Former child star-turned-pastor Lyle Areanne ‘L.A.’ Lopez is back on the scene, this time seemingly with blessings from above
Those who grew up in the ’90s probably remember L.A. Lopez. He was that adorable kid on “Eat Bulaga’s!” “That’s My Boy” contest who, at five years old, had gregarious personality.
L.A., who real name is Lyle Areanne Lopez, did not win. But that stint started his showbiz career as he caught the attention of no less than the late Comedy King, Dolphy. He would later appear in the movies and on TV, two of which were in “John And Marsha Ngayon ’91” and “Eh Kasi Bata.”
Some 18 years later, Bulletin Entertainment landed an exclusive interview with the former child wonder. According to him, he is not back just to reminisce, for nostalgia. Rather, he is poised to redeem lost glory.
L.A.’s comeback was announced mid last year through his album “Ikaw Pa Rin.” It consists of seven tracks, some of which are “Ikaw Pa Rin,” “Keep Playing The Game,” “Apple Of Your Eye,” “Sa Yakap Mo Yahweh” and “I See You,” which reportedly topped the Spotify OPM chart upon release.
L.A. first left the limelight at 10 years old when his father died from brain tumor. It was a painful moment, he recalled.
“It hit me hard,” he said. “I remember I was doing ‘Kokey’ at that time, eh komedyante ako na kahit umiiyak ako behind-the-scenes, pagharap ko sa camera kailangan ko pa rin magpatawa. And that was really tough for me. Burned out ako and so eventually, I decided na mas pagtuunan ko na lang ng pansin ’yung pag-aaral ko. Besides, my mother really wanted me to have solid faith in God.”
In 2001, at 16 years old, L.A. made a comeback inadvertently.
His mom, Idonnah Villarico, had a recording studio at home and she was tapped by Star Music (previously known as Star Records) to record a song with a certain artist.
However, the artist didn’t show up and L.A., who was washing their car then, was pulled aside by her mom and she asked him to record the song instead. The song titled “Yakap” eventually topped the charts and it earned a Gold Record award.
He even recalled how Charo SantosConcio, now ABS-CBN Chief Content Officer, wanted to groom him as the next Eddie Peregrina, who happens to be his own idol.
Just when he thought all is fine, this season became one of the most challenging times in his life.
L.A. was hounded by intrigues, enduring ridicule ffrom a comedian who deemed him “retarded,” tagged “weird and different” by some people, and even alleged of being “homosexual.”
“That was very demeaning,” he revealed. “Ang laking damage nito sa akin at ang sakit. Nawala ang sponsorship ko (sa work) and I have to save my neck when the boat was sinking. Even sa school, nabu-bully ako na ‘Retarded ka pala eh!’ You know, I could have filed a case since I come from a family of lawyers and minor ako that time, pero hindi eh. All I wanted is a public apology but they never gave it to me.”
It reached the point that it was just too much for the teenager. It was depressing, he admitted, and so L.A. left for the U.S. where he stayed for eight years.
Amid the hate, pain and depression, L.A. realized God has better plans for him.
At that time, he got into the Florida School of the Arts and even earned a George W. Bush scholarship, the only Filipino to have received the distinction.
“Bumagsak ako at sumadsad (sa lupa). Hindi ako galing sa mayamang pamilya at naghirap kami lalo nu’ng kinailangan naming ipagamot ang tatay ko kaya din naisipan kong mag-trabaho sa murang edad,” he shared. “Sa kabila ng pagsusumikap ko, may mga taong sinira ang pangarap ko at nu’ng nagpunta ako ng US, na-realize ko na ‘There is more to all of this.’ By the grace of God, hindi ako nagpagupo sa sakit at depression na naramdaman ko. God smiled at me.” The track in his latest album titled “Keep Playing The Game” is the first song he had ever written. It was inspired by his journey and the struggles he had to overcome. He aims to spread the message of the song to those who have been bullied and suffering depression. “Keep fighting. The game of life is not over yet kahit na maraming naninira sa mga pangarap mo,” he advised. “Especially these days na may social media na and people could just be bashed and tell you hurtful words under the mantle of anonymity. Ang masasabi ko lang, you don’t need to seek the approval of those bashers dahil wala naman silang investments sa buhay mo eh. Hindi ka nila pwedeng i-kahon sa kung anong gusto nilang maging ikaw. “You can’t let them take charge of your life. More importantly, no matter the oppression, believe in God, seek His guidance.” Apart from the album, L.A. aims to have acting gigs in the future “if God permits it.”
Scanning L.A.’s Facebook page, he describes himself as “Born as a sinner, lived a life of a sinner, got saved by grace through Jesus Christ, now a believer and reformed through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now singing a New Song to glorify the King.”
That’s because during his time in Florida, L.A. found his true purpose in life: To become a pastor.
He admitted no one could