Sheryn Regis couldn’t be happier after American R&B singer Wendy Moten acknowledged her hit revival of the song Come In Out of the Rain. Wendy is the original singer of the said soul ballad, popularized by Sheryn when she performed it as a contest piece in “Star In A Million” in 2003. She also recorded the same song as her debut single.
“Parang sinabi niya na napasikat ko daw,” began Sheryn on Wendy’s recognition of her hit cover version. “Sobrang saya ko na nakasama ako, in that journey, sa pagsikat ng kanta. She’s my queen,” she added.
Moreover, Sheryn finally made her dream come true by performing the song with Wendy on the same stage in “Harana: A Troy Laureta East Meets West Live Experience” concert on Oct. 18 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Unexpectedly, magagawa na rin ‘yung collaboration namin physically sa isang concert sa ‘Harana’ tour. Kasama ko na siya na kakanta ng Come In Out of The Rain. Oh my gosh, it’s a dream come true,” she enthused.
Singing has been part of Sheryn’s life since she was a kid. Her hometown, Cebu, is believed to produce great singers like her. I teased Sheryn that there must be something in the water of Cebu that turns them into excellent singers.
“We’re more into arts and music ‘yung mga ninuno (namin) at dahil siguro sa tubig rin ng dagat, mga sirena ‘yung kasamang kumakanta,” she joked.
Sheryn can still vividly recall how her manicurist mom would ask her to sing for her balikbayan customers. “She would tell me to sing and they would give me a tip of P30. And every time there’s an amateur singing contest, they would come to our house to ask me to join.”
Her usual contest piece during amateur singing contests was Kuh Ledesma’s song Dito Ba?
The Cebuana chanteuse reminisced about the time when she sang in hotel lounges and experienced disrespect from rude audiences.
“I was 17 trying to be 18 at that time because my director in the theater wanted me to try (performing) in lounges for more exposure. Mas maganda ang exposure sa hotel. So, I was in a jazz band but I don’t sing jazz, so when I auditioned, I sang Broadway songs. I got in but they told me I was too young,” ruminated Sheryn, who handled “not-so-behaved” audiences with a brave front.
Photo from WendyMOten.com
“’Yung iba bastos. I would tell them, ‘You don’t have the right to do that to me. I’m a minor’ and then, I would call the guard’s attention. I was a brave kid.”
Sheryn slapped a guest who groped her; and reported him to the manager, who, in turn, told her that guests are still customers. But the singer reminded the manager that she has dignity and no one has the right to touch her.
I asked Sheryn if she was mad with me and Erik Santos who was the grand champion in “Star In A Million.” Erik was my talent at that time.
“No,” replied Sheryn. “But I expected to win because I lost my job after the hotel lounge ceased operation. I expected too much, that’s why it was so painful; there was bitterness in me, especially because we had no money that time anymore.”
“Hindi ako nagalit,” she stressed. “After the competition, Erik called me up and I felt okay. I congratulated him.”
Sheryn began to carve a niche in the music industry with songs that became theme songs in the Kapamilya drama series. Her career was temporarily halted when she chose to migrate to the US with her daughter Sweety and former ex-partner Earl Echiaverri. She taught academics in America, particularly English, Social Studies and Values.
Her song Gusto Ko Ng Bumitaw turned out to be her fitting reintroduction to the local music scene after Morissette’s revival of the song became a huge hit.
“I’m thankful because I’m part of the journey. I partly wrote that song but actually, Jonathan (Manalo of Star Music) rephrased the song, naging Tagalog lahat because I wrote it in English. I’m happy kasi everything was unexpected like Gusto Ko Ng Bumitaw na nakilala ulit ako as Sheryn Regis.”
On her daughter Sweety’s coming out as bisexual, Sheryn never denied that she initially got scared and worried that she might experience what she went through. “I don’t want her to get hurt. I don’t want her to get tired in life.”
“Knowing her life now, I’m so happy for her kasi napili niya talaga kung ano ‘yung gusto niya. I’m not saying for gender or whatever. She has her own thing, she has her life na. I’m very proud na sabi ko nga 10/10 ako bilang nanay because I taught her the values of everything, of being a Filipino pa rin,” added Sheryn, who came out as bisexual in 2021 and is currently in a romantic relationship with online content creator-entrepreneur Mel de Guia, who manages their restaurant business, Kalye De Guia, in Pangil, Laguna.
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