Direk Rowell Santiago has seen Sharon through the different stages of life. They played screen partners in films as diverse as Cross My Heart and Biktima. Now, their partnership reaches a new level - quite figuratively. On stage, he is her Concert Director; she, his Concert Artist. Tonight's rehearsals at Butch Dan's Thirdline Studio went smoothly, thank you. Despite Miss Mega's initial fears that she was losing her voice, she breezed through the 15 or so songs in the lineup, knocking them one by one with the precision of sharpshooter Miriam Defensor-Santiago and the grace of, well, Princess Grace. She is now upstairs, having her first costume fitting with couturier Pepito Albert. Downstairs at the rehearsal hall, percussionist Uly Avante (a.k.a. Uly Wonder or LagBu Blind) is packing his myriad musical instruments - congo drums, chimes and sticks. The rest of the Mega-Band is already in someone's Mega-Van on their way home. But Concert Director Rowell Santiago is still dissecting - editing so much like film footage - the night's proceedings in his mind. "This song's instrumental may be too long," he tells M.D. Mel. For Direk Rowell, the smallest detail counts. Sporting a tan acquired in Atlanta, Direk Rowell is gabbing giddily with Miss Mega and Boss Sandra about Velasco's controversial fight against that vulgar Bulgarian. He speaks animatedly, his bespectacled eyes burning with excitement. And it was already way past one in the morning. To think, he came straight from the airport, after over 22 hours of being cooped up in a jet plane. Amazing. Mega-Energy is undoubtedly one of the traits he shares with Miss Megastar. They have been working together since 1982, when they were paired in the Viva comedy flick Cross My Heart. Rowell remembers - vividly - the first time, when they were finally, formally introduced. "When I signed up with Viva, we had dinner at the Manila Hotel, with Boss Vic and Sharon," Rowell recalls. "Actually I used to see her when we were kids because Chet, her brother, also went to La Salle and my sister Ria was Sharon's batchmate in Saint Paul's." His initial impression of Sharon, as co-worker has remained basically the same throughought the years. "When we met, she was already a big star. Dear Heart was a hit. But still she came across as a professional, which was very rare among teen stars at that time. She would come on the set on time. Always on the dot. I used to get so embarrassed because I wasn't as punctual - because I was in college then." During their Friends in Love days, Sharon, William Martinez and Jackie Lou Blanco were all free from school. As such: "I decided to stop schooling for a sem, dahil nakakahiya naman sa kanila. I wanted to maximize my time and finish the movie first." Rowell, who has literally seen Shawie grow up in front of the camera (as co-star and now as concert and TV ad director), rates Sharon as Megastar. "She has a certain style as an actress," Rowell elaborates, "because she is more than a movie actress, she's a multi-media artist. Endorser pa siya. That's her biggest plus as a performer. She's a good actress, there's no question about that. But....." And the big BUT..... "I always tell her this: 'After all these years, I want to see you in more mature roles.'" He has acted as her screen partner in films as diverse as teeny-bopper comedies (Cross My Heart) and Lino Brocka court-room dramas (Biktima). "Nakikita mo naman na mag-mature na siya. Kaya lang may hinahanap pa ako...." Which is? "Siguro 'yung mga tema ng mga pelikulang ginagawa niya. Para makita natin ang variation. If she would make a movie that would really challenge her, do'n lang natin makikita. 'Kaya pala ni Sharon 'yon.' Kahit siya naman hindi pa niya alam ang capacity niya, until mabibigyan siya ng kakaibang project. Siguro adult drama. Something different." If he were to direct Sharon in a movie, what would be his dream project? "I had an idea before....." His voice trails off. "Hindi ko pa alam...." He tries his best not to be too ambiguous. "Siguro, istorya ng isang babae. Ipapakita lahat ng pinagdaanang pain. That's why when I saw the trailer of Madrasta, I told myself: 'Eto na, it's starting.' Ako mismo, I feel that my career as a filmmaker would be incomplete if I am unable to direct her in a movie." Direk Rowell was the man behind the Mega-Successful Mega-Concert, three years ago. "We all know that her forte is singing," Direk Rowell explains. "She started out as a singer kasi. Especially with Tagalog songs. Iba talaga 'yong pag-bigkas, 'yong pag-kanta niya. There's a certain Sharon feeling. It's different. Maganda ang diction, ang pag-enunciate whether English or Tagalog." Still, despite the fact that she's a Megastar, she still gets Mega-nervous. "Other artists are more worried about the concert's commercial success - whether their show would be sold-out. But Sharon is more concerned about her audience - whether they would be pleased with her performance. Pressure 'yon. But she has matured considerably as a concert artist, alam niya na ngayon kung ano ang gusto niya, what she wants to express through her music." Which means? "Lahat iyon," Direk points at the list of songs pasted on the studio's sound-proof walls. "The repertoire. The songs in this show are her personal choices. It reflects her tastes, her character." He has also worked with Ma'am Mega as TV ad director, for the Colour Collection ad. Shoot for that particular thirty-seconder took all of two days! "Kasi maraming set-ups. Iba-iba ang set. Saka it's a makeup shoot so kailangan glamorous, ilawan ng maganda. Bawat angle took about an hour, to set up, to perfect the lighting." Despite the stressful shoot, Miss Megastar managed to shine. "She was great. Everything went smoothly. We started in the afternoon and finished at four in the morning the following day. She's a pro." The real Sharon, away from the cameras, Direk describes as very thoughtful, she tends to be sensitive also. Selosa sa mga friends and co-workers niya. Parang gusto niya nasa kanya ang full attention mo all the time." Direk Rowell, however prefers to give his Megastar space to breather, time to grow. "So that every time you work together is like a reunion. You discover something new. May growth. Saka you miss the working relationship. So much so that the partnership grows through music." So what makes Miss Mega so Mega-Appealing? Direk Rowell has it all figured out, almost. "Siguro because she's very charming. I dunno. That's what advertisers call the X factor, I guess. Perhaps even Sharon herself is bewildered by all this. She's just blessed. And she knows how to take care of her gifts."