Jett Pangan jams with son Raffy at The Dawn’s 25th

The Dawn from right: Jett Pangan, son Raffy and Keneth Ilagan. The concert was The Dawn’s 25th Anniversary celebration during the 7th Jam 88.3 Music Fest at the Eastwood Central Plaza last May 13, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

The Dawn’s 25^th anniversary concert held recently at the Eastwood Central Plaza was made extra special when Jett Pangan’s son Raphael joined them on stage as guitarist. He has already grown as tall as his famous dad at only 12 years old. Nicknamed Raffy, he skillfully played guitars on an extended version of, “Love Will Set Us Free”. He then played the sentimental and apt “Tulad ng Dati” which was also the title of their film directed by Mike Sandejas for Cinemalaya.

The Dawn from right: Jett Pangan and son Raffy. The concert was The Dawn’s 25th Anniversary celebration during the 7th Jam 88.3 Music Fest at the Eastwood Central Plaza last May 13, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

The concert was organized by Jam 88.3 as part of the 7^th Jam Music Fest together with other bands that paid tribute to The Dawn such as: Imago,Sandwich, Peryodiko, 6 Cycle Mind, Rivermaya, General Luna and top solo performers like Ebe Dancel and Nyoy Volante.

Standing from left: Jett Pangan, Rob Chen and Buddy Zabala Seated from left: Lea Salonga and Beth Pangan. The concert was The Dawn’s 25th Anniversary celebration during the 7th Jam 88.3 Music Fest at the Eastwood Central Plaza last May 13, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

One of the VIPs in attendance was Lea Salonga with husband Rob Chen. Salonga who is a close friend of Jett and the band, was able to talk about the touching moment. “I saw Raffy since 5 years old. It’s interesting to see that a torch was being passed. But we don’t know if he’s going to take this professionally or do this as a hobby, we don’t know if he’s going to pick up the mantle that his father is occupying.”

Jett Pangan’s energy is as strong as it has ever been. The concert was The Dawn’s 25th Anniversary celebration during the 7th Jam 88.3 Music Fest at the Eastwood Central Plaza last May 13, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Even without the prompting of anyone Raffy picked up the guitar and practiced by himself for hours on end. Jett Pangan proudly said, “It’s the greatest feeling in the world. If you’re a father anything your son does you’ll be proud of as long as it’s a good thing. He wants to be a rock star but he also wants to be a quantum physicist. I’m not kidding. Let’s see.” Both Jett and mom Beth are happy with whatever he decides to choose to get into.

Jett Pangan whips up the crowd. The concert was The Dawn’s 25th Anniversary celebration during the 7th Jam 88.3 Music Fest at the Eastwood Central Plaza last May 13, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Salonga was also able to talk about her experience with Jett as her guest in her concert “Your Song”, “Our production manager who had also worked with him in musical theater said the minute he comes out on stage that entire place is just gona explode! The minute he appeared I thought the PICC’s roof was gonna fall in. All of these people who were watching my concert had a deep love for The Dawn for them to respond to him in such a big way.”

Standing from right: Buddy Zabala, Rob Chen, Jett Pangan, Jun Boy Leonor, Kenneth Ilagan, his son Jake, The Dawn manager and CJ Javier Seated from right: Ernest Zabala, Beth Pangan, Lea Salonga, Grace Leonor and Twingky Lagdameo. The concert was The Dawn’s 25th Anniversary celebration during the 7th Jam 88.3 Music Fest at the Eastwood Central Plaza last May 13, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Caloy Balcells on bass was also there to rock with Jett and his former bandmates. The concert was The Dawn’s 25th Anniversary celebration during the 7th Jam 88.3 Music Fest at the Eastwood Central Plaza last May 13, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Salonga being a music icon herself was no stranger to rousing ovations. But harnessing the energy of a rock concert was something new to her, “Being on stage with him for that one number gave me the feeling of what it was like to be him for five minutes. And it’s amazing, for five minutes it was a rock concert. I have no fear of Jett we’ve been friends for a very long time. It was helpful that I wasn’t intimidated by his presence and by his talent or how powerful he is on stage. It was actually a lot of fun.” Jett was a special guest together with Dulce and Bituin in “Ryan Cayabyab and Friends” at the Resorts World concert series last June 28.

Jam 88.3 DJs Migs and Mike. The concert was The Dawn’s 25th Anniversary celebration during the 7th Jam 88.3 Music Fest at the Eastwood Central Plaza last May 13, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

The Dawn co wrote and performed a special single with Raymond Marasigan (of Sandwich) to celebrate their 25^th anniversary entitled “9,125”. The song according to Pangan was already finished and will soon be played in Jam 88.3. A tribute album of The Dawn classics entitled “Enveloped Ideas” was launched at The Hard Rock Café in Glorietta, June 30, 2011. The album will feature the hottest indie bands such as Techy Romantics, Enemies of Saturn, Join the Club, Lip service, Ginoong Vitalis, The Disco Ball, Happy Days Ahead, Overtone, Flying Ipis, Gun Monkeys, Switch, Rubberpool, Milk and Money, Soft Pillow Kisses and Playphonics.

The Dawn from right: Jett Pangan and Kenneth Ilagan. The concert was The Dawn’s 25th Anniversary celebration during the 7th Jam 88.3 Music Fest at the Eastwood Central Plaza last May 13, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

The Dawn listers came in full force for The Dawn’s 25th Anniversary celebration during the 7th Jam 88.3 Music Fest at the Eastwood Central Plaza last May 13, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista