Singing a different tune

MANILA, Philippines - Sultry singer Selina Sevilla may look liberated woman down to her painted toenails. Otherwise, she won’t agree to a same sex marriage to Lalen Calayan, niece of popular dermatologist Manny Calayan.

The two will tie the knot not once, but twice. The first, tentatively set February or March next year, will be at the garden of Hotel Sofitel, where Selina will walk down the aisle in a designer gown. Green – the Calayans’ lucky color – will be the color of the day.

Then the couple will fly to the US, where they will seal their vows in the summer of 2011.

Selina and Lalen admit they were afraid about proclaiming their love for each other on national TV. But Selina told Lalen, “No guts, no glory. Nothing will happen if we let fear rule us.” The rest, you saw on television.

This is Selina – and Lalen’s -- third chance at happiness. The first was with a Japanese Selina met when she was working in Japan. Selina’s marriage to the second love of her life, a Filipino, has been annulled.

These unions taught her one thing: “Marriage is no guarantee the relationship will last. Love, respect and acceptance is. I also fell in love with Lalen’s negative traits.”

And Lalen must have fallen for Selina’s nurturing ways.

“I may look glamorous now, but at home, I’m a simple person,” reveals Selina. “ I act like a housemaid. I cook, I do household chores. Perhaps that’s why Lalen fell for me.”

Selina knows the Calayans may balk at her liberated image, so she has decided to tone down her way of dressing and her songs a wee bit.

The look will still be sophisticated and sexy, she tells you. But it will not be all-out daring. Even her repertoire will depart from the titillating hit song Nilunok Ko ang Lahat, which got Selina a lot of attention years back.

It is her concession to a family whom she describes as “very nice. They know where I came from but they treat me well. They don’t look down on poor people.”

Her comeback concert, Hot Mama … Like a Virgin! on Saturday, Oct. 9 at Metro Bar along West Avenue, Quezon City, has the full support of the Calayan clan. Dr. Many Calayan is a special guest. So too are Aljur Abrenica, Erik Santos, Leo Martinez, Joel Cruz, Romy San Mateo, her pianist at Sabor Latino and Peter Mendoza III

Selina will perform `80s songs like those of Madonna, Lady Gaga numbers, jukebox hits, Sharon Cuneta ditties and Latin tunes reminiscent of her gigs with Sabor Latino band.

Selina was only 17 when she went to Japan to perform because she had to. Her parents’ separation taught her to be tough and independent. She learned her biggest lessons, not inside the four walls of the classroom, but from the school of hard knocks.

“I did not finish college because I had to work,” Selina says without batting an eyelash.

Yes, she was down and out. But not for long. Selina managed to get back on her feet. Today, she doesn’t look like a 38-year-old single mother of two teenaged girls.

Figures why her concert has the words “Hot Mama” in it.

“I will do ledge dancing. I can even top the dance numbers you see on Showtime!” Selina says.

Her concert will not only celebrate music and dance, but how life’s trials have put more soul into every song she sings, more oomph into every dance step she takes.

The voice behind Nilunok Ko ang Lahat is singing and dancing to a different tune. She is living a new life. And we just have to see and hear the big difference.