DEAFENING screams and roaring cheers filled the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City on Friday, December 1.
This, as multilingual and multiethnic boy band ALAMAT promised to make rumbling sounds to show to a wider audience who they are as a unique P-pop group during their first-ever concert titled, “Dagundong.”
The much-awaited musical event opened with the six members — Taneo, Tomas, Mo, Jao, R-Ji, and Alas — performing their 2021 single “Kasmala.”
Since this was their first major event, ALAMAT and their fans, known as Magiliws, couldn’t help but take a trip down memory lane from the day the group was just being conceptualized to now making noise in the local music scene.
A video playback was shown on screen that featured the members’ pre-debut days, from their audition videos, dance practices, and recording of songs, to finally debuting in February 2021 with the song “kbye.”
The clip showed each member flying all the way from their hometowns to gather in Manila. Taneo came from Kalinga, Tomas from Albay, Mo from Zambales, Jao from Pampanga, R-Ji from Eastern Samar, and Alas from Davao City.
In an interview with republicasia, 21-year-old fan Krista Fuertes said she hopes that ALAMAT will continue their advocacy of promoting Philippine culture, especially to the young generation.
“Ang wish ko po for ALAMAT is for them to continue their advocacy kasi sobrang grabe po talaga yung effect nila sa kabataan ngayon kasi may time po na nakakalimutan na natin yung history natin and kung ano yung pinanggalingan natin,” she said.
Their advocacy plays a big part in educating young individuals more about the Filipino culture, she added.
“I wish that they will continue spreading their advocacy, not only in the Philippines but throughout the world po,” she added.
With their continued success, Fuertes said she hopes that the group will never forget their roots and “keep their feet on the ground.”
Meanwhile, Magiliw Catriona, 21, shared that the reason why he supports the group is not just because of their exceptional talents but also their advocacy.
Like Fuertes, Catriona said he hopes that ALAMAT will bring their advocacy with them as they aim for “world domination.”
Solo stages
As promised, the members served Magiliws with their solo stages, which kicked off with Jao’s energetic dance performance, followed by Tomas’ heavenly rendition of “Araw Gabi” where he wowed the crowd with his clarinet performance, a heart-fluttering dance act by Taneo, a rap performance by Alas, a heart-pounding cover of “Please You” by Mo, and an electrifying cover of “Duyan” along with an electric guitar performance by R-Ji.
During the members’ ment, Tomas told Magiliws that they were “very excited” to show their fans their solo stages, which they had been preparing for months, at their first solo concert.
The members also talked about their beginnings, from leaving their hometowns to facing challenges along the way and holding their first-ever concert.
Recalling their past experiences, R-Ji couldn’t help but feel proud of what they have achieved in three years.
“Proud ako sa inyo and proud din ako sa sarili ko,” he told his co-members.
The members also thanked fans, whom they considered as one of the best things that happened in their lives.
“Binigyan niyo kami ng pag-asa na magpatuloy para makamit namin ang pangarap namin. Sana ‘wag kayong bibitaw kasi kami patuloy namin kayong mamahalin,” Alas told Magiliws.
Fan interactions
The concert was not entirely a musical performance, though. ALAMAT also interacted with several Magiliws as they brought them onstage to serenade and play a fun game with them.
Among these lucky fans was 23-year-old Haruna Haru.
Sharing her concert experience, Haru told republicasia, “Super fun because I get to go up on stage and interact with the members.”
“It was very fun especially that I did not expect the concert [to be this long], super sulit po talaga,” she added.
Haru has been a Magiliw for a year. But even though she is a newbie in the fandom, she said she never felt that she was being left behind.
“Pinakita po nila from Balay Alamat yung mga experience nila as trainees. Super nakaka-touch na finally, this is it, nandito na sila. Parang kasama kami sa journey kahit late fan na,” she said.
Faith Nieves, 21, also found the concert “interactive,” which is something that fans usually experience only during fan meetings.
ALAMAT had another gift for Magiliws as it revealed that their song “Dagundong” is the official theme song of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Penduko.”
Actor Matteo Guidicelli and other cast members of “Penduko” made a surprise appearance at the concert, as the six members performed the title track of “IsaPuso” album. ALAMAT and the “Penduko” cast invited everyone to watch the film, which is set to premiere on December 25.
The “Dagundong” concert ended with the group’s performance of their hit song “Maharani,” which recently won Best R&B Recording at the 36th Awit Awards.
