Jaya and her reconciliation with Daddy Ray
Published On: September 15, 2014, 04:24 PM
Updated On: April 12, 2020, 07:15 PM
By MARY LOUISE LIGUNAS
PHOTO BY BOCHIC ESTRADA, GMANetwork.com
Maria Luisa Ramsey, better known as Jaya, wears many hats – that of a singer, dancer, actress, producer and many more. On her guesting in Basta Every Day Happy, she shared the ones that she holds the most dearly to her heart.
Daughter
Jaya was a young girl when her parents separated. As she stayed with her mom, she didn’t know much about her father Ray Kagahastia. “[Noong 1980], nagkita kami patago. After nun, mga siguro 22 ako, nagkatawagan kami sa phone. Then nung nagkita kami in 1998, hindi pa ako handa. Talagang ang tagal,” she said.
That meeting over a decade ago led Jaya to pray about her relationship with her dad. From then on, things only took a turn for the better. “I prayed about it. [Si] God, pinalambot niya rin 'yung puso ko. Pinaintindi niya sa ‘kin na ang magulang ay magulang,” she added.
In December 2013, Jaya met with him and reestablished the connection that was once cut. “Tinanong ko kailan ba ko pinanganak, ano ba nangyari, 'Ikaw ba talaga ama ko,' lahat. By May, pinagkita kami ulit ng Panginoon sa Canada. From Edomonton, Alberta, where he is from, to where I was in Vancouver, that was a 13-hour drive, he drove… 'Yun 'yung the most I will treasure and probably never let go again,” the singer shared.
Celebrity
As she was growing up, watching her mom Elizabeth Ramsey perform created a spark in Jaya that she couldn’t ignore. It didn’t take long before she also became an artist and performer herself.
“[Noong] 1980 pa lang, nagtatrabaho na ako as a dancer. I was 10. The singing [started] at 12. [Sa] mga shows [‘to] ni Mama, mga opening act, ganyan. This year, she celebrates her 25th year in the industry that she loves and respects, and loves and respects her in return.
Family woman
Her biggest achievement is not in the dozens of awards she has garnered, but rather the loving family she has helped build with husband Gary Gotidoc. Her partner in crime helps her raise their two children – eight-year-old Sab and five-year-old Dylan.
For the award-winning celebrity, she finds happiness in the simplest things. “Wake up at 6, gisingin 'yung dalawang anak ko, ayusan, paliguan… Most of the time, laba, linis,” she narrated.
At this point in her life, with her complete family and recent reconnection with her father, she considers herself happy and most blessed. “Yun talaga 'yung importante: 'yung ma-complete 'yung buhay mo, 'yung puso mo, 'yung paniniwala mo…” she declared.