Sheena Bentoy
Despite being stuck at home due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, child theater actress Sheena Bentoy still hopes to make Mother’s Day a special one for her mom, whom she credits for helping her realize her dreams of becoming a performer.
“She helped me achieve my dreams by supporting me and helping me nurture my gift. She encouraged me not to give up,” Sheena told the Inquirer in an email interview arranged by the powdered milk brand Promil, which recently tapped her as one its endorsers.
“I want to cook a simple dish for her. I want to make a special card for her, and then watch a movie together with my family,” said the singer-actress, who feels “honored and thankful” for being named a “Promil Kid.”
Sheena, 11, got her biggest career break in 2018, after landing the role of Young Nala in the international touring production of the stage adaptation of the Disney classic “The Lion King.” And she doesn’t feel like she would have gotten it if it weren’t for her mother, Irish.
“The things I admire about my mother is her being supportive of me. She’s also very optimistic,” she related. “She always hopes for a positive outcome in everything I do.”
Irish first noticed Sheena’s inclination toward the arts when the latter was just 3 years old. As a toddler, Sheena often held a microphone. And as she grew older, she enjoyed taking part in ballet, music and modeling lessons.
But it wasn’t until Irish brought Sheena in a studio for a workshop that she realized that her daughter really has the talent.
“There, I discovered that she could really hit the right notes,” Irish recalled. “I knew her musical talent is really something I had to nurture because of how much she enjoys it. She loves performing in front of family and friends. It was obvious that she really loves entertaining people.”
Needless to say, Irish couldn’t be more grateful for what her daughter has already achieved. Aside from securing a spot in “The Lion King,” Irish also cited Sheena winning the “SM Little Stars” talent search as another proud moment for her.
But their journey to success wasn’t without roadblocks.
“We encountered challenges and rejections along the way. We would stand in long lines for hours during auditions, only to be told that she didn’t pass,” she said, adding that Sheena couldn’t help but feel disheartened once in a while.
And so, Irish had to explain to Sheena early on that failure doesn’t necessarily spell the end.
“There were times when Sheena felt defeated, but I would always encourage her to embrace and love the experience because it’s God’s gift to her. Failures don’t mean the end of her journey, but rather, a step toward success and learning. I always tell her to learn from it and be strong,” she related.
Irish’s biggest dream for her daughter is for her to become a Broadway actress one day—something Sheena herself has been praying for.
“I hope to continue my international theater acting career, because I love being onstage and being part of an international play ensemble with different facets and characters,” Sheena said.
“I would also like to travel and see other countries, the people and their culture,” she added. “God willing, my dream is that, one day, I get to perform on Broadway.”