Sheryl: There's no place like home

I’m fascinated by showbiz families. The Sonoras, De Leons, Muhlachs, Padillas, Fernandezes, Revillas, Eigenmanns, Salvadors, Quizons, Ilagans, among others.

The wonderful Sonora clan is one of those esteemed showbiz families. Headed by movie queen Susan Roces herself, it counts screen sweetheart Rosemarie Sonora (sister of Susan) and kiddie stars-turned-competent screen performers Wowie and Sheryl Cruz (Susan’s nephew and niece/Rosemarie’s children) as members.

Sheryl is one admirable lady. She is beautiful inside out. She started as a child actress at the tender age of two, opposite then four-year-old Niño Muhlach. “So si Niño ang first love team ko, hindi si Romnick,” Sheryl says teasingly. Of course, those growing up in the late ’80s to ’90s remember the phenomenal Sheryl Cruz-Romnick Sarmenta love team created by producer Robbie Tan’s Seiko Films. Sheryl’s mesmerizing mestiza charm complemented Romnick’s handsome moreno features. The two also stood out from their peers because they were very talented as they were extremely good-looking.

Sheryl also enjoyed a successful career as recording artist with WEA, which eventually became Universal Records headed by the late Bella Tan. Her hits Mr. Dreamboy, Ako’y Iyong-Iyo, Ikaw Ang True Love Ko, Sabi Ko Na Nga Ba turned Sheryl into a true pop icon. 

Sheryl easily made the transition to more mature roles later on. She was Bong Revilla’s leading lady in the box-office action flick Ronquillo (Star Cinema’s first movie), and Aga Muhlach’s beloved in the Regal Films’ drama epic Dolora X — one of the rare times then ABS-CBN executive Charo Santos-Concio agreed to appear in a film. Charo today is the president of ABS-CBN.

Sheryl was poised to become the next big superstar when she gave up a flourishing career to get married to Norman Bustos, a sheriff based in San Francisco. Sheryl stayed in SanFo for eight years, went back to school, studied marketing and had her daughter Ashley Nicole.

In 2005, she came back to Manila to resume acting. For the next three years, she and daughter Ashley Nicole shuttled back and forth from Manila (where her job was) to San Francisco (where her husband Norman was). Sheryl described her relationship with Norman this way: “We were a bi-coastal couple.”

But the challenges of the distance and other differences took a toll on Sheryl and Norman who decided to separate early last year. Sheryl remembers the date exactly: “It was March 12, 2008 when I confirmed the break-up to Tito Ricky Lo,” she says. “It’s been a year na.”

It was also last year when Sheryl got an exciting offer from Andy Sanchez of M2K/Wow Music, a subsidiary company of the Wow Magic Sing videoke microphone. “He asked if I wanted to record a CD of songs dedicated to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). I said, of course! I lived in the US for eight years so I know how it is to be away from home. I salute the OFWs’ efforts and selflessness not only for their families but also for our beloved country’s economy. It is not easy living in a foreign land without the friends and families you depend on for love and support,” says Sheryl.

Although this new “baby” inspired and rejuvenated Sheryl, making the album was not easy. Since she was recovering from a heartbreaking experience, there were days when she would report to the recording studio, in, as we would say in Filipino, “wala sa kundisyon.” Sheryl says, “I asked my composers and engineers to bear with me. I am very thankful that they were very understanding.”

Composing songs became an outlet for Sheryl. She has one song titled Joy that she wrote herself. “It’s about being inspired by a loved one who can be a child, a friend, a parent, or anybody special in your life.”

Sheryl is very serious about songwriting that she has also enrolled in piano lessons under Pepita Medina who is happy Sheryl is spreading her musical wings. Sheryl says, “My teacher told me that to be able to have a tune pop out of my head is something. Mabuti raw at nakaka-compose ako.”

Sheryl’s newest CD There’s No Place Like Home is a celebration of family. Among those on board the project are cousins who grew up with Sheryl: Jeffrey and Joseph Sonora both of whom supervised the recording at the revived FPJ Productions, Inc., Jeffrey who took photos for the album cover and design, and Doricel Sonora Crisostomo who acted as consultant and project manager and who now handles Sheryl’s music career.

Aunt Susan and mom Rosemarie are, of course, so excited about Sheryl’s foray back in the music industry. “I am truly a Sonora child for Sonora means ‘sound’ in Spanish,” says Sheryl. Very happy too are the Cruz clan who are relatives of the late Jesus Velez Cruz, better known as Ricky Belmonte. The Cruzes are Filipino musicians who have performed here and abroad. It is very obvious that Sheryl inherited the Cruz’s musical genes now that she sings, composes and plays the piano. “I am also truly a Cruz child. So, my newest album is a combination of both sides of my family, my mother’s side and my father’s side.”

Sheryl’s There’s No Place Like Home CD is of, for, and by the family. It’s a good project from a fine lady.