ben performed special live performances of a few of their songs, โKathang Isip,โ โAutumn,โ โSaranggola,โ and โLifetime (Reimagined),โ making it their first-ever performance of the song to the public. The Book Talk concluded on an inspiring note with Dr. Sergio S. Cao, President and Chief Academic Officer, who emphasized that creating a book is one of the highest forms of the creative process. He encouraged young people to step out of their comfort zones, just like Ben&Ben did, and to continue nurturing relationships and connections, as these will become valuable in the future. He also highlighted the bookโs central theme of finding inner peace, describing it as a continuous and evolving journey rather than a fixed destination. In his message to the youth, he stressed the importance of mutual understanding between generations. He explained that if young people want to be understood by older generations, they must also make an effort to understand them, and the key to that is communication.
Followed by a meet and greet session, allowing students, faculty, and guests to interact with Paolo and Miguel Benjamin, have their copies signed, and celebrate while taking a photo opportunity.
Article by: Raizel De Leon
Photos by: Rovielynne Fermin, Daniella Bontigao, Kei Andres, Isaiah Dalisay
