Jaya to return to US

BY NEIL RAMOS

Suffering setbacks one after the other amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic proved too much for Jaya.

The singer, considered the first Filipino recording artist to chart in the US, with her debut single “If You Leave Me Now” peaking at number 44 at the Billboard Hot 100 chart, has decided to move back to the Land of the Free.

In a recent interview, Jaya admitted it stemmed from her experiencing depression of late.

“Naramdaman ko lang na nag-focus ako sa isang bagay na hindi ko alam, nalulungkot na pala ako, natatakot at nadi-depress,” she explained.

“I started to lose weight, hindi ko na-anticipate na hindi pala ako kumakain nang tama o tama sa oras, o nag-one meal a day lang ako. Hindi ko ‘yun napansin,” she added.

Making matters worse, her husband, Gary Gotidoc, suffered a stroke.

She said, “Gumaling na siya pero sa likod ng utak ko, parang, ‘Teka… anong nangyayari? Nakakulong tayo, wala tayong work, at may asawa kang nagkasakit, paano ‘yung mga bata?”