Isabella: Moving out of mom Kuh's shadow

The trouble with having an iconic mom who casts such a huge shadow is that when her child follows in her footsteps, he or she has to work harder than other aspirants first to move out of the parent’s shadow before she can make a name of her own.

Case in point: Isabella Gonzalez, only daughter of Kuh Ledesma.

Isabella has guested in some shows, some those of her mom, and in other singers’ albums, and it’s the first time that she has come up with her solo debut album, aptly titled iDENTitY, which is distributed by Viva Records and produced by Bravo Records (with the support of Music Museum Group and Mossimo Music).

The carrier single, a cover of the REO Speedwagon hit Can’t Fight This Feeling (Isabella’s version was arranged by Moy Ortiz of The CompanY), will have its premier airplay from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. today on radio stations Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, 89.9 DWTM, 99.5 RT and 103.5 Max FM.

Why is the title spelled that way (small letter “I,” DENT in capital letters, “it” also in small letters and “Y” in capital letter)?

“Simply because with this album,” Isabella told Funfare, “I hope to make a ‘dent’ or an impact in the industry. That’s why I call the album iDENTitY.”

An identity away from that of her mom?

“It’s not originally for that reason but the fact that I am searching for my musical identity. I know who I am as a person but I’m searching for who I am as an artist. I’m trying two different genres, two musical styles, how to best express myself as an artist and not necessarily away from my mother’s image. I want to create my own image.”

Aside from the carrier single (melody by Kevin Ronan), the album carries 12 songs: Believe (lyrics by Isabella herself, music by Radha), Divine Reminder (music and lyrics by Isabella, remixed by John Paul Zaragoza), I’ve Been Searching (lyrics and melody by Isabella, music by Keith Eric Martin), I Know Someone (lyrics and music by Martin), Dance In Your Light (lyrics and music by Louie Gonzalez), Take Me By The Hand (lyrics by Isabella, music by Isabella and Martin), Fatherless Child (music and lyrics by Isabella), Care and Give (lyrics by Martin and Mark Julius Dollentes, music by Martin), More Than Conquerors (lyrics and music by Isabella), The Darkness Flees (From The Light) with lyrics and melody by Isabella and music by Martin, Overcome (lyrics and melody by Isabella, music by Martin) and Soulmate (lyrics and melody by Natasha Beddingfield who is the original singer).

What, no cover of any of her mom’s hits, maybe Dito Ba? (the George Canseco composition that catapuled Kuh to stardom)?

“That would come later.”

Asked what inspires her to write songs, Isabella said it’s love.

“My love to encourage people when they are down. I guess I write songs as if they are prayers, straight from my heart. To tell you frankly,” added Isabella who refused to say how old she is and only said that she’s “a little older than 18,” “I’ve never had a boyfriend yet.”

By choice or order ng mommy?

Laughed Isabella, “By choice. I’m saving myself for whoever God is preparing the one best suited for me.”

What qualities would she ask God to endow her future boyfriend with?

“Well, No. 1 must be that he should be passionate for the Lord. He has to put the Lord above all things. Someone I am physically attracted to as well. He must have common interests as I have. But I’m leaving that to the Lord. I trust the Lord to write my love story for me.”

Like Kuh, Isabella’s got that Christian spirit up in her head, deep in her heart, all over her being.

“That’s why my songs are like prayer.”

What pointers does she get from her mom?

“She’s my mentor and my greatest supporter. I think the most important reminder she has given me is to tell the story of the songs. Sometimes I can be harsh especially since I write songs straight from my heart. I feel a total ownership of my songs. As a singer, I have to bring out the message of the songs and put the right feelings into them. Even if I’m the one who writes my songs, my mom helps me a lot in making the songs come alive.”

Isabella and Kuh have gone through the biggest trial in their lives when Isabella’s dad, Louie Gonzalez, was accused of murder (but was later acquitted).

“My personal experience does influence the feelings that I put into my songs. I wrote Fatherless Child for me and my dad.”

Although each of the songs has a message of its own, having been written at different points in her life, the prevailing theme is believing in one’s self.

“I wrote a song for my cousin while I was in the States. I was trying to reach out to her, trying to tell her that there’s more to life…because she never knew her father. I was trying to make her realize that even though she never knew her father, there are other things in life to look forward to.”

The song Dance In Your Light was written by Isabella’s dad when he was going through a life-changing experience.

“That was when he found hope in the Lord. My dad inspired me to write songs. As a kid, I would listen to him play the piano and then I would play with him. Everytime I write a song I think of him.”

The song Overcome she wrote for her mom.

“It speaks of how we survived the biggest crisis in our lives,” said Isabella. 

*   *  *

Fond farewell for Charlie

“Any day now, he could go.”

Barely 48 hours after Ricky Davao quoted doctors at the Philippine General Hospital, his father, Charlie Davao, succumbed to colon cancer at PGH where he had been confined for two weeks. He would have turned 76 on Oct. 7.

Funfare talked to Ricky last Friday night after the mass for Charlie at the hospital’s function room where a salu-salo was held afterward. Charlie was there on his bed, too weak to get up, fed through the nose, a shadow of his macho self during his Sampaguita days where he established his name as a fine kontrabida.

“His blood pressure was down to 80/50,” added Ricky, “but when he learned that his colleagues were holding their regular Balik-Samahan reunion at the hospital, his BP shot up to 110/70. He was very happy to see them there.”

Them included Susan Roces, Edu Manzano, Eddie Gutierrez and wife Annabelle Rama, Marita Zobel, Gloria Sevilla, Pempe Rodrigo, Anita Linda, Amparo Lucas, Sarah Calvin, Delia Razon, Minda Morena, Carlos Lopez (husband of Pilita Corrales), Bibsy Carballo, Behn Cervantes, Rodriguez brothers Ramil and Pepito, Perla Bautista, Chuchi de Vega, Jo San Diego, Liberty Ilagan and Tirso Cruz III who brought a guitar in case there would be some singing during the dinner.

Last Saturday, Robert Arevalo and wife Barbara Perez visited Charlie at PGH. They were the last colleagues to see Charlie before he died early yesterday morning.

Eddie Garcia, another actor built up by Sampaguita, talked to Charlie on the phone late Saturday afternnon.

“Tuwang-tuwa daw si Daddy,” said Ricky who flew to Cebu Saturday morning but had to rush back to Manila when he was told that his dad might go any minute.

Charlie was diagnosed with colon cancer in December last year and was given three months to live.

“My dad lived for five more months.”

Aside from Ricky, surviving Charlie are Ricky’s brother Bing and sister Mariella, Charlie’s children with his late first wife, Emma Marie Abiera (who was a Spanish professor at St. Theresa’s College and another school); and Mai-Mai and Charlon, Charlie’s children with Grace Iñigo, one-time Miss Philippines runner-up and sister of Cecile “Dabiana” Iñigo.

Charlie’s remains lie at The Heritage in Taguig City. Interment date will be announced soon.

What ‘important’announcement’ will Willie make today?

Willie Revillame (photo) will make an “important announcement’ at a lunch presscon today at a Quezon City restaurant.

Funfare is not at liberty to reveal what it is, but according to DPAs (Deep Penetration Agents), the “important announcement” could send “shock waves” in the TV industry and might lead to lawsuits (not specified).

Three guesses: 1). Will Willie go back to ABS-CBN?, 2). Will Willie cut his ties with ABS-CBN?, and 3). Will Willie announce that he’s moving to another network?

“Willie will be with his lawyers,” said the DPAs. “The announcement is that important and that sensitive.”

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