Former actress in dire need

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

Lyka Ugarte was interviewed by Raymond Gutierrez in "Showbiz Central" about her fourth and most recent suicide attempt by taking various kinds of sleeping pills. This is GMA7's way of helping her since financial trouble is one of the reasons that prompted her to end her life.
She hasn't paid the rent for their apartment for six months and when she was confined at Makati Medical Center, the check she issued them didn't have enough funds. Lyka was given a talent fee for her interview not only in "Showbiz Central" but also in "Startalk". She has resorted to selling their household appliances but, as fate would have it, they were affected by the recent floods and their appliances were damaged. She also got depressed when a Pagcor employee sexually harassed her and her partner of two years dumped her. Lyka was last seen in a villain role in ABS-CBN's "Pieta."

SURVIVOR CAST-OFF INFANTICI- PATING

ALSO interviewed in "Showbiz Central" was Survivor Palau's latest cast-off, the outspoken Tara Macias, who was ousted along with Echo Caceres last Friday. She admitted in the Don't Lie to Me portion that she's three months pregnant, courtesy of her non-showbiz boyfriend. So what happens now to her dream of joining showbiz when she's infanticipating?

ERIK GOES INTERNATIONAL

HOW does Erik Santos feel about ex-GF Rufa Mae Quinto's admittance that she's now engaged to her non-showbiz Pampangueño boyfriend and they'll get married next year? "I'm happy for her," he says. "We remain friends naman. Kung sinuman ang guy na 'yun, sana maging maligaya silang dalawa. I wish them well and if she'd invite me to sing in their wedding, I'd be more than willing to do that."

Erik is embarking on an international career. Star Records is releasing his world-class album "Erik Santos: The Jim Brickman Songbook" in eight Asian countries: Singapore, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam. "I'm so excited kasi dream ko talaga to reach other countries. I'm praying tanggapin sana ng foreign audiences ang songs ko. I'll start with Singapore on November 14, followed by Malaysia on November 23, then I go to Japan the next day then return to Singapore for a show on November 29 to be attended by a crowd of about 3,000. But on November 21, I will have a concert here with Bossa Diva Sitti Navarro at Aliw Theater."

His new album, which is turning gold soon, is a unique one as it offers the original piano score and lyrics sheet plus six songs from the album in SD Card format. "With the SD Card format, you can take my songs anywhere easily kasi puede itong ilagay right in your pocket. You can listen to my songs on your phones without needing to download them."

For us, the best cuts in the album are "The Gift," "Valentine," "Destiny," "Love of My Life," "Your Love" and "By Heart." Aside from his album's international release, Erik is also happy that he's finally graduating from college this coming March, which is mainly the reason why he has no lovelife for two years. "I was busy with my studies and my singing career, talagang there's just no time for love affairs. Now that I'm about to finish college, siguro I'll have more free time to attend to my personal life."

For updates on Erik and other Star Records artists, log on to www. starrecords. ph or starrecordsph. multiply. com.

ECHO DENIES GIRLS LINKED TO HIM

Jericho Rosales also just launched his first solo album with Star Records, "Change," with 14 cuts that will please acoustic fans. Echo says his original dream was really to be a singer and not an actor. "But when I'd sing then, they'd tell me, umarte ka na lang," he recalls. "So nag-artista na nga ako. But I never lost my hope to sing one day, which is the reason why I stopped acting for a while to focus on my singing with my band. Kaya lang, parang people don't want to accept me as a band member kaya, heto, I'm glad Star Records gave me the chance to be a solo artist."

Is it true he'd be working anew with ex-GF Heart Evangelista in Regal's "Mano Po 6"? "Not sure yet. But even if I'd be in the movie, I don't think we would meet as I'd be cast daw in the past while she's in the present."

How did he feel when Heart went steady with a non-showbiz guy after him? "I wasn't hurt, alam ko na namang she's dating again. I just pray for her that she'll meet the right guy. As for me, I'm happy being single. All rumors linking me to Cristine Reyes or Karylle or Carmen Soo, are not true.

"They're all gorgeous but I feel kasi na both love and career require much of your time at mahirap talagang pagsabayin ang dalawa. One would suffer at mahirap i-balance.

"Next time tumibok uli ang puso ko, I will ask the Lord to help me discern and I'll follow the signals I'll get from Him. Sa ngayon, I'm glad nakabawi ako with a hit show like 'Dahil May Isang Ikaw' and my 'Change' album. It's also a blessing that the soap I did in Malaysia,'Kahit Isang Saglit', is now nominated as best telenovela in the Emmy Awards. I'm so proud of it. Sana nga, mabigyan ako ng chance to attend the awards night in New York in November so I can experience attending an international awards night."

Source: People's Journal