Year 2008 has been good for singer Jed Madela's career.
Sa pagsisimula pa lang ng taon ay nakalinya na ang mga trabaho ng mahusay na singer. Pero sa kabila nito ay hindi pa rin mamatay-matay ang mga blind items obviously referring to Jed. The never-ending gender issue—sa kabila ng ilang ulit ng pagbibigay linaw ng singer—ay ayaw tantanan ng tabloids at patuloy pa ring pinag-uusapan.
Sa pakikipag-usap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kay Jed noong Linggo, January 11, sa ASAP '09, hindi niya itinanggi na sa mga unang taon niya sa showbiz ay naapektuhan siya sa nasabing gender issue, lalo't naapektuhan din nito ang kanyang pamilya.
"At first, galit na galit ang pamilya ko, my mom and my dad. ‘Ano ba sila? Di ka naman nila kilala, hinuhusgahan ka nila dahil lang sa hitsura o sa sabi-sabi?' In-explain ko naman sa kanila na, oo, masakit na napapagsabihan ka ng di totoo, but it's part of the business. We all have to loosen up, and just go with the flow.
"I know it will never die," patuloy niya. "Pag wala silang masabi sa ‘yo, hahalungkatin na naman nila yung mga lumang issues na ‘yan. Hindi naman sa namamanhid na ako, but I learned how to deal with it kasi you don't have the way out of it. Yung iba, may maisulat o may maikuwento lang. Ganun, e.
"When people ask me, ‘Ano itong naririnig namin? Ano itong nababasa namin?' Sabi ko, ‘It's an old issue, hayaan na ninyo ‘yan.' That's part of the business, that issue is always part of the business. Karamihan ng mga male celebrities and singers, dumaan sa issue na ‘yan."
Hindi rin daw solusyon ang pagkakaroon ng girlfriend para matigil na ang isyung ito tungkol kay Jed.
"I don't have to pressure myself na magkaroon lang ng girlfriend para lang sa issue na ‘yan," sabi niya. "Pag nagkaroon ako ng girlfriend, iisipin ng iba, ‘A, nag-girlfriend lang ‘yan kasi may issue na gay siya, ginawa niya ‘yan para pagtakpan.' It doesn't affect my decision in life. It's more of trying to do something about it.
"If people think I'm like that because of the way I talk, or how I look, I'll look at myself and ask, ‘Bakit kaya? Siguro masyadong mahinhin yung mukha ko o masyadong malumanay akong magsalita. Siguro I should do something about it, for the better."
Open naman si Jed to go out on dates. Right now, he's open to a relationship but he's not in a rush.
"Nung 2008 mayroon naman ako, dates, I go out. But I was able to keep it private. One thing I want to keep private, my family and my personal life. It's my personal choice. Ako, I just go along with it. Pag may dumating, ipapapakilala sa akin. If it works, sige; pag hindi, at least I gain friends.
"Saka di naman kasi ako nagmamadali, di ako naghahanap. I don't look for it kasi minsan, if you're looking for it, madalas mali yung nahahanap mo. Kusa naman yung darating pag naghihintay ka lang. Parang niluluto mo ‘yan. Pag minadali mo, minsan mali, minsan sunog, minsan hilaw."
ON RACHELLE ANN GO. Naging open before si Jed sa admiration sa kasamahan niya sa ASAP na si Rachelle Ann Go. Pinagtatakhan ng karamihan na tsansa na sana noon ni Jed na ligawan ang singer, pero pinalagpas niya ang pagkakataon at ngayon ay balitang sina Rachelle Ann at Gab Valenciano na.
"By choice ko and choice ni Rachelle na we enjoy our friendship," paliwanag ni Jed. "Mas close kami ngayon, mas nag-o-open up kami sa isa't isa. Pag may problema ako nag-o-open ako sa kanya; pag may problema siya, nag-o-open siya sa akin
"It's a choice na huwag na lang naming ibahin yung set-up. Mas okey kami ngayon, we're contented on the friendship that we have right now. Ang importante, the foundation of our friendship is sobrang strong. But if it's going further, why not? Kung hindi, magkaibigan kami ni Rachelle.
"I see that Gab and Rachelle are hapy together and as a friend, I really prioritize the happiness of a friend. Pag nakita kong masaya na yung kaibigan ko, masaya na ako."
LOSING WEIGHT. Jed is also losing weight and he's focused on continuing his weight loss. Hindi rin magmukhang macho para matigil na ang gender issue sa kanya ang rason ng pagpapayat ni Jed, but more on image and health reasons.
"Showbiz is image, importante yun sa atin. Other reason is health. Bago ako magbakasyon, halos lahat ine-expect na tataba ako because of the holiday. Pero pagbalik ko dito, I didn't gain weight, but I lost a lot.
"Before, napipikon ako pag sinasabing ang taba-taba ko. It's a personal thing na parang personal para sa 'yo, pero totoo, e. That makes me decide na I have to do something about it, kaya itutuluy-tuloy ko na ang pagpapayat."
With all his showbiz commitments and work, 2009 will definitely be another good year for Jed.
"Sobra akong nae-excite for 2009 kasi towards the end of 2008 pa lang, ang dami ko nang natatanggap na mga offers, ng mga projects for 2009. As of now, first quarter of 2009 sobrang puno na ako, not just concerts here pati abroad. I'm going to the States and Europe. I'm also coming out with a new album this coming February under Universal Records—Jed Madela, Songs Rediscovered 2, The Ultimate OPM Playlist. I'm also preparing for a very big concert towards the end of the year, so busy talaga," pagwawakas ni Jed.