SINGER Jaya is back in the Philippines after four years. Now residing in Texas, USA, the “Queen of Soul” is reconnecting with her fans and promoting her upcoming concert, “Jaya All: Hits,” scheduled for Sunday, September 14 at 7 pm at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.
The one-night-only event will feature a lineup of Jaya’s most beloved hits, including “Dahil Tanging Ikaw,” “Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig,” “Kung Wala Na,” “Laging Naro’n Ka,” “Hanggang Ngayo’y Mahal” and “Dahil Ba sa Kanya.”
“It will be nostalgic and may storytelling time. Ang rami kong gustong i-share, parang kulang yung limang oras. But it will be a night I hope maging part kayo lahat,” said Jaya on Monday at El Tubo Kitchen in San Juan.
The concert is very personal for Jaya, who handpicked her guest performers.
“I wanted to work with those who are closest to me,” she said.
Joining her are Eric Santos and Jason Dy, whom she fondly treats as anak-anakan. “I’m like his mommy – kasi ka-edaran ko mommy nya.” Singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, who is “like a mentor,” said Jaya, is also part of the lineup. Jaya also shared that Ogie’s wife, music icon Regine Velasquez, was willing to perform, except that there was a scheduling conflict.
The show will be directed by John Prats and supported by Cornerstone, a company Jaya refers to as her family in the Philippines.
One of the most anticipated moments of the evening will be a performance by Jaya’s daughter, Sabriya Gotidoc, who is also a singer-songwriter.
“This girl right here I’m really so proud of her because how many people can really say they write and produce their songs?” Jaya beamed. “Sabi ko lang sa kanya ang importante is focus on the music… and come back here. Kasi Filipino pa rin ang mag aangat sa’yo kahit na anong mangyari. ‘Pag dugong Pilipino, kailangan dito ka mag-start.”
Bitten by the music bug early on, 19-year-old Sabriya has embraced OPM, citing artists like Adie and JK Labajo among her influences. Open to experimenting with different genres, she’s eager to collaborate and hopes to compose a song for her mom in the near future.
It’s a full-circle moment for Jaya, who shared that many years ago, she too was ushered into the spotlight by Pilita Corrales, making her debut during a concert by the late “Asia’s Queen of Songs.”
Tickets for “Jaya All: Hits” are now available through TicketNet, with prices ranging from ₱2,500 to ₱5,500.
Outside of the spotlight, Jaya leads a quieter life in Texas with her husband Gary Gotidoc and their children.
