When they were kids, they would sing just for fun.
"It was just a play, we were never serious," said Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. But as they were growing up, the "older sister" realized that she couldn't part with music, and chose to place her passion into it.
Raymond Lauchengco, on the other hand, was just going with the flow. Becoming a singer never crossed his mind.
In an exclusive interview, he told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "When I was a kid, I wanted to be a pope, 'tapos presidente, 'tapos doktor, 'tapos abugado...in that sequence. You know why? I was so scared that I was going to hell, so, to make sure that I was going to heaven, I wanted to be the first Filipino pope. So, on Sundays, I put a blanket, walk around the house, blessing, blessing, kunwari..."
But fate dictated that he would become the "chaperone" of Menchu, who was fond of going to auditions.
He related, "Si Menchu is always the one, siya talaga yung palaging may hilig. Ako, wala akong kahilig-hilig. Naging member ako ng choir, ganun-ganun lang. Ang mission ko in life at that time was to chaperone my sister kung mag-o-audition siya sa Glee Club. Sasama ako, bantay lang. Ang gusto ko talaga, sports. Then one day, she decided to audition for Repertory Philippines."
Raymond was 12 years old then, and little did he know that accompanying his sister that day would change his life.
Continuing his story, "Without my knowing, she [Menchu] filled my name on the form and submitted it."
The young boy found himself face to face with the late Bebot Amador, a formidable name in theater and the founder of Repertory Philippines.
Raymond recalled, "If you know Bebot, you don't want to get him mad at you, di ba, so I was terrified, I went up on stage. The play was The King and I. Ayoko talagang masigawan, so I sang.
"The funny thing was we both got accepted, and the role that I was chosen to portray was Louie, the son of Anna [the female lead]. The irony was—Menchu was neither here nor there in terms of age. She's hilaw pa, so she was asked to play as one of the wives, na talagang super support role. Ayaw niya. She quit and left me."
His first theater experience led the reluctant boy to bigger opportunities.
SHOWBIZ BECKONS. The two kids, who would playfully sing the songs of the Carpenters and Osmonds, began taking music seriously when they became members of Repertory Philippines.
It wasn't long before showbiz noticed their talents and good looks.
Raymond and Menchu were asked to join the roster of Pepsi New Generation Artists—which included Keno, Gino Padilla, Timmy Cruz, and JoAnne Lorenzana, among others.
