Queen of Soul Jaya revealed that she and her family have now migrated to the United States after experiencing hardships in the Philippines during the pandemic.
In an interview with Pep.ph, Jaya shared that she not only had fears but also suffered depression.
During the height of the contagion in the country, her husband Gary also suffered a stroke. Then came the closure of her home network ABS-CBN.
She narrated: “Naramdaman ko lang na nag-focus ako sa isang bagay na hindi ko alam, nalulungkot na pala ako, natatakot, at nadi-depress. I started to lose weight. Hindi ko na-anticipate na hindi na pala ako kumakain nang tama o tamang oras, o nag-one meal a day lang ako. Hindi ko ‘yun napansin. And of course, I have my kids here… wala namang problema.”
“Hindi namin alam na na-stroke na pala ‘yun. So, na-hospital siya, ako rin ang nagbantay, lahat… three days later, gumaling siya. Pero sa likod ng utak ko, parang, ‘Teka… anong nangyayari? Nakakulong tayo, wala tayong work, at may asawa kang nagkasakit, paano ‘yung mga bata?’” added the Queen of Soul.
The only thing that assuaged her fears for her family was their faith. She said: “There was a bit of panic in my head, and the only thing that saved me at that time… because we go to church online. So, talagang nakikinig kami ng service. It started to boil up this different kind of faith na wala kang iba talagang kakapitan. Wala. Wala kang ibang pupuntahan, wala kang ibang gagawin kundi be still. There is only God, be quiet ang pray. Leave it to Him, and that’s what exactly happened,” she said.
Jaya’s husband and stepson were the first one who flew to the US in January. Before she and her children followed, they sold a property in Tarlac.
“You know, God had better plans. He made us sell the property, nagbayad the same day… that was January 5… January 7, they departed.
“They [husband and stepson] were able to find a job 22 hours later and they were able to find a home to rent na ang laki-laki, ang ganda-ganda na parang pwede ba nating bilhin ‘yun someday? Hindi naman binebenta… but you know, He provides,” she said.
