Jessie Lasaten
Jessie Q. Lasaten (born 1960s)[1] is a Filipino composer and animation producer.
Early life and education
Lasaten attended elementary school and high school at the Saint Louis University in Baguio.[1] During third grade, Lasaten realized that he was partially deaf in his left ear.[1] He was a first-year political science student at the university when he gained the desire to pursue a career in music.[2]
After graduating from Saint Louis, Lasaten proceeded to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he later graduated summa cum laude.[2]
Career
After graduating from Berklee, Lasaten returned to the Philippines in the early 1990s and was hired as a jingle writer.[1] In 1994, he was encouraged by Dodie Lucas of RoadRunner Network to become a film composer, and was eventually referred by songwriter Nonoy Tan to OctoArts Films.[1] Lasaten's debut film score was for the film Loretta, which was later embroiled in the 1994 Manila Film Festival scandal.[1]
Lasaten has been the resident composer for ABS-CBN and its film outfit Star Cinema, having headed by 2000 the Music and Sound Group of the ABS-CBN-owned post-production company RoadRunner Network (now defunct).[1] In 2000, he composed the musical score for the ABS-CBN television series Pangako sa 'Yo.[3] In addition to his film scores, Lasaten has also composed music for several Christmas station IDs of ABS-CBN since the 1990s,[1][4] such as the 2004 Christmas station ID he composed with lyricist Robert G. Labayen: "Sabay Tayo, Kapamilya".[5]
In 2007, as CEO of Cutting Edge Productions, Lasaten began producing the animated fantasy film Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia, for which he also served as composer; it was theatrically released on December 25, 2008, as an entry to the 34th Metro Manila Film Festival.[6][7] His company later provided additional animation for El Americano: The Movie, a 2016 Mexican-American animated film produced by Animex Producciones.[8][9]
Film scores
1990s
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Studio(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Loretta | Mel Chionglo | OctoArts Films | |
| Manolo en Michelle: Hapi Together | Mike Relon Makiling | |||
| Ikaw Lamang, Wala Ng Iba | Pablo P. Santiago | MegaVision Films Santiago Bros. Productions |
||
| Mama's Boys 2 (Let's Go Na!) | Tony Y. Reyes | OctoArts Films | ||
| 1995 | Barkada: Walang Atrasan | Junn P. Cabreira | ||
| Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara | Chito S. Roño | Star Cinema | ||
| Muntik Nang Maabot ang Langit | Manuel "Fyke" Cinco | OctoArts Films | Credited on the poster only | |
| Best Friends | Tony Y. Reyes | MAQ Productions | ||
| Tong-Its | J. Erastheo 'Baby' Navoa | Neo Films | ||
| Sabado Nights | Romy V. Suzara | |||
| Dahas | Chito Roño | MAQ Productions | ||
| Isko: Adventures in Animasia | Mike Relon Makiling & Geirry A. Garccia |
OctoArts Films | Partially animated film | |
| 1996 | Batang Z | Bey Vito | MAQ Productions | |
| Habang May Buhay | Mac C. Alejandre | Viva Films | ||
| Radio Romance | Jose Javier Reyes | Star Cinema | ||
| Dead Sure | Tikoy Aguiluz | Neo Films | Original title: Segurista | |
| Madaling Mamatay, Mahirap Mabuhay | Ronn-Rick | |||
| Daddy's Angel | Joey Romero | Mother Studio Films | ||
| Nights of Serafina | Joey Gosiengfiao | |||
| Wanted: Perfect Mother | Ike Jarlego Jr. | Neo Films | ||
| Kung Alam Mo Lang | Boots Plata | Kaizz Ventures MAQ Films |
||
| Hawak Ko Buhay Mo | Ronn-Rick | Neo Films | ||
| Akin ang Puri | Toto Natividad | MAQ Productions | ||
| Istokwa | Chito S. Roño | |||
| Bakit May Kahapon Pa? | Joel Lamangan | Viva Films IAM Productions |
||
| Batang Estero | Deo J. Fajardo Jr. | FLT Films International | ||
| Rubberman | Edgardo "Boy" Vinarao | OctoArts Films Cinemax Studios |
||
| 1997 | T.G.I.S.: The Movie | Mark Reyes | Viva Films | |
| Shake, Rattle & Roll VI | Maurice Carvajal Frank G. Rivera Anton Juan |
MAQ Productions Regal Films |
||
| Kriselda: Sabik sa 'Yo | Abbo dela Cruz | Canary Films | ||
| Ibulong Mo sa Diyos 2 | F. C. Gargantilla | Regal Films | ||
| Go Johnny Go | Ipe Pelino | |||
| Adarna: The Mythical Bird | Geirry A. Garccia | Guiding Light Productions FLT Films |
Animated film | |
| Nasaan ang Puso | Chito S. Roño | MAQ Productions | ||
| 1998 | Silaw | Mark Reyes | Viva Films | |
| Bata, Bata... Pa'no Ka Ginawa? | Chito S. Roño | Star Cinema | ||
| Babae sa Bintana | Chito S. Roño | Regal Films | ||
| 1999 | Bakit Pa?: The Movie | Jose Javier Reyes | OctoArts Films GMA Films |
|
| Soltera | Jerry Lopez Sineneng | Star Cinema | ||
| Hey Babe! | Joyce Bernal | |||
| Bulaklak ng Maynila | Joel Lamangan | Viva Films | ||
| Esperanza: The Movie | Jerry Lopez Sineneng | Star Cinema |
2000s
2010s
2020s
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Studio(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Jolly Spirit Squad | Eduardo Reyes Jr. Chiqui Lacsamana |
BMW8 Entertainment | |
| The Missing | Easy Ferrer | Regal Entertainment | ||
| 2021 | A Faraway Land | Veronica Velasco | Mavx Productions | |
| 2022 | Connected | Theodore Boborol | Star Magic Studios CineXpress |
|
| The Entitled | Theodore Boborol | TinCan Productions | ||
| Doll House | Marla Ancheta | Mavx Productions | ||
| Labyu with an Accent | Malu Sevilla Rodel Nacianceno |
Star Cinema CCM Creatives |
||
| Partners in Crime | Cathy Garcia-Molina | Star Cinema Viva Films |
||
| 2023 | Single Bells | Fifth Solomon | TinCan Productions Black Cap Pictures GMA Pictures |
|
| When I Met You in Tokyo | Rado Peru Rommel Penesa |
JG Productions Rafaella Films International |
||
| 2024 | Pagpag 24/7 | JR Reyes | Mavx Productions Viva Films |
|
| A Journey | RC Delos Reyes | Filmotion Productions Mavx Productions |
||
| Hello, Love, Again | Cathy Garcia-Sampana | Star Cinema GMA Pictures |
||
| The Kingdom | Michael Tuviera | MQuest Ventures APT Entertainment M-Zet TV Productions |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lo, Ricky (April 11, 2000). "How Jessie plays it by 'an ear'". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
At 14, I [Jessie Lasaten] sat transfixed in the darkness of a moviehouse, mesmerized by the overwhelming musical scoring of Star Wars. That was in 1978.
- ^ a b Servano, Patricia S. (February 11, 2003). "Changing lives at 16". Manila Standard. Vol. XVI, no. 357. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ "History Unfolds". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 15, no. 339. November 13, 2000. p. A32. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
Musical Director JESSIE LASATEN
- ^ Red, Isah V. (November 24, 2002). "Networks try to win viewers' hearts with new ID". Manila Standard. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ Bagaoisan, Anjo (November 14, 2025). "'Sabay Tayo': How a station ID with no 'Pasko' set the DNA of the ABS-CBN Christmas IDs we love". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Manila. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
The task of creating the sound went to Jessie Lasaten[...]
- ^ Ball, Ryan (May 21, 2008). "Dayo Springs From Philippines". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
Owned and managed by award-winning film composer and musical arranger Jessie Lasaten, the company [Cutting Edge Prods.] opened its dedicated animation facility on 2007.
- ^ "Animated film 'Dayo' is official entry to 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival". The Freeman. September 25, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
Although it's rather difficult and expensive to produce an animation project, 'it's the only content we can sell abroad,' justifies Jessie Lasaten, executive producer of "Dayo" and chief executive officer of Cutting Edge.
- ^ "Animators from Mexico and RP ink technology tie-up". Philstar.com. Manila, Philippines. October 8, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
As maiden venture, Animex and Cutting Edge have started producing their first 3D animated short film that explores the similar culture and traditions of Mexicans and Filipinos.
- ^ McLean, Tom (February 21, 2015). "Hometown Hero". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
A partner studio in the Philippines — Cutting Edge Productions — helped out with animation and crowd scenes.
- ^ "'Yakap': Embracing each other's differences". Philstar.com. September 20, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2026.