Alden Richards (left) and Sharon Cuneta
Actress Sharon Cuneta said that for the dramatic film “A Mother and Son Story,” she and coactor Alden Richards had to attend a workshop “in order to develop a close relationship.”
This was also where she discovered the many things they have in common, “From investments to values, from beliefs to hobbies, even the videos we often watch online.” Both their moms grew up in Pampanga province, too, and they were both born in January, Sharon noted. “So the basic traits of a Capricorn—if that’s at all true—are true. We kind of know, almost, and can read each other’s minds. We get along really well,” she added.
The film, produced by Cineko Productions with Nuel Naval at the helm, is an entry to the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival in December.
Sharon said doing the daylong workshop with Alden was an important part of the filming process.
“We were able to share with each other everything that’s inside our hearts. We needed the workshop to develop a close relationship because Alden’s character was 5 years old when his father died. It was just him and his mama. What I discovered [about Alden] surprised me. Even my children don’t have that many things in common with me,” Sharon recalled.
Feel good
Shooting the film was a breeze since everyone on the set got along, said the Megastar whose costars include Miles Ocampo, Jackie Lou Blanco and Tonton Gutierrez. “Our director Nuel, who also did ‘Miracle in Cell No. 7’ and ‘Family Matters,’ knows exactly what he’s doing. He is also kind, easy to work with and generally a happy person.
“For me, this is the kind of movie that Filipinos would want to watch, especially after all those years of hardship as a result of the pandemic. You just want to smile and feel good when you come out of the theater,” she said.
Sharon Cuneta (right) with daughter Miel Pangilinan
At the media gathering that launched Sharon and daughter Miel Pangilinan as Insular Life’s (InLife) Dreamweavers, the actress answered questions related to her recent surprise appearance on the noontime show “EAT” on TV5.
The show premiered on the Kapatid Network on July 1. It features Joey de Leon, Vic Sotto and Tito Sotto, husband of Sharon’s aunt Helen Gamboa. “It’s funny how people reacted to what I did. Is repaying one’s debt of gratitude to another person no longer practiced today?”
She continued: “Some of my bashers called me balimbing (a turncoat). Why? I’ve been with ‘Bulaga’ since I was 13. The Sottos are my relatives, so that’s a no-brainer. I owe Tito Sotto, who I also consider my dad, a huge debt of gratitude. I would not be known as a singer if not for him. He was my ‘discoverer.’
“The reactions of some people really surprised me. I guess today’s youth should still be taught about utang na loob and how important it is to honor it.”
Sharon said she could empathize with the veteran hosts, “who took care of ‘Eat Bulaga’ for 44 years and showed nothing but loyalty and devotion, only to be treated that way.”
Support for TVJ
“I felt their struggles. I cried with them. I think it’s a nightmare to be treated that way—going to work one day not knowing it would be your last. That must have hurt so much. To think they’ve been in the business longer than I have. They are pioneers. Theirs is the longest-running, so no other show can compare to theirs. They have the most following and have this unique style of hosting that others try to copy but fail.”
Sharon said that like many, she also cried the first time she saw the trio on the small screen again. “When I see TVJ (Tito, Vic and Joey) together, I also see how much they love each other. That’s why I’m grateful to TV5 for giving them a home and to all their viewers who remain loyal to them.”
She said TVJ made so many of her hit songs. “TVJ contributed a lot artistically to my first and second albums. If not for Tito Sotto, I wouldn’t have a career, people wouldn’t know me. I needed to explain to narrow-minded people that I was present in the show’s pilot episode because I had to support TVJ and I love them. When you’re needed, then you do what you can because they were also there when you needed them,” Sharon stressed.
The discussion then led to what industry insiders refer to as “the end to the network war,” which Sharon said felt like a thorn had been pulled out of her chest.
“The mere fact that ‘It’s Showtime’ has gotten the support of GMA 7 is really something. When I started singing, there was no network war yet. I was able to promote my albums on all of the stations. I had a show on almost all of the TV networks.
“You can’t tell me to forget about the relationships I have built over the years. I never forget where I started. I always abide by the Filipino saying, ‘Ang ‘di marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay ‘di makararating sa paroroonan.’ I think there are some people that need to be reminded of this.”