We play the Game of 22 questions with Miss Mega. "Every single day, even when I'm in hurry.... I'm about to leave for work and I have no time because I woke up late and I couldn't sleep the night before and I have an appointment.... I have an important meeting to go to.... I'm trying to close a deal.... Absolutely everything, I pray for." The above quote captures, in a nutshell, Miss Mega's complex simplicity, simple complexity. Miss Mega - the thoroughly modern Movie Queen, the Mega-Product Endorser, Astute Businesswoman, real-estate Magnate, CEO and founder of Sharon, Inc. - reveals the secret of her incredible staying power in spite of her incredibly hectic schedule. She has just finished a grueling day, rehearsals in Thirdline began at nine in the evening (Tuesday) and ended at two in the morning (Wednesday). Between songs, she dutifully took her medicine. While her alaga was singing I'll Never Give Up, Yaya Luring offered a plastic bag of cold tablets from Mercury Drug, two cups of hot coffee and a can of hot Coke. Security blanket, you ask? Nah. Later the same evening, Yaya Luring - perfectly on cue - came in with Sharon's teaspoonful of Pei Pa Koa. "A throat medicine," reveals Artist House President and Producer of Mega Up-Close Sandra Chavez (whom Sharon once describes as her "security blanket." I can never do concerts without her beside me.") "Malapot," Direk Rowell describes the Oriental elixir. "Parang honey, mabango," Yaya Luring adds gleefully. Could Pei Pa Koa be the secret of her Mega-success? Hardly. Working with her up close, one cannot help but marvel at her stamina. Just what is the source of her seemingly limitless energy? Despite the fact of rehearsals wrapped up in the wee small hours in the morning, she still found time to answer the following queries on her Power Mac. Her secret weapon? It's her faith. In herself, in friendship, in family ties, in humanity's inherent goodness, in the beauty of simplicity. In God, above all. Here's Mega, according to Mega. When did you first realize that you were really famous, a Megastar? During the Mr. DJ days, you said you only considered yourself sikat-sikatan? It must have been sometime in 1985. The press started to call me 'Megastar' in their write-ups. And that was when my movies were acknowledged as having established a consistency at the box office. Do you enjoy being famous? More often than not, yes. People embrace you as part of their lives, almost like a member of the family, or as their friend. But of course, being only human, I sometimes long for PRIVACY. Sometimes I wish I could shop in Divisoria, or even in one of the malls, like my friends very often do! I don't mind the attention accorded me, but I become uncomfortable when I'm in a public place - I just want to buy something and I sometimes cause a bit of a commotion. I do realize that the commotion might be inconveniencing other shoppers who just want to browse in peace. But I'm used to it already. In fact, I only have a vague recollection of anonymity, of what it was like when I wasn't yet in show business, or even when I was just starting to sing professionally. What would you do if you entered a restaurant and no one noticed you? It wouldn't bother me. Restaurants are good for me. The restaurants I go to are pretty decent and quiet. So I get to relax there when I go out with my family and friends. Okey lang because I don't enter a place expecting to be fussed over. In fact, sometimes I'm thankful when I'm treated as just another non-celebrity customer and left to be my "private self." That way, even my family and friends are comfortable. What makes you happy? • Not being sick. Not being pressured by other things when I'm about to perform live onstage. Knowing all my songs in the repertoire by heart. • Hearing that a movie of mine that just opened in the theatres is doing well. Making a menu for a dinner with family and friends and cooking everything and doing even the presentation of the food, coffee and tea, and dessert! • Baking! • Reading a good book. • Writing letters or writing in my journal. • Watching a new "favorite movie," which I would watch over and over again. (The latest is the remake of Sabrina.) • Getting down to my ideal weight - what I call my "fighting form" - after a seemingly endless diet, and then fitting into the clothes I'd really much rather wear rather than those I just have to! • Christmas. • Staying at home. • Once in a while doing absolutely nothing. • Flowers , especially roses and carnations - and on very special occasions, tulips! • Wrapping gifts (and having all the time in the world to do it). • Spending Sundays with my parents and brother and my husband and daughter without having to leave early for TSCS. (This happens very rarely though, like when my show is taped.) • Being with my cousins on my Mom's side. Being with the girl group. Dinners with my TSCS staff and director and co-hosts. Being with my in-laws. • Kids - like KC and my nephews Paul, Chuck and baby Christopher, and C.P., Ryan and Rafael (Randy Santiago's kids), Maita Zosa (Anna's niece), Katrina and Justine Recto (Lorraine's kids), Olive Isidro's kids and Tina Isorena's kids, etc. • I love hearing the children tell me they love me - kasi alam mong true and sincere! I love also love letters from Kacey and my husband. • Surprise parties. Little surprises. • Hearing about peple and their good work, like Gina Lopez-Roy. People like Emilio Advincula (the honest taxi driver). • Trips abroad. The beach (like Boracay). Going to provinces in the south (Cebu, Iloilo, Negros). Sailing on the Super Ferry. • Sleeping 8 to 10 hours, once in a while. • My books. My magazines. Silver. A good watch. • Good air-conditioning. A wool blanket and a soft, thick comforter. Comfy shoes. Rainy days and nights. • My Macintosh Powerbook. Old pictures. Unexpected cards and letters from family and friends. • TSCS Christmas parties. AND MANY MANY MORE! I'm very easy to please. What makes you sad? Betrayal by whoever. Disloyalty. Dishonesty. An underperforming co-worker or employee. (Or a non-performing one.) Unprofessionalism. People who don't keep their word. Being sick. Not sleeping well. Kakulitan. Fights and petty quarrels. Misplacing or losing my things. People who want your arm when you've just given them your hand. People who abuse your kindness. Mansueto Velasco losing the gold. Unreasonable work schedules. Baseless intrigues. Having to be away from my family. People who are way too familiar. At marami pang iba. If you could star in a Hollywood romantic comedy, who is your choice of leading man? Hugh Grant or Bill Pullman. But I'd like to work with Keanu Reeves, Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner. They can do comedy, can't they?! Hehehe! How long does it take for you to get all dolled up? For non-showbiz outings, when I do my hair and make-up, 15 minutes. When I go to parlor, anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours! What are the things you give yourself, to pamper yourself? A regular massage, preferably with relaxing, soothing Aromatherapy body oils. Also, jewelry and clothes and shoes and bags. Regular "girl things." Is it true that you collect Charles Jourdan shoes? ANNOOO?!!! Haha - of course not. But my Dad's been buying me that the brand and others since I was in my pre-teens. Malaki kasi ang paa ko (size 7 na 'ata) kahit noong bata pa ako! How often do you get a manicure? A hot oil? When my schedule allows it, I get a manicure/pedicure weekly. Pag grabe ang schedule ko, mga once every two weeks. I don't get hot oil treatments, but I get heavy-duty hair treatments, mga at least once a month. But preferably every two weeks, though that's rare for me. How big is your closet? Which one? Haha! My closets are in my bedroom and at my parents' house, plus a room downstairs - full, overflowing!!! Francis and I have tiny closets in our condo unit, so there are just basics there. Plus I have boxes in storage! Malaki kasi I kinda keep most everything. (I'm working on that though. It really is a problem.) What do you do when you're alone at home? Watch movie after movie after movie! Or good shows on TV. Read. Write. Cook. Sleep. Do my paperwork. Fix pictures and stuff. What do you feel when you are alone at home? Contentment and peace. My home is my sanctuary. I feel safe at home, with my husband and daughter. Home is where I can be myself and look and feel like Nene or a Manang! Minsan my family and friends have to drag me out of my home, kasi kung pwede hindi na ako lalabas! What have you learned about men? That they are a complicated species. Just when you think you now them well, they surprise you (more like shock you out of your wits, actually). And there are evil ones out there! But God has been so good to me. He's given me a husband who's A-Okay in most everything. What have you learned from/about your relationships? You can never master them. They can be good for your person, or totally bad. It's up to you to choose. And it's up to you to separate yourself from your relationship so it doesn't have a direct effect on your productivity or your outlook on life. Mahirap pero kaya. My relationship with my husband is strong and perfectly fine. That comes from being giving to each other and looking out for each other. If you look out for your partner and he looks out for you sincerely, you're made! Also, you should grow as individuals so you have more to bring into the marriage or relationship. Also, you should not build your whole life around your relationship or partner. Instead you should be able to share with your partner more than you would with anyone else in your life. And if you are good friends, that makes it whole lot more secure and fun. And you should never lose even one bit of respect for each other. If you were Mari Mar how would you handle a guy like Sergio? I would not plan out a whole "revenge scenario." I would get on with my life and try my best to be successful and laugh in his face! But before anything else, kakausapin ko muna siya nang derecho kahit pa may pumipigil! Kung nag-usap lang yata sina Mari Mar at Sergio sa umpisa di sana nagkalinawan sila at walang gulo! Haha! (At hindi ako kakain para talagang sexy ako pag kinakanta ko 'yong theme song! Haha! Teka - do I have the story right ba or did I miss out something? What was the best piece of advice you received from your mom that you would eventually pass on to your daughter KC? Use not only your heart but also your brain when you make decisions of any kind. And you really have to use BOTH or else you'll never end up happy. While you were being made up in the Delta dressing room, I noticed that there were moments you would stare blankly into space. During those moments what goes on in your mind? You noticed that too? A lot of people have called my attention regarding that over the years! Well.... I'm either thinking about my life or someone who means a lot to me. Or work. Words to a song, I'm trying to memorize. Or words in a movie script! Or whatever. When something makes me happy, that thing occupies my mind almost all of the time. And when something makes me sad, the same thing happens. And sometimes, I think of places where I've never been, or have been to and where I would rather be. Also, I always like to think of what I have forgotten to do. What is your all-around security blanket? I have a laptop computer that I carry around with me. I keep letters to God in that computer. Once I way praying so hard for rain to stop during a concert in Iloilo. Not for me, but for the fans. After I wrote the prayer of request, I reviewed all the letters that I wrote before that and I noticed that most of the time, if not all the time, after every request, the next letter was a thank you note. I realized: God! He has really given me so much! He has never let me down. My all-around security blanket are my prayers. My faith in God. What gift would you give to: (1) Mom? (2) Dad? (3) daughter KC? (4) hubby Kiko? (5) friends Anna and Lorraine? (6) Yaya Luring? (1) Mom: The greatest shopping spree of her life. Though I'd never be able to afford my mom's idea of a great shopping spree! Or a great set of jewelry. (2) Dad: A long letter. A good watch. I'd find ways to make him proud of me. (I'd do this to my Mom too.) All the time in the world, showering him with love and attention. (3) KC: More time together away from work in the city. A long vacation touring the best beaches. My love and attention until the day I die. Letters and cards. Time to cook and bake together. The best education in the world - she could choose the place/s and the school/s. Saying "NO" if she decides to join show business! Haha! (4) Francis: My undying love and devotion. Love letters. Cleaning up my mess and abubot! A big kiss, a big hug and a hot meal to come home to every time. More time together. Regular vacations. (5) Anna and Lorrraine: My sincere and true and forever friendship. And vacations, jewelry and, to each of them, a song written by me. And for Anna, a great husband. Kung puwede lang ngang mag-order, according to her specifications, I would've done it a long time ago! Less problems to bug her with. Hindi ko na siya pupuyatin masyado dahil sa mga problema ko! Haha! (She'll buy me a helicopter daw someday, at hihingi rin ako ng villa somewhere!) For Lorrraine: A personal trainer. (Nay! Papatayin ako ni Lorraine!) Haha! Para may kasabay ako. (O, ayan! Haha!) Her own successful business. She has a great family, so prayers for her family to be together and happy forever! (6) Yaya Luring: Hay naku. I will allow her to come with me to work even when she's 102 years old na, kasi ayaw pa niyang mag-retire! Jewelry, money (P10 lang), and a boyfriend! Hahaha! Have you ever been caught in traffic? All the time since I live in Metro Manila. Haha! What goes in your mind when Roadtrek 190 is caught in a jam? Work I have to do immediately. What I may have forgotten. The same things as "when I stare blankly into space." And I often wonder what else could be done to effectively cure the traffic problem once or all!