FIRST ON RADAR: Likhawit called ‘biggest scam in Quezon’ as vendors alleged ₱2.5M losses

Some merchants have gone as far as calling Likhawit the “biggest scam in Quezon,” alleging that they were made to spend heavily to prepare for a major two-day festival that ultimately left them with unsold stocks, additional expenses, and losses.

The merchants said they also spent on transportation, accommodation, manpower, food, generators, and additional stocks after being told to prepare for a large crowd.

They claimed the first day was plagued by a lack of electricity, forcing some vendors to rent generators, while unclear booth assignments and limited event assistance further disrupted operations.

Then came the cancellation of Day 2, leaving merchants with stocks they had bought specifically for the expected second-day crowd.

Adding to the concerns, Balcony Entertainment said in a Facebook post dated September 19 that its artist, Day 2 headliner IV of Spades, would no longer participate in the festival, citing the event producer’s “failure” to fulfill contractual obligations.

“This difficult decision follows a failure by the event producer to fulfill contractual obligations,” Balcony Entertainment said in its statement, while apologizing to fans who had expected to see the band perform.

The merchants estimated their combined losses from payments, expenses, and damaged or unsold products at around ₱2.5 million, although the figure has not been independently verified.

They also alleged that some event suppliers and artists had not been fully paid, although those claims likewise remain unverified.

Likhawit had been promoted as a major two-day music festival at the Alcala Sports Complex in Lucena City, Quezon, featuring artists including Cup of Joe, with organizers previously projecting thousands of attendees per day.

Online posts from merchants and volunteers have since detailed complaints over the festival’s preparations, electricity, booth arrangements, assistance, payments, and the Day 2 cancellation.

The allegations do not establish that a scam occurred, but the merchants’ accounts, along with the separate statement from an artist’s management, point to significant concerns surrounding the event.

The fallout could have consequences for future festivals in the region, as merchants, artists, suppliers, and other partners may become more cautious about committing money and resources to events with similar arrangements.

READ: