OPM’s critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter, Ebe Dancel, has released the music video for the lead track of his latest EP ‘Habangbuhay’ which hit digital stores on February 11th of this year. This rounds out the artist’s latest four-song EP, which presents listeners with quite the narrative on everlasting love and devotion when listened to in succession. During his time in the OPM scene, Dancel shares that he’s played his fair share of weddings and that they’re actually one of his favorite gigs to play. The vibrant, positive, and loving energy provides the singer with the perfect setup for a magical and memorable performance.

This new four-song EP is largely inspired by the many loving partners he’s witnessed profess their undying love and devotion to one another over the years. It starts off with “Manatili,” which Dancel describes as the solemn prayer song at the beginning of a wedding. Followed by “Tanging Kailangan,” a song he wrote as a response to one of his loved ones asking him what he wanted for Christmas, can be viewed as the wedding vows. Third up is “Huling Unang Sayaw,” which is a clear illusion to the couple’s first dance, and closing out the lineup, we have “Habangbuhay.”

Dancel describes “Habangbuhay” as a hymn that signifies a celebration of new beginnings, hope, and the dream of a lifetime of cherishing peace together. A vibe that’s clearly felt in the song’s music video, which was directed by none other than Dancel’s close friend, Juno Oebenda, who also directed the music video for the EP’s first song “Manatili.” Dancel shares that his partnership with Direk Juno during the new normal only led to new and enjoyable memories. He states: “We really just wanted to have fun with it. During the process, he only gave one assignment- to make a list of all of my favorite things in the world. The rest was up to him.”

Now that the EP is out, Dancel hopes to share the beauty he’s always found in creative storytelling through music with his fans. He shares that he’s someone who has always seen songwriting as a way to stay connected and grounded in this world and his talents as a master lyricist are on full display with this EP. Despite the popularity of individual tracks, this one’s not one to be put on shuffle ladies and gents. Listening to the whole EP in succession provides you with the full experience. Also, Dancel shares a particular passage from the Bible that has stayed with him throughout the process. “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” From 1 Corinthians 13:13.

During these trying times, love prevails as an emotion that supersedes anxiety and negativity. An ember, no matter how small, can light the path towards better days. Dancel, along with his creative partners and his label Widescope Entertainment hope to provide listeners with a beacon of love, hope, and positivity even in the midst of such uncertain times. As a message to his loyal fans, Dancel has this to share: “I miss you all. More than words can explain and certainly more than how I express it on social media. Through this pandemic, I’ve learned that there’s no experience quite as beautiful as standing in front of one another and experiencing new things side by side. As the elections are coming up, I urge everyone to make the right decisions and stay disciplined. Believe me; better days are coming.”

On behalf of the whole Widescope Family, beautiful work Ebe! This latest EP is sure to touch the hearts and minds of so many Filipinos—a clear reminder of the beauty amidst the chaos.

You can watch “Habangbuhay’s” new music video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N21T8czUtwU

Listen to the whole EP for the full experience here: https://orcd.co/ebedancel_habangbuhay_ep