AND THE WINNER IS...SHARON CUNETA
by Ricky F. Lo, The Philippine Star, August 8, 1999

The news is that there's no news at all.

No, Sharon Cuneta isn't infanticipating - yet - even she wants to be...desperately?

No, Sharon isn't leaving her ABS-CBN Sunday self-titled show (because it has been rating well, anyway).

No, Sharon isn't going back to the States to resume her shooling (which she started when she and husband Francis Pangilinan were in Boston in 1997).

But yes, Sharon is starting work on a movie (for Star Cinema).

Yes, she has put up her own recording company called Mega Music, which has just released her albumWhen I Love (carrying old love songs, like Both Sides Now which perfectly describes Sharon's current state of being).

And, yes, she's happily winning her continuing battle against the bulge.

In fact, Sharon is so proud of this "victory" that during this conversation at the Kimpura (Japanese restaurant) in Greenhills, she showed us safety pins stuck at her blouse and the pants at her back (meaning she fits into her old clothes again), "threatening" to try doing sexy role on of these days.

If there's a will, there's a way.

"It's a matter of discipline," says Sharon, 40 pounds lighter now.

Congratulations! You're winning your battle against the bulge.

(Stands up to show waistline) "I'm now into my 20s. Medyo high 20s nga lang, but I'm getting there. `Yung mid-20s ang medyo normal."

How many pounds have you lost so far?

"More than 40... since September last year. Until last April, my dieting wasn't tuluy-tuloy. I took it seriously only last April 1. No more stopping na talaga."

What are the no-no's?

"You just cut down on the fats. Don't combine carbohydrates with protein because that will make you fat. It's advisable to have small servings of everything but when you're dieting and, like me, you don't have the luxury of time because I have to work... I have to lose weight pa so I can work comfortably... then you have to do it drastically. I do take bread but it's wheat bread. Only one piece a day. Chicken naman three times a week without the skin."

Is it a doctor-guided diet?

"It's a medical diet. For breakfast, it's suha with a slice of toasted wheat bread. Every single day ganoon. Taken with coffee with non-fat or low-fat milk. For lunch, iba-iba. Some days, ang lunch ko fruits lang; some days, tuna; kung minsan naman, two eggs lang (scrambled with tomato, yolk included). I don't believe in the no-food-after-six diet. For dinner, once a week I can have lamb or steak. But chicken most of the time. No fried food for me."

No workout?

"Treadmill... right at home. It`s the perfect workout for me because I love watching movies -- and reading. I watch movies or read while doing the treadmill, between 30 minutes to one hour everyday. I used to be a couch potato. Not anymore!"

So you've never resorted to any artificial means...

"... such as Bangkok Pills? No, never! I never took Bangkok Pills and I want to make that clear. I have nothing against lipo but I haven't tried it yet. I hope I will never have to. Some people think ang bilis-bilis ng weight-reduction ko and they suspect that I'm into some artificial means. No, I'm not."

You're really working hard at it...

"... I have to! There's still such a thing as discipline. I've been warned not to take the easy way out. You know what I mean."

For somebody who loves to eat, it must be quite a sacrifice.

"You know what, it was hard during the first four days. After that, madali na. Eventually, your stomach adjusts itself to your food intake. Did I get dizzy in the beginning? No, I did not. There are times nga when I don't even realize na wala pala akong dinner."

Do you have to take meals at fixed hours?

"Not necessarily. Sometimes, when I wake up late, I just skip breakfast. Kung minsan, I give myself a break. Like now. I forget my diet for a while. You know what, I'm obsessed with my weighing scale. I weigh myself all the time! Now, I can show my toes again (lifts leg like a ballet dance right where she`s seated). Dati, hindi ko makita ang toes ko. Now, I love to dress up again!"

You're doing all these, of course, for your career...

"... and the baby. But for whatever it is, it's nice to be fit. I like to go out now, unlike when I was fat when I preferred to stay in the house."

Has your hypothyroidism (which slows down metabolism) been cured?

"Yeah, it's okay na. My blood-sugar level was also bordering on diabetic and that, too, has been checked. Everything is normal already. Incidentally, I want to make it clear that I've never been affected by a bad write-up or someone saying, `Ang taba mo daw!' I would say, `Totoo naman, eh!' But the minute I make a decision, that's it. `Yon na `yun."

Isn't it a delayed decision?

"It is... maybe because I was depressed over the loss of my baby (Actually, Sharon suffered two miscarriages. -- RFL). I took it easy. I knew that I wasn't shooting any movie right away, so pabandying-bandying lang ako. At saka, I was away (in Boston) for a year and when I came back, sabik na sabik ako sa Filipino food."

Do you, like some people, eat more when you're depressed?

"It depends. In the past, when I had a boyfriend who made me cry, hindi ako kumakain. I think I became fat when I was happy and contented -- with my husband. You know, I'm not really doing it not so much for Francis or for anybody but for myself. When you do it that way, it works. Besides, my husband doesn't care whether I'm fat or thin. True love talaga. He loves me just the same no matter what my weight is. I used to be heavier than him; now, I'm lighter. My husband is six-feet tall."

Now you're branching out to producing shows, one of them It's Fanny Day (featuring Sharon`s good friend and favorite make-up artist Fanny Serrano, Sundays at noon on Studio 23).

"It's a new show and we're not yet making money. But the show is picking up, and so is my show Sharon (late Sunday afternoons on ABS-CBN). Actually, my first production was a documentary (On her and Francis' life in Boston. - RFL) I did last year in Boston, with Rowell (Santiago) as director."

And you've just put up your own recording company, Mega Music...

"My first album under Mega Music is called When I Love."

Why did you think of putting up your own recording company only now?

"Yeah, that's what I'm also asking myself, `Why only now?' After more than 20 albums!"

What's so special about When I Love?

"You should read the dedication that I wrote. It says, `After Mr. DJ, this is the one that's really special. First, hindi namin tinipid. It`s a good mix -- a few revivals and new songs. I'm going back to my roots with this album. I'm doing an album of revivals soon, also for Mega Music. Viva Records is releasing my album. My deal with them is a label deal. I produce the albums and Viva distributes them." (When I Love was launched Sunday last week on ASAP -- RFL).

And your daughter Kaycee is having her debut as a singer on this album?

"Not really. That's one thing I also want to make clear. Kaycee is not going into recording (Yet? -- RFL). We call the the song Our Song and it`s not even a duet, contrary to some reports. I composed that song. Ano lang si Kaycee, parang counterpoint. Parang naglalaro lang kami during the recording. It`s just a bonus cut, not a selling point. The title of the song is really Starlight but we call it Our Song."

Don't you want Kaycee to go full-time into showbiz?

"Ayaw niya. Ayaw niya, e! She likes to sing; she wants to record daw but not in the Philippines. She`s now in high school and if ever she`s prepared to go into showbiz, why not? All I tell her is not to forget her studies. She wants to take up Marine Biology, abroad."

She should be your (showbiz) heiress.

"If ever she goes into showbiz, I want her to have her own identity. But I'd rather that she finish her studies (she enrolled in IS). You know what, fame and fortune did not immediately bring me happiness, okay? I`d like my daughter to be happy before anything else. Magulo ang showbiz ngayon. Mahirap na baka mabola lang siya. Malay mo, baka makulong ako kapag nakapatay ako. If you hurt my daughter, I'll kill you! No, loko lang. I'm just joking!" (Thinks awhile) "Now I understand how my Mom felt during those years when I was a teenager. My parents were over-protective. I'm also over-protective and very strict with Kaycee but I'm more understanding; maybe because our age gap is very small, only 19 years! (Kaycee is 14. -- RFL) We're more like friends. I encourage her to confide in me, to be open with me, to share her secrets with me."

What do you usually talk about?

"About her life, her growing up, her father (Gabby Concepcion now based in San Francisco but who might make a movie comeback one of these days. -- RFL) `Yung pinagdaanan ni Kaycee, ni sa pangarap hindi ko nadaanan `yon! You know how kids put up their defenses when they are in their early teens? My daughter put up her own at age 2. What happened between her father and me really affected her. Even in school, they would tell me at that time. But I saw my daughter change. She has become strong. There`s no problem between her and her dad. I encourage Kaycee to communicate with Gabby. I like to think that I brought her up properly. It shows in the way she is, She's well-rounded."

Kaycee was never bitter towards Gabby, was she?

"Never! If at all, I encourage her to communicate with her father and that she keeps her relationship with him and not have any ill feelings towards him; it's not for Gabby; it's for Kaycee. Kasi pag namatay ako, siya ang magdadala n'un, e! I didn't want Kaycee to grow up with bitterness. And I know naman that Gabby loves her. Hindi nga lang siya nagkaroon ng opportunities to show it."

Do you think Gabby can still make it if he returns to the movie?

"Oh, yes, he can. He`s a good actor, anyway. But first, he has to come to terms with himself. Gabby, as I've said, is a good actor and the industry needs good actors like him. But maybe he's scared to come back... I don't know."

Basically yata Gabby is emotionally weak, or so some people close to him say.

"I don't know now. But during our time, I'd say he was... gullible! (Laughs and laughs) He was overly-generous with his affection, but not to me all the time, unfortunately. But I like to think that he has grown up. After all, we're now into our 30s. But you know what, from the bottom of my heart I really wish him happiness. I really do."

Would you do a movie with him if and when?

"I would. But it's not a priority. I don't see anything wrong with it. We are two professional actors. But I just hope that when it does happen, people will not make a big thing out of it."

Very obviously, you've found true and, hopefully, lasting happiness with Francis.

"You know one of the greatest secret of a happy marriage is laughter. You have to laugh a lot. That`s what Francis and I do -- we laugh a lot, along with Kaycee. We exchange ideas; we grow together. We both love to read a lot." (Read Girlie Rodis` column The Reading Club) on Page L-18 of the Sunday Life. -- RFL)

You never fight?

"We do, we do. Over small things lang naman, like, `How come you didn't call me? You know, small things like that."

Maybe you've been reading a lot, talking to each other a lot, that's why you forget that you want to have a baby -- desperately?

"Not really. Don't let my husband fool you. He's not as timid as you think he is. But we're working at it - very hard. Doctors in the States have checked both of us and we're okay daw naman. I guess it`s only a matter of time."

While waiting for the script of your next movie (presumably with Richard Gomez under Star Cinema, with direk Olivia Lamasan who directed her in the megahit Madrasta, the 1997 drama which won for Sharon a Best Actress grand slam), what are you busy with aside from your TV show and your When I Love album!

"I'm going on a provincial concert tour, something I haven't done in 10 years na siguro. I'll be in Cebu on Aug. 21, in Bacolod on Aug. 28 and in Dagupan on Sept. 4. I'm excited because I haven't done this here in a long time."

And, of course, the baby.

"My attitude now is, if God wills it, well and good. Bahala na ang Diyos kung bibigyan Niya ako ng baby. But if He would, sana naman bago mag-debut si Kaycee may kapatid na siya. Sana naman!"