Jaya’s comeback concert marks legacy as daughter Sabriya debuts on stage
Jaya, the Philippines’ Queen of Soul, returns to Manila with a concert that looks both ways—honoring the journey she built over 45 years while welcoming her daughter Sabriya Gotidoc into her own.
On Sept. 8, the singer faced the local press for the first time since returning from the United States, which has been her home for years.
She spoke about Jaya All Hits, a concert happening Sept. 14 at the New Frontier Theater.
“This is memorable for us because my daughter is with me. I’m sharing her journey, and she’s sharing mine. Jaya All Hits is going to be fun and nostalgic. There’s so much I want to share. That is going to be the night,” Jaya said.
Sabriya admitted that being introduced as Jaya’s daughter comes with pressure, but she insisted on standing on her own.
“It gets to me sometimes when people expect me to be like my mom,” she said. “But I’m different, she’s different. At the end of the day, we’re all different. I write my own songs, I perform in my own way.”
Their bond goes beyond sharing the stage, showing two artists shaped by different times.
Jaya recalled the grind of the ’80s and ’90s, when music careers were built on cassette tapes, radio play, and endless live gigs.
“We didn’t have social media back then. We only had cassettes, and we recorded songs off the radio. You had to stay focused or else you’d go hungry,” she said.
“Now, they know how to post, they know how to use platforms. That’s an advantage, but I always remind them to also learn the Filipino and Tagalog classics.”
For Sabriya, the path to music wasn’t always clear. She once planned to go to college and pursue her love for architecture, graphic design, and drawing.
“I was really planning to go to college. I wanted to focus on my studies and was so interested in architecture, graphic design, and drawing. I was ready to do that, but then one night over dinner I suddenly told my mom, ‘I’ll just go.’ It was super random,” she recalled.
That moment shifted her focus, and soon after, she realized music was where her heart truly belonged.
“I was ready to do that, but then I realized I really wanted to get my music out there. I have so much I want to share with people. I write all my material and I produce everything. I really wanted to start here in the Philippines,” she said.
The upcoming show, directed by John Prats and produced by Cornerstone Concerts, will feature Jaya’s greatest hits with special guests Ogie Alcasid, Erik Santos, and Jason Dy.
As the mother-and-daughter duo prepares for the New Frontier stage, Jaya said she feels content and grateful for the long road that brought her here.
“It’s going to be a fun evening. Hopefully, as much as I’m blessed with this show, you’ll be blessed with what you’re going to hear,” she said. “After this, let’s take a look, and let’s see what’s next.”
