Ben&Ben drummer Jam Villanueva bid an emotional farewell to the band and its fans during her final live performance with the nine-piece folk-pop collective at the Saranggola concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
After nine years of making music together, Villanueva took the stage to address thousands of fans and her eight bandmates, reflecting on the journey they had shared from the group’s humble beginnings to the milestones, challenges, and memories that shaped their years together.
Rather than simply focusing on goodbye, Villanueva’s farewell centered on the value of time, gratitude, and being present in the moment.
“Time is the one thing that gives everything meaning,” she told the crowd. “Cherish every moment, every second, and every little fleeting time that passes because every second will never, ever be back.”
A turning point after her injury
Villanueva’s departure comes after a difficult period following a wrist injury she suffered in April 2025.
She was diagnosed with De Quervain’s tendinosis, a condition affecting the wrist and thumb that significantly limited her ability to play the drums and required an extended period of rest and recovery.
While her physical recovery was an important part of the process, the time she spent away from the stage also gave Villanueva an opportunity to reassess her priorities.
The injury was not the sole reason behind her decision to leave the band, but the experience became a turning point that encouraged her to look at her personal values and consider stepping away from the demands of full-time touring and performing.
Nine years of music and friendship
During her farewell, Villanueva expressed her gratitude to the band’s supporters, known as the Liwanag, as well as Ben&Ben’s management and entire team.
Her most personal tribute, however, was reserved for her eight bandmates.
Villanueva credited them with helping shape her growth throughout the years, both as a musician and as a person. She shared that their unconditional support gave her the confidence to stand in front of thousands of people and speak her heart.
She also looked back at the band’s latest album as a celebration of their nine-year journey together. The recording sessions, she recalled, were filled with emotion, including what she described as “joyful tears.”
Villanueva thanked her bandmates for “being there for me, being there with me, and letting me be quiet.”
One final performance
As her farewell message drew to a close, Villanueva encouraged everyone in the Coliseum to embrace the present and appreciate the moments they share with the people around them.
For the final time as a member of Ben&Ben, Villanueva performed alongside the eight musicians with whom she had spent nearly a decade.
The band’s final song of the evening, Saranggola, carried an added sense of significance as Villanueva dedicated the performance to her fellow musicians and the fans who had been part of their journey.
She then returned to her familiar place behind the drum kit.
After nine years, her time with Ben&Ben has come to an end but the music, memories, and experiences she helped create remain an important part of the band’s story.
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