Sharon Cuneta plays a Filipino-Chinese mother in ‘Mano Po 6: My Mother.’

If  Megastar Sharon Cuneta is very excited about her latest movie “Mano Po 6: My Mother,” it’s because it has many “firsts” for her. For one, it’s her first movie under Regal Entertainment. “In my 31 years in the business, ngayon lang talaga ako makakagawa ng pelikula with Regal,” she told a select group of entertainment writers during her first shooting day held at the Spiral Coffeeshop of Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel.

She related, “I have this standing offer from Mother Lily to do a movie under Regal Films. Late 1990s pa in-offer na ako ni Mother. But at that time, matabang-mataba ako, and I just lost my baby. Hindi talaga ako puwede during those times. I wanted to be worth their time so I waited for the right time and the right project.”

“Mano Po 6: My Mother” is indeed the right project for Sharon’s first movie for Regal. Making it more significant is the fact that it is an official entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

“Mother Lily and Roselle (Monteverde-Teo) presented me the script (written by Roy Iglesias) which needed just a little revision. Maganda na ang istorya, pinalakas pa ng cast,” Sharon proudly said. Among those in the cast are Christopher de Leon, Dennis Trillo, Heart Evangelista, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Kris Aquino. “Imagine Kris to offer to be in the movie?” Kris plays her best friend in the movie.

“It will be the first time that I’m going to Mainland China because we will be shooting in Beijing. This is the first time that I’m playing a Filipino-Chinese character, and also the first time that I’m working with Dennis Trillo and Heart Evangelista. This is the first time that I’m speaking in Fookien. It’s also one of my plans to learn Mandarin. I actually love everything Chinese, and Japanese for that matter. When I was young I was fixated on the Chinese Revolution. I read books about Mao, bought Chinese paintings. I loved Jet Li and Bruce Lee. In fact, when Bruce Lee died, nagluksa talaga ako,” Sharon laughed. She was only in her elementary grades then.

For the role of Melinda, a mother of three daughters, Sharon said she endeavored to lose weight (she has lost more than 30 pounds, she said) in order to look good. She owes it to Mother Lily and Roselle who’re “very maalaga, hands-on talaga sila, they give everything, kaya I’m so touched.”

Heart is Sharon’s choice

It was Sharon who chose Heart to be one of her daughters in “Mano Po 6.” On their first shoot together, Heart confided to being stressed-out. “Kinabahan at ninerbiyos talaga ako,” she said. To which Sharon said “hindi siya dapat kabahan at nerbiyusin, we will have fun together kahit medyo mabigat ‘yung ibang mga eksena…”

Sharon chose Heart because she has seen her movies, “she’s beautiful, she knows how to act. She fits the role perfectly. Ang ikinatutuwa ko, she will show acting skill na kakaiba sa lahat ng nagawa na niya. And I’m very proud that she has a movie with me.”

Heart’s role is that of a rebel daughter, and considering her image as one in real life, theysay, Heart really fits the role to a T. Heart admitted that she is a big fan of the mega star.

Is Sharon expecting an award for her role in “Mano Po 6: My Mother?” No, she stressed. “I don’t go to work for the award. I just do my best in everything I do.”

An exciting 2010 for Sharon

Sharon announced that for next year, she will have a lot of big surprises for everyone. “I have a lot of movie offers for 2010. I’ll be doing things I’ve never done or dreamed of before.” One of them is a bookazine under ABS-CBN. It’s a book-magazine where she will write on various things, “and it’s something you’d like to keep, that’s why it’s a bookazine,” she said. This will come out to coincide with her birthday next year.

About her husband’s backing out of the vice presidential race, Sharon said she feels sad because it’s something Kiko has long prepared for, but it was a sacrifice he did in support of the Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas tandem. She and Kiko will definitely help Noynoy in his bid for the presidency.

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‘Bandaoke! Rock N’ Roll To Millions’

Seventeen-year-old Frencheska Farr, who recently won the “Next Big Star” competition with Geoff Taylor, was so elated with the show “Bandaoke! Rock N’ Roll To Millions” which begins airing on Sunday, Oct. 25, after “Mel and Joey” on GMA-7’s “Linggo Binggo.”

Francheska, Geoff and Jay Perillo compose the Bandaoke! Band. They provide the live music in the musical game show.

Francheska won P1 million plus one condo unit in the “Next Big Star” competition. Geoff also won P1 million and one condo unit. Unfortunately, Geoff’s house was damaged by the recent storm, Ondoy.

“I feel so happy with the show,” Francheska said. “And though we are now working so hard for it, I feel I never get tired at all. For the last several days, Mondays and Tuesdays, we have been rehearsing for the show, from 1-7 p.m. We have to rehearse no less than 12 songs.”

“I enjoy singing,” stressed Francheska who is taking up international studies or languages. She is a very jolly person, laughing most of the time while she was answering questions. Asked about Geoff, she said “We are just friends, though we go out together most of the time with other friends. He is my kuya!” Geoff is now 23 years old.

“Definitely, I do not have any boyfriend yet, and I do not intend to have one, not now nor in the next several years!” Francheska stressed.

“I love to sing old songs,” Francheska added. She studied for a while voice lessons, especially diction.
Allan K, who hosts the show with Jaya, said he likes the show, a reformatting of the “All Star K.” The show introduces a brand new level of fun and interactive singing, which truly sets it apart from other shows of similar format. “Bandaoke!” has incorporated a live band accompaniment.

The singing game show begins with two teams of three members each and a “bandaoeke” coach assigned to each team. The two coaches will have to answer a music-related question to determine which of the two teams will sing first. The team with the correct answer can either Play or Pass.

After three rounds, the team with the most pot money will move on to the one-on-one round, where the former teammates will now be competing against each other.

In this round, the same rules apply except each player must be able to sing a specified number of blanks. Only one winner will emerge from this round and will play the one million jackpot round!

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Oct. 25 go to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Lito Lapid, Isabela Gov. Gracia Cielo Padaca, Ceada Tanopo-Nato, Cristina G. Caedo, Leandro Baldemor, Atty. Lumen Policarpio, Santa So, Malaya Friday entertainment editor Mario Hernando, Jojo Montemayor, Toni Acaylar, Chary S. Misa, Rey Espiritu of Walnut, CA, Mrs. Rosario Corrales Miranda, Jackie Cayuca, Crispina Balderas Bragado, Ma. Bituin Hidalgo, triplets Leonard Frederick, Alvin Benjamin and Kevin Anthony S. de Leon. Happy wedding anniversary to Rudolph and Babot Armas of New York; and John and Tini Jacaria. Belated b-day greetings to realtor Don Moral (Oct. 23).