Paolo Valenciano Opens Up About JBL Concert Problems
PAOLO VALENCIANO – The concert director addressed the mishap at JBL Sound Fest, particularly regarding Rico Blanco, whom he called his hero.
In a Facebook post, Valenciano admitted that he lost full control of the event, which caused major delays and added two extra hours of work for an already tired team. He apologized to both Rico Blanco and Cup of Joe, explaining that the latter even had to be picked up by motorcycles through heavy traffic to meet the revised call time.
Valenciano said this was his first year directing the festival, making the incident especially frustrating, and acknowledged that he still has much to learn. He ended his statement to Rico Blanco by wishing him the best but admitting that they are simply not meant to work together again.
The JBL Sound Fest, held on December 6 at Parklinks Open Grounds in Pasig City, featured Cup of Joe, Rico Blanco, Hori7on, December Avenue, Flow G, Ashtine Olviga, Sean Archer, and Kat DJ. Festival posters showed Cup of Joe first, Rico Blanco second, and Hori7on third, which some netizens called misleading.
Valenciano clarified that he was not in charge of the posters and had only worked based on the information he was given about the performers’ order, noting that last-minute changes for such a large event are difficult. He also emphasized that Cup of Joe was the headliner as JBL’s new ambassador.
Valenciano’s post has received over 5,500 interactions and nearly 350 shares. JBL Philippines also issued a statement thanking attendees for their energy, apologizing for the delays, and commending the production team for their efforts, while promising to use the experience to improve future events.
As of now, neither Rico Blanco nor Cup of Joe has publicly commented on the incident, leaving Valenciano’s post as the main explanation for what went wrong and his reflections on the challenges faced during the festival.