Jam Villanueva is officially leaving Ben&Ben soon.

In a three-minute video, Villanueva, who is the drummer of the nine-piece Filipino folk-pop hitmaking band, announced that 2026 will be her final year with the band. In her statement, Villanueva looked back on how music has always shaped her since she was young, which led her to pursuing it in her undergraduate studies and then eventually meeting the eight other members of Ben&Ben.

With this, she also recognized the important life lessons she gained, the friendships she’s made, and the community she and the band have built — both with their team and collaborators, as well as their fans, the Liwanag. “We literally wouldn’t have been able to do and keep doing any of this if it weren’t for you. You encouraged us to create honest music by full accepting our awkward and introverted selves, and by just allowing us to be who we are.”

Along with this, Villanueva also reflected on the past eight years since the band was formed, acknowledging all the music-making they did, the challenges they faced, the frienship they nurtured, and “building and living life the way [she] dreamed of when [she] was a kid.”

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Ultimately, Villanueva revealed that two certain events in her life have developed and strengthened [her] values and, in turn, redefined the life” that she saw herself living. The first of these was her marriage in 2024, while the second was the wrist injury she sustained last April 2025. “There’s no easy way to say this. Next year, 2026, will be my last year with the band,” she stated, revealing that she was actually the “saranggola” (kite) referred to in the band’s song of the same name about their friendship. “And just like the song, the greatest and most important part of all of this is the friendships and relationships I’ve gained through it all.”

Read Jam Villanueva’s full statement below:

Hi, Liwanag. It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me.

Ang daming nangyari. Patapos na rin ang 2025. Gusto ko lang sana mag-kwento at mag-update saglit.

Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to play music. I knew it as early as grade school. I did nothing except listen to music and learn how to play the songs on the drums. I kept following this path and took up a music business course for college because I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I joined a band, played with different artists, joined other bands, and eventually ended up meeting and jamming with eight other amazing human beings. This was the start of the biggest, craziest in a good way, most fun, and most surreal part of my life.

Along the way, I learned many important and crucial life lessons. I gained deep friendships and a chosen family I know I will have and cherish forever. I learned the power of belief, when our team, management, and collaborators would help push for projects and ideas that seemed impossible. But in the end, we were able to create great experiences because of everyone’s teamwork and collective drive.

I also saw the power of community. You, Liwanag, and how the collective love and appreciation for one thing, our music, can bring you to the furthest places and the most unexpected stages.

Words can never express how deep my gratitude is for everyone on our team, our collaborators, and every single person who listens and connects with our music. We literally wouldn’t have been able to do and keep doing any of this if it weren’t for you. You encouraged us to create honest music by full accepting our awkward and introverted selves, and by just allowing us to be who we are.

At the time of the release of this video, the band has been together for eight years, seven months, and a few days. Eight years of playing, eight years of challenges, eight years of friendship, and eight years of building and living life the way I dreamed of when I was a kid.

As each year passed, we also grew was people, as individuals living our lives in the pockets of time we had outside being a band, with each experience shaping us and allowing us to rediscover ourselves.

in 2024, I got married and in April of 2025, I injured my wrist. These two events have developed and strengthened my values and, in turn, redefined the life I see myself living.

There’s no easy way to say this. Next year, 2026, will be my last year with the band. Yes, ako ‘yung “saranggola,” And just like the song, the greatest and most important part of all of this is the friendships and relationships I’ve gained through it all.

I hope to see you next year. Sa mga shows, events, and hangouts. Let’s make next year a fun and memorable one. Love you, Liwanag!