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Every morning when I'm having my vacation in my grandmother's house, I'd hear sing "Pana-panahon ang pagkakataon, maibabalik ba ang kahapon.." as she relaxes on her favorite rocking chair.

As I grew fond of my grandma singing this song, my curiosity about it also grew. Who sang it? Who wrote those words? What was the story the song was trying to tell?

And then I came to knew Noel Cabangon.Through music scenes, TV appearances and also as a guest host in some radio stations.

Now, Noel is the voice behind the popular song Kanlungan or Pana-Panahon, as most people would call it. He is a singer-songwriter and musical director for theater. He started his career as a folksinger in 1982 and since then has been performing in various folk houses and music bars in Metro Manila. Noel has also performed in several concerts local and abroad. 

Since the '80s, Noel was actively involved in the creation and popularization of alternative Filipino music. Together with Rom Dongeto and Rene Boncocan, he formed a folk group called Buklod in 1987. And this has led to the production of three albums which tackle socio-political-cultural issues: "Bukid at Buhay", an album which speaks of the lives, struggles and aspirations of the Filipino peasants; "Tatsulok", an album on human rights; and "Sa Kandungan ng Kalikasan", an advocacy album on the environment.

While doing all his social involvements, Noel never stopped from performing at the bars where his roots as a singer started. And he also never stopped from writing songs not only for himself but also for other artists who are in need of new materials to record. This was also the time when Noel first made his way to the mainstream music industry.

 Affiliations
Noel is an member of KATHA - an organization of Filipino composers, where he is also a member of the board; FILSCAP (Filipinos Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers); an Ambassador for Conservation of the Haribon Foundation - a foundation that promotes the protection and preservation of the environment; he is also involved in the campaigns of Greenpeace International – an environmental organization; Jubilee South – a network of south and north countries campaigning for debt cancellation of illegitimate debts of south countries; an individual member and member of the board of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), campaigner for Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP); 

In 2004, Noel was given a special recognition by the provincial government of La Union during its 154th Foundation Anniversary, for his outstanding service and invaluable contribution to culture and the arts. And in February of 2007, he was chosen as the endorser/spokesperson for the National Arts Month (NAM) with the theme "Ani ng Sining - 2007" by the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA).

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