Karylle's journey to rediscovery

MANILA, Philippines - Ahh, to be single and fancy-free again! Karylle is learning more things, discovering the meaning of self-reliance again and enjoying every minute of being on her own once more.

The big break-up (with Dingdong Dantes) may have left a huge mark on her. But the cracks are not showing at all.

Today, Karylle can say with head held high, chin up, “I’m doing things my way.” And how!

Now, she doesn’t need a man’s stamp of approval to help her decide on things — small and big. She can do whatever her heart desires, not stopping to get the green light from her man.

Figures why Karylle admits she’s not ready to let a new man into her life. Perhaps she’ll be ready soon, she muses. But her heart is divided.

“One time I feel like I’m ready. And then I feel I’m not,” she says.

Karylle would rather bond with high school friends from Poveda (Class ‘98) and lead fund-raising efforts for their favorite charities, the White Cross orphanage and Makabata Foundation.

“We have raised money and gotten donations like notebooks, Barbie dolls worth P30,000 and others,” Karylle reveals.

So bent is she in sharing what she has. Karylle even sent an SMS to Bench boss Ben Chan to ask for a donation.

Like a typical Atenean (she finished a course in Communication Technology), Karylle said a little prayer before sending her message of help (those who want to pitch in may call 721-2779).

It worked. The Bench boss donated a sizable amount of money. So did Dr. Vicki Belo and Blue Water Day Spa.

Away from the charity work at the orphanage and work (A.S.A.P. ‘09, and soon, Maruja the teledrama), Karylle rewards herself by going to the spa for a massage at least once a week.

“When I have breaks during tapings, I leave for an hour and go the spa,” she reveals.

Her spa of choice is Blue Water, where she pampers herself at its Ortigas branch by getting a full body scrub.

Bonding with friends at the 30-seating capacity Spa Theater where they can have a massage while watching their favorite movie also does wonders of Karylle’s stressed out feelings.

“My rejuvenating activities — spiritual healing and the spa — are related,” she notes.

And because she believes in a sound mind and a sound body, Karylle is also into Pilates and jogging.

No wonder she can focus on another love: Composing songs. Karylle has come up with three new compositions in her new PolyEast album, Time for Letting Go, namely Minamahal Kita, Hulog ng Langit and Nawala na Ba ang Lahat.

Yes, all of them are heartbreak songs. Even the remakes, Touch Me in the Morning and Almost Over You have pain written all over them.

Are they cathartic?

Karylle again flashes her mysterious smile. Yes, your guess is as good as mine.

“I’ve collaborated with Pipo Lina (former Sen. Joey Lina) and Jericho Rosales for some of the songs,” is all she wants to say.

But if you hear her next words, “I haven’t seen Christian Bautista lately,” and “It’s unfair to use love or a new guy so people will stop asking me about Dingdong,” you will arrive at only one thing.

Karylle is happily single, thank you. And she’s not complaining. After all, she’s rediscovering her strengths, exploring new horizons.

It’s a brave new world for Karylle. And she can’t have enough of it, for now.