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I’VE
always been, unabashedly, a Sharon Cuneta fan and
meeting her was such a thrill. I mean, I grew up with
her—through her songs (from the time she first appeared
as a 12-year-old singing “Mr. DJ”) and her movies (from
her lovable cheesy Viva Films stuff with Gabby
Concepcion to her more mature roles), and through her
life’s many phases. And now, through her real-life role
as midlifing mom to three beautiful daughters, her
all-too-real struggles with her weight, her work-life
balance, and her continuing efforts to improve herself
as a person and as an actress. Did I mention that, being
almost the same age, I also went through the same
hairstyles and dress sense as she did?
Sometime
last week, I did get to finally meet the Megastar
through an intimate dinner with her—plus several other
select members of the press—courtesy of Lucky Me, the
instant-noodle brand whose latest “no-artificial
preservatives added,” or Napa, campaign she has signed
up for. We already had finished with our dinner when
Sharon arrived straight from her Wack-Wack home. The
group was predominantly and palpably a bunch of Sharon
fans that throughout the evening “ooohs” and “aaahs”
could be heard as the actress talked about her latest
endorsement and where her life is right now. Yes, the
Megastar has spoken, and with refreshing candor at
that—about being trained as a professional baker (she
baked the carrot cakes that became a huge hit two
Christmases ago among senators, who placed orders for
the goodies to hubby Sen. Francis Pangilinan with no
idea of their provenance), a possible film project (“no
love team, just two women”), and even tips on how to
pack for a trip (“keep your little stuff in a shoebox”).
After 30
years in the business, she has nothing to hide and
continues to enjoy every bit of her personal and showbiz
journey.
“Genuinely nice!” I glanced at a tablemate’s notes and
saw this remark on her notepad. After dinner, Sharon
gladly posed with the guests and naturally reached out
to us by hugging us or holding our hands. Alas, she had
to rush to a production meeting for her 30th showbiz
anniversary concert on August 8, 8 pm, at the Araneta
Colisuem.
Mental
note: Must go to concert and treat myself to Sharon
Cuneta DVD marathon soon.
Here,
some thoughts on how we can channel our inner Megahood:
Mega
Rule 1:
Make time to be with your kids. Despite her busy
schedule, Sharon squeezes in quality time, especially
with her younger kids—Frankie, 7, and Miel, 3—by having
dinner with them, putting them to bed, and doing arts
and crafts with them.
“We like
paper, scissors and glue. We like creating things with
our hands. Before I left for Paris, we made paper
lanterns. We made a hole through it, then I placed a
reading light inside. I turned off all the lights in the
dressing room and went, ‘See!’ And my girls replied,
‘Mommy, let’s make more!’”
Mega
Rule 2: Mind your kids’ nutrition.
A passionate baker—she trained under Sylvia Reynoso Gala
and Jill Sandique—Sharon makes sure that her kids eat
quality food: no junk food and soft drinks.
Sharon
explains that before she commits to any endorsement, she
always studies the product and its credibility. “You
won’t become a known and trusted endorser unless your
public knows you’re telling the truth. I’m not perfect
but I don’t tell lies. I ask a lot of questions. Or
else, my face will be stuck on their products forever.”
When
asked what Lucky Me’s Napa campaign was all about,
Sharon readily explained that “tocopherols are the
natural preservatives they use in nuts, cereals and
grapeseeds.”
Mega
Rule 3: Keep ’em grounded.
“You
have to provide the balance,” she says on raising her
kids in the periphery of showbiz and being blessed with
material things. When traveling and shopping, the
megamom imposes a two-things-only policy to her kids.
“My daughters know it already. When we enter a store,
Miel would ask, ‘Two things only?’ And I’d say yes. But
sometimes, they give you that kawawa look that makes you
go, ‘OK, you can choose one more.’”
On
weekends the Pangilinan family prefer living the simple
life in their house in Laguna, where Frankie and Miel
enjoy puttering around the garden to harvest vegetables.
“My kids are not of the mall mentality. We have a little
vegetable patch. When we harvest, they’re excited to eat
the veggies.”
The
girls also enjoy camping with their dad Senator Kiko.
“They have it in our backyard where there’s a really big
tent. They even sleep there overnight. They have all the
works, from the gas lamp to cooking their breakfast of
pork-and-beans, eggs, the whole thing. We would also eat
by the swimming pool with the banana leaves laid out.”
Mega
Rule 4: Keep things organized.
A
stickler for organization, Sharon is a believer in
writing things down and making lists. When it comes to
gift-giving for the holidays, for instance, Sharon
reveals that she does things systematically. Before
going to the stores, she makes a list of each recipient,
their ages, and arranges them according to categories.
“I already place their names in the plastic wrap, even
the gift cards. Nowadays, I write the gift cards
myself.”
Mega
Rule 5: Make time for your passion.
“I love being a student, I love learning,” says Sharon,
who admits to being really a closet nerd (she enjoys
Philosophy) and a bookworm (the latest being the Kill
Bill Diary). She is currently pursuing her dream of
earning a degree through her Associate in Art studies
with the University of the Philippines-Diliman’s Open
University program. “It’s just for me, not for my ego or
anything. My mom would say, ‘Looks like you’re killing
yourself.’ But I tell her, ‘Ma, this is something I’m
doing for myself and where no one is ordering me to do
things.’ It’s time for me—like when I cook or bake.” |
