SHARON CUNETA: BIRTHDAY SUITE
by Mario E. Bautista, People's Insider, January 16, 2002

Sharon Cuneta came to the studio where Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is being taped in a flimsy outfit that revealed she is really winning her battle with the bulge.

"I've already shed around 50 lbs. and I need to lose about 10 lbs. more to get back to my former shape," aniya.

Maraming nagtatanong kung ano ang ginawa niya.

"It's actually a matter of discipline. Natatawa nga ako dahil, sabi ng iba, nagpa-liposuuction daw ako. Tignan mo nga ito," hinawakan niya ang kanyang tiyan at puson, "ayan at ang mga taba ko nga rito, hindi pa rin maalis-alis hangang ngayon. Ganyan ba ang nagpa-lipo? Pero honestly, I'm considering it, just to get rid of the fats in my waistline na hindi na maalis ng dieting and exercise. Ang problema is the time because my schedule is so full. E, kailangan daw roon, mga two weeks kang pahinga after the lipo."

So she has never resorted to any artificial means to lose weight?

"No, never. I have to make a lot of sacrifice because you know naman how much I love to eat. Inggit na inggit nga ako kay Amy Austria when we were doing Pagdating Ng Panahon because she is so slim. May mga tao talagang kahit kain ng kain, hindi tumataba. E, kami, nasa lahi ng Mommy ko na tumingin lang sa pagkain, ayun, 10 lbs. agad ang nadaragdag. Inggit din nga ako kay Mama (Hele Gamboa, kapatid ng Mommy niyang si Eleaine Cuneta.) dahil she has maintained her figure.

Sobra naman kasi mag-work out 'yun, e. May sariling gym. Ako, hanggang treadmill lang, at sa bahay pa. It's the perfect way to exercise for me because i can do it while watching TV-or movies on VCD."

Ang pagkain daw talaga ang binawasan niya.

"For breakfast, it's grapefruit or suha with a slice of wheat bread. Then l drink low fat milk. Lunch ko, tuna, or fruits lang. For-dinner, I have chicken - usually, without the skin, then once a week, lamb or steak. And definitely, no fried foods for me. Bawal ang mga prito-prito diyan because I have to cut down on the fats."

Pero sa taping ng Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, where she won P1 million, may sumptuous buffet table na inihanda ang staff pare sa pagiging special guest niya, along with Sen. Juan Flavier and Rufa Mae Quinto for the show's special Christmas episode. Hindi rin naka-resist si Sharon na tikman ang iba't !bang dish na nakahain doon.

"Okay lang ito dahil hindi naman ako nag-lunch," aniya. "At hindi na rin ako magdi-dinner."

Pagkatapos kumain doon, type niyang kumain pa ng McDonald's quarter pander at nagpabili siya. Kinain niya ang isang buong sandwich at naghati kami ng Viva corporate PR head na si Baby Gil sa isa pang quarter pounder. After eating all the food, humingi siya ng coffee.

Nang tinitimpla na ito ay tinawag ni Sharon si Yaya Loring, na tinutukso ng lahat na hindi na maabot dahil kasama na siya ni Sharon sa Fuji Film TV commercial and print ads

"Hoy, Take 1 lang si Yaya doon, huh," pagmamalaki ni Sharon. "Binigyan ko manu siya ng acting workshop bago siya humarap sa camera.

Maya-maya ay naalaala niya kung bakit niya tinawag si Yaya Luring. "Ay, yung Equal ko pala para sa coffee ko, pahingi."

Tapos ay humarap siya sa amin. "Ang plastic ko rin, ano? Nag-pig-out ako nang husto sa kakakain, tapos, pahinging Equal. Aba, five calories din 'yun."

Blessed

SHARON turned 36 noong Jan. 6. How would she assess the past year for her?

"All in all, in spite of all the gulo happening the world over, I would say that 2001 has been good for me and my family. I feel so blessed by the Lord. Maraming magandang nangyari sa amin. I launched my album of revivals sa Viva, Nothing I Want More, then I had to help my husband sa campaign and I'm happy. he was elected aS a senator. After that, my daughter KC recorded her first TV commercial for Human and I was a proud mother when I watched her play the role of Princess Sapphire in Little Mermaid four times. Talaga namang she improves each time I watch her. Also, my youngest daughter, Frankie, turned a year old. Then I was able to do a movie again, Pagdating Ng Panahon with Robin Padilla, which, thank God, did well at the box office and was shown for a month in some theaters.

"Maganda rin ang ratings ng talk show ko sa ABS-CBN and I launched a new album of all original songs sa BMG Records. Also, I opened my own outlet of Sari-Sari in Shangri-La Plaza which is doing well, kaya I really have a lot to be thankful for."

Noong Christmas vacation ay marami raw uling nag-alok ng projects key KC.

"Much as we would like na pagbigyen sila, hindi pwede, kasi may commitments pas siya kay Ben Chan ng Human to do personal appearances in various malls. Ben Chan is such a good and decent person, kaya hind namin siya puwvedeng baste talikuran. We have to honor our commitments with him. I'm really happy when I hear people say na KC has as the potential to be a big star. Pero honestly, I don't want her to go through what I west through in showbusiness. Lalo na ngayong the industry is going through a lot of difficulties. I'd rather she go to college and get a degree.

"Luckily, ayaw rin naman niyang mag-full-time sa showbiz at plano rin niyang after high school in International School, gusto niyang sa States mag-college. Pero hindi pa siya sure kung ano ang course na gust niyang kunin. There was a time gusto niyang mag-doctor, then maging marine biologist, pero sa ngayon, ewan ko na kung ano'ng gusto niya.

"By next year, KC is turning 18 at sabi ko, doon, makikialam ako. I want her to have a grand debut. By that time, I'll just be 37 years old dahil 19 lung ako when I gave birth to her. At sabi ko, kung magba-backless gown din ako. That is, kung hindi pa ako pregnant dahil gusto ko na rin namang masundan si Frankie bago ako rnaging 40 years old when it becomes more difficult to get pregnant."

Plans

"For 2002, I want to make more movies. I really missed acting kasi. After doing the light romantic comedy with Robin, I want to do a drama naman. Viva Films has prepared two projects for me. One pairs me with Aga Muhlach, it will be our first teamup kung matutuloy, and the other is with Cristopher de Leon. Bahala na kung aling screenplay ang mauunang matapos sulatin. Sabi ko, kung puwede, si Direk -Joyce Bernal uli ang magdirek, dahil naging magkasundo kami talaga while we were doing Pagdating Ng Panahon. By that time, nakapanganak na siya. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, ako na ang magpaparal sa anak niya hanggang college, pumayag lang idirek ang next movie ko."

Ano naman ang masasabi niya sa balak ng Regal Films producer na si Lily Monteverde na igawa si Gabby Concepcion ng movie opposite Maricel Soriano, na kukunan on location sa States?

"Welt, I'm happy for him, kasi he's really .a good actor naman. Sa akin, what happened between us is a thing of the past. I have moved on. I'm happy with Kiko now and our family, and so I also wish him well."