How US band Incubus is helping Arci Muñoz, Philia explore options

Arci Muñoz —ARCI MUÑOZ/INSTAGRAM

“It’s not really safe out there,” said singer-actress Arci Muñoz when asked to recall the time her ATM card got stolen six months ago while on board a plane from South Korea to Japan.

Arci reported that about P500,000 was withdrawn from her debit card for purchases in Vietnam and Indonesia. “We have to be really aware of our surroundings all the time. Come to think of it, I was in the comfort of business class, so I should’ve felt safe,” the actress said. She added that, by publicly talking about the unfortunate incident, she hoped more people would learn from her experience. “I felt so helpless. I tried to reach out to the bank thrice, but people there said they couldn’t help me. They said it was my responsibility because it was my card. I explained that my debit card had a PIN (personal identification number), and that in less than 24 hours, purchases were made in Ho Chi Minh and Jakarta. I sent them the necessary information like my passport details to prove where I was at the time the purchases were made,” she recalled.

“When they said they couldn’t help me, it broke my heart. They took their time replying to me. I withdrew all my money and transferred to another bank that I know is a lot more accessible,” Arci told reporters during a recent virtual gathering organized by the online cash lending platform, JuanHand, of which she is an endorser.

Viral post

On a lighter note, Arci said she was pleasantly surprised when some of her photos, taken in Thailand, went viral after they were uploaded on social media recently. “I went there upon the invitation of Miss Universe. The organization appointed me as a member of their Women Empowerment Council. I had just arrived and was waiting to be checked into the hotel. My manager and I were looking for a place to eat. I wanted to try pad Thai but bought milk tea instead. I didn’t know somebody took my picture from afar. It was a great experience to be noticed by a random person on the street!”

Arci added: “The photographer is a Korean living in Thailand for work. It was awesome that the photos went viral. I don’t access TikTok often. I do it only when I need to. I keep my hands off my phone as much as possible. I’m thankful to the photographer for doing a good job, as well as everyone who made the post viral.”

Arci, who is the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Philia, also uploaded photos recently showing how much fun she had while bonding with members of the American rock band Incubus during its Manila concert. She revealed that she has been good friends with its members since they first met in 2014.

Humbling experience

“We met during their second concert here. Chris (Kilmore), who was the bassist at the time, approached me while we were lounging in the lobby of a hotel where they were billeted. I was with my sister and some friends. They asked us if there was a Japanese restaurant open at that time of the night. I told him everything was already closed and that they should just hang out with us. That’s when our friendship began. Whenever I go to Los Angeles, I also visit them,” Arci recalled.

“I learned a lot from that experience, too. I finally understood what it felt like to be a fan girl. That’s when I learned to appreciate my fans more. I now treat them as friends. That interaction with Incubus has humbled me,” she said.

Arci said Incubus is aware that she has her own band. In fact, she said Chris has been helping them send their portfolios to various music managements abroad. “There’s a specific market for metal music. We don’t have a lot of supporters of heavy metal music here in the Philippines, so I think our market can be found somewhere else in this universe. Nowadays, people are into pop-R&B groups, and that’s OK. People’s taste in music evolves naturally. [Preference] will change [to metal] eventually. I only hope I’m still alive when that happens,” she quipped.

Meanwhile, Arci will soon be promoting two unreleased big-screen projects. Njel de Mesa’s “Malditas in Maldives,” where Arci costars with Kiray Celis, will participate in the 2024 Jinseo Arigato Film Festival in Nagoya, Japan, from May 25 to May 26.

Arci also stars in Rommel Ricafort’s “Sweet Escape,” which also features Korean actor Kang Dong-gun. It is expected to screen locally during the last quarter of the year.