Amy stress-free in The Singing Bee

MANILA, Philippines - After several weeks of absence, Amy Perez is set to make herself visible again when ABS-CBN’s The Singing Bee returns on air starting tomorrow, Nov. 16. But this time, she will no longer be T’yang Amy who used to bridge the gap and help settle issues between two feuding parties in the show where she last appeared in. Instead, she will be simply called as Amy in the musical game show that was hosted by Cesar Montano during its first season of airing. Amy will share hosting duties with Roderick Paulate whom she had worked with 15 years ago in the former Kapamilya noontime show Sang Linggo nAPO Sila.

“I don’t think there will be major adjustments,” says Amy about handling a new show sans the popular tag. “Kasi kumbaga ‘yun pa rin naman ako, the tag T’yang Amy actually started here on ABS in Sang Linggo nAPO Sila and I was the one who suggested to them (TV5, her former network) na yun ang itawag sa akin and everyone close to me calls me T’yang Amy.”

Having mentioned her former TV network, Amy says everything is okay between her and TV5 as “we both have mutually agreed to part ways because in this business of ours it’s very important that you don’t burn bridges so I have no problem with TV5.”

Amy never denies that there are still some kinks that need to be ironed out between her and her former show’s staff. Most televiewers are clueless on the cause of the rift and the actress-host is finally spilling the beans to set the matter clear. “It’s really sad that it turned out that way. The show became too negative after a while probably because we absorbed all the negative vibes without realizing it. I was just honest with all of them (Face to Face team) that after giving birth at the age of 43, I really cannot tape four episodes in one day so I guess it wasn’t just explained well to the staff; that’s why they had a different feeling.”

To this day, the misunderstanding has yet to be settled. “Perhaps, the pain is still there. Even the president of TV5 said that it is better for me to take a break, sabi nga nila after two years I (might) get to work with them again, open naman sila e.”

Asked if she didn’t have second thoughts about leaving since she is already too identified with the show, Amy replies, “Nothing is permanent; eventually you will say goodbye to a show just like here in Singing Bee this is not going to be forever di ba? After a while, you will graduate. It’s like going to school. It just so happened that the ending was not nice probably I was just very emotional after giving birth. I was going through a lot of depression which led to misunderstanding and it was blown out of proportion.”

She, too, would like to make one thing perfectly clear: Her contract with TV5 had expired since May of last year and she decided to stay without signing a new contract. After giving birth, Amy shares, she and her long-time partner Carlo, have agreed to prioritize their kids “because it was difficult for me to go back but since I made a promise to return after giving birth, I went back after a month. I was honest to tell them that I cannot do four episodes in a day. It was really difficult going through Caesarean (operation) at 43.”

Still, Amy maintains her decision to return to ABS-CBN had nothing to do with the issue. The Kapamilya network has been sending feelers right after her TV5 contract had expired. It was a decision she made with her manager Boy Abunda. “We were happy and flattered when I received a call from ABS. Let’s face it, when I left three years ago parang sumama rin ang loob ng ABS.”

The call reminded her of the story in The Bible about the prodigal son. “Parang tinatawag ka ng nanay mo to come home. So I started weighing things. Actually, I even told Sir Noel (Lorenzana) and Ma’am Wilma (Galvante) that I was willing to stay with TV5 and thought about working in the news department para iwas na lang. And there was no truth to some reports that I asked for people to get fired because that’s not my personality. Ang sinabi ko lang iwas na lang po tayo. I was willing to stay but my manager Tito Boy has the final decision. So the decision was to come home (to ABS). Not everybody is given that opportunity and I’m thankful that I got the offer.”

And her first TV project is Singing Bee which Amy finds engrossing and stress-free. The musical game show indubitably appeals to every music enthusiast. In its pilot episode, Carmi Martin, Boboy Garovillo, Ogie Diaz, Eric Fructuoso and Kiray Celis will compete to win the P1M jackpot prize. Meanwhile, The Voice of the Philippines artists Isa Fabregas, Jessica Reynoso, Penelope Matanguihan, Yuki Ito and Maki Ricafort will be the show’s resident Songbees.

Having worked for quite some time as resident DJ of the Kapamilya radio FM arm, Radio Romance, Amy assures she can easily relate to the show’s format. “I’m very into music. I do sing for my children at home especially to my baby Isaiah who is 10 months old.” Her two other sons are Adi, 16, and Kyle, four years old.    

Will televiewers see her in acting projects soon?

“Acting? I don’t think I’m still fit for it.”