The season of love is just around the corner. And what a better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to spend it with someone special.
But for Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma, looking for a new partner is the least of her concerns these days.
"Hindi ako naghahanap (ng special someone). Pag may binigay si Lord, bahala na siya. Hindi ko hinahanap yan," said Kuh, when asked if she was searching for a new partner, during an intimate press conference for her upcoming concert entitled "Hello Love: A Valentine Getaway" with daughter Isabella which will be held at Hacienda Isabella in Indang, Cavite on Feb. 11. (I'm not looking (for a special someone). When the Lord gives something, it's up to Him. I'm not looking for it.)
When asked if she still could still relate to her iconic OPM song 'Til I Met You," Kuh smiled and answered: "I sing it to the Lord! Bakit naman hindi ako makaka-relate, madali akong maka-relate d'yan. I can only think of my exes, the good ones." (Why can't I relate? I can easily relate to that.)
Kuh added: "The joy of the Lord is my strength. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, magbasa na kayo ng Bible. The word of the Lord is alive and active. It's sharper than the double-edged sword. 'Yung promises ng Panginoon, if we say it, it goes to our spirit, and moves. When I'm feeling tired, I just say that. Siguro kung wala akong relationship with our Lord, nag-give up na ako. Tamad na." (Maybe if I didn't have a relationship with our Lord, I would have given up. I'd be lazy.)
"I've always wanted an inspiration in my life. Dati, noong wala akong boyfriend, hindi ako makakanta. Ganyan ang dating. Ngayon wala ng ganun. I have to give glory to the Lord for the talents He has given me," she added. (Before, when I didn't have a boyfriend, I couldn't sing. That's how it used to be. Now there is nothing like that.)
On her daughter Isabella, Kuh said: "She loves singing old songs although she loves pop songs naman. She has a higher voice. She's more of a soprano than alto. Ako alto-soprano. But Isabella has a louder and higher voice."
"Isabella went through something when I got separated (from my husband). Minsan okay siya. She has to overcome the trauma noong nagkagulo kami ng husband ko. She was also taking psychotropic drug. It's not a secret.
"And we share it because I never believed that was the end of it, meaning kapag may mental challenge ang tao, forever na that you will take the psychotropic drug. I don't believe it. Talagang prayers are very powerful. It really works and we have to take it out and we went through a lot because of the adjustment period. She's better now. She needs to get healthier physically," she said.
Kuh revealed that she has not done any music collaboration with her daughter except for a Christmas song when she was younger. "Maybe now. We're talking about it. Nagko-complement naman yung voice namin. We're asking songs from Vehnee Saturno. We respect Vehnee a lot. He's a hitmaker."
Asked about her favorite song she recorded, Kuh said: "One More Try.' It's not a popular song from my album 'I Think I'm In Love.' But I really love that song."
Season of love
Feel the love amid the cool breeze brought about by the ridges and forests of the scenic mountains, as the guests are treated with a sumptuous dinner buffet spread out in an open air garden setting while being serenaded and entertained by the unrivaled and rare appearance of the mother-and-daughter singing tandem.
What makes this unique from the previous mother-and-daughter concerts together?
It's the very idea that both are staging it in “the season of love.”
"Valentine's Day is not only for lovers or romantic love. We will also share songs with different perspectives on love and life. I have gone through so much in relationships… the ups and downs have taught me good experiences and Godly wisdom. My heart is bursting with the desire to share.
"It is also unique because it is unusual for concerts to be celebrated outdoors and almost in the place where we as artists reside. It is intimate because we are truly at home in Hacienda Isabella. Even the people assisting us are dear and close to us—the production people, the waiters, the housekeeping staff, and also our chef," Kuh described it.
For the Pop Diva, she and her daughter chose to perform in a more intimate setting as opposed to more and more artists doing it in arenas and big venues these days.
"This Valentine's season, it will be a welcome respite to have a show far away from all the busy and frenetic city living. Hacienda Isabella’s homey and relaxed atmosphere and cool weather will give the audience a different kind of Valentine's Day experience," she said.
On the other hand, Isabella, described Kuh as someone who gave her the spotlight rather than living under the shadow of a singing icon. To date, the singer-songwriter and recording artist leads worship services from time to time on Sundays at the Hacienda Isabella. She expresses her passion for arts through painting and is currently helping to publish a booklet of prayers called Pray Away written by Rita Marie Abiog.
"Hello Love: A Valentine Getaway" takes pride in its beautiful backdrop with sculpted and well-lit trees, a real moon, and the sprinkled stars lighting up the skies.
After dinner and show, guests can also opt to spend the weekend at Hacienda Isabella's cool and homey ambiance via its luxurious room accommodations.
"The concert is out of town so it would be best for them to stay over. So we want the place to be very comfortable for them, for the people who are coming in. We had a Christmas show three years ago. We had another one a long time ago and it's been successful for us.
"It's very affordable. We don't want to make it hard for people to spend in the Hacienda. We're also developing a theater that can accommodate some 300 people. We will have a launch in April. We will invite our artists where they can practice their gigs," Kuh also said.
Here are the special package rates:
A room for two guests is at P4500 per person, which includes dinner and the concert (premium table), overnight stay, after-concert pica-pica, and breakfast.
Room for three or more people: P3500 per person, which includes dinner and concert, overnight stay, after-concert pica-pica, and breakfast.
If guests opt for dinner and concert only, it's at P2000.
Dinner is at 6:30 pm and the show starts at 8pm.
For more information, please call +639202868895 or +639178139065.