alladeer Erik Santos admitted anew that he is a jealous lover boy and that he'd rather not ask his current girlfriend about her past to avoid getting hurt emotionally. This is what he expressed during the launch of his latest album "Erik Santos…Your Love" held last week inside the ABS-CBN compound.

In front of the press people, the ‘Star In A Million' winner said, "Yes seloso ako and I'd rather na hindi magtanong sa girlfriend ko regarding her past kasi baka masaktan lang ako. The less I ask, the less pain ang posible kong maramdaman."

Of course, the girlfriend in question is comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto, to whom he'd been going steady for four months now, while her past being talked about is basketball star Rudy Hatfield whose athletic career gets resurgence following his celebrated return to the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association).

Erik, however, insisted that he's in no way feeling insecure to his ladylove's ex-boyfriend, whoever he is. "Ang importante yung ngayon. Hindi ko kino-compare ang sarili ko sa ibang tao."

Incidentally, Erik, who's promoting his third full-length solo album under Star Records, and Rudy, presently playing for crowd-drawer Barangay Ginebra, have yet to formally meet in person. If it happens, the former just said he won't be (awkwardly) friendly to the latter unless they got introduced to each other. He has nothing to say about Rudy's style of appearing on TV while boasting (over his being the ‘H-Bomb') a la wrestling star. "I don't want to comment about him. Mahirap naman magsalita tungkol sa isang tao kung di mo naman siya talaga kilala."

Asked about his thoughts that some people are questioning the validity of his relationship with Rufa, Erik quipped, "Kahit ano pang sabihin nila, what matters is totoo naman talaga kami e. I can't assure we'll end up for life but I do set goals and take each day as it comes."

The two first met in a dressing room at ABS-CBN and developed a mutual understanding thereafter. Erik revealed he likes mestiza-looking petite women and Rufa physique meets such description perfectly. They recently managed to come up with an SRO concert billed "When Erik Met Rufa" as plans of repeat performances is being cooked.

Well, the steady shoot-up of Erik's singing career must have made his contemporaries a bit jealous. Two songs from his latest album, "Your Love" (originally performed by Alamid) and the Rey Valera masterpiece "Maging Sino Ka Man," are currently playing high in some FM radio charts. He also sang a track in ASAP Music's "Hotsilog" tribute album to Manila Soundcreator Hotdog band.

Erik's album is comprised of 11 band hits, mostly revivals from the 90s bandscene, which Erik sang in his own inimitable style that made him popular since his "This Is The Moment" winning piece. It includes decade-long radio hits such as "Parting Time" (Rockstar), "Say You'll Never Go" (Nexxus), "Girl" (Immaculate) and "Next In Line" (After Image). "Nandito sa album na ‘to yung mga paborito kong kanta nung elementary and high school days ko. Bukod sa akma sa band genre na napapanahon ang concept ng album, na-project din nito ang personality ko so I'm really proud of this."

The album's lone original track, "All That I Need" has a special line which he dedicates to Peachy (Rufa's offscreen name). It goes, "You've always been the missing part/ Complete the jigsaw puzzle of my heart."

Erik will soon fly off the country to share the stage back-to-back with Sheryn Regis in Doha, Qatar and perform a series of concerts in Hawaii on Nov. 18, 19 and 20.

Meanwhile, Star Records' Nixon Sy cleared the label off the issue concerning the bitter feelings of Alamid members over "Your Love" appearing on Erik's album without them knowing prior to its release. In an earlier interview, both Gary Ignacio and Dex Facelo, who composed the said number, aired their grievances and accused their former label, Warner Music, of questionably lending their hit song to another artist without their go signal or knowledge at all.

To this Sy declared, "Humingi lang kami ng permission from the authorities so we can legally interpret the song. Pero ‘yung composers pa rin ‘yung may ari ng kanta. As far as I know it is impossible na maglabas kami ng isang kanta na hindi legally approved kasi board member mismo ng FILSCAP ang nagaasikaso when it comes to legal matters. There is this song, "Pain In My Heart" na dapat sana kasama sa album ni Erik pero nagkaroon ng legal concerns about it so, kaysa magkaproblema, we dropped it from the album's line-up before we release it."

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