The local music industry mourns the passing of Mercy Sunot, one of the iconic vocalists of the band Aegis.

For the past seven months, Mercy stayed in Northern California, USA with friends and kind Filipinos who helped her while undergoing chemotherapy for her stage 4 breast cancer.

Chronicling her condition and life in the US, Mercy would regularly upload videos online — from meeting Pinoys and new friends, to leisure activities and of course, singing.

Aegis band’s Mercy Sunot

Last November 6, Mercy turned 48. Celebrating her birthday away from her family, Mercy expressed her loneliness.

“Mahirap sa ibang bansa na nag-iisa ka lang, ‘yung wala kang malapitan, malungkot… ‘yung mag-celebrate na kasama mo ang pamilya mo, hindi ko magawa. Pero no choice ako kasi need ko mag-stay nang matagal dahil nagpapagamot ako dito,” she said.

November 8, I chanced upon Mercy during the dinner show of music legend Eva Eugenio in Hayward, California. Mercy was in good spirits. She was smiling and cheerful. She was not part of the event but the everyone showed her some love. She even granted the request for her to sing onstage.

I got the chance to interview Mercy after the show. The Pinay belter said singing on stage has always been a comfort space and boosted her spirit.

“Lalo na pag nasa stage ka, parang nawawala ‘yung problema mo. Hindi mo naisip na may sakit ka. Parang ‘yun na ‘yung way ko para hindi ako masyadong malungkot,” she said.

“Kaya nililibang ko na lang sarili ko, para hindi ko maisip (‘yung sakit ko).”

Hearing the crowd singing along to her, she said, “Masaya kasi hanggang ngayon, alam pa rin nila ‘yung mga kanta namin.”

Mercy then revealed and confirmed her health condition. “Andito ako sa Amerika dahil nagpapagamot ako. Meron akong breast cancer, stage 4. Nalaman ko Ito last year pa eh, nagpa-mamogram ako. Pero nung time na ‘yun, benign pa siya eh. Nung April, na-diagnose na ko ng cancer.”

“Siyempre malungkot, kasi maraming nagbago dahil sanay na kumakanta ka sa stage. Tapos one time, nag-guest ako, naiiyak ako. Dati ako ‘yung nasa stage, ako ‘yung nagpe-perform, ngayon parang nanonood na lang ako. Parang ‘yung gulong ng buhay.”

She also shared that her body responded well to chemotherapy.

“Tuloy-tuloy pa din ‘yung pagpapagamot ko. Injection once a month sa breast cancer. Actually dalawa ‘yung cancer ko, ‘yung isa lung cancer.”

She added, “Yung gamot na iniinom ko, nag-rerespond naman ako.”

During our interview, Mercy tried to hold back her tears when she talked about missing her children, especially that Christmas time is near.

“Super lungkot. Iba talaga ‘pag wala ang pamilya mo, nakakalungkot talaga. Lalo na nalayo ako sa mga anak ko. Pero para naman sa kanila ito kaya ako lumayo para gumaling ako, para magkasama kami ng mahabang buhay,” she said. “Naiintindihan naman ng mga anak ko.”

She also said she missed her sisters and the band. “Malungkot sila, dahil 25 years kaming magkasama tapos bigla akong nawala sa grupo. Pero naintindihan naman nila kasi para naman sa akin ‘yun.”

She also expressed her appreciation to those who took care in the US. “Very supportive naman sila. Hanggang ngayon nandiyan pa rin sila, sila ate Irene Paule, ate Nemia. Grabe ang tulong nila sa akin.”

Battling two cancers alone, living with good Samaritans but away from her family and children, was the biggest struggle in Mercy’s life. But she was fighter — “Laban lang!”, and fight she did up to the very end.

Sunot lost her battle to cancer and passed away last November 17, US time. She suffered multiple organ failure. Last November 12, she underwent surgery to remove the cysts found in her lungs. But soon after, her lungs inflammed and her oxygen levels and heartbeat deteriorated. She was 48.