Vlad Bunoan

Drummer Mar Roxas (center) with Bandang SanPy members. Handout

Article (news)

Leah C. Salterio

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788257454237sanpy3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Drummer Mar Roxas (center) with Bandang SanPy members. Handout"/>Drummer Mar Dizon (center) with Bandang SanPy members. Handout</div>After being part of popular bands like Side A, Artstart and Parliament Syndicate, to name a few, versatile drummer Mar Dizon recently started his own group composed of musicians from where he was raised -- San Pablo, Laguna.Called Bandang SanPy (short for San Pablo), it is a collective of young musicians from San Pablo City, Tiaong and Rizal. “Technically, I wasn’t supposed to be part of the band,” Dizon said. “The members were meant to be the young musicians. My original plan was simply to serve as the musical director.”However, fate had a way of redefining and even altering things. While recovering from his stroke the previous year, Dizon had to put all his usual physical activities on hold.“Cycling, table tennis, slingshot shooting, tai chi, chi kung and dao yin were simply too demanding for my body at the time,” he said. “Instead, I devoted myself to writing music while continuing to practice the drums. Since my strength was limited, I focused on one thing above all else -- control.“During that period, I found myself missing the music I grew up with as a kanto boy. I know the term ‘kanto boy’ carries a certain stigma, but I didn’t mind. Back then, all we did was gather on the streets and make music together. Those memories became the inspiration for my songwriting.”Most of the songs Dizon wrote were heavily influenced by funk music -- but with their own twist. “I jokingly call it Funkanto, a fusion of funk and kanto,” he explained.“By the time I had written 10 original songs, it was finally time to form Bandang SanPy. I was fortunate to have many friends who owned recording studios and generously offered their support, making it possible for the band to come to life.”Before Bandang SanPy, Dizon had already tried forming two different bands, but neither one pushed through. Eventually, he decided to join the Bandang SanPy himself. The new band consists of Borric Lloyd Morada on vocals, Kahlel Hicban on bass, Arvin Matundan on guitar Rhon Paolo Yabut on percussion and sound engineer, Javin Mansor on saxophone and Dizon on drums and musical director.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788257497576IMG_4616.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Bandang SanPy in one of their recent gigs. Handout"/>Bandang SanPy in one of their recent gigs. Handout</div>“The band was assembled by bringing together musicians whom I believed not only had the technical ability but also the openness to create original music and embrace improvisation,” said Dizon. “After our Singapore performance, Javin left to work on a cruise ship, so we are currently looking for a new saxophonist to complete the lineup.”Dizon added, “San Pablo has no shortage of talented musicians. Our members come from San Pablo, Tiaong and Rizal. In fact, musicians from Rizal and Tiaong have practically become part of the San Pablo music community. If you’re looking for an outstanding horn section, chances are you’ll find some of the best players in Rizal.”Bandang SanPy’s first major public appearance was at the inaugural Yakap Lawa Festival last May 9, held at Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo City. Their first club performance was at SariSari in Poblacion, Makati. They also had a special guest performance during Dizon’s drum clinic at JB Music last July 11.Although Bandang SanPy has yet to find a venue where they can regularly perform in, Dizon keeps the faith. “I hope Casa San Pablo will eventually become our regular home venue, where we can perform at least once a month and continue building an audience for original Filipino music,” he said.“I wanted to build a band that could proudly represent San Pablo City, then Laguna, then Luzon and ultimately the entire Philippines. My dream is for Bandang SanPy to become an ambassador of Filipino music and culture – showing the world that our stories, our rhythms and our identity deserve to be heard on the international stage.”Bandang SanPy recently represented the Philippines at the Jazz Festival at the Esplanade in Singapore. The group’s mission is to create world-class progressive original Filipino music while mentoring younger musicians and proving that authentic local stories can resonate with international audiences.“We believe that originality, cultural identity and artistic excellence are the foundations of music that can stand on the global stage,” informed Dizon.Another challenge was financing the group’s participation in Singapore.“As artists representing the Philippines, we naturally hoped to receive support through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) travel grant program,” said Dizon. “Ironically, it was the NCCA itself that introduced me to the existence of this grant years ago. I submitted my request, believing this was exactly the kind of opportunity the program was created for. Unfortunately, I never received the support we had hoped for.“Rather than cancel the trip, I chose to move forward through our own determination. We organized fundraising concerts, reached out to friends, sought help from private individuals and experienced the true spirit of Filipino bayanihan. It was ordinary Filipinos – not large institutions – that helped make our journey possible.”Admittedly, the experience was frustrating for Dizon -- very much unlike in 2015, when he performed in the Euro-Pinoy jazz project produced by the NCCA, he was warmly supported, transported from San Pablo and given an artist’s honorarium.“This time, when we were representing the country with our own original music on an international stage, we had to find our own way,” he lamented. “That experience made me reflect on a larger question. How are our cultural funds being used, and how much of them truly reach independent Filipino artists who are actively bringing our music and culture to the world?“Despite the disappointment, I choose to focus on gratitude. Our Singapore journey became possible because of the generosity, trust and collective effort of fellow Filipinos. That, to me, is the true meaning of bayanihan.”

After being part of popular bands like Side A, Artstart and Parliament Syndicate, to name a few, versatile drummer Mar Dizon recently started his own group composed of musicians from where he was raised -- San Pablo, Laguna.

After being part of popular bands like Side A, Artstart and Parliament Syndicate, to name a few, versatile drummer Mar Dizon recently started his own group composed of musicians from where he was raised -- San Pablo, Laguna.

Former Side A drummer Mar Dizon leads new band with San Pablo’s young musicians

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Former Side A drummer Mar Dizon leads new band with San Pablo’s young musicians

Leah C. Salterio

Published September 01, 2026 06:13 PM PHT

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Updated September 02, 2026 11:50 AM PHT

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