“Tahanan”, the hit song by El Manu, has already hit 80+ million streams on the online music streaming platform Spotify as of this writing. Few people may know that, while the love song that has resonated with millions of listeners speaks of the personal story of singer-couple El Manu and Jessy Kang, it is also the work of singer-songwriter Jason Marvin.
“'Tahanan' is… honestly, someone na alam mong hindi sila aalis. Alam mong nandiyan lang sila. ‘Yung parang pakiramdam ng bata na alam mong nandiyan lang si mommy, si daddy. Na alam mong umulan o bumaha, nandiyan lang sila. Kahit imperfect, pipiliin ka nila. Pipiliin mo sila, pinipili ka rin nila. It has to go both ways e,” shared Jason on his personal definition of someone being one’s tahanan (home).
The singer-couple playfully referred to Jason as “the song factory”, as he is the talent behind many of today’s hit songs.
“Honestly, I’m having a hard time pa rin digesting it. It’s really a great privilege na makilala as ‘the song factory,’” said Jason in an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN during the launch of El Manu and Jessy Kang at District One Gastrolounge in Bonifacio Global City last March 27, 2026.
El Manu and Jessy recalled sharing their story with Jason, who then helped transform it into the now-hit song. Jason talked a bit about how he works with artists. “Basta ang kailangan ko sa kanila is for them to be vulnerable and comfortable enough na mag-open up sila. May nagsha-share ng sobrang haba, tapos may nagju-jump out na one or two lines na ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-main idea ng kanta.”
Jason also shared how he recently went through his song catalog at FILSCAP and was pleasantly surprised to see that he already had 53 songs in their archive. “Minsan nakakalimutan ko rin ‘yung mga na-release kong songs. Minsan nagugulat na rin ako na, oo nga pala, sinulat ko nga pala ‘yun. Hindi ako makapaniwala minsan.”
Jason went on to say how he considers himself not so much as a creator, but as an instrument used to send a message. “Kaming mga hitmakers, we’re just messengers. Call it a creative cloud, call it langit, call it the Holy Spirit, call it God — pero nagiging vessel lang talaga kami. Ako, hindi ko ina-attest na galing sa akin ‘yun. Hindi e. Guidance talaga ni God na ibinibigay Niya sa akin, ipinapahiram Niya, ‘yung mga songs.”
To realize and to be able to use his God-given talent is something that Jason doesn’t take for granted. “It’s very humbling. I’m not the greatest musician, so alam ko na sobrang mas maraming magaling sa akin. It’s humbling kasi even if hindi ako ‘yung pinakamagaling na musician sa Philippines, ine-entrust pa rin sa akin ni God ‘yung mga hit songs.”
“So ang hirap maging mayabang na ah, oo nga, hitmaker ako. Hindi e. Kasi He can take it away anytime. It’s really full dependence kay God every time, every single time. Kaya every time nagsusulat kami ng songs, we pray na ‘Lord, ipahiram mo naman sa amin ‘yung mga melodies Mo. Alam ko galing sa’Yo ‘to’. You’re reminded of your position: na hindi ikaw ‘yung magaling. The glory doesn’t go to you. Messenger ka lang,” he explained.
Jason finds a certain sense of joy in making new songs, even when he writes them for other artists. “Every song is new to me. That’s what I like about writing songs. Kahit hindi ako ‘yung kumakanta. Actually, mas gusto ko nga na iba ‘yung kumakanta kasi nilalagyan na nila ng sarili nilang story, sarili nilang flavor.”
“May mga moments na alam kong dapat kong kantahin ‘to, and may mga moments na — guidance na rin ng Holy Spirit — alam kong dapat ibigay ko siya sa ibang artist,” he added.
Jason, who was also launched by Cornerstone as a solo performer, admitted that there was hesitation on his part to take the stage.
“Honestly, mas comfortable ako working behind the scenes. Naggi-gitara lang, naga-acoustic,” he said candidly. “I see ‘yung life nila Jai, nila TJ Monterde, and even si Moira (Dela Torre) noong time na kami ‘yung nagtou-tour around. The pressure and the pagod. I know I’m up for it naman, pero I’d rather earn passively (laughs).”
What pushed him to take on the challenge of performing his own songs was realizing the positive impact it had on others. Jason recalled a message from someone who heard his song “Bulong” from the movie Unmarry, where one of the recurring lines from the song goes “nasa Iyo ang huling salita.”
“When I release songs na straight from my heart and nakita ko na nakakatulong siya sa ibang tao,” he explained of his motivation to perform. “May mga nag-message sa akin na ‘Kuya, ‘yung song mo na ‘Bulong’, I was gonna take my life na and then narinig ko ‘yung song na ‘yun na hindi pa nga tapos, kasi nasa Kanya ang huling salita.’”
Reflecting on his journey, Jason shared how he finds fulfillment both in being a songwriter and a performer. “I like sharing my songs, singing on stage. I’d rather do both. Parang Ed Sheeran: meron siyang own songs, meron din siyang songs for other artists, and meron din siyang mina-manage na artists. ‘Yung tatlong avenue na ‘yun, ‘yun din ‘yung gusto ko. Hopefully.”