Jason Fernandez: Unfiltered and Authentic
For nearly two decades, Jason Fernadez has remained a steady force in the Philippine music industry. Long before the viral trend shaped the landscape of music, his soul-stirring voice had already carved a place in the hearts of listeners. His heavenly melodies lift audiences like wings in flight.
From writing songs for television and fellow performers to composing deeply personal tracks like Anghel, Jason has shown that empathy and honesty are at the core of his artistry. He draws inspiration from life, emotions, and the people around him, transforming both joy and pain into music that resonates universally.
Now, with his first EP of six tracks, Jason reveals the most vulnerable and personal work of his career, layering years of experience, technical skill, and emotional truth into every note. Yet beyond the titles and years of experience, what truly defines Jason is authenticity. It is the heart of every song he creates, the bridge that connects artist to listener, and the guiding principle of a career built on sincerity, empathy, and unwavering devotion to music.
Two Roles, One Identity
Before becoming a solo artist, Jason’s career began as a vocalist of an iconic OPM band. Slowly, music began shaping not only his career, but his identity. Even in those early years, there was already another side of Jason quietly developing, the songwriter.
For some artists, singing and songwriting exist as two separate crafts. For Jason, however, they have always been inseparable.
"Actually, wala akong masyadong nakikitang difference diyan," he shares.
For Jason, being a songwriter doesn’t follow a schedule. It doesn’t depend on time or place. As he says, you can be a songwriter even on stage while performing. In fact, he sometimes writes songs in his head during live performances.
"As a songwriter kasi… wala syang pinipiling oras, walang lugar. You can be a songwriter on stage while performing. Actually, minsan nakakapagsulat ako ng kanta during live performances sa isip ko eh."
Ideas arrive quietly and unexpectedly. A simple moment during an ordinary day can suddenly spark a melody. Before he even realizes it, the beginnings of a song are already forming in his mind.
"As a songwriter, hindi mo siya pinaplano. It just happens. Halimbawa, nasa cr ka, naliligo ka, paglabas mo, may kanta ka na sa isip mo."
While inspiration can appear anywhere, Jason acknowledges that the emotions and surroundings still influence the direction of music.
"Pag nasa stage ka, sobrang hype ka, yung puso mo—’di ba? Tapos, pag umakyat ka sa stage, nag-su-switch ka niyan eh."
When he steps on stage, adrenaline takes over. The energy of the audience surges through him, fueling every note he sings. That type of energy can affect the type of song that he creates.
Writing a sad song becomes difficult, he admits, when the atmosphere is loud and chaotic. The mood seeps into the music.
"Mahirap gumawa ng kanta na malungkot habang chaotic naman yung paligid mo. So para sa akin lang, being a songwriter, wala siyang ano—’di mo siya ma-se-separate."
Still, despite the differences in mood, he refuses to separate the performer from the writer. Both exist within him naturally.
Evolving With Time
Despite already becoming an icon in the music industry, Jason believes longevity does not mean the challenges disappear. In fact, he sees them as necessary. He believes that the music industry is constantly evolving. Trends change, audience shifts, and technology continues to transform how music is created and consumed.
For him, no artist can ever truly claim mastery. “Saka parang ang hirap mabuhay nang sobrang galing mo na. Sobrang husay mo na, na parang feeling mo kaya mo na lahat, walang ganun, that’s not true,” he said.
Rather than resisting these challenges, Jason embraces them, seeing them as an essential part of growth and a vital ingredient for success.
Looking back at his earlier work, he credits maturity as one of the strongest influences behind the evolution of his music. Life experiences, he explains, naturally shape the way artists think, feel, and create. As life unfolds, the depth of the music grows alongside it.
“The big part of it is yung aking maturity sa buhay hindi kasi yun na fa-fake.”
At the same time, Jason acknowledges how technology has transformed the landscape of music production. These developments have pushed him to continuously grow, expanding his abilities not only as a singer but also as an arranger, musician, and songwriter.
Writing With Empathy
Beyond his personal releases, Jason has lent his words to projects outside his own music, from teleserye theme songs to news segments to brand campaigns to songs for fellow performers. Regardless of the platform of the song, one thing remains with him: to write with empathy.
"Ang approach ko diyan… I always put myself in their position," he says.
When writing songs for a teleserye, Jason often begins with nothing more than a storyboard and a brief outline of the story’s emotional arc. From there, he places himself inside the character’s world, allowing the emotions of the narrative to guide the song.
“Pag pipikit ka lang, imaginenin mo lang na ikaw yung character, dun na nag-start yung parang ‘uy, ito yung pakiramdam niya’, ‘ang arte nitong taong ‘to’, ‘ang bagsik niya’ yung mga ganun.”
For Jason, this connection comes naturally; he sees performers as inherently emotional and sensitive, which allows him to easily step into the emotional landscapes of a different stories.
With all the songs he writes, empathy remains central. He notes how Filipinos are naturally compassionate, and songwriting, for him, is about understanding those emotions.
“Ganoon lang, ilalagay mo lang yung ano—kaya naman nating lahat ‘yun eh, yung maawain, lalo na ang mga Pilipino.”
Meanwhile, he applies the same principle when writing songs for a brand, insisting on experiencing the product firsthand. He tries the product and observes the experience. Allowing him to describe it in his own words and ensuring that he creates even a jingle with sincerity.
He shares, “Pag naman brands, pagkain, jingle, mas madali, titikman ko yung pagkain nila, yung experience, kailangan maramdaman ko eh. Hindi naman ‘masarap ‘to’, ’yun ganun-ganun lang, kailangan maano ko, ma-describe ko on my own ways kung paano, ano talaga ’yung—’yun.”
When asked about OPM and its openness to personal, emotionally driven songs, Jason stresses that honesty is key in any creative field.
Because for Jason, emotions cannot be faked.
"Mahirap talagang magsinungaling sa emosyon. Laging totoo yan. Hindi mo puwedeng i-fake 'yan."
He believes this truth goes beyond music and the OPM industry, extending to all forms of creation. From photography to sculpture and painting, every creative process requires honesty. Everything an artist creates must be anchored in real feeling.
When Anghel takes flight
Believing emotions can never be faked, Jason eventually found himself writing a song that demanded complete emotional surrender.
If empathy guides the way he writes for others, Anghel reveals how profoundly he writes for himself. It is a song born of vulnerability, a channel for the unspoken and the unseen.
Jason understands that everyone carries emotions that need release. Some confide in diaries, others pour out their emotions across social media, yet the need to be heard remains universal.
“Yung iba, sa diaries, uso pa ba 'yon? Hindi ko alam eh. Pero karamihan napapansin ko, kaya hindi ko alam kung tama o mali, in-express nila yung kanilang pakiramdam sa social media”
As an artist, he considers himself fortunate to have the platform to do it creatively. That realization is deeply tied to his new song Anghel.
“Kailangan talaga ng tao ’yon eh. Yung may labas mo, yung nararamdaman mo saloobin mo. Maano kami, blessed kaming mga artist kasi nagagawa namin yun through music, paintings, yun nga, sinasabi ko kanina, ganyan.”
The song took shape while he traveled across Canada, traveling from Fort McMurray to Calgary. In the midst of the nine-hour road trip, he learned that his daughter was facing something deeply personal. As a single parent, he has always been their anchor, and in that moment, the miles between them felt unbearable, stretching into an ache that pressed against his chest.
While traveling, he allowed himself to fully feel the emotions that came with the situation. He imagined her pain, the silent burdens she carried without complaint, and placed himself fully in her shoes.
“Ganun ulit, yung ginawa ko, nilagay ko yung position ko sa kanya, paano kung ako yung anak ko?”
He opened his laptop and began crying. Tears fell as the words came out. In between typing, he paused to pray.
By the time he arrived at the hotel, he immediately set up his equipment and started working on the demo. That was the moment when Anghel was born.
A Song that Listens
For Jason, the six tracks on his newest EP, including Anghel, mark the most vulnerable body of work he has ever created.
“Ito na siguro yung pinaka-emotional na songs na nagawa ko sa buong buhay ko. Yan na yung may personal touch, kumbaga.”
Every track is layered with decades of experience, skill, and emotion. Jason explains that his influences, technical mastery, and emotional truths have accumulated over twenty years, stacking on top of each other like layers of a story waiting to be told.
“Parang nagpatong-patong na ’yan. Yung influence ko, yung skills ko, yung technicals, yung emotion, yung mga natutunan ko in two decades, sabi mo nga. Parang nagpile up na yun eh, patong-patong na
Yet creating this EP was no easy feat. Vulnerability became both a tool and a challenge. Writing while alone in Canada, away from the familiar comforts of home and family, tested him deeply.
Even amidst the isolation and emotional weight, the EP became a way to channel his experiences, to turn pain into art, and to create a space where listeners could feel understood.
“Tapos ang hirap, mag-isa lang ako sa Canada nung nagto-tour ako. Although may mga kasama ako, pero yung pakiramdam na parang ikaw lang mag-isa. Kasi yung tao naman, nasa paligid mo habang nangyayari yung work, yung ganyan. Pero pagbalik mo sa hotel, mag-isa ka na eh.”
Anghel, in particular, carries a message of comfort and solidarity for those who feel unheard or unseen. Jason reflects on the importance of giving space to emotions, especially when society pressures people to bottle them up or face judgment for expressing them.
“Parang ang dami ring makaka-relate diyan in a way na maraming tao na hindi na-express yung kung ano’y nasa loob nila. Walang masamang magsabi o magkuwento kasi parang nasanay tayo na every time we express our feelings or emotions, parang na-judge tayo ng tao,” he says.
Written as a comfort song with an uplifting arrangement, Jason hopes listeners will feel less alone when they hear it.
“So sa song na ’yan, pag meron kayong na-fe-feel na parang nobody’s listening, just listen to Anghel, ma-feel niyo na hindi kayo nag-iisa. Na may yumayakap sa inyo. Parang ganun, kahit through music, maramdaman niyo na hindi kayo nag-iisa.”
On to the Next Measure
Even after years in the spotlight, Jason shows no sign of slowing down.
"Non-stop ‘to. Dire-direcho. Walang tigil sa pag-create ng materials, ng music, pagsusulat."
Although there was a time when he tried to walk away from music, he eventually realized that it was his calling, he could never truly leave the music scene behind.
"Sinubukan ko nang talikuran ang music," he admits, "pero ito ang calling ko talaga."
Today, fans can expect more songs and new creative ventures, from live performances to live music videos, as he continues to find ways to share his music.
Throughout his career, Jason explored many paths, experimenting with different creative pursuits. Looking back, he describes himself candidly as a “jack of all trades, master of none.” Yet over time, clarity emerged, and music remained the unwavering center of his world.
“We're focused more on the music area. Kasi dati medyo ano ko eh, dami kong parang jack of all trades pero master of none. So, focus lang kami ngayon sa music,” he shares.
On His Own Frequency
Beyond his songs and projects, what Jason hopes resonated most with his listeners is his authenticity.
In an industry that often pressure artist to reinvent themselves constantly, Jason has chosen a different path to evolve without pretending to be someone else.
Before relaunching with his current management and team, he made one thing clear: whatever challenges they face, they will face it with honesty.
“I told them na sasagupain natin lahat 'to nang totoo tayo para hindi tayo mahirapan. Kasi ang daming nagsisimula ng fake, eh. They're trying to be somebody else.”
He understands that the industry can sometimes pressure artists to fit a mold. While he believes it is important to listen and improve, he also knows that authenticity should never be sacrificed. It’s okay to listen and improve, but Jason also knows that authenticity should never be sacrificed.
“You can always listen kung ano yung puwede mong ipasok para ma-improve yung sarili mo. Pero yung babaguhin ka na…”
Now, Jason simply wants to stand at whatever height he reaches as his most honest self. Because for him, success is far more meaningful when it is built on truth.
“Mas okay na, nandun ka na sa tuktok na totoo ka. Kasi masaya ka doon.Tapos minahal ka ng tao nang totoo dahil iyon ka talaga.”
And more than anything, what he hopes resonates with people with his journey is that authenticity is power. Being real, whether in career or life in general, may not be the easiest path, but it is the one that lasts.
THE PIPOL PODCAST
THE TEAM
Executive Producer | A Medina Events
Photography& Editing | Niko Laraza
Hair & Make-up | Ruth Tubon-Spence
Styling | JP Steven
Management | Ms. Annie and Ayel of A Medina Events Management
Studio | The Blackbox Studio Pasig
THE PIPOL TEAM
Publisher: Richard de Quina & John Luke Chica
Managing Director: Inyi Yruma
Editor-in-Chief: John Luke Chica
Creative Director: Devon May Seron
Communications & Partnership Manager: Kyra Custodio- Alberto
Sales and Marketing Manager: Regino Rubi
Senior Writer: Beatrice Ulibarri
Multimedia & Digital Head: Sachii Del Mundo
Executive Assistant: Dreamboy Dubria, JC Bolante
Finance Head: Mylene Dela Reyna
AUTHORS
Hailie Cruz
Hailie is a writer who enjoys all things pop culture and entertainment, bringing this passion into writing heartfelt stories that resonate with people and today’s generation. Her work centers on heartfelt storytelling that celebrates the moments, people, and passions that inspire her.
Arian Bonita
Adrian sparks fresh narratives, vibing with Gen Z's pulse on pop culture, entertainment, and lifestyle. His fiery words unleash news story gates. His unique voice and vision serve as a catalyst, empowering viewers to reimagine their own unfolding stories.
