Mercy Sunot passed away on November 18, 2024, at the Stanford Hospital and Clinics in San Francisco, California, after a brave battle with cancer. 

The talented singer and Aegis vocalist passed away on November 17, 2024 (November 18 in the Philippines), at the Stanford Hospital and Clinics in San Francisco, California, after a brave battle with cancer, leaving the public and the band’s fans in shock.

In her last TikTok video posted on November 16— just a day before her passing —Mercy revealed that she recently underwent lung surgery and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after experiencing difficulty breathing.

“Tapos na yung surgery ko sa lungs. Pero biglang nahirapan akong huminga, so dinala ako sa ICU. May tubig, may inflammation sa lungs ko so ginagawan na nila ng paraan,” she said.

In the same video, she disclosed that doctors had prescribed steroids to help her breathe.

“Ipag-pray nyo ko please para matapos na itong pagsubok na ito. Pag-pray niyo ako” Mercy tearfully pleaded while lying in her hospital bed.

It was later revealed that Mercy had been in California, USA, for over eight months undergoing treatment for Stage 4 breast and lung cancer.

PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) revisits the life and career of one of OPM’s finest talents—a singer whose powerful voice catapulted Aegis to iconic status and secured its place in every videoke songbook across the country.

Photo/s: @mercyofaegis on Instagram

SHE JUST TURNED 48

Mercy recently celebrated her 48th birthday away from her loved ones. The singer was born on November 6, 1976.

A PROUD NATIVE OF CDO

Mercy hailed from Cagayan de Oro, where she grew up in a family of eight siblings.

The Sunot sisters in the Aegis band got their love and talent for singing from their mom.

Mercy, Juliet, and Ken fondly recalled how their vocal training often took them to the sea, where they would take a dip at four in the morning.

This was all at the urging of their mom, who believed that the cold water would help strengthen their vocal cords.

FROM A SHOWBAND TO AEGIS

The band Aegis was formed in 1995, with Juliet and Mercy on lead vocals, Rey Abenoja on vocals and guitar, Stella Pabico on keyboards, Rowena Adriano on bass guitar, and Vilma Goloviogo on drums.

Ken later joined the group, adding more vocal power to the band.

“Actually, talaga, ayaw namin pumasok sa recording,” shared Stella in November last year.

“Kasi ang pagbabanda, bread and butter namin. Alam namin hindi lahat nagiging successful kasi grabe ang competition.

“Ayaw namin nung una, e. Kaya lang wala kaming choice. Parang, ‘Sige, try na rin namin.’

“Kasi after nun yung biyahe ng Japan, medyo humina rin.”

STRUGGLES AND SUCCESS

At a press conference in November 2023 promoting their 25th-anniversary event, Aegis: The Christmas Bonus Concert, sisters Mercy and Juliet reflected on the band’s rocky journey to success.

When they decided to venture into recording, Aegis faced numerous rejections from music executives who dismissed their music and potential.

“Nag-umpisa kasi kami sa walang kain. Nagpu-promote kami ng walang budget,” Mercy recalled, highlighting the challenges of their early days.

Juliet added, “Hindi tinanggap [demo tape] kasi baduy daw. Yun talaga ang tingin nila sa Aegis before—baduy daw, hindi raw bagay.”

In 2015, the group revealed they had once considered leaving the music scene entirely to pursue regular jobs, doubting whether their passion for music could provide a sustainable future for themselves and their families.

As fate would have it, Aegis rose to become one of the country’s most iconic acts, cementing its legacy with timeless hits like “Halik,” “Luha,” “Bakit (Tanong Ko Sa ‘Yo),” “Sinta,” “I Love You Na Lang Sa Tago,” “Christmas Bonus,” and “Basang-Basa Sa Ulan.”

One of its greatest hits, “Luha,” showcases Mercy’s stunning vocal prowess, which has since become a signature of the band’s sound.

ALWAYS A SINGER

During her downtime, when Mercy wasn’t performing, she indulged her passion for singing with videoke sessions.

On TikTok, she often shared videos of herself belting out various tunes, including “The Search is Over by Survivor,” “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri, “Ligaya” by Eraserheads, and “Uhaw” by Dilaw, among others.

However, when asked if she ever sang Aegis hits during these sessions, Mercy grinned and admitted that she avoided selecting her band’s songs just for a change.

“Parang, ‘Hala, Aegis pa rin?'” Mercy grinned, before citing The Carpenters, Abba, and Sampaguita as among the many artists whose songs she loved singing during videoke.

However, during family gatherings, Mercy often received requests from her nephews and nieces to sing Aegis songs—a request she happily obliged, adding to the fun and joy of the occasion.

To maintain her voice, Mercy followed the age-old practice of avoiding cold beverages, particularly when preparing for a performance.

FIGHT WITH SISTER JULIET

Juliet shared in an interview for Showbiz Pa More on Jeepney TV that she once got into a heated argument with Mercy over her preference for wearing sexy outfits on stage.

“Yung bago pa lang kaming Aegis, ayaw ko siya maging sexy,” Juliet recalled, pertaining to Mercy.

“Hindi siya nakinig sa akin, lalong tumaas ang boses, sinabunutan ko siya. So nagsabunutan kami,” Juliet candidly shared.

The two eventually patched things up, with Mercy adding, “Pero, pumayag na rin [siya] sa mga suot kong sexy.”

Make no mistake, though—the Sunot sisters shared a deep bond and their relationship as siblings have remained strong, refusing to let the pressures of show business come between them.

A DOTING MOM

The Aegis singer was a devoted mother to her two children, Meray and MJ.

Mercy often shared photos of herself with Meray and MJ, showcasing her pride and unwavering support as a mom.

Photo/s: Mercy Sunot (Instagram)

Mercy, however, never spoke about the father of her children, sparking speculation that she was separated and raising her kids as a single mother.

Her emotional posts dedicated to her children over the past months hinted at her health struggles and the difficulty of being away from her family.

On August 3, Mercy marked her daughter Meray’s 19th birthday with a heartfelt close-up video of them together.

“Happy 19th birthday sa unica hija ko,” Mercy wrote over the clip.

She continued, “Magkalayo man tayo nak, isipin mo d’yan lagi sa tabi si mama… Kakayanin lahat ni mama ang mga trials na binigay ni Lord sa akin.

“Lalaban ako para sa inyo ni MJ, ‘nak. Mahal ko kayong dalawa ni MJ, ‘nak. Magkasama din tayo soon…”

On September 1, Mercy put out her touching message to her son MJ on his 13th birthday.

“Happy 13th birthday, ‘nak. Sensya na, wala si mama sa tabi mo. Papagamot si Mama para makasama tayo habang buhay. Isipin mo lagi, mahal ka ni Mama. Kayo lang ang buhay ni Mama kaya ito, papagaling si Mama. Happy birthday, wishing you all the best.

“More birthdays to come. Stay healthy, ‘nak, and be a good boy always. Love you, miss you. Tiis-tiis muna si Mama dito.”

Sadly, she never got to be with her children again.

The video she posted on November 16, where she asked for prayers, turned out to be her final public message.