SHARON, RICHARD TOGETHER AGAIN
by Crispina Martinez Belen, Manila Bulletin (Celebrity World), October 10, 1999

After five years, Sharon Cuneta and Richard Gomez are reuniting in a love story to be filmed by Star Cinema under the direction of Olive Lamasan. This will be Sharonís second movie with Olive (the first being the multi-awardwinning ìMadrastaî) and Richardís third with the lady director, who both of them have nothing but praise and admiration.

In a minipresscon held recently at Annabelís, the former lovebirds seemed very excited comfortable with each other, something that augurs well for the project. Sharon expressed excitement since the still untitled movie is her first movie after a two-year hiatus from the big screen. To prepare herself for the movie, Sharon said (that aside from trying to lose some more weight) sheís been watching her past movies, especially ìMadrastaî which won for her many awards. She had Christopher de Leon as leading man in the movie. Did you know that Boyet was Sharonís crush when she was younger? ìIíve told him about this,î she giggled. She recalls she has done about eight or nine movies with the multiawarded dramatic actor.

About Richard, he said he portrays his roles according to what is needed at the moment. A versatile performer whose acting mettle has been recognized with several trophies, Richard can do justice to any role assigned to him. He is as dedicated to his craft as Sharon is.

Theyíll be having love scenes (which are called for since they play married persons who meet and fall passionately in love with each other) but this wonít pose any problem, Sharon assured everyone. Theyíve done kissing scenes before, but of course those were under different circumstances, when they were still an item.

Now that theyíre happily married (though not to each other, Sharon laughed), love scenes for them onscreen will still be okay. ìAfter all, kailangan sa istorya; and besides itís only work and we are professionals.î Theyíre fortunate to have very supportive spouses. Atty. Francis ìKikoî Pangilinan has always been very encouraging to everything his megastarwife does, and so is Lucy Torres, Richardís beautiful wife.

ìWhen I told her I was to do another movie with Sharon, she was excited as I was,î Richard said. If the handsome actor has not been very active lately in acting, itís because he has his hands full with activities that are in conjunction with his job as Presidential Adviser on Sports. ìIíve been busy travelling to almost all parts of the country speaking before people, particularly the youth,î he said.

The edge enjoyed by actors over mere politicians is that they are popular and idolized and when they speak, people listen, Richard said. Actors-turned politicians have always been criticized, but itís not being intelligent that makes one a good public servant, he stressed. ìIt is what you can do in the service of the people.î And Sharon agreed to his wholeheartedly. ìNaiinggit sila dahil ang mga artista could command huge crowds and have them listen to them when they open their mouths.

Sharon could really be a sure winner in whatever public post she would aspire for, but sheís always said politics is not for her. ìBaka si Francis na lang, and Iíll be there to support him all the way.î Francis, who was one-time No. 1 councilor of Quezon City, is certainly one carved for politics and public service and with Sharon behind him, how can he fail?

Anyway, going back to Sharon and Richard, they both profess maturity as actors and as individuals and this augurs well of course for their movie project which hopefully they could start filming in two weekís time. The script is written by Ricky Lee. So you see, with competent people behind the movie, and with box-office stars like Sharon and Richard heading the cast, it will definitely be another blockbuster.