MEGA MOM, MODEL MOM
by Bayani S. San Diego Jr., September 8, 2001

Ulirang Ina 2001 joins her already-bustling mantle of trophies. But this latest honor, which pays tribute to her real-life role as wife-mother-daughter, is just as special (if not more so) than all her Best Actress trophies and Box-Office Queen tiaras combined.

A Day Before Election Day 2001

It was a Sunday, an ordinary family day for most people in the metropolis, but for 25 or so women, May 13 was a special day of honor.

That morning, they have dressed up in their Sunday's best and gathered their nearest and dearest, to attend an awards' ceremony that honored them as exceptional parents on Mother's Day. The 2001 Ulirang Ina Awards, presented by the National Mother's Day and Father's Day Foundation of the Philippines, Inc., had its annual festivities that Sunday morning at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City.

Among the honored mothers that day was the Megastar, Sharon Cuneta, Tanyag na Ulirang Ina (Popular Model Mom).

Just what could have been the thoughts racing through her mind as she sashayed up the stage, to receive her trophy, accompanied by her other precious "awards": daughters Kaycee and Frankie and husband Atty. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan (who was elected Senator the following day)?

Flashback to August 2000

Although she was five months on the family way, she was dutifully working, wrapping up taping for her weekly ABS-CBN 2 gabfest Sharon.

It was business unusual in the studio. The seemingly harassed scampering of PAs combined with the shrill affection of Sharonians in the peanut gallery made for sheer bedlam. Chaos, in a fun and festive way.

As everyone went about his or her business in the studio, Sharon silently sat in the set's comfy sofa (courtesy of Sari-Sari Pambahay, no less)--as if memorizing the episode's opening song or remembering a half-forgotten conversation from the past.

Then suddenly, from out of nowhere, there was a jarring boom from the speakers, an electric explosion that stunned everyone in the studio.

Including the happily infanticipating Sharon.

Although she was obviously rattled by the loud noise, she just as swiftly recovered and regained her composure, to reassure herself and the baby in her womb.

Gently patting her tubby tummy, she whispered, oh so mellifluously: "I love you, baby."

She has really gone through a lot, in her quest for motherhood.

The public knows only too well about the two miscarriages she had suffered in the past.

The public is also familiar with the almost heroic weight-shedding campaign she undertook for half a year. Yes, she went on a diet not just because she desired to look svelte onscreen, but because she was preparing for impending motherhood. And yet she didn't think twice about regaining all those pounds when she finally did become pregnant.

But the public is not privy to the battery of painful medical tests and treatments she underwent to ensure her baby's safety and the buckets of tears she wept when her father, former Pasay City Mayor Pablo Cuneta, passed away on her sixth month of pregnancy (September 27, 2000).

Those were the private tears of an expectant mother who was also a devoted daughter. Just like any woman you know.

Fast Forward to August 2, 2001

It was the press night of the Trumpets musical Little Mermaid at the Meralco Theater. Making her local theater debut that night was Mega-Daughter Kristina Cassandra Concepcion, in the role of Princess Sapphire.

When an inexplicably grownup and ladylike KC suddenly appeared onstage in her royal costume and with her just as regal bearing, the whole theater gasped in awe and amazement.

But the brightest (and proudest) face in the hushed and darkened theater belonged to KC's mom, Sharon who wept quietly and ceaselessly as KC sang and acted beautifully on stage.

Perhaps Sharon only recalled all those carefree days when KC was but a wee, toothless kid doing cartwheels and headstands and playing jackstones backstage. Or those cheery times when they did duets of "Part of Your World" at home and "Ikaw" for Mayor's birthday at the Philippine Plaza.

But back in Meralco Theater, Sharon was looking at KC with genuine, palpable pride. Her baby, now a fine lady, was not only Human's latest image model and the country's favorite cover girl, she was also the theater world's most promising discovery: a precious, priceless princess on stage.

Or as theater veteran Bernardo Bernadro quipped after KC's acclaimed performance: "A star is born!"

Back on Mother's Day 2001

As she accepted her Ulirang Ina trophy, with her pretty bundle of joy, her "miracle baby", Simone Francesca Emmanuelle Cuneta-Pangilinan (or simply Frankie) within reach, she beamed with pure, unmistakable joy, melting away all the fears and doubts, all the trials and tribulations of the past nine months.

It was sweetly poetic.

Sharon Cuneta, singer-actress-TV host, is first and foremost a mother. She can be a fierce lioness (a sharp shooter, as was made obvious in the movie To Love Again!), to protect her daughters. But she can also be an affectionate lamb (a giddy comic, as was made evident by the Onstage mini-concert!), to nurture her family.

So when she was bestowed with the Ulirang Ina 2001 award, she was quite understandably thrilled. Ulirang Ina 2001 was just one more award in an already-bustling mantle of trophies. But this latest honor, which paid tribute to her real-life role as wife-mother-daughter, was just as special and memorable (if not more so) than all her Best Actress trophies and Box-Office Queen tiaras combined.

She was among the youngest recipients of the honor, thus far. And she was sharing this year's stage, with 25 other admirable mothers from different fields and sectors, from educators to doctors, from lawyers to housewives, including businesswoman Belen Lovina Ticzon-Martel, operatic singer Sylvia La Torre, broadcaster-turned-Senator Loren Legarda, and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Needless to say, she was in good company.

Later that same afternoon, she again trooped back to the studio (after a quick nap), for a live edition of her Sunday evening talk show. Frankie didn't accompany her that time, though; the then-five-month-old baby was attending her first-ever children's party.

So, while mom Shawie was busy hosting a show on celebrated celebrity mothers (like Tingting Cojuangco, Loren Legarda, Che-Che Lazaro, Katrina Legarda, and Jullie Yap-Daza), baby Frankie was having a ball herself.

Like mommy, like baby.