UPDATES ON SHARON AND KC
by Nestore U. Torre, Inquirer News Service, June 27, 2001

ONE of the big questions being asked on the entertainment scene these days is whether or not Sharon Cuneta has finally given the go signal for her daughter KC to follow her footsteps and become a show biz star.

From no less than Sharon herself on last weekís "S-Files," the answer has finally come: Well, it depends! ñ Huh?

Yes, because sheís permitted KC to accept a multi-million-peso offer for her to become the image model of Ben Chanís Human chain of stores.

Yes, because KC is playing a major role in the restaging of the musical version of "The Little Mermaid."

But, not yet because, as far as the movies are concerned, Mommy Sharon would prefer that KC hold off before accepting any of the many juicy offers sheís received. Her hope is that KC will instead decide to study abroad.

Besides, when the talk turns to screen stardom, she thinks that KC would rather try her luck in Hollywood, rather than in our local photoplays.

And, even if KC would finally agree to act in a movie here, Sharon puts he foot down on her being part of a love team. "Look what happened to me sa kaka-love-team, love-team ko!," she wails.

Of course, veteran film fans remind Sharon that she started her recording and film career when she was only 14 years old, so that makes 16-year-old KC an old woman by comparison.

But thatís precisely Sharonís point: she feels that she made a big mistake when she entered show business before she was old enough to resist its many dizzying importunings, compelling her to get married at 18 and becoming a mother at 19.

Like any mother, she wouldnít want her daughter to make the same mistakes she did, so it would make her happy if KC held off for some more years before "going show biz" on a fulltime basis.

Of course, some people would tell her that mothers really canít protect their previous daughters from everything, that some mistakes have to be made on young show biz heiressesí road to their own superstardom.

Well, maybe when KC is 18? 21? ñ Older than that, never mind!

As for Sharonís own career, sheís trying to lose more weight so she can shoot her third film with Robin Padilla. She may also make a movie with Vilma Santos. No, it wonít be titled "The Senatorsí Wives" or "Future First Ladies"!

She continues to promote her new album. Itís already gone gold, but Sharon is right, an album by a major star like her should hit single platinum, at least, to keep her competitive.

What about babies? Yes, Sharon would like to have another child, late next year. She still has to reenergize her film career, which has been sidetracked for too long a time by pregnancy, added poundage and politics.

Her last words on KC: singing is fine, but on-camera acting, only after studies abroad. She wants KC to experience the simple life of a student, far away from the show biz spotlightís heady, dazzling, intoxicating glare.

Take it from Mommy Sharon, who after 23 years in show business, has learned a lot about the way of all flash ñ and flash-in-the-pans.

Fine, but it seems that local show biz fans donít agree with Sharon about her decision to keep KC away from the cameras for some time longer: when Sharon guested on "Startalk" last Saturday, viewers were polled on the issue, and 591 wanted to see KC on the screen this year, as opposed to 76 who felt otherwise.

Will Sharon heed the viewing publicís collective voice, or will she continue to trust her instincts as veteran star and mother?