SHARON CUNETA HAS A NEW ALBUM OF OLD SONGS
by Monica S. Gutierrez, Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 28 & May 5, 2001

CUNETA. A compilation of songs she grew up with.

SHARON Cuneta was fashionably late at the launching of her new album last April 19 at the Country Waffles Restaurant in Greenhills. Members of the press were surprised because she is usually on time for these things. However, we were later informed that she had just finished two tapings the night before. To add to that, she wasn't feeling too well, having been on the campaign trail for many days now.

Radiant smile

When Sharon came in, she was in a bright aqua-colored blouse and black pants. She was lightly made up but she had a radiant smile. She broke into tears as she entered the venue. Later, she explained that it was mainly because she was surprised to see Boss Vic there. "Napaka-touching sa akin na nandito siya, iyung presence niya, importante sa akin. Nagulat ako, di ko inaasahan."

She has been extremely busy, what with the senatorial campaign of her husband, Atty. Kiko Pangilinan, and with election day drawing near. "Hiwalay na kami (in campaigning). We have 22 days left and we have to cover as many areas as possible. Yesterday, I arrived from Tacloban, 'cause the other day I was in Ormoc. That's how our day is, it's always puno. This week, I was in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon."

There was a short, informal program, with Sharon singing several cuts from the album. In between her songs, she would share some stories. It was all very cozy and comfortable, no spiels or scripts, just Sharon talking to some (about a hundred?) friends.

Her new album is "Nothing I Want More". In it, she sings old songs from the '80s, songs that she says she grew up with and are therefore memorable to her. "Iyung 'Maybe', Sharon-Gabby panahon pa iyan. 'The Promise' - wedding song namin ni Francis." She chose these songs herself from a list of so many songs from the '80s.

"Di namin ma-record lahat. If I had a choice, siguro mas maraming songs, double album, pero it would take forever." Basically, these are songs that have meant something to her in the past. "I think when you hear a certain song, you are transported to a different time and place, you go back to a memory."

The packaging of the album is also quite novel, and very refreshing. At first glance, it looked like a very expensive and well-made desk calendar. When we opened it, we were surprised to find the CD inside. The pictures make use of subdued shades of yellow, orange, violet and green, giving the cover a very cool look. Images of Sharon are laid out across the pages, among hints of flowers, leaves and butterflies, giving her a "diwata" look. It is all beautifully executed by Joseph de Vera, one of the in-house artists of VIVA.

Sharon shared that they held a contest in VIVA for the best design concept for this album. Among 20 entries, Joseph de Vera's was the one chosen by the Megastar.

Happier songs

She shares, "A lot of things happened during the course of recording for this album. Buti na lang the happier songs I did early on. My father died, and then I recorded the sad songs. Later on, after I had given birth already, we recorded the rest of the happy songs and I was glad because I couldn't do the sad ones that well anymore, because I already had Frankie."

She is also proud to have Eugene Villaluz on board as album producer. "He has become my teacher, my friend, I really learned a lot from him. He really, really knows what he's doing. Eugene Villaluz is 50% of this whole album," she gushes The carrier single of the album, also titled "Nothing I Want More," was the Grand Prize winner of the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival in 1982. It also topped the International Seoul Song Festival that same year. The song was originally sung by Louie Reyes and Eugene Villaluz and Sharon is very proud to be the first one to re-record this song.

To add to her excitement, Louie Reyes was also in town at the time they were recording and the two original singers agreed to do back-up vocals for Sharon. But Sharon does not want to call it such. "To say just back-up vocals seems so.....unacceptable to me. It's really an honor!" Sharon gushes. "I hope I did justice to your song. Wala akong sinabi kay Louie Reyes!" she tells Eugene Villaluz.

She likes this song especially because it articulates her exact sentiments at this point in her life. "There's really nothing more I want, except maybe a sexy body, a faster metabolism!" she jokes. "I've had a great career for 22 years, I've made good friends in the business, I've grown up here, this is where I was first loved by everybody."

Now she realizes why she had to undergo hardships in the past. She used to always ask herself, "Bakit ganoon....ba't ako naghiwalay....eto pala ang mga kasagutan. I'm enjoying all the answers now."

She smiles as she declares that she and Kiko Pangilinan will be celebrating five years of a great marriage today. She is proud of her eldest, KC, and the much-celebrated baby, Frankie, who is now four months old, yet wears clothes big enough for a one-year old.

Encore

"The Promise" is another song special to her heart. She narrated how at the time when Kiko was just starting to court her, she sang this song for an encore during one of her concerts. She has always liked this song, ever since she was 13. She continues that when Kiko heard her sing it, "He said, 'Oh My God! If I was given just one song to sing, this would probably be the song I'd pick. This is the only song I can play on the piano.' So sabi niya, fate daw iyon." Sharon says, visibly thrilled, like a giddy schoolgirl.

Members of the press ask her how it is being on the campaign trail. She says it is very tiring, but she enjoys it very much. "I get to see all these places. Iyung mga fans ko na hindi nagkakaroon ng pagkakataon to see me in person, all of a sudden, may chance na sila."

Sharon shared insights that she has gained from being on the road. "At the beginning, I was only doing it because it was my husband's dream to do something good. Sabi ko kasi, it's my duty as his wife. But after a while, I realized, I was doing it out of a drive that was coming from a totally different place." Her eyes were opened to the plight of Mindanao. People in Leyte tell her of their woes. "Dati, I was living in the city, only thinking of my family, myself, my work." Now because of the campaign, she realizes, "We really have a chance to do something and kung manalo si Kiko, parang that chance will be solidified."

Frustration

Sharon also shares her frustration and annoyance with politicians who take advantage of her presence. She tells us of local politicians who would stand beside her in a rally and raise her hand all of a sudden. Someone conveniently takes a picture of them, and makes it look like she is endorsing them. "Di mo kilala kung magnanakaw ito, nakakatakot!" she laments.

She tells of how she would go to one place and she would be informed that only certain people would be there with her. "Tapos biglang may ilang local politicians na dumadating, makikipagpicture sa iyo, nasa dyaryo na, kalendaryo na, di ka naman kilala, sumama lang sa motorcade mo. Nakakagulat!" Sharon complains.

SHARON is very careful about keeping her name clean. "OK lang sana kung alam mo iyung nagawa na niya. Kung maganda, OK lang iyon. Pero kung di mo kilala, nakakatakot." Thatís how she explains her being leery of smooth-talking strangers with hidden agendas.

Good People

However, she observes that there are a lot of good people, too. "Kiko has had this network of young political leaders for many years, so iyon ang talagang enjoy na enjoy kami. Itís my pleasure to help them in whatever way I can."

For the past months, Sharon says she has been living and breathing politics, and she is tired.

"This (show business) is my world, itís not politics. Mas happy ako na itís what I like to do best."

She says that because of this whole campaign experience, she has a newfound regard for her companions in the business. "Kung anu-anong pang-aapi sa artista, actually theyíre (politicians) worse, much worse! Theyíre better actors, and comedians . . . A lot of them want to do some good, but a lot of them . . . doon ako na-u-upset. Itís really a snake pit."

Days Ahead

If Kiko wins in May, which is more than likely, Sharon better brace herself for the days ahead. Politics will, whether she likes it or not, become part of her world, too.

Someone suggested that she get tips from another possible senatorial wife and politician, Vilma Santos. Sharon laughs that there was only one time that they were together on a sortie. They even shared the same cottage in Plantation Bay in Cebu City, but they still didnít get to see each other.

PPC Rallies

There were two PPC rallies in Cebu and Sharon was assigned to one, while Vilma was assigned to the other. When Sharon got back to the cottage that evening, she saw Vilmaís mother and sister. They told her that Vilma was just washing up.

Sharon waited for as long as she could, but then decided to retire when she remembered she had an early flight the next day.

"Pag-gising ko naman, sabi ni Yaya, kakaalis lang ni Ate Vi. Di ko pa nakakausap! Iíve been looking forward to it for the longest time, so sayang."

Sharon says she hasnít cried much during this campaign. "Ang iniiyak ko, hindi intriga. Ang iniiyak ko, pagod. But nothingís ever really brought me down. Basta masaya ako nangangampanya."

Sharon also proudly declares that she has lost 21 pounds since giving birth. "The minute this campaign is over, Iím going back to my very strict diet," she promises. She teases that perhaps the next time she makes an appearance, she will come out in a slinky outfit.

She had already lost a lot of weight last year, when all of a sudden, she discovered she was pregnant. Still, Sharon and Kiko want to have at least two more children. "My dream is sana itís in multiples--twins or triplets!" Sharon exclaims with a dreamy look on her face.