Robert & Isay in Bethlehem Christmas concert

MANILA, Philippines - The couple that travels together stays together. Let it be said about performing power couple Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez.

But small surprise really for a pair that fell in love and wed (not once, but twice!) overseas. Robert and Isay formed part of the original cast of the 1989 Miss Saigon in West End, London — she as Gigi and he as Thuy — when their friendship grew into something more.

The two were long-time friends being theater colleagues who co-starred in productions here before joining the pioneering run of Miss Saigon. She would let him sleep at her house (with other friends, of course) and “walang malisya talaga whatsoever,” Isay swears. For Robert’s part though, “Siyempre meron (laughs)!” 

While in the Philippines, Isay knew of Robert’s romantic interest but already thrust him in the “friend zone” — as they call it these days — but when they were abroad, a courtship ensued. Robert recalls, “Lumamig dito then nanumbalik (my special feelings) when I was abroad.”

And so as the story would have it, Robert relentlessly wooed her onstage no less wherein during one production he would (secretly, at first) send her flowers and other sweet gifts.

Robert and Isay have been husband-and-wife for 21 years now, and blessed with three children: Edisa, 26, Roberto, 20 and Emilio, 14.

The Señas are solid partners at home and at work. Apart from teaming up in the concert/recording scene, they currently run the Spotlight Artists Center in Makati, which started out as a school-cum-training center offering performing arts classes and eventually ventured into musical theater by triumphantly re-mounting the ’80s production Katy! early this year, with Isay herself in the title role as the bodabil queen Katy dela Cruz.

Now, the two take on the stage together again — in Bethlehem. On Dec. 23, Robert and Isay will perform at the Manger Square in Bethlehem (a Palestinian city found in the central West Bank, neighboring south Jerusalem) as a highlight of a pilgrimage tour by Catholic travel agency Journeys of Faith, Inc. The Manger Square stands on what is recognized as the birthplace of Jesus.

The Christmas concert is a follow-up to the successful show held around the same time and at the same place last year featuring Mitch Valdes. According to organizer Arlina Onglao, the concert will not just entertain the pilgrims converging from three trip variations by Journeys of Faith covering Israel, Jordan and even Upper Egypt, but also foreign tourists, locals and OFWs.

With the Bethlehem trip, Robert and Isay — the travel enthusiasts that they are — told The STAR that they’re finally ticking off one item from their wish list.

You mentioned that Bethlehem is in your bucket list. 

Robert: Kahit sino naman gusto makita ang birthplace ni Lord. We’ve been to Korea many times, to its prayer mountains. We were actually thinking of going to (Bethlehem) when we got the call (to go there) on the same month. 

How much of a fan are you of traveling?

Robert: We really travel a lot!

Isay: While we were doing Katy!, I remember telling Robert, “You have to excite me, you have to tell me where we’re going after,” kasi alam kong mapapagod ako, so I needed something to look forward to after. Sabi niya, basta alis tayo. So this September, we’re also going to the US (in New York) and watch Broadway shows. Mahilig talaga kami umalis ni Robert. Every time meron kaming free week or free weekend, we go out of town, or out of the country. So, the trip to Bethlehem is providential.

Robert: And there’s a bonus, we’re bringing our kids with us.

Do you consider yourself as spiritual?

Robert: We are. 

Isay: That’s why when they said, na mag-i-Israel, talagang (excited) na kung pwede lang ma-fast-forward.

What would you pray for when you’re there (aside from your next production)? 

Robert: Of course, we will pray for our country, sana maayos ang system. Some diseases na naiwan sa country natin from before pa sana matanggal. That’s our prayer always. Country first then sarili. 

What kind of show can pilgrims, tourists and OFWs expect from you?

Robert: Not all religious songs… Songs that will show our vocal (artistry).

Isay: We will sing our signature medley of Pinoy Christmas carols, na talagang maloloka sila!

How does being married to each other help your career and business?

Robert: You just have to know your area of responsibility and expertise. I’m the artistic director of Spotlight, while she’s in-charge of sales and marketing. Although mahirap din kaya na business partner mo kasama mo sa bahay, sa kama (laughs). Pero oo, walang choice but to resolve (issues). Minsan iniiwasan ko siya (laughs)…

Isay: Kasi makulit ako (laughs).

                Tell us more about your family, your kids.

Robert: Emilio is 14, he’s a musician. Actually, they are all musicians; they know how to play musical instruments. Roberto is 20 (Note: He’s the lead singer/songwriter of the fast-rising alt-rock band She’s Only Sixteen). I remember him na sigaw-sigaw lang sa kwarto, kasi naka-headphones, tapos one time nagda-drive kami, sabi niya, “Dad, listen to this,” and I said, “Ganda ah,” “That’s me!” “Oh, really?” So sabi ko, let’s record it. Nilapit namin sa Universal Records. That’s how things started. But he also wants to be a lawyer, he’s now in college, taking up pre-law. Our eldest is Edisa, she’s 26 and she works as a museum curator.

Isay: We really never encouraged or discouraged them to go into music or theater. Like yung daughter namin, she loved theater before and every time she auditioned, she would be asked, “Are you the daughter of Isay?” So wala na. Di siya tumutuloy sa pag-audition kasi nawalan na siya ng confidence. Good thing with Roberto, he chose a different path — rock-pop. Malayo sa amin. I’m happy with that.

Robert: And there’s one more, hahaha! (“To be made in Bethlehem?” we joked.)

Isay: Why not? (laughs).

Robert: Miracles happen!

(To Isay) How is your health now? (Isay was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer last year.)

Isay: It’s fine. I take my oral chemo then I just rest for eight days. (She had her seventh oral chemo last month). The change in my diet was quite drastic. Then bawal ako magpuyat that’s why I miss doing TV. But I had already gained six pounds.

When I did Katy! last January, I had three giant swells in my tongue, so can you imagine singing and talking, ang hirap, hirap talaga. It was only when I was  onstage when I didn’t feel the pain. But off stage, umiiyak ako sa sakit... Parang, Lord ano pa ang gusto mong ibigay sa akin?

My family, they’re helping me, they  understand that there are needs to be met like I need to rest. That I need to sleep more. I go away to Bulacan, di nila ako nakikita for eight days, forced to rest. 

My realizations? That you have to listen to your body. Me, I listened to my body. Before, lagi akong may sipon, singaw. Pwede kong i-ignore. But I didn’t. I asked my E.N.T. doctor, who said, “Your immune system is low, you take Vitamin C.” But two years yun na ganun... When I felt my spleen, the following day, I went for an ultrasound na kasi I know already what I have, or something like that. (My other realization is) savor life. 

My prayer? My prayer has been granted already, so I’m just praying for complete healing ‘coz I know I’m healed already.

(For details about Journeys of Faith’s Christmas in Bethlehem with Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez, call 0917-5616440, 0999-9935580, 929-0144 and 929-0155. Or you can e-mail them at [email protected] and visit www.journeys.com.ph.)