EVEN SHOWBIZ PEOPLE SEEM OBSESSED WITH POLITICS
by Alex Brosas, The Manila Times, October 17, 2002

QUALIFIED or not, popular or semi-active, celebrities nowadays are most often faced with this question: Are you running in the 2004 elections?

It is as if all celebritiesí eyes are set on a public office. As if most of them are really preparing themselves for a career out of show business.

Megastar Sharon Cuneta is undeniably one of the most asked celebrity we know of that question. She was asked about her supposed plan to run for Pasay City mayor even when her father, the late Pasay City Mayor Pablo Cuneta, was still very much the cityís chief executive, and was again asked the same question when he died a few years ago.

And then again, for the nth time, she was thrown the same question as soon as she arrived at the Isla Ballroom of EDSA Shangri-La Hotel recently for her solo press conference for Sara Lee. As the TV crew milled around her, she was inevitably grilled about her political plans. This emanated from a rumor that she is being convinced by the Lakas Party to join their fold and become their candidate for mayor of Pasay two years from now.

By that time, the megastar who is already so used to question, still managed to articulate herself and all smilingly answered the question just the same.

ìIf I feel that politics will just help me better the lives of other people because I have a very passionate heart for that like my father did, then Iíll do that. Pero, you know, itís not my priority right now. Funny nga eh, everyoneís writing about it. Everyoneís saying sheíll now announce her candidacy. I would do it on my own time if and when I get there,î she exclaimed.

Itís easy to understand why all these years Sharon is always asked about her political plans. One, people are still curious to this day if she will follow her dadís political footsteps. Two, sheís the most popular female celebrity, the most likely to win in any elective post. And since her predecessors, superstar Nora Aunor who ran and lost in her native Bicol, and Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos who was re-elected mayor of Lipa City, have trodden the political path, people assume she will simply follow their footsteps.

At the presidential table, the grilling on the megastar continued. She was asked all sorts of questions. Like if she was really using the products she pitches. If she had any man in her life who at one time during her relationship told her to tone down her makeup. Or what she thinks were her qualifications that prompted her to accept a cosmetic pitching assignment.

Sharon said she does use the products she endorses. When somebody asked her what among Sarah Leeís cosmetic line she has used on her face or body, Sharon stood up and reached out for a pack of eye makeup placed at her back. ìI use this because it works better for my eyes,î she exclaimed. Later, she admitted she has not used all Sarah Lee products sheís endorsing because she has not been given a full set yet which includes fragrances.

Almost in a banter, Sharon disclosed there was one boyfriend of hers who told her one time that she looked good in her light makeup. ìI took it from there, pero hindi naman puwedeng light makeup sa trabaho ko lalo na sa TV kaya I still wear them a little brighter.î

Oh yes, she has turned down several pitching assignments before because she didnít believe in the product. ìI have to believe in the product and I only endorsed products which I use,î she intoned.