ABS-CBN Interactive, February 13, 2000

A romantic mood is in the air as Sharon Cuneta and Richard Gomez walk down the memory lane to a place where they have once been so much in love. Lighting up the journey are invited hosts for the night, Martin Nievera and Amy Perez, while special guests, Ciara Sotto, Roselle Nava, and Ara Mina serenade everyone with songs from the ìMinsan, Minahal Kitaî soundtrack.

All is set, so let the journey beginÖ

On a scale of 1 to 10, Richard and Sharon give the love they have once shared a rating of 10, even higher. People who are close to the two can attest how much they have loved each other and how they have tried to work it out despite all the pressure in show business. ìThey were really very much in love at that time, they both have that certain glowî shares Sharonís dear cousin Ciara Sotto. ìIt was very intense, we have lots of love to share. Kasi ako when I get into a relationship, I really give my best,î says Richard.

But, as they say, ësome things are too good to lastí and the two soon found that it would be better to go on their separate ways.

If Sharon and Richard were to summarize the reason for their parting, it would have to be the famous line from ìSomewhere Down The Roadî, one of the songs in ìMinsan, Minahal Kitaî soundtrack, which goes ëWe have the right love at the wrong timeí. The two admit it was a basic clash of principles that led them to goodbye. ìI was very young. I was very aggressive, I wanted to do other things,î says Richard. To put it simply, Sharon says, ìIt was just a wrong timing.î

Some say that when friends become lovers, itís likely that they canít go back to friendship once the relationship fails. However, Sharon and Richard have proven that lovers can still become good friends. Their working relationship has not changed even after they have parted ways, in fact the characters they play in ìMinsan, Minahal Kitaî were motivated by their past experiences together which made their acting more convincing. For Richard, sweet moments in the film came naturally, ìÖthings that I used to do when weíre still together like hugging her from behind and then kiss her on the cheek.î

So, how was the first encounter after they have gone separate ways? ìThe last time I saw Sharon, she was so sexy, tapos ngayon, sexy na naman,î says Richard playfully. ìWell, the last time I saw you [addressing Richard], hindi ka pa Concert King, ngayon Concert King ka na,î retorts Sharon. (Well, the last time I saw you, you werenít the Concert King yet, now you are already the Concert King.)

If asked to do another movie again, the two replied in unison, ìYeah, why not?î

In every relationship that has come to an end, people involved choose to leave some things unanswered. But if they could still go back and give it another try, what would they possibly give this time?

In one word, what Richard and Sharon need most is TIME. ìI should have focused myself more on to Sharon,î confides Richard. How simple it may sound, it never comes easy when youíre already faced in a situation where you are caught between love and career. And if Sharon can go back to that time with the same maturity that she has right now, ìI would have been more patient.î

With such compromise, perhaps the relationship would last and putting their marriages aside, they could even go for the aisle this time. Wonder what Richardís proposal would be like? Well, he imagines Sharon in his arms as he whispers, ìI guess itís about time that we think about our future together. I want to ask you to marry me.î Romantic? Dream on! Letís not destroy a happy marriage, shall we?

One of the great things about the Sharon-Richard tandem is the way they ended their relationship without much ado about their differences. They seem to be so connected to each other that they manage to let sparks fly whenever they get together-not exactly as lovers but as good friends. ìEach time we get out of a relationship, we gravitate towards each other, I think,î says Sharon.

Just recently, while they were shooting the final scenes of their film, Sharon and Richard realized that they have the same wedding anniversary, April 28, and the same kind of wedding bands. Perhaps it was mere co-incidence, but for romantics out there, itís magical-if there isnít any other word to describe it. Though their relationship does not seem to be the kind of a happy ending that many expected, love works in a special way that some lovers become good friendsÖno more, no less.

Well, the journey to the past is finished, itís time to talk about the reason why Sharon and Richard are reunited on Valentineís month-and that is, ìMinsan, Minahal Kitaî. In one way or another, the plot can be compared to the special love that Richard and Sharon have for each other in real life. Nevertheless, the two would not choose what the characters have chosen in the film because they both believe that they have made the right decision about the person to marry. For them, marriage is so sacred that one has to make sure he marries the love of his life and spend the rest of their lives together, keeping in mind that it takes two to make a wonderful world.

Like most romantic movies, ìMinsan, Minahal Kitaî has some tag lines that would somehow have that effect on the audience, especially to those who could emphatize with the characters. One line thatís becoming popular these days is Sharonís ìDonít make me fall in love with you.î But probably the lines that summarize that sad yet wonderful feeling the characters in the movie have experienced would be:

ìA love beyond reason, beyond time...
A love so deep, it tears you apart...
A love so great, the heart can never forget...
For every woman [man], there can only be one great love.î

All the sweet and romantic memories and lessons learned has made this a wonderful journey for Richard and Sharon. But just as everyone thinks things could not get any more romantic, the one and only Angela Bofill graced the show to sing a duet with the Megastar, ìThis Time Iíll Be Sweeterî, the very song which they sang together 17 years ago in the movie ìFriends in Loveî. Such soulful voice and beautiful music touch the very hearts of those who have fallen in love once in their lives.

Despite all the pains and the tears that it brings, love makes oneís existence worth living, donít you think?