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Jaya: Her own person

Jaya has said many times: “I know my mom prayed a lot for me. I think that’s where all the blessings came from.”

After 30 years in show business, Queen of Soul, Jaya, feels that she has been blessed. “Life’s been treating me good. I’ve always pursued what I believe in and I don’t think of what people say. I do what pleases me as long as I don’t hurt anyone. And if I didn’t succeed the first time, I just keep on trying,” she shared.

Jaya said that she doesn’t plan to sing forever. “I don’t want to do this forever. I’m only doing this because I’m trying to satisfy myself and the talent that I have. I don’t think I will grow old in this profession. But that’s so far from now.  But who knows . . .”

If there’s a song to describe her life, it would be “What Matters Most.” She said: “People tend to think about the temporary things in life. When we die what matters most is what we have done when we were still alive. While we are still alive let’s enjoy life, make friends, see different countries if you can afford it, breathe, live, enjoy the spirit that’s in you, improve what’s bad in you because we’re only human and we’re capable of committing mistakes. But what matters most is that we should love each other.”

As a woman, she admits she’s bading, independent, and strong-willed. “I didn’t graduate from high school but I still try to learn things by surfing the internet, doing research,” she shared. “As a person, I’m not very trusting but once I trust you, matagal ‘yon. Basically, I’m very loyal. I don’t really harbor ill feelings toward other persons. I just let it pass. I’m very impulsive also and loving, but I don’t forget the past because I based my present life on my past. And I don’t believe in too much in politics.”

Jaya on a roll

Since she launched her singing career locally some years ago, Jaya has become a household name. “I think I’m a little bit more self-assured now knowing the crowd expects me to give this type of music. And sometimes, I want to surprise them.”

Definitely, her living in the States for several years has had a big influence on her musicality. She says, she had the chance to listen to different types of music – Irish, Brazilian, African, reggae, pop, rock, alternative – name it.

“Because of that American influence in me, everybody noticed that I was a bit different when I came here. But I wasn’t trying to sound like anybody else. I’m influenced a lot by African-American music. Back in the old days, my voice was like matining na mataas. Now it has texture. I have the low tones and the high notes.”

Remembering her mom

Looking back at what she and her late mom, Elizabeth Ramsey had been through, Jaya muses: “Aside from my talent in singing, I’ve inherited some of her good traits, like her spirituality, but mine is in a different way. I’m not a collector of saints like my mom, but I have a few at home. I don’t pray as regimentally, but the moment I hold a rosary, I know that I will be saved.”

Jaya has said many times: “I know my mom prayed a lot for me. I think that’s where all the blessings came from.”

Jaya with her lovely family.

Jaya has been married for more than 14  years now (and counting) to non-showbiz husband, Gary Goditoc. The couple has two beautiful children.

#showbizthrowbackseries #jaya #singer #exclusiveinterview #preciousmoments #rubyasoyph

(Based on the feature articles published in the old Mirror Weekly magazine by the same author)

Featured photo: Jaya with her late mom, Elizabeth Ramsey

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Joey Ayala: A Class All His Own

“Evolution is a way to live. We should always challenge ourselves,” the multi-faceted artist shared.

Joey Ayala, to many, is associated with neo-ethnic, indigenous music. Joey, however, thinks he’s between an entertainer and a cultural artist. “I’m in between. I became an entertainer because of my association with culture and arts,” he shared.

Joey, to the unfamiliar, is in fact a multi-faceted artist. He is a poet, a story-teller, a guitarist, a performer, a multi-instrumentalist, a composer, a lyricist, and arranger. And that’s a lot of talent rolled into one.

“As an artist, my contribution here is the way I approach what I do. I’m trying to balance the form and content to make it of higher service to the people. My humble contribution to the evolution,” Joey said.

Joey’s talent was first recorded in his first two albums Panganay Ng Umaga (1982) and Magkabilaan (1986) which became underground classics while his 1992 release Mga Awit Ng Tanod Lupa helped decimate the borders between entertainment and education. And the rest is history

  • Beginnings

While earning his degree of Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the Ateneo de Davao University, Joey Ayala kept a continuing romance with his guitar, an instrument he learned to play from various means.

Writing was also a major part of his academic life. Yet through his schooldays, Joey didn’t go quite directly into a musical or writing career, but instead, he ventured into advertising, editing, financial consultancy, broadcasting, and theatre.

“I didn’t have a career direction. I was not even aware that I have a career,” he said. “I wasn’t really thinking of money. I resigned from my office work when I met people who are full-time artists from Canada. I was able to perform for a Folk Festival in Canada while I was working in the office.”

  • Local music industry

Joey shared that the state of the local music industry is pretty healthy now.

“The output of a local artist is now being recognized by the record company. I don’t know if that’s a good thing for the artist. But it must be a good thing for the record company,” he explained. “I say it must not be good for the artist because an artist without the record company can still make money from his music, without necessarily being distributed by a major record company. That’s how I survived as a musician for a while. Before I signed with anyone, I was already selling.”

Joey’s ultimate goal is “just to be better than I am now,” he concluded.

#joeyayala #music #cultureandarts #entertainment #preciousmoments #throwbackseries

Photo courtesy: Joey Ayala FB page

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Giselle Sanchez: A well-endowed versatile artist

Her confidence and intelligence made her an achiever in her studies, and in her chosen career.

Actress-comedienne, singer, and columnist Giselle Sanchez is a well-endowed artist. She’s a pitbull of fun and talent. She’s a bundle of joy with an over-supply of good sense of humor. But she could be deadly serious, too, as far as work is concerned. When she gets into something, she sinks her teeth into it.

She’s a jack of all trades excelling in acting, hosting, singing, writing, and stand-up comedy. “I cannot be typecasted in just one field because women these days should be multi-talented. To be able to survive in this era you have to be versatile,” related Giselle from a previous exclusive interview.

Break

Giselle said she was lucky because when the opportunity came in, she was in the right place at the right time. In fact, what people didn’t know was that she was prepared to be there.

“My career started because I was in a group called SAMASKOM at UP (Samahan ng Mag-aaral sa Komunikasyon). And we wanted to come up with a comedy show,” she recalled.

“Since we didn’t have money we joined (then) Ready Get Set Go. E, ako gusto ko talagang magpapansin para ma-discover. I put makeup,” she laughed. “My first manager, Del Pascual saw me there and asked me if I wanted to join the movies. I said ‘yes.’ Actually, I was just waiting for his offer.

Then Tessie Tomas saw her at UP when they staged the said play. “At that time, I didn’t have a phone because we live in Rosario, Pasig. Basically, Del was the middle man. Then Johnny Manahan saw me and offered me a couple of guesting in all the sitcoms on Channel 2. After that they made me a regular cast in Ang TV, I was a teacher there. From Ang TV, I was guested for Mongolian Barbecue. Then, Wilma Galvante saw me and put me in SST as a regular host. After that Lorraine Schuck got me for It’s A Date. After so many years, ABS-CBN got me back. And the rest is history.”

Childhood

Maria Giselle Sanchez in real life was born under the sign of Taurus. She describes herself as “makulit, matigas ang ulo, matapang, loyal, loving, sensuous, and when I go to sleep ang daming tumatakbo sa isip ko.”

How she got her name was a funny anecdote. “No, it wasn’t taken from the ballet. No, my mom was not into the impressionism era. She was a fan of Lorna Tolentino and her name was Giselle. Then ginawa niyang Lorna because magbo-bold na siya,” she recalled.

She said her childhood was a happy one. “When I was three years old, I would lock myself inside the room and start acting and my mom would freak out feeling niya nasisiraan nang ulo ang anak niya,” she adds. “When I was 14, there was one director who dropped by our video shop then I approached him, ‘direk puwede ba akong mag-artista. Oo, ikaw ang ipapakain sa buwaya.’ Kaya ngayon gusto kong makita ang director na ‘yon. I’m sure laos na siya,” she laughed.

In person, Giselle has a whistle bait figure and flawless complexion that can match any beauty queens around. That ugly duckling girl grew up to be a jolly kid. Although she was not that pretty she had so much confidence to feel that she is beautiful. And this confidence made her an achiever in her studies, and in her chosen career.

“Without this confidence, I wouldn’t be where I am now. And my mom Gilda and dad Ike gave me that confidence,” she said, the pride in her voice unmistakable. “And you should give value to your family. I wouldn’t probably be here if I didn’t value my family.”

Giselle with her loving family. Courtesy: Giselle Sanchez FB page

Giselle’s versatility coupled with her intelligence has earned her a mark both in the entertainment and media industry. She graduated magna cum laude major in Mass Communications at the University of the Philippines. She is a mother of two, a happy wife, and a successful businesswoman.

She said the advantage of comedians is they stay long in the business. “As for stand-up comedy, your key is your mind,” she concluded.

Photos courtesy @gisellesanchez FB page

#throwbackseries #entertainmentdays #gisellesanchez #preciousmoments #rubyasoyph