Mother Lily to Marian Rivera: ‘Tell the truth’+Erik Santos’ collection

The heavy downpour last Saturday did not dampen the spirit of the fans of Erik Santos who braved the rains and the specter of flooding in the metropolis. The admirers of the balladeer wouldn’t want to miss the launch of their idol’s newest album titled “The Erik Santos Collection: Timeless Movie and TV Theme songs” from Star Records.

Erik’s fans came in full force to witness a mini concert where the grand prize winner of ABS-CBN’s Star in a Million search serenaded the captured audience by singing choice cuts from his brand new two-disc album which contains 30 cuts, a definite treasure of fine music for a minimal cost. The album’s release also coincides with Erik’s celebration of his tenth year anniversary in the music business.

“I am very grateful to ABS-CBN and to my Star Records family for giving me this chance to record some of the most well-loved movie theme songs,” added Erik who is marking a milestone in his career as a singer. And part of the celebration of his tenth year in the business is a big concert to be held sometime in November. Right now, his management outfit (Cornerstone) is making the necessary preparation to make sure Erik’s concert in November is worth the wait. The concert will trace Erik’s beginning as a singer until he reaches the pinnacle of success.

How does it feel celebrating ten years in the music industry? “I am so grateful to have reached this milestone and I am very thankful to all the people who helped me reach this stature in the music industry. Of course, I’d like to thank my family for supporting my dream to become a singer. I’d also would like to express my gratitude to Kuya Boy Abunda who discovered me and to Backroom (his former management outfit), to ABS-CBN, to Star Magic for giving me the break, plus of course to Cornerstone Management which had been handling me since last year,” said Erik.

What song will best describe Erik’s ten years in the music scene? “There are two songs, “I Believe I Could Fly” and “This Is the Moment” because there were songs that gave my singing career an impact. The people remember me for these two songs,” he said.

Erik added he loves singing so much. “Music is my passion. I guess even if I am already old and grey, as long as the fans still want me to sing, I’d still perform for all of them.”

The songs featured in his album include  Pagbigyang Muli, Kulang Ako Kung Wala Ka, Sana Ikaw and I Will Never Leave You from unforgettable drama shows like “Maria La Del Barrio,” “My Binondo Girl,” “Guns & Roses,” and “Green Rose.”

The singer’s foray into movie soundtracks is represented with tracks like “I’ll Never Go,” “If You Asked Me To,” “You Are My Song” from the movies “One More Chance,” “Unofficially Yours,” “A Moment in Time” and “Noy.”

Erik is holding another free show on July 5 to be held at Lucky Chinatown Plaza as part of the album’s promo blitz.

Despite having reached a milestone in celebrating his tenth year as a singer, Erik is dreaming to become a music icon like his idols Basil Valdez, Martin Nievera, and Gary Valenciano.

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We all thought that all is well between Marian Rivera and producer Mother Lily Monteverde after they met at the presscon of “My Lady Boss” where Marian apologized to the Regal matriarch for their misunderstanding over a botched film project that was intended for the Metro Manila Film Festival this December.

But it seems the issue is far from being resolved as far as Mother Lily is concerned even if she and Marian had supposedly kissed and made up at the “My Lady Boss” presscon last week. Mother Lily sent out to the press a letter that points to Marian as the reason why the Regal filmfest entry did not push through.

Mother Lily’s letter reads: “This is my message to my beloved entertainment writers who have supported Regal for so long. Marian Rivera is my contract star. I treat her like my own daughter.

What she wants, she gets. In fact, I always give way every time. I always ask GMA7 to co-produce with us just to show my support for her.

As an independent producer, even when I want to produce a movie myself, I go for a joint venture with GMA because Marian is a GMA star. I want her to have good box-office receipts.

And we can only achieve that with the network’s push. Marian has three film projects left with her Regal contract. Hindi matapus-tapos because she is busy with her TV shows.

To tell you honestly, masyado akong nasaktan sa nangyaring ito sa Metro Manila Film Fest. This is the first time in years na walang solo entry ang Regal sa MMFF. Kahit ang entertainment press, they have been calling and asking me: Why? So, I thought, must I tell a lie… again?

I don’t want to pretend anymore. Should I keep protecting my stars? Ano ba ang magiging kalagayan namin, ng Regal, kung ganun? I am a cancer patient, so, I want to have peace of mind. I want to justify my conscience, what have I done wrong? I don’t know, but God may call me anytime, so, I want to go in peace naman.

And so, I might as well reveal the things that happened between me and Marian Rivera. For the record, I have nothing against her management team, Triple A, or its head, my long time best friend Tony Tuviera. I have so much love and respect for Tony.

But this is what really happened. Three weeks ago, I called Triple A’s Rams David and told him we have an offer for Marian to do an MMFF entry with Judy Ann Santos.

Matagal bago kami nakakuha ng appointment kay Rams. Rams, my daughter Roselle, and I had a meeting, 9 a.m., at Starbucks in Greenhills two weeks after my first call. We talked and laid out Regal’s plans. That time, Marian was in the US. Rams told me he will get back to me. He never did.        

 So, I called him a week after and asked what our status was. According to Rams, and I quote: ‘Gusto ni Marian ng solo movie.’ In fairness to Juday and Tito Alfie Lorenzo, they never turned me down.

Juday said she wants to read the script first. Na tama lang naman. Ready naman ang script namin. But Marian didn’t want to do it. Why? Because she wants a solo movie. Marian breached her Regal contract twice. First, when she shot for this movie, My Lady Boss, without Regal’s knowledge.

Nakapag-first shooting day na sila nung malaman namin. So, out of pakikisama, Regal decided to just co-produce this movie with GMA Films. Sinasabi ni Marian na pinagbigyan pa nila ako because I requested that they don’t field Kung Fu Divas in the MMFF? Hindi ako nag-request. Ipinatigil ko because she did that movie with AiAi delas Alas without Regal’s consent. Maging totoo lang sana tayo.

Marian, you should tell the truth. You breached your contract with Regal two times. I really feel sad.  Hindi ako galit. Ayaw ko lang na ako pa ang lumalabas na sinungaling. I just don’t want to lie and keep my star’s image clean… at Regal’s expense. We must be true to ourselves and talk about truth here.’Yun lang po. Salamat po!” 

We hope that Mother Lily’s taking Marian to task won’t affect the fate of “My Lady Boss” at the box-office.