Prince of Pop talks to Expat Media about his relationship goals, upcoming Dubai gig, travel and shopping plans and more

  DUBAI – Philippine Prince of Pop Erik Santos may not be single for long because he has his heart set on one thing: “I want to settle down soon so sa ngayon pag nakakita ako talagang siya na talaga (I want to settle down soon so for now if I find the one, then that someone will be it),” Santos told ExpatMedia.Net. The 34-year-old singer broke up with 26-year-old performer Angeline Quinto, who told the media in an interview in July that although she loved him, she wasn’t ready to settle down. Meanwhile, Santos is keeping himself busy with shows and concerts. He is Dubai-bound next week and said he is excited about three things: his concert in the emirate, travelling to the UAE and “experiencing the culture”. Pulse International is bringing him to Dubai to perform at Club of Asia on January 13. “I'll be singing old and new songs. My own hits and of course… I'll be singing, theme songs from teleseryes and movies,” Santos said. Santos first shot to fame as the first champion of the popular singing competition Star in a Million. He went on to become a multi-awarded recording artist and a mainstay of the musical variety show ASAP. He is also a judge on the singing competition segment Tawag ng Tanghalan (TNT) on TV show It’s Showtime. ExpatMedia.Net caught up with Santos on his plans, relationship goals, TNT and the Dubai Shopping Festival. Hi, Erik! We heard you’re headed for Dubai next week. What do you love doing when you are here? I love to explore the place, eat Arabic food and experience the culture. By the way, it's the Dubai Shopping Festival. Are you thinking of buying anything for yourself or someone special? Wala masyado kasi nakapag shopping na ako for Christmas for my loved ones. Maybe konting pasalubong for my family... Mas gusto ko din ma-explore yung Dubai. (Not much because I have already finished Christmas shopping for my loved ones. Maybe a few gifts for my family. What I really like is to explore Dubai.) Between shopping and travelling, what's your best form of leisure? Traveling. People see you as a judge on Tawag ng Tanghalan. What is that job like for you? It doesn't feel like working. I enjoy being a judge at TNT because I can share what I know for the past 14 years to aspiring singers because I know the feeling of singing in front of judges and in front of people. It’s a great feeling to give encouragement, pieces of advice and pointers so that the contestants can improve their craft. Has there been any contestant that made a lasting impression on you? Tell us about it. Yes, a lot. Filipinos are naturally good singers. Out of 110 million Filipinos today, it’s like more than half of that number know how to sing or are already professional singers. There have been a lot of really good Filipino singers who caught my attention at TNT. When you're not singing or performing (or judging singing talents) what do you do? I sleep. What's keeping you busy nowadays? ASAP, It’s Showtime, Tawag ng Tanghalan, corporate events, concerts here and abroad and album promotions. At this point in your life, what are you looking for in terms of relationship? Long lasting. Catch him live What: Erik Santos “The King of Teleserye Theme songs” When: January 13, 9 p.m. Where: Club Of Asia, Dubai Tickets: 0557919794 or 0568337677 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