How Sarah sees herself as a mother: I want my kid to be strong; I won’t be very strict

From left: Xian Lim, Geronimo and James Reid

Sarah Geronimo’s journey to superstardom has been nothing but arduous—and it didn’t come overnight.

But, the so-called Popstar Royalty is appreciative of the lessons she learned from all her hard work as a child actress (she was one of the precocious kids in 1995’s “Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa”) and note-busting teen sensation (“Star for a Night,” where she was declared its big winner), because they help solidify her reign as her generation’s Nora Aunor or Sharon Cuneta.

If you still doubt how remarkably Sarah has matured as a singer-actress, you must have missed watching her maturing thespic chops in Dan Villegas’ “The Breakup Playlist,” or have yet to listen to the delectably rendered tracks in her recent anniversary album, “This 15 Me.”

In “Miss Granny,” which opens on Wednesday, Sarah portrays a lonely septuagenarian who gets a new lease on life when she magically transmogrifies into her 20-something self.

Second chances

“I like the idea of giving people second chances… and of learning from the error of our ways,” she told us when we asked her to discuss the narrative hook that drew her to Joyce Bernal’s local adaptation of the 2014 Korean blockbuster.

“But, if I were given another chance to relive my past, like my character in the movie, I would rather not change anything.

“I’m glad I fumbled, stumbled and committed a lot of mistakes while I was young, so I wouldn’t have to make them now that I’m older. I know I’d still be making some wrong decisions along the way, but that’s all right, as long as I learn from them… para hindi ko na gagawin ulit.

“As far as singing is concerned, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have ‘belted’ as much or as often. Kasi, nung nag-uumpisa pa lang ako, sobra akong tira nang tira sa pagbirit, because in those days, belting or power singing was how people gauged a performer’s ability and skill—pataasan at palakihan talaga ng boses! Now, I know what type of music or technique is snug-fit for me and my voice.”

Sarah Geronimo

Music and family

When asked how similar she is from the character she’s playing in “Miss Granny,” the 30-year-old actress said, “We’re both passionate about music and family. She has been given another chance to pursue her dream and live out her unfulfilled fantasy of being a singer. But, it was challenging for me to ‘replicate’ the nuances of Tita Nova Villa, who plays my older self in the film.

“Everybody knows how wonderful she is as a comedienne, but even her dramatic depth and those precious facial expressions are nothing to scoff at. I had to learn how to move the way older people do, or how a woman in her late 60s or early 70s would speak. And I had to be believable in a mother role, because my younger character needs to interact with her grandson (played by James Reid).”

When it’s time for Sarah to have kids of her own, would she encourage her daughter to pursue a career in acting or singing, given how long it took her to finally get to the top?

School first

“I’d let her finish school first. Gusto kong makapagtapos ng pag-aaral ang anak ko,” she pointed out. “After that, she can pursue whatever career she wishes for herself. If she wants to sing or act, bakit ko s’ya pipigilan? I’ll be there to guide her. Nandito ako para alalayan s’ya, at hindi rin dapat masyadong mahigpit (I wouldn’t be very strict)… ‘yung balanse lang.”

“I don’t want her to be too sheltered. I want her to be strong,” she added. “Ayokong maging tanga s’ya or a weakling. I want her to have a backbone.”

Is Sarah saying that she’s been weak at some point in her life?

“Opo (yes),” she replied without skipping a beat. “I still am until now.”

“Pero, s’yempre, you need to stand up for yourself and learn to be more assertive,” Sarah said. “Kailangang matuto ka nang paunti-unti.”