SHARON TURNS A 'MINI CONCERT' INTO AN EVENT
by Leah Salterio, Inquirer News Service, September 1, 2001

AFTER two overnight tapings for ABS-CBNís drama anthology, "Maala-ala Mo Kaya," Sharon Cuneta was probably overworked and suffered a throat problem which at first worried her since she was going to have a concert last Tuesday night.

But when she went out onstage and belted her first number, the voice was neither hoarse nor raspy. It was the distinct Sharon Cuneta voice singing her signature Tagalog hit, "Pangarap na Bituin" (from the movie "Bukas, Luluhod ang mga Tala").

The megastar performing live at Onstage in Greenbelt thrilled the hundreds of Sharonians in the audience. Midway into the song, the crowd rewarded her with a thunderous applause.

It had been years since Sharon last performed in a live concert. Her last major performance in a big venue was in her birthday concert at the Cuneta Astrodome in January 1995. She did an intimate show at Captainís Bar the year after that.

Sharon expressed her feeling in another song, "Overjoyed," a Stevie Wonder hit that she revived in her album. "This is exactly what Iím feeling tonight," she told the audience.

We particularly liked her medley of "Even Now" and "Somewhere Down the Road," two of Barry Manilowís greatest hits which Sharon recorded in the album "Nothing I Want More." She also sang the title track.

Robin Padilla was in the audience that night and Sharon did "Maging Sino Ka Man," the Rey Valera composition which was used as the theme of the Sharon-Robin movie of the same title.

Robin will be Sharonís costar in her next movie for Viva, which they will start filming next month.

It was indeed an intimate concert with no production numbers or fancy stage gimmicks. Sharon had her five-piece mega-band, led by Mel Villena, who is also the showís musical director, plus three back-up singers.

At one point, she went down from the stage to mingle with the audience, but fans swarmed all over her, so she had to go back.

Sharon at Onstage was supposed to be only a mini-concert, a free show meant to promote her latest album, "Nothing I Want More" from Viva Records. But Sharon also sang tunes not only from the album but also "songs that Iíve really wanted to sing."

The mood turned sentimental when Sharon did "If Iím Not in Love With You," a romantic ballad by Kathy Trocolli. Sharonís version was just as beautiful as the original.

Accompanied by guitarist Cesar Aguas, Sharon did an acoustic version of "Ikaw," which she dedicated to her hubby, Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan.

"The song has never felt more meaningful to me than now, when I have a love to go home to and a love to nurture forever," Sharon said.

"Ikaw" is the theme of her blockbuster movie with Ariel Rivera.

And how can "The Promise" not be included in the repertoire? As most everyone knows by now, "The Promise" is the theme of the Sharon-Kiko romance. It was also used as their wedding song.

Toward the latter half of the concert, Sharon crooned more songs she had always wanted to sing, like "Simply Jessie," South Borderís "Kahit Kailan" and the Basil Valdez original, "Kahit Ikaíy Panaginip Lang."

Sharonians should look forward to the megastarís next album which will contain all original songs. This time, Sharon will cut it for BMG Records (Pilipinas) and it will include a duet with Hong Kong music superstar Andy Lau.

Sharon ended the show with "Sanaíy Wala Nang Wakas," the "national anthem" of many Sharonians. The audience sang along in the refrain of the song which has been immortalized not only in her movie with Dina Bonnevie and Cherie Gil but also in many videoke bars.

Also in the audience that night were the megastarís family and relatives ñ Kiko, KC, Mommy Elaine Cuneta, parents-in-law Donato and Emma Pangilinan, Angeli Valenciano.

Zsa Zsa Padilla, one of Sharonís closest friends in show biz, was there, too, as well as hairdresser Fanny Serrano, who did Sharonís hair and makeup.

Sharon told us the next day she would have wanted to extend the show and sing more songs, but she was already feeling the pain in her throat. But she assured the crowd that night that a bigger concert will be mounted next year in a bigger venue, so more people can be accommodated.