May Bayot-de Castro, Lani Misalucha’s sister, was a powerhouse in her own right

The Gawad Buhay award-winning powerhouse, who died at 61, leaves behind a legacy of unforgettable performances. 

Theaterdom is in mourning.

Singer-actress and theater artist May Bayot-de Castro passed away on October 26. She was 61 and was born on May 5, 1965.

Her sister, the more popular artist better known as Asia’s Nightingale, Lani Misalucha, shared the heartbreaking news herself on Facebook on Monday night.

“Some walk beside us for years. Others leave sooner than we’re ready for. But every person we love leaves a little light behind. I love you, Ate.”

In a GoFundMe post published in September, May’s sister Karlyn Scali revealed that her elder sister had been battling primary myelofibrosis, a type of bone marrow cancer.

May had a sound all her own. Powerful, yes, like Lani. But distinct. Unmistakable once you heard it live.

Her close friend and fellow theater artist, musical director and actor Vince de Jesus, wrote about a friendship that started when they were both in their early 20s.

They first met doing Gantimpala Theater Foundation’s “Pepe en Pilar Musical.” She was Pilar. He was composer and musical director.

He described her as extremely talented, stunning, feisty, and very intimidating. She possessed a voice like he had never heard before in his life. He said to himself, “Dapat makatrabaho ko ang babaeng ito!”

And he did. In 1995, with a vocal quartet, they traveled and performed in Hyatt hotels around Asia. In theater, they did 12 musicals together. May became Elsa, Joselle, Potre Tuwan, Nanay Moran, Amor de Sangre, and many more.

On Vince’s post, co-actor and singer Bituin Escalante left a message: “Thank you for bringing us together so many times onstage, Vince. Yakap.”

Bituin further remembered May as her greatest mentor in the industry and also in life.

“She was my greatest mentor in the industry and also in life… and the choices she made. 

“She’s very authentic — it was about the joy she found in doing what she loved, more than having great achievements. Hindi ganun si May. She wasn’t driven by that.”

Her director, Leo Rialp, for the 1999 star-studded, lavish production of “Rama at Sita,” where she took command of the stage as the shape-shifting demoness Surpanakha, remembered her this way:

“She was a wonderful performer. Her characterization of Surpanakha was a delicious blend of malice and sensuality, tempered with surprising touches of humor. 

“She had the rare gift of an affective voice, and what great vocal range! Best of all, she shared her thespic gifts with disarming humility.”

She also breathed unforgettable life into the iconic role of Elsa in “Himala: Isang Musikal,” which premiered at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2003.

Her other notable stage work included “Skin Deep,” where she starred as Amor Sangre in the Philippine Educational Theater Association production, a performance that won her the Gawad Buhay Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical.

She was a featured artist in “Sandosenang Sapatos,” performed in Tanghalang Pilipino’s staging of the epic-based musical Ibalong, and took part in two other plays—PETA’s “Rated: PG,” a production that dealt with children’s rights and family issues, and “Kleptomaniacs,” a contemporary play.

Bayot-de Castro was never just Misalucha’s sister. She was a force on her own stage. Feisty, funny, fearless—and that voice. That voice stayed with you long after the curtain fell.

Rest in peace, May.

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