Regene Odon Takes His Singing from Bayambang to Broadway

(photo from his Facebook page)

A boy who grew up in Brgy. M.H. Del Pilar, this town, has been steadily making a mark as a singer and stage actor of repute in Broadway. He is Regene Odon, now a resident of New Jersey, USA. And his latest feat is being cast as the lead of a well-known religious musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," which was staged last March in a New Jersey theater.

Regene Joshua 'Seven' Sendaydiego Odon comes from a musically and artistically inclined family on both sides. Now 22 years old, Regene is the son of Ringo Odon and Ma. Fe Sendaydiego. His grandfather Rene Odon was a well-known singer in town. His family was able to come to America because of his grandmother Remedios Mijares, who had immediate family members there.

According to his aunt Snooky O. Cuison, Regene was nicknamed Seven because he is Rene's seventh apo (grandchild). Apparently, singing well runs in the family, as he shares the same passion for singing with a number of siblings, cousins, and other relatives.

On his mother's side, he is the grandson of Generoso 'Gene' Sendaydiego Jr., who was a cartoonist/graphic artist for the popular tabloid, Balita, where he created the comic strip "Dorot," among other works in various publications. His lola, Rosita Duque Sendaydiego was a Spanish and English professor at the then Pangasinan State University-College of Education (now PSU-Bayambang Campus).

Already a veteran 'kontesero' (contest regular) as a young boy here, Regene had been a perennial singing contest winner in the US as well from the time he settled there with his parents when he was 8 years old. He discovered theater while studying in Monmouth Regional High School, and from there developed not just singing but also acting skills.

He continuously reaches new heights as he delivers one impressive performance after another. Pleasing audiences of mixed ethnicities with his breathtaking, steady vocals, he has appeared in many other musicals and plays staged by school and professional productions, such as "Pippin," "Kinky Boots," "Heathers: The Musical," "Alladin: The Musical," "In the Heights," "Seussical: The Musical," "Spring Awakening," "Footloose: The Musical," and "Shrek: The Musical."

Check out his past performances on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/seven0don/videos. Or type "Regene Odon" or "Seven Odon" on YouTube to see his earliest performances.