With a rich legacy spanning several decades, The Dawn is a prominent OPM (Original Pilipino Music) rock band that gained significant acclaim in the late 1980s. 

Their unique sound and strong lyrics have greatly influenced music in the Philippines, making them an important part of the industry.

After the group disbanded in 1995, lead vocalist Jett Pangan embarked on a new journey by forming the Jett Pangan Group, which showcased his versatility as an artist. 

However, the strong connection among the original members led to a highly anticipated reunion in 1999, reigniting their passion for music and further solidifying their legacy.

These days, The Dawn is one of the longest-standing and most influential rock bands in the Philippines. They have a large collection of albums and many popular songs. Their music continues to inspire new generations of fans, making them an important part of OPM.

The current lineup of The Dawn features the charismatic Jett Pangan on lead vocals, the dynamic JB Leonor on drums, the talented Francis Reyes on guitar, the versatile Sancho Sanchez also on guitar, and the skilled Bim Yance handling the bass. Together, they create a rich tapestry of sound that reflects their deep-rooted passion for rock music.

'Salamat'

Jett said that the song "Salamat" was very popular among music fans in the 80s. He remembered a time when a riot happened because the band did not play "Salamat."

"It boils down to the lyrics. 'Salamat' is a celebratory song. Bilang Pilipino, we like to say thank you for a lot of things like kapag nakapasa sa exams or pagtapos na yung summer or init. It's a celebratory word that applies to everyone.

"The high I get from singing that song never changed. It's like we've been playing it forever. One time, we tried not to sing it, and a riot broke out.

"So sabi namin hindi na namin yun uulitin. We want to check it, eh? It happened sa Greenfields. It was my fault. Sabi ko, let's see what will happen if we don't sing 'Salamat.' So, I guess people want to hear that song.

"Sa mga karaoke, I still sing it. Yes, the song 'Salamat' has a life of its own. Even sa mga corporate events, that's their banner theme. So, I guess we nailed that one. It's a song for Filipinos," said Jett, who is also an actor.

JB Leonor, one of the founding members of The Dawn, said the band did not expect to reach almost 40 years in the entertainment industry.

"It's a big reward that we lasted this long. If I knew na tatagal kami ng ganito, siguro nag-aral pa kami ng music sa school. Kami lang muna ni Teddy then Jett came in. We had no goal of achieving anything. It just happened," says JB.

How The Dawn got its band name

The Dawn's current lineup includes JB Leonor (Drums), Francis Reyes (Guitar/backup vocals, Keyboard), Jett Pangan (Lead Vocalist), Bim Yance (Bass), and Rommel Sanchez (Guitar).

JB recalled how the band was given its identity when Teddy Diaz, a former member who passed away, drew inspiration from his religious beliefs.

Jett added: "Teddy knew this order of nuns. And then meron silang relics sa house, which he called The Dawning of the Holy Spirit. It's so simple na naka-frame lang siya. We were thinking of names, and then he brought up the idea of the dawning of the Holy Spirit. (And then they have relics in the house, which he called The Dawning of the Holy Spirit. It's so simple that he's just framed. We were thinking of names, and then he brought up the idea of the dawning of the Holy Spirit.)

"We had other ideas, but the dawning was okay. At that time, medyo may pagka-gothic. Then we shortened it na lang kasi mahaba naman kung the dawning. (We had other ideas, but the concept of 'dawning' was satisfactory. At that time, it felt somewhat gothic. We decided to shorten it because 'dawning' was too long)," Jett also said.

Aside from "Salamat," the band also gave the hits "Enveloped Ideas," "Iisang Bangka," "Talaga Naman," "Love Will Set Us Free," "Tulad Ng Dati," "Hatak," and more.

"We cater to all audiences. We cater what we like sa mga baguhan. Ang daming mga banda ngayon and they were doing great stuff. But it's not to be pretentious na makikiuso kami. That's not natural to us. But naturally, na-influence rin kami ng mga bata.

"But we also like our setlist na nag-ba-vary rin. Like if we will play sa mga fiesta, we ask ourselves kung ano pa ang pwede namin tugtugin. So may mga covers din kami which I hope magugustuhan nila. Different flavors of the same band," Jett also said.

'Almost 40' concert

The Dawn takes the stage to celebrate nearly four decades of groundbreaking OPM rock music during a concert dubbed "Almost 40" at the Music Museum on Feb. 22 at 8 p.m.

Joining The Dawn on this special occasion are esteemed guests Ebe Dancel, Quest, Rayver Cruz, and Aila Santos.

Tickets for this highly anticipated concert are priced at P1,500 (Balcony), P2,500 (Orchestra Side), P3,500 (Orchestra 2), and P4,500 (Orchestra Center). Secure your seats now through online ticketing at https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx?sh=THEDAWN25, or at Ticket1 and TicketWorld outlets.

The Dawn's "Almost 40" concert is proudly presented by Ticket1 and produced by Ticket1 Concerts, under the leadership of CEO Jonathan Wee. This momentous event is made possible with the support of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.