FOCUS ON SHARON CUNETA
by Inday Badiday, Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 13, 2001

ABOUT a month ago, I started a series spotlighting on actors who have either entered politics or are planning to. So far, I have featured Superstar Nora Aunor and Star for all seasons Vilma Santos.

This week I resume the focus with none other than Megastar Sharon Cuneta. Sharon or ``Shawie,'' as she is fondly called by her fans and people from the industry, has consistently denied in the past any plans of running for public office.

But being the daughter of the late Mayor of Pasay Pablo Cuneta and wife to Atty Francisco Pangilinan, the possibility of Sharon eventually pursuing a political career is not at all far-fetched.

I have known Sharon for years and I believe that if she finally decides to serve people (not that she hasn't already done so privately), she would certainly be up to the task.

My first recollection of Sharon was way back in the '80s. In one of my radio shows for Broadcast City, I came across her first record ``Mr. DJ.'' At the time, she was this neophyte singer being pushed by Vicor Records. To be honest, I didn't think much of her voice, nor her potential to storm the industry the way she did. I thought she was just average, pretty and talented, but not on par with her contemporaries.

The second time I heard about Sharon was when Helen Gamboa (Sharon's aunt) called me to invite me to interview Sharon during her birthday (Jan. 6) for ``See-True.'' However, since I was still exhausted from the holidays, I politely declined.

It was when Sharon promoted her ``Dear Heart'' movie on my TV show that I finally got the chance to scrutinize this girl who was being hyped up by Viva. Earlier, I had already met her when we both guested on ``Spin-a-Win.''

Looking at her, my initial impressions were confirmed. She was nothing special (or so I thought), just an ordinary girl trying her luck in show biz's sea of wanna-be. At best, I thought she was a spoiled brat who'd probably shine for sometime and then fade into oblivion as new and ``better'' talents came along.

I thought more of her partner and future husband, Gabby Concepcion, who was obviously star material and had the added edge of being groomed by Mother Lily as the next big thing. History later showed Sharon overtaking Gabby's star, and everyone else's for that matter.

To say that I didn't see Sharon's rise to mega-fame is an understatement. How terribly wrong I was! Time and fate eventually proved Sharon to be the star to beat in the '80s and beyond. She eventually ``annihilated'' her competition and put herself in the same stature Nora and Vilma had during their time.

With her trademark api-apihan roles winning the hearts of the masses and by spearheading a wave of hysteria among movie fans and breaking box-office records year after year, Sharon was proclaimed the megastar (rightfully so!).

And to think that Sharon did it in all four media (movies, television, recording and concert scene)--a feat unmatched to this day.

But I'm getting ahead of my story. I became close to Sharon years before the hoopla, just about the time she and Gabby became an item (both reel and real) right after ``Dear Heart.''

She'd often drop by the studio right after my radio show to update me on her love life. That's when I discovered that this girl was an interesting talker. Though we only shared small talk, I realized that Sharon could talk about anything with intelligence, was tactful and diplomatic, and had a special gift for winning people's hearts (mine included).

Through the years, I kept track of Sharon's activities and romantic affairs. She and Gabby eventually broke up and moved on to other relationships, only to end up in each other's arms once more. When I learned of their wedding plans, I was surprised.

I remembered Sharon telling me in one of my interviews with her that she wanted to wed when she reached the ripe age of 25. And there she wasójust 18 and about to get hitched! Nevertheless, I was happy for the couple.

As the date of the wedding loomed closer, Sharon and Gabby's movie ``Sa Hirap at Ginhawa'' were also slated to open in theaters. At the last minute, Viva Film's Vic Del Rosario called me to plan a gimmick for the movie just in case the magic of their loveteam had been affected by the announcement of Sharon and Gabby's wedding.

Quickly and with good intentions, I immediately put together footages of Gabby and Sharon's affair with Janice and Rowell, with the idea of showing the fans that, no matter what, the two eventually ended up together at last.

But when Sharon and Gabby saw the footage, they were furious--perhaps they didn't understand the idea behind it (though I did a voice-over explaining its meaning). Viva denied having a hand in what happened and so for sometime my relationship with the couple became strained.

However, since this is a small industry and we kept bumping into each other (she had to promote her movies on my show), our ``gap'' eventually died a natural death. Besides, Sharon has this way of winning people to her side. Soon, we were friends once more.

For a while, I thought Sharon and Gabby's marriage would last. Sharon was a devoted wife and mother to both Gabby and KC. I remember visiting Sharon at their house, where she demonstrated how she prepared pasta for her family for my ``At Home With The Stars'' segment. They seemed happy then and contented.

Unfortunately, like most show biz marriages, Sharon and Gabby's ended in separation. It was such a big blow to their fans. I remember one of their fan clubs, the called Exclusive Mothers of Sharon and Gabby, giving out stampitas to everyone and pleading to people to pray that Gabby and Sharon would patch up their differences.

But it seemed God had other plans for the two. The marriage was eventually dissolved. If not for Sharon's strong faith in God, I believe Sharon would have gone crazy. She was so in love with Gabby even after their separation that her hurt was palpable on screen (albeit silently) every Sunday on ``The Sharon Cuneta Show.''

During those times, Sharon would advise me not to ``give your 100 percent to the person you love, no matter if you're head over heels in love. Magtira ka naman sa sarili mo para hindi ka gutay-gutay kung hindi mag-work out. In love, you should not open all your doors. You should leave one closed and make sure that you are the only one who can open it.'' In time, I realized the truth of her words and applied the same rule to myself.

Destiny again smiled on Sharon when love knocked on her door a second time. It happened when she attended the wedding of Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan. Loveless for sometime, she arrived without knowing that it would change her life. It was really a case of being at the right time, at the right place.

There, Sharon captured the heart of one of the country's most brilliant lawyers, Atty. Kiko Pangilinan, and that eventually led to the altar and to a blissful life, as all fairy tales go.

But life could not be all roses. Soon, another blow, crueler than the first, almost crushed Sharon. Although Sharon had known for sometime that her Dad (who was suffering from an illness for years) could join our Maker anytime, his demise was still painful to her.

But, ever faithful, Sharon told me long before Mayor Cuneta's passing away ``I'm giving everything to the Lord. I'm resigned to the thought that my father will leave me one of these days. I will still be shattered when that happens, but I know that he will give me the strength to accept the change.''

Today, Sharon is so blessed and strong as a person. She learned a lot from her past relationships and has been rewarded a thousandfold. Despite her stature, she is humble and shows compassion for people (minus the publicity).

As a mother, she's a disciplinarian ad does not spoil KC at all. She has a soft spot for people who have been loyal to her, like her Yaya Loring whom she treats like an aunt. Of course, she regards her mom, Elaine, even more fondly and is closer to her than before.

As a friend, Sharon is smart, sensible and values her friends even off-camera. She listens to you and is always willing to help you out. It may seem that Sharon chooses her friends carefully but that's because she doesn't want anything negative surrounding her life. She's sometimes too trusting, but that's because she wants to please people as much as her values and principles will allow.