Jessa, was tagged the Phenomenal Diva after her song “Bakit Pa”, became a monster hit in 1998 and was turned into a full length movie. This was followed by other hit songs like “Di Ba’t Ikaw” (which was turned into a TV series), “Ibigay Mo Na”, “Siya Ba ang Dahilan” and “Kung Kailan Pa”. She and Dingdong lived in the States for a while but they decided to comeback here and Jessa has been part of the hit and acclaimed GMA sitcom, “Pepito Manaloto”, for three years now.
“But deep within me, kahit I love acting, I know na I’m a singer first,” she says. “So now, heto I will stage a major solo concert on January 15 at Music Museum, ‘I Am Me’, in time for my birthday on January 31. Noon pa ko pinu-push ni Dingdong na mag-concert but I felt I wasn’t ready kasi nagbago ang boses ko due to acid reflux. Naging raspy. May concert din ako noon pero hindi natuloy due to esophagitis. Nagkaroon ng sugat ang esophagus ko dahil sa acid at kailangang i-heal muna. Iyak ako ng iyak noon, pray ng pray kay Lord kasi my voice is a gift from Him at sabi ko, I don’t want to lose this gift. Paano kundi na ko makakanta uli? Pero sa awa ng Diyos, gumaling naman. Pareho kami ng doctor ni Regine Velasquez. Now, I have a voice coach to prepare for my concert. I will be singing all my hit songs, plus songs from my past albums sa OctoArts at Star Music na hindi nag-hit but are really worth listening to again. Also songs of other artists that helped mold into what I am today, like Whitney Houston and Toni Braxton.”
The special guest in her concert is her daughter Jayda, with Elmer Blancaflor as musical director and her own husband Dingdong as overall stage director. “Meron ding surprise guests,” Jessa adds.
Next year, Jessa is also releasing a new album. Daughter Jayda will also open the concert of the Vamps on January 30 at the MOA while Dingdong will re-stage his own “Hitback” concert and take it on tour. They’ve been married for 15 years now. What’s the secret of the their durable marital relationship? “Dahil he’s older than me, mas matiisin at pasensiyoso ang mister ko,” says Jessa.
