Ericka: Hard to say goodbye

Many were surprised when Karla Estrada bravely and gamely showed up onstage during the blind audition for The Voice of the Philippines. She performed her cover of the 1992 hit song What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes. However, no one among Lea Salonga, apl.de.ap, Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo turned their chairs around to face her so she failed to advance to the next round.

If she was lucky in the blind audition, Karla would have wanted to be part of Lea’s team. “Kasi siya iyong kinalakihan ko. Meron akong sariling techniques but gusto kong maturuan niya ako ng iba pang technical aspect sa pagkanta,” she explained.

Karla told The Buzz that she didn’t inform her son Daniel Padilla about her plan of joining The Voice of the Philippines because he would surely stop her. “Sasabihin niya, ‘Ma, ano ba iyan, bored ka ba?’ Hindi ko na sinabi, dire-diretso lang ako. Kasi unang-una, siya iyong mas kakabahan. Ayaw niya ako na napapahiya or malungkot,” she said.

Although her journey to the next level of the competition abruptly ended, Karla didn’t regret participating in the blind audition. “Siyempre noong sumali ako, nasa isip ko na talaga na kung saan lang ako pwede. Ang gusto ko lang ma-experience ko talaga.”

She chortled, “Tanggap ko na walang umikot kasi alam ko naman na magiging balakid ako sa voting. Aminin na natin ito, kahit siguro pumiyok ako or makalimutan ko ang lyrics, bobongga ang voting ko. It’s so unfair. Totoo lang naman, huwag na tayong chumika. Hindi naman kasi ako pababayaan ng KathNiel fans.”

In a separate interview, Daniel admitted that he was shocked when he saw his mother singing onstage. “Nagulat ako. Siyempre bakit siya nandoon, di ba?”

He added, “Masaya dahil dream niya na sumali sa mga ganoong contests. I was shocked but at the same time, happy because that was also what she wanted.”

James Reid: Break-up made me grow up

It is never easy to say goodbye. Ericka Villongco recently opened up about her break-up with James Reid. They were together for three years.

Ericka is now slowly making a name for herself in showbiz. She is part of the singing siblings Krissy and Ericka. She is also a cast member of the movie Relaks, It’s Just Pag-ibig starring Iñigo Pascual, Sofia Andres and Julian Estrada.

In the presscon for the movie, Ericka revealed that she and James separated March of this year. She didn’t give other details about the reason of their break-up but she admitted it was a bad one.

James confirmed this when The Buzz cornered him during a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. “Kinda bad. Break-ups are always bad,” he said. Will they ever be friends again? “I always intend for us to be friends again,” said James adding that he doesn’t hate Ericka.

Did he regret that their relationship didn’t work out? “No, because if I had not done it, I wouldn’t be what I am now. Being on my own, I was able to grow. That’s what I needed, focus on my work, take it seriously. If I had not done it, I wouldn’t be where I am now. No regrets!” James is also grateful to Ericka because she doesn’t say anything unpleasant about him.

James stressed that Nadine Lustre has nothing to do with the break-up. “Nadine was never an issue.” Their loveteam holds a strong fan base after appearing in the hit movies Diary ng Panget and Talk Back and You’re Dead. They were recently seen on the small screen via My App Boyfie series.

Meanwhile, Ericka is being accused of using James to advance her showbiz career. My take is, Ericka was asked about James, she gave an honest answer and if it appears James is being used, then that’s the “collateral advantage.”

Why Jewel is willing to wait

Jewel Mische and her American fiancé Alister Curzer will soon tie the knot in Michigan. They have been dating for two years. In a previous interview in The Buzz, Jewel revealed that they’re saving their first kiss for their altar date. “We believe everything starts with kissing. It’s the doorway to physical intimacy. If we can wait to kiss, then let’s wait.” The couple is also refraining from having pre-marital sex.

In another interview, Jewel said they would be traveling after their wedding. “We talked about that already. We don’t want to have kids right now, not yet. Maybe mga two or three years (pa).”

The actress is close to Alister’s family. “I stayed there for six months and invested time with his family and friends. I love them so much and they love me so much. I am very much accepted, very much cherished and acknowledged.”

Jewel doesn’t know if she will continue pursuing her showbiz career after she gets married although she added, “But you know, an actor will always be an actor. That’s what I say.”