THE NEW SHARON
by Walden Sadiri, The Manila Bulletin, February 20, 2000

Sharon's previous weight almost reached 200 lbs. She had a hard time breathing especially at bedtime. This scenario scared her. And soon she found herself in front of a mirror asking what she was doing to herself. That was her turning point and in an instant she decided to lose weight. Now she could easily fit in the same dress size as her daughter's waistline: 26.

Sharon Cuneta did have a simple dream ó to sing, to act, to be popular, meet the guy of his dreams, settle down and leave show business. But like the saying goes, ìwe donít usually get what we want.î So, before she knew it, she became the ìmegastarî of Philippine cinema and television. Her movies were box-office hits and she emerged as an icon adored by the moviegoing public. Her TV shows on the other hand, captured her versatility in the entertainment business as she displayed adeptness as a host. She has also sold thousands and thousands of music albums since she first launched her debut album in the 80ís. She never left showbiz and she has been in the business for more than 20 years.

Blessed is how the ìmegastarî describes her life and careerís path. Her happy disposition in life is the result of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years of love she has received (and also given) from her parents, brother, relatives and friends. And now she has her husband Francis Pangilinan to add bundles of joy and love in her life. Raising her teenaged daughter KC also has always made her life blissful.

ìI was blessed because all these composers kept dumping songs on me. I was really blessed. Just like when I started making movies, I was handled by Eddie Garcia, Leroy Salvador, Lino Brocka and now these new stars will never learn from them. When I look back, I feel Iím really blessed. One dream of mine that has not been fulfilled is working with Aga Muhlach,î Sharon shares.

Even before she entered showbiz, Sharon has been confident of the kind of life she would lead. She knew back then that she would never have to be burdened by the food she would eat, the clothes she would wear and even the house she would live in. Coming from an affluent family, she was living a life and but not surviving it.

Being rich though had its drawbacks when she decided to enter showbiz. Because of her familyís connection, she had to work more than twice the effort of aspiring actresses and singers, just to convince people that she was a hard worker and had talents to boot. She of course has proven to be a very hardworking person with regards to her career. Otherwise, she wouldnít have earned the ìmegastarî title!

The other blessings that came Sharonís way lately were her new movie under Star Cinema with erstwhile boyfriend Richard Gomez entitled ì Minsan, Minahal Kita,î and of course her now slim physique.

Directed by Olivia M. Lamasan who co-wrote the screenplay with Ricky Lee, ìMinsan, Minahal Kitaî is the much awaited follow-up to ìMadrastaî (1996) and ìIniwan Mo Akoî (1997). Among the special aspects of this Sha-Goma film project is the fact that Sharon is playing a role she has never played yet - that of a mistress!

ìIf Iím going to do just one movie, I donít want it to be just another formula-fun movie because it is my first in over two years. And this story was presented to me during the time of ëMadrastaí in 1996. But I wasnít ready to work then with Richard because I was newly married, I was leaving for Boston and I was fat. So I couldnít do another movie even if I wanted to. And the people from Star Cinema brought it up again and they gave me the first treatment and it was beautiful and I said sure. I think it would be better to do a memorable one if Iëm going to do just one after sometime.î

Slated to open on Feb. 23, Star Cinemaís ìMinsan, Minahal Kitaî has been chosen as the closing premiere of Mowelfundís annual ìPelikula at Lipunan Film Festival,î ongoing at the SM Megamall Cinema 9 and 10, on Feb. 22 at 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. while it will hold another advance screening on the same date at Cinema 6 of Glorietta 4, Ayala Cinema, Makati.

ìMinsan, Minahal Kitaî focuses on the lives of two decent people Albert (Richard Gomez) and Diane (Sharon Cuneta) who love their respective families and are doing everything to keep their marriages intact. But fate brought them both closer to each other as they accidentally kept bumping to one another in different places. Alas, a simple spark has lighted a forbidden love affair!

What the ìmegastarî is also proud of these days is her ìwhistle-baitî figure which has made headlines. It became the talk of the town that drew various speculations on how she lost weight. Some say she took ìBangkok Pillsî while others assumed she was taking another kind of drug. There were a variety of stories regarding her weight lost that even Sharon herself never knew of. But the most important thing is that she did it her way with 3Dís - discipline, diet (by choosing what she eats) and donít cheat philosophy.

ìI started losing weight, just for the record, before the movie started. Itís just that I took it really seriously during the filming already. Thatís my first movie in a long time and my audience misses the old Sharon and I miss me too. And thereís no other time to do it but now. So I wanted to feel good about myself. And before the movie started I was already trying to lose weight months before the movie started for two reasons: to get pregnant easily and to carry the baby better if ever I do another movie.î

Sharon has also become tougher through the years. Her acting craft has already been recognized to the fullest with the many awards she has received. While she has been ensconced high on a pedestal, her feet however are firmly grounded. She truly has the drive and the passion needed to make a megastar. But below are snippets of the ìmegastarís point of views on her life, future plans and her career that could probably inspire those aspiring to become like her.

Q: Now that you are back, have you added a new criterion in choosing a movie project?

SC: Yeah. Of course I would always consider the storyline. Even before who is starring with me in the movie it has to be the story. I learned that from ìMadrasta.î Because before then even though I had good movies with Viva, of course we canít deny that, there were some that admittedly were based on a certain formula that I kept doing and doing even when I was starving for something different.

Q: But does your co-star has to have a big name like you?

SC: Not really. It depends also on the role of the leading man and roles of other people in the cast. Of course when someone offers me a project, they also want to make sure that my co-actors are gonna be good actors.

Q: Does your husband play a role in the decisions you make on the kind of movies you pick?

SC: You know, before we got married I talked to him. I told me that when he met me I was already an actress and it just so happen that thereís a shortage of leading men. And the few leading men around a couple of them are my exís and I would have to work with them and not only with them I have to work with other actors, I would probably kiss them if the role calls for it, I probably have to do some love scenes. So he said fine. I told him this is my work and I built it over, at that time, two decades already. Obviously I have to work and I hope you accept that because thatís fine with me and thatís part of my life and thatís the person I am. And he said sure. Because I think I would not have agreed to marry someone who would have said ok Iíll marry you but afterwards you have to change the person you have been and adjust to the person you have been.

Q: They say that your losing weight is attributed to the preparations you and your husband are taking to make baby?

SC: It is.

Q: So what are the preparations that you are taking in becoming pregnant?

SC: None kasi we donít have a problem in getting pregnant. My doctor said when I lost the two babies it just really happened. Because I was really healthy and because of the first miscarriage my doctor was really making bantay, I was getting ultrasound check-ups every week more often than the normal pregnant lady. Then the heartbeat just stop at 11 weeks. There was just no reason according to my doctor because I was really taking care of myself and I was working that time.

Q: How about your schedules now? Will you lessen them?

SC: Yeah, I have to lessen them. I just have to make a deposit into the bank account of my career. I wanted to give them a movie to remember me by in case I get pregnant and I disappear for a year. Even my TV show my bosses are prepared that in the event that I get pregnant they have to replace it with another show because my doctor really demanded that I rest the minute I find out.

Q: Now that you are slimmer are there new priorities that should go with your new figure?

SC: Well I hadnít had the chance to work out since filming became very hectic. Thatís what I intend to do. I was doing the treadmill before the movie started regularly, religiously everyday from 30 minutes to an hour. So I intend to go back to that.

Q: What are your other priorities?

SC: You know it is really just the baby, we just want to try it. It wonít hurt to try but if the Lord doesnít will for us to have a child I have no problem with that.

Q: Are you nervous about the movie?

SC: You know, I am. First of all it is not just my first movie after two years, it is the first movie that Richard and I have done in close to seven years. And it is a different theme. This is the first time that Iím playing a mistress, an unfaithful wife. It is a beautiful film. These things go through your head whether they will accept me in this role. And itís my first for so long! And my last for sometime. I was talking to the director and I told her that this must be the most draining movie Iíve had in years. And Iíve done all physically demanding movies you know with action stars or ëMadrastaí which was emotionally draining. This was all together, mentally, physically, and emotionally! The late hours, the schedule was horrible, incredible I didnít know how I managed to live through it!

Q: Why did your director say that you were able to relate immediately with your character? Was it because of past experience?

SC: No because it was a mistress. And I was never a battered wife. I was battered emotionally and mentally. But I tell you now no one can lay a finger on me because Iíll shoot him! My father taught me that ëwhen a man lays a finger on you, leave him right away because he will just get worst!í Since she directed ëMadrastaí also thatís what we compare it to. ëMadrastaí was more of controlled. This role of Diane is a bit closer to my personality, natataranta, cooky, busy, always on her toes, always forgetting something. Iím not forgetting something always in real life but Iím closer to her than my character in ëMadrasta.í So I think thatís based on that. But Iíve been hurt a lot of times. I know what hurt means and I know it probably better than my mom does. I understand the word. I was able to identify with her because probably I had a different kind of suffering in my first marriage. She was suffering from her first marriage here and then trying to put up a brave perfect front. I did that. Then she falls in love. You know it was a series of decisions she has to make and sheís a good girl that kinda tripped.

Q: Did you suddenly become a health buff?

SC: Hindi naman. I just cut down fat from my diet, I cut it out. You know what I go on a diet and then I take a break. For example my diet is like this: If I eat chicken, Iíll get something thatís roasted or broiled and before I eat it Iím going to remove the skin because thatís where all the fat is. And I donít have snacks, I just have breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Q: Did you hire your own nutritionist or personal trainer to help you lose weight?

SC: Wala. I based it on a book. It is basically high protein diet. Itís balance. I have carbo in the form of wheat bread because I donít eat rice. I can have beef, lamb, chicken but it is on certain days. I canít have them everyday. I have fruit and I have veggies. So it is a good diet thatís why I was able to stick with it. Itís almost over a year about 16 or 17 months. On and off, on and off. I was able to stick to it because itís easy. Nakakahiyang ma-break

Q: Has your diet rubbed on your daughter KC?

SC: Yeah, she is also health-conscious and I told her na rin. I said ëHija when I was your age my mother just kept on giving us the rich kind of food because my mom is Pampango so to us eating together is more than eating. It is communing and sharing. The high point of my everyday life especially during my childhood was always meal time. Because when you eat it has always been good memories, good conversations, good feelings and it is communing and not just eating. To us it is a major part of life. We always put special attention to it. My point lang is my mother didnít say that when you eat all these foods youíre going to get fat. So I tell her to watch it while sheís young. Sheís pretty good with herself. Sheís very athletic. Sheís in the swim team and soccer team of I.S. She has always been athletic like her father.

Q: How is it raising her? Are you over- protective?

SC: Actually no, because Iím only 19 years older. So thereís not much of a generation gap. On her debut Iím only going to be 37.The problem is more on remembering where and when to draw a line. Kasi I also have to be an authority figure because sometimes we become too much like friends or sisters. Sometimes I have to remind her that Iím also her mom and that she can not do this or do that for her own good. Iím not really strict and I give her a lot of leeway for her to make decisions. Iím protective but not overly.

Q: But how about her choices of male friends?

SC: She tells me about her crushes. Sheís turning 15. Iíd rather have it like that than my daughter hiding it from me. Iíd like to be there to guide her when she needs me. I donít want her to keep secrets and then not know what to do and then follow the advice of her friends who have nothing better to say because they are the same age. But she is pretty smart and she knows what she wants. So I just remind her to make sure to find someone who loves her, respects her, will take care of her and thereís no excuse for irresponsibility as far as Iím concerned. If thereís a guy who doesnít study and respect his parents, he is not responsible and he is not a good guy. And she knows that naman. I also tell her that her mother got hurt because she didnít follow her mother so she should be smart enough to follow me.

Q: Are you fearful that you might be telling your fans that it is OK to be a mistress through the movie?

SC: Ah no. Olive and I was saying that we donít want people thinking that we are glorifying adultery because it is not the point of the movie. Thereís a redeeming factor at the end of the movie. We are not glorifying it at all. Kasi ang stereotype people who have affairs are bad people. They just really are philanderers and the women are lose. Itís the year 2000 and it happens to the best of us. This is the mystery of love that you can not control.

Q: In the movie you used your weight problem as part of your character. Why did you incorporate your fatness in the movie?

SC: Well, sabi ni direk sumabay naman kasi the affair spanned a period of 14 years. Thatís why it started in the 80ís. Medyo losyang siya but when the affair started she was looking a bit better. Thatís why I was also confident while I was dieting and losing weight. I was confident that thatís where the character was going.

Q: After this movie, did you realize any truth to the old saying ìmasarap ang bawal?î

SC: Aba depende. In this case and in this story it is genuinely real love. It is not just a fling thing, letís have an affair because Iím bored. It is not like that. They find each otherís great love in each other. They just came at a wrong time.

Q: What do you think a couple should do to prevent these things from happening?

SC: It is not all outer appearances, it is not all material things. As you grow older you donít think anymore ëis my boyfriend cute, does he have a nice car, stuff like that. What you think about is if this person is responsible, is this a loving person, will he be a loving person, will he be a good father, a good husband, does he respect his parents because usually if a man loves his mom, heís gonna turn out to be a good husband. In a marriage I think the line of communication should never really bogged down. It should always be forever open because thatís really the key. If you are happy you have to be able to express it. If you are sad you have to be able to vent it. If you are angry you have to have a partner, a bestfriend in your spouse. And of course you can have all these factors but of course the most important thing is that you are flat on your face in love! You are good friends and you laugh. I think laughter is an important ingredient in marriage. You should also have at least the same basic interests. Like kami we are basicallly just domesticated. We like staying at home and we live a very quiet existence. We like reading, watching movies, talking. My friends have to drag me out of the house otherwise Iíll never see the light of day because Iím always inside.

Q: How does it feel working with Richard after a long while and what are the changes in him as an actor?

SC: Well of course we are more mature now. We have known each other for almost a good one third of our lives. And you know we really had something very beautiful together before and that can be good or bad if you are going to work together. You have to consider that because a movie is a very public thing. And we have spouses now that we really donít want to hurt. So when we started this movie, we were really uncomfortable probably because we were more conscious that everyone was watching. We were just really doing what the director said. Richard is more mature now. His priorities have changed. He is a better version of his old self.

I was blessed because all these composers kept dumping songs on me. I was really blessed. Just like when I started making movies I was handled by Eddie Garcia, Leroy Salvador, Lino Brocka and now these kids who are acting now will never learn from them. When I looked back Iím blessed. One thing that dreamed of working with na lang is Aga.

Q: With all your blessings, donít you get bored with your career?

SC: No, thatís why they are negotiating an Asian thing because thereís really no where else to go here is there? Thereís no where else to go except that I want to work with Aga or Ate Vi, Tito Dolphy, Ate Guy.

Q: What would you advise aspiring young actresses and actors?

SC: You know, everything is a matter of attitude. When I have a full day and I was already dreading it, I attack it like this, when I wake up I want to be in a good mood. Everything in life is a matter of attitude. It is your choice. So me I say one down so next, Iím like that. And a lot of kids nowadays have so much, they are a different breed. Maricel, Pops and I knew the value of work. We knew we wanted to be something and something. Pops became the concert queen, Maricel is one of the best actresses here and we knew what we needed to do in order to get that. We have to work hard. We have to get along with our co-workers. It is simple and it is common sense.