MikeLigalig.com

By Loy Palapos

Music throbs triumphant in her family. Her father, Leoncio, “Along” Caseñas Gulle, Sr., is a composer, an arranger, and an instrumentalist, at his best with the saxophone. Awarded one of the Most Outstanding Jagnaanons, he composed the Jagna Hymn, and is a total entertainer when he performs with his children. He was a Head Teacher, who later worked with the Bureau of Customs in Negros Occidental and Cebu, and then back as an instructor at BIT. Her mother, Elisa Cagulada-Gulle, shares her passion for culture and the arts, especially music, and she retired as a mentor at the Jagna Central Elementary School.

Her sister, Louella “Baby” Gulle-Bantol, is a Medical Technologist by profession (SWU), and is a singer and dancer in her own right. She owns and manages V and L Rock Aggregates and Konstruction Services (V and L Raks), and is married to Engr. Victor J. Bantol (also a gifted singer and guitarist), the President and Resident Manager of Bohol Limestone Corporation.

Eva’s other sister, Gilda “Inday” Gulle-Richdale, a BSC-Management graduate (gifted with terpsichorean and vocal excellence), now resides in Vancouver, Canada as Executive Assistant to the Vice President of BC Tel (British Columbia Telecommunications Company), with her husband, Douglas Richdale, Vice President of Gulfshores Resources, Inc. Their only brother is the youngest, Leoncio “Junjun” Gulle, Jr., now managing V and L Raks in Jagna, and is married to Marishel Jamora, both lead singers of the Infinite Band.

Eva is married to Ruben David de los Santos, an American of Spanish-Filipino descent. They own and manage LOKAL, a T-Shirt company based in Cebu. Their four children are all advocates of music and the performing arts: Carlos, Kristina Monique, OJ (Orencio James Virgil), and Patricia Ana.

Monique, at 18, has the artistic talents of her mother. She used to study at the Cebu International School. She performs every Saturday in Café Lupe (Tagaytay) and every Thursday in Parañaque. Chosen one of the Palmolive Girls, she also won the National Search for VJ of Studio 23. She sang the Nescafe jingle in one of its commercials on TV and radio. She’s Monique Rae when she is singing. Her first album is now in the making, with most of the songs composed by her Mom, Bohol’s Diva, Eva Santos.

She first saw the light of day in Tejero, Jagna on October 1, 1962. She was on top ten of her class at the Jagna Elementary School, and earned an Award of Recognition by the GSP (Girl Scouts of the Philippines) for being the representative to the Bohol GSP Council. At an early age her inclination to music was already evident, especially when she won in Paligsahan sa Musika. She graduated Salutatorian at the Colegio de la Medalla Milagrosa, where she romped away with several awards, including: Bohol Prisaa Meet Declamation Contest, Best in Extra-Curricular Activities, Gerry Roxas Leadership Award, Grand Prize: GSP National Singing Competition, GSP National Jamboree Talent Award, CAT Dream Girl and Cadette of the Year.

A scholarship grant for her singing ability was given by the Cebu State College, where she took Bachelor of Science in Education, and graduated Cum Laude. From the first to the fourth year she received Awards of Recognition for Academic Achievement. She was the Grand Prize Winner of the Cebu Inter-School Singing Competition and won in the CSC Declamation Contest. She was also the Best Student Teacher in her batch.

Right after graduation she was taken in by the Sacred Heart School for Boys as a grade school teacher, and later at the Cebu International School. But singing has always been her passion. As Lead Singer of Zee Band, she performed at the Magellan International Hotel, Cebu Plaza Hotel, Cities Music Lounge, and Balls Theater Lounge. She went to Manila and performed regularly at the Tavern on the Square, Makati Skyline, Manila Intercontinental Hotel, and the Manila Hotel Grand Ballroom where she had a special show.

She toured all over the country and earned ovations in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Ozamis, and simultaneously back to Cebu from time to time. In Bohol her singing talent has been acknowledged at the DWC, Kilum-Kilum (with Cue-She as front act), Bohol Tropics, and the Metro Centre Hotel in “Eva with the VIP Waiters.”

Eva was soaring high in popularity when she sang with Manilyn Reynes at the Cebu Coliseum, and with Jun Polestico at the White Gold House and Balls Theatre Lounge. She did another successful stint with Manilyn Reynes at the Araneta Coliseum. TV guestings followed: debut of Dear Manilyn, Ryan Ryan Musikahan, Vilma, The Sharon Cuneta Show, MAD, GMA Supershow, Lunch Date, Eat Bulaga, A Little Night of Music, RSVP, Bro. Marcial, and That’s Entertainment. She went to Singapore and performed at Peppermint Park and Atlantis where she was accorded standing ovations.

Not long after, she did a TV Commercial. The launching of Fanta Soft Drink (by Coca Cola) in Cebu. She also had a TV Special beamed nationwide: GMA 7 Tuesday Special Specials – The Midnight Song Festival. She figured out prominently in some corporate shows in 2001: Ng Khai – (Ayala Center) Microsoft XP Launching (Ratsky), Globelines (Ayala Sportscenter), Grand Opening of Ayala Entertainment Center, and KBP (Shangri-La Mactan Resort Ballroom).

On March 13, 1998 she was presented the Perlas Award as “Valuable Filipino in the Field of Singing.” She represented the Philippines to the Midnight Sun Song Festival in Lahti, Finland on June 6, 1992, where she won second runner-up when she sang her own composition of “Just Like You and Me.” She holds the distinction of being the only composer in the Philippines to sing her own composition in an international song festival.

In January 1998 she portrayed the role of Lili in the broadway musical classic, The Carnival, accompanied by the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra held at the Cebu Plaza Hotel, directed by Dr. Vernon Wenberg of the Minnesotta Actors Guild. In June 2000 she recorded her first album in Manila, mostly her own compositions. In July 2001 she finished recording an album using the Pro Tools software and mastered by Barry Corliss @ Masterworks in Seattle, Washington. Special guests on the Album were Jay Cayuca, Kyle Gianan of the Rap Skallion and The Company. In December 2001, her song “Love is the Answer,” reached number one on both the Asia and Philippine charts on MP3.com, and also reached number 58 in the world.

In 2004 she was chosen Top 7 Women of Cebu, representing the Field of Performing Arts. Last September 2006, she was awarded one of the Most Outstanding Jagna-anons during Jagna’s 375th foundation anniversary. As a Diva she has proven her worth beyond expectations. This chanteuse of exquisite standards has warmed millions of hearts, and her spiels between renditions are perfect illustrations of wit and humor. Eva Santos has already carved a niche in the music firmament, and will continue to be a beloved songbird, especially among Boholanos who takes pride in saying that Eva is their own.

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