Kuh Ledesma enjoys wearing many hats

KUH is a singer, an actress, a painter and a minister as well.

Singer-actress Kuh Ledesma believes that the Filipino audience is already “mature enough” to handle highly sensitive subject matters such as homosexuality and infidelity on TV.

That is why for Kuh, the latest GMA 7 drama series, “My Husband’s Lover,” is “a good teleserye [because it] informs men and women that things like this happen in real life.”

“People can be very naïve when we get into a relationship. They can learn a lot from this show,” Kuh tells the Inquirer.

The new teleserye is about the love triangle of Vincent (Tom Rodriguez), his wife Lally (Carla Abellana) and his lover Eric (Dennis Trillo).

“I have friends with similar stories. We also know of famous people who are homosexuals yet they marry and appear to be truly happy,” Kuh says. “When I got married, I thought it was because of love. I didn’t know much about it. I only realized [that what I felt for my ex-husband was something else] when I got to know Christ. True love requires sacrifice. We should really try to learn as much as we can about our partners before agreeing to marry them.”

Kuh was married to businessman Luisito Gonzalez. They have a daughter, Isabella, who is also a recording artist.

The singer-actress claims she isn’t dating anyone at the moment. “The problem with married couples is that, when they are faced with difficulties, they try to run away by getting into another relationship—mas lalong nasisira ang buhay,” she says.

In “My Husband’s Lover,” Kuh plays Elaine, Vincent’s super strict mom. For her, no woman is worthy of her beloved son. Here are excerpts from Inquirer’s chat with Kuh.

Did you miss acting?

I got really busy with concerts. I performed abroad; I also did corporate shows. Only in September, I had my first one-woman exhibit of paintings. I also have ministry work. Now, I’m starting to get the hang of acting again. After this, I plan to rest for a few months and then tackle another challenging role.

Do you think you’ll be a strict mother-in-law to Isabella’s future partner?

I don’t think so—’yung tama lang. If Isabella gets to marry a kind husband, then I don’t think I’d need to be strict. He just has to love my daughter, or else magtago na siya. (Laughs.)

Of the many hats you wear, which is your favorite—being a minister, a singer, an actress or a painter?

I get to enjoy all of them. My life has totally changed since I came to know Jesus. I now have a purpose. I used to think being a good singer, earning a lot and having successful concerts were enough to make me happy. But God opened my eyes to the kind of life that allows me to feel this tremendous joy.

I used to always think there’s something lacking in my life so I constantly have to be on the go. There was no satisfaction.

I now wake up feeling refreshed. Now, I simply say tomorrow is another day.

Do you feel fulfilled as a painter?

I am amazed every time I am able to finish a painting. Before I do something, I ask Him to anoint my hands. Before my exhibit, I haven’t painted for over 40 years. I stopped because I got busy studying nursing in college and then I became a singer.

How about as a singer?

I’ve been singing for 35 years. I just have to share that life is so ironic. People become masters of what they do and later on are asked to retire. I don’t want to retire. For as long as I have a place to sing, I will not stop. In church, I can always sing for the Lord.

And as a mom?

It’s probably one of the most difficult roles because sometimes we think we are able to guide our children well but they have their own desires and talents, their own needs and wants, so we clash. We have to be careful in guiding our kids so they will reach their highest potential.

“My Husband’s Lover,” written by Suzette Doctolero and directed by Dominic Zapata, premiered on GMA7’s primetime block last Monday.