Like his Tito Gary, Benj Pangilinan aims to make music for a bigger purpose

Benj Pangilinan —Photos by SONY MUSIC PHILIPPINES

Having the likes of Gary Valenciano as uncle and Sharon Cuneta as aunt, Benj Pangilinan was bound to have an affinity for classic Filipino pop songs.

“I have a special connection with OPM, especially feel-good songs like “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko.” I listened to the music of my Tito Gary and Tita Sharon, even those of Freddie Aguilar and Rey Valera,” he told the Inquirer in a Zoom interview.

Benj is Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan’s fourth of five children. Actor Donny Pangilinan and vlogger Hannah Pangilinan are his elder siblings. “Later on, in high schooI, I discovered the Eraserheads and Rivermaya. I learned from the people I grew up with and the music they played,” he said.

His latest single “Nandito na Ako” (Sony Music Philippines) is Ben’s way of expressing his love for the music he grew up listening to. In this track, which “balances vintage Pinoy pop songwriting and youthful appeal,” the singer talks about the rush of euphoria that comes with romantic assurance.

“I feel like the storytelling is classic OPM. I wanted to pay tribute to it … create a song from that lens. And this was the result,” the 23-year-old singer-songwriter said.

The idea came to him while he was tinkering with his guitar and learning new chord progressions. The melody followed soon after. “I got my phone and recorded it on my voice memos immediately,” he said of the song, which also features Angela Ken, the singer-songwriter behind the hit song “Ako Naman Muna.”

A certain standard

But writing in Tagalog, Benj admitted, isn’t his strongest suit. He sought guidance from his aunt Felichi Pangilinan-Buizon and her son Josh, who’s part of the indie band Over October. “You have to be up to a certain standard when writing songs in Tagalog. You have to be intentional with it. I wanted to get it right. I needed some help to say what I wanted to say,” he said.

Moira also gave Benj valuable advice on how to improve the song. “I tried reaching out to her. Luckily, she replied. She listened to the song and gave her thoughts on how to improve it and what to adjust. I was like, ‘Wow!” Benj said. “But more importantly, she reminded me to always make sure to be authentic with my writing; it’s what will make people follow me.”

Meanwhile, it was Donny who suggested that Benj collaborate with Angela. “I went up to my brother and made him listen to the song. I asked him who he thinks would go well with it, and he said Angela,” he said.

Pangilinan (right) with Angela Ken

His own sound

And his Kuya Donny made the right choice. “Grabe ‘yung boses nya. Working in the studio, I saw how effortless she is with her singing. She’s very natural. The bridge that she sang she wrote on the spot. She’s so good and fun to work with” Benj said. “And I feel like our voices blended well when we meet in the chorus.”

While the track captures a piece of who Benj is as a musician, he’s still on a journey toward discovering his own sound. As such, his future EP will have him dabbling in different styles and genres. “I’m still trying to explore … I want to get bits and pieces from everything, Because I don’t want to put myself in a box,” he said.

“I’m figuring out the different sides of me, musically. I’m trying out happy and sentimental songs. Let’s see what sounds and works best for me. But whatever style or genre that comes out of it, I want to make sure that it’s authentic,” he added.

If it looks like he has some of Gary V’s vibe or mannerisms, it’s because Benj studied his uncle and his performances when he was younger. When he was just 4 years old, he underwent an open-heart surgery. And it was around that time that he first heard Gary’s version of the uplifting ballad “Warrior is a Child”—a song that couldn’t be more fitting of his situation then.

By the time he went home, he had already memorized the song. “I think he’s my biggest influence, so I can’t help but pick up some of his mannerisms!” Benj related. “But I believe that there are more sides to me that I can show.”

But more than the music, what Benj truly resonated with was the fact that he doesn’t sing for himself, but for a greater purpose, for Someone “bigger than us.”

“I started out writing as a form of self-expression. But as I started to write more, I realized that maybe there’s a bigger reason. So, I sought to create the best songs that I can make. The music helps me and I hope it helps others, too. I want to continue doing this for others and for the Lord,” he said.