Gab Cabangon opens up about growing up with ‘tough-loving’ dad Noel Cabangon

While singer-songwriter Gab Cabangon is slowly making a name for himself in music, he admitted that his toughest critic is still the one at home: his father, OPM icon Noel Cabangon.

Gab grew up around some of the biggest names in Filipino music, including members of the APO Hiking Society, whom he calls his titos. Still, when asked who is hardest to please when it comes to his performances, Gab said it is his dad, whom he described as a “tough-loving” father.

“Feeling ko tatay ko pa rin. ‘Yung tatay ko pa rin ‘yung medyo tough-loving erpats ko. So, it’s hard to actually please him in terms of your performance,” he said.

But Gab was quick to say that his father’s strictness comes from a good place.

“But I think it comes from a place that he just really wants you to do very well. So, I would say erpats ko pa rin talaga,” he added.

While he did not name names, Gab also admitted that he had a lot to prove to the older musicians in the alternative music scene.

“I would probably say na I think it’s harder to please ‘yung mga Tito-Tita ko sa alternative music scene because they have a different mindset when it comes to Filipino music. And it’s usually something that they want, something that breaks the norm,” he said.

Asked about the most “tatay” thing his father has done for him, Gab said Noel would give him pointers on the side.

“Probably, parang kino-coach ako on the side. Badly put. I think that is one of the most tatay things,” he shared.

“Either that or ‘yung bigla na lang pupunasan ‘yung pawis ko after a set, which is a very tatay-coded thing to do, which I don’t mind. It’s okay,” he added.

Gab said these small gestures mean more to him now.

“When you’re older, you tend to appreciate those things,” he said.

Being Noel’s son also meant that Gab was often asked to sing one of his dad’s best-known songs, “Kanlungan,” at school. The song reached a whole new audience after it was used in a McDonald’s commercial.

“It was very common, especially at that time. Kasi I think kakaputok lang ng ‘Kanlungan’ because of that McDonald’s commercial,” he said.

“And then, you hear people, you have classmates asking you, ‘Pwede ba invite ‘yung tatay mo to this, to that?’ So, ano, it was very common,” he added.

Noel is known for folk songs that speak about social issues. In 1987, he started the folk group Buklod together with fellow musicians Rene Boncocan and Rom Dongeto, before going solo. At the 2010 Awit Awards, his album Byahe won Album of the Year. He also went back to school and, in 2024, earned a Popular Music degree from the Philippine Women’s University at 60.

Gab has performed both as a solo artist and as the lead singer of the band K.E. In September 2025, he put out “Pieces,” his first single under his own name. He followed it up in February 2026 with “Kama,” a love song about finding comfort and slowing down. He was also one of the Best New Artist nominees at this year’s Awit Awards.

Earlier this month, Gab released his debut EP Learn to Love Again under Underdog Music. The five-track EP includes “Love Again,” “Ikot Ulit,” “Pieces,” “Kama” and “ngayon at kailanman.” In it, Gab writes about dealing with burnout and finding his love for music again.