SARI-SARING SHARON STORIES

An artist paints a portrait of the Megastar as a true friend--up close, personal and heartfelt.

"That's why I'm a painter," she quips. Words faze her.

Artist Aleth Ocampo-Mapa, Senior Vice President of the Sari-Sari fashion empire, apologizes that she is at a loss for words, describing her more-than-a-decade-old friendship with Megastar Sharon Cuneta: "I don't know where to start because there's so much to say about her!"

Suffice it to say: "I'm pretty lucky because I was given the opportunity to know Sharon not as the Megastar but as a person."

With words as the colors on her palette, she paints a portrait of Miss Mega that is eloquent in its simplicity.

And in the process, she reveals the true, unexpurgated History of Choleng.

Choleng is one of Sharon's alter egos--actually, it's a nickname, courtesy of the Ocampos of Sari-Sari.

Sharon, you see, has accumulated just as many nicknames as acting trophies through the years. Friends have bestowed on her countless pet names: from the ordinary (Sha, Shasha) to the extraordinary (Zhingwing's Shawie and Missy, the root word of which is Miss C. or Ms. Cuneta).

And then, there's Choleng.

Atcheng Aleth recounts Atcheng Choleng's history, thus:

"I have known her for more than 10 years now," Atcheng Aleth begins her Mega-Story. (Atche is a Kapampangan term of endearment for sister.)

The first time Miss Aleth met Miss Shawie was in the Sari-Sari Store along Pasay Road in Makati City. "She was shooting Jack en Jill at that time and had her hair cut really short (to suit her character in the film)."

On a break from her hectic showbiz skeds, the country's one and only Megastar was having a leisurely snack with pals.

No, they were not having canapÈs and caviar . . .

"Sharon was killing time with us, eating merienda (afternoon snack): Pancho's famous barbecue, washed down with a liter of Coke," Aleth recalls.

Who is Pancho, inquiring minds would want to know?

Sharon herself has no idea. "I don't know him . . . it was just the name of the barbecue stall, a hole-in-the-wall eatery beside the Sari-Sari, Pasay Road branch."

Although Sharon never had the pleasure of meeting Pancho himself, she could still recall (vividly) the delectable scents and flavors of the barbecued goodies he prepared. "Delicious! We used to eat the barbecue with pan de sal," Shawie enthuses. "Small pieces of meat, but very sweet."

Back to Aleth's story . . .

Sharon met Aleth through the latter's cousins, her partners in the Sari-Sari company.

"We met in '86, and whenever I was in the area," Shawie reminisces, "the Pasay Road branch became a favorite hang-out!"

On one such visit to the Pasay Road store, Aleth, her cousins and the Megastar were shooting the breeze, just passing the siesta hours with a little chitchat.

"We were talking about our ambitions in life," Aleth remembers, "and she mentioned that she had always wanted to be a kahera (cashier) when she was a little girl."

You read it right. While the overachieving contestants of Little Miss Philippines wished of being a doctor or a Megastar, young Sharon simply dreamt of becoming a cashier.

"A young girl with her tita (aunt) came in the store," Aleth continues. "I whispered to Sharon: 'Here's your chance to fulfill your dream!' We made her the salesgirl-cum-cashier for the day." A title Shawie carried like a badge of honor.

"The young girl, needless to say, was so thrilled to have the Megastar help her choose from the display," Aleth relates. "And guess what!?! Sharon was able to close the sale!"

Everyone in the store was grinning from ear to ear, especially Sharon. Aleth looks back: "We told the young girl that the lady assisting her was not Sharon but our girl Choleng who was too excited she closed her first sale that she wrapped the item bought without knowing what it was or how much it cost!!!"

Hah!

Such Sari-Saring stories of Sharon, a.k.a. Choleng, bring only pleasant memories to Aleth and her family.

"Sharon is a fun person," Aleth attests. "She can easily adjust to whomever she's with."

Aleth remembers a particularly joy-filled trip to Boracay--timed with the taping of The Sharon Cuneta Show's summer special in 1996, just a week after she tied the knot with Kiko Pangilinan.

"Sharon was like a toddler, building sand castles by the shore," Aleth beams. "She played with my eldest daughter Isabel, whom she fondly calls Kumareng Chabeng."

Atcheng Choleng finally found a playmate in Atcheng Chabeng, Shawie's six-year-old kabarkada and kabalen (cohort and compatriot) in Boracay.

Atcheng Chabeng had so much fun with Atcheng Choleng "that the following year when my family and I went back to Boracay, my daughter was looking for Tita Choleng. She actually thought Sharon lived in the island!"

But more than the days of sunshine and laughter, real friendship is made more memorable (and resilient) during times of tears and trials.

On that note, Shawie has proven to be a sincere and devoted friend.

"Sharon is a very thoughtful and loving person," Aleth asserts. "What you see onscreen is genuine kindness and she's overflowing with charisma!"

Aleth recalls a specific, recent incident: "I was very touched when she visited my daughter in the hospital." It was because Sharon's playmate Isabel was downed by the dreaded dengue. "My cousin Mar-g Ocampo (Marni's younger sister) just sent her a text message and before we knew it, she was there by my daughter's bedside to cheer her up and to explain to her why mommy couldn't be there."

At that time, Isabel was confined at the Makati Medical Center, while Aleth was on the other side of town, specifically at the Cardinal Santos Hospital (in San Juan), having just given birth to second daughter (and future Mega-Godchild) Gabrielle.

"It really helped my daughter to recuperate and to understand the situation," Aleth states, evidently proud of her friend Shawie. "I was even surprised when she called the following day just to say hello! I'm aware that she has a very busy schedule, but she really goes out of her way to help or cheer up people she cares about."

That is Sharon, also known as Choleng, as a real friend. Up close and personal.