SHARON DENIES PRO-ERAP CROWD BOOED HER
by ABS-CBNNews.com, March 20, 2001

QUEZON CITY (ABS-CBN) - Megastar Sharon Cuneta has denied reports she and the People Power Coalition (PPC) senatorial candidates were heckled by supporters of deposed president Joseph Estrada during the rally of her husband, lawyer-broadcaster Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan's party in Davao City Saturday night.

In an interview with ABS-CBN news program TV Patrol Monday, Cuneta said the perceived Estrada loyalists among the crowd of 30,000 may have made a turnaround during the rally because she only saw happy faces and waving hands when she took her turn onstage.

The movie and television icon sang her hit song Kahit Konting Pagtingin and afterward asked her enthralled audience to vote straight PPC.

"It was wonderful so I don't know why People's Journal had an inaccurate account of the rally. [The pro-Estrada group] supposedly threw something at me. That's not fair," Cuneta said.

According to Pangilinan, Sharon has consistently been one of his party's lucky charms in their nationwide campaign.

"Why, those who were flashing the thumbs down sign suddenly began flashing the "I love you" sign. So the ending was really nice. It ended on a high note," he said.

The prospective "mega-senator," however, refused to take all the credit for the warm response of the people to their campaign. He said his wife, for all the magic her charm and star power could weave in their campaign trail, was not the major secret weapon of the PPC.

"Even without her, you know, I'm surprised the reception of the people has been really good. I think they're excited because we represent change," Pangilinan said.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan said he and Sharon look forward to the day when they can make up for lost time at the homefront.

"I miss my wife so much. We're being very careful because if we can't help ourselves, Frankie might have a baby brother soon (laughs)," he said.

The "mega-couple" are doting parents to two daughters, three month-old Frankie and 16 year-old KC. KC is Cuneta's daughter with her first husband, former actor Gabby Concepcion.