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Abalos remembers beloved daughter Ciara

Abalos remembers beloved daughter Ciara

ABS-CBN News

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Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos recalled the time he lost his eldest daughter and one of his most beloved, Ciara Marie, 20 years ago.

In an interview on Bernadette Sembrano’s YouTube page, Abalos remembered how his faith was tested when his daughter died at the age of 19.

“Ciara is my first born... She's very active. Kung siya'y nabubuhay pa malamang she's the one who will take after me. She's very much grounded. Hindi mo makikita sa bahay 'yon, always tumutulong ‘yun sa slum areas,” said the DILG chief.

Abalos said his daughter was part of a group in school that underwent an immersion activity in a slum area in Tondo.

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“Hindi ko alam tumira doon, kumain doon,” said Abalos.

She was supposed to leave the next day for the US, when she complained of chills at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was not allowed to leave.

Ciara developed high fever and was rushed to the hospital. Despite doctors’ efforts to save her, she died after 12 hours.

“She died in the morning,” said Abalos. Doctors said succumbed to complication brought about by an Escherichia coli bacterial infection.

“All the time nung namatay ang anak ko there's this doubt sa sarili ko. Makikita ko pa ba ang anak ko? Is there really heaven? Meron ba talagang D’yos?” he said.

“There will come a time that the teachings of the Church iku-question mo, naging weak ako.”

While holding a wake for his daughter, Abalos’ sister noticed something strange whenever she was calling his brother through cellphone.

She said the call back carried a “happy tune” contrary to the somber occasion they were going through.

Abalos talked to his service provider days after Ciara was buried. They could not explain what happened, especially as the call back tune lasted for only seven days.

“We don't carry it for seven days, buwan po iyan bago mawala,” he quoted the service provider as saying.

Abalos said the call back turned out to be aa part of Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas in our Hearts.” 

"It said ‘… never forget the love we have for Jesus. Let him be the one to guide us… and may the spirit be always in our hearts,’” he said.

“Tumatak sa akin yun,” said Abalos. “It's a music that would always tell me.”

The Abalos family later set up a foundation in honor of his daughter.  

The Chiaramarie Foundation has been helping underprivileged kids in laguna, Benguet, Legaspi City and Negros.

"It's been running for 20 years (since Ciara's death)," said Abalos.

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Music as a Love Language—A1 Spends the Valentine's Season With Their Filipino Fans

Music as a Love Language—A1 Spends the Valentine's Season With Their Filipino Fans

Grace Libero

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Updated Feb 17, 2025 06:59 PM PHT

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(From left) Mark Read, Ben Adams, Paul Marazzi, and Christian Ingebrigtsen of A1


A1 in the age of AI? We sure welcomed the nostalgia! The British-Norwegian boy band returned to the Philippines for their Valentine's Tour 2025, as organized by Concert Republic.

Following their stops in Bacolod (February 12), Cagayan de Oro (February 13), and Cebu (February 14), A1 concluded their tour with a two-night show (February 15 and 16) in Manila at the New Frontier Theater, bringing their music back to the hearts of the fans who fell in love with them in the late 90s and early 2000s. The audience sang and danced with members Ben Adams, Paul Marazzi, Christian Ingebrigtsen, and Mark Read for an hour and a half, and it was a feel-good show that served us the ultimate throwback. 

With retro and futuristic stage visuals, the A1 Valentine's Tour 2025 in the Philippines was a nod to the past and proof of the lasting impact of their music and its power to transcend generations. It's amazing how many years have passed and yet we still know the lyrics to their songs as if they were released just a few months ago. 



A1 singing their songs during the Valentine's season also hit differently. Love was definitely in the air, but it was not just the romantic kind of love. These men connected their love anthems to not just love for a partner or a special someone but also love for family in general, for oneself, and for their fans who have supported them through the years. 

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The band kicked off the concert with "Heaven By Your Side." After this, they told the audience that it felt so nice to be back. Mark declared, "As you know, we absolutely love the Philippines," and greeted everyone with Happy Valentine's. Christian chimed in, saying that the celebration of love would continue in their show, a promise they delivered on. 

Amping up the night's energy, they asked everyone to stand and dance to the choreography of their song "Ready or Not." They followed up with the mellow track "Walking in the Rain" until the audience felt like standing again to dance along to their next song, "Same Old Brand New You.



Taking a break from performing their own songs, A1 paid tribute to American singer-songwriter and producer Lionel Richie by singing the music icon's "Three Times a Lady." Next on their setlist were songs from their The A List album, which was released in October 2000: "Living the Dream" and "No More." They then shifted back to a B-side song from their debut studio album, Here We Come, the Valentine-perfect track "If You Were Girl"—during which segment, four lucky fans shared the stage with A1 and were serenaded by Ben, Paul, Christian, and Mark.

The V-day jamming continued with Ben and Paul on vocals, Christian on vocals and guitar, and Mark on vocals and keyboards. They then sang "When I’m Missing You" and "The Things We Never Did" before doing a cover of Filipino pop band Side A's "Forevermore" which, in a way, expressed their love for their Filipino fans. 




After establishing that Filipino connection with a short yet sweet song cover, A1 kept the romantic mood going—especially for women who, in their words, may have "dragged" their partners to watch their concert—with "I'll Take the Tears" and "One in Love" both from The A List. 

From the romantic type of love, the messaging turned to love for family with their most recent song, "Call Me When You Land," released in 2023; its lyrics—"Remember to write that letter / To your grandma / Tell someone you love them / Go see Mom and Dad / Just be sure / To hug them while you can"—tug at the heartstrings even more as they sang the song live. 

Making the fans feel the Valentine spirit further were love songs "Here Comes the Rain," "One More Try," "Caught in the Middle," and "One Last Song." But in between these songs, A1 sent a message of hope and self-love through the song "Learn to Fly," with Christian telling the crowd that bad times don't last forever. Today, when people are more mindful of mental health, this song's lyrics—"Tomorrow is a new day / And you will find your own way / You’ll be stronger with each day that you cry / Then you’ll learn to fly"—lend inspiration and motivation anew. 



Of course, an A1 concert is incomplete with the classic song "Like a Rose," which will mark its 25th year this February 21. Yes, it's been that long, but kudos to them because they sound the same, if not better, even after all these years. 

They ended the show with that iconic love song, but the fans knew there would be more. Besides, at that point, we were still missing two of their most famous songs: "Everytime" and "Take on Me" (their remake of Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha's 1984 track). A1 didn't disappoint and performed those well-loved singles for an encore, ending their Valentine's Tour 2025 in Manila on a high note.   

As they bid their Filipino fans goodbye, with an instrumental version of "Like a Rose" playing in the background, the visual on the screen read "With love, A1" along with their signatures, like a love letter for their supporters.

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