Take her Feb. 12 pre-Valentine concert, "My Mega Valentine," as example: Sharon’s nth major gig at the Araneta Coliseum, it takes up from where her last concert there (in 2002, her 25th anniversary concert) left off.

If predecessor was mostly classically arranged medleys, "My Mega Valentine" shows the more pop side of La Cuneta. If before, Sharon staged a coup by guesting both Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano without any one of them arguing about billing, "My Mega Valentine" prides itself for having prized actor Christopher de Leon trading mid-shots for the microphone and for getting the nod of diva Kuh Ledesma to grace the show.

If in her 25th anniversary concert, Sharon musically tipped her hats off to near-solid classic hit songs repertoire, "My Mega Valentine" comes with that plus new songs from her latest album "Sharon Sings Alcasid" under Sony BMG Entertainment.

Last week gave Manila Bulletin the privilege of having a 20-minute sit-down one-on-one with the megastar at an exclusive press conference held at Holiday Inn Galeria Suites. There, she intimated just how special "My Mega Valentine" is in full transcription below:

"By doing something entirely different yet one that won’t alienate my Sharonians. The 25th concert was a review of my career in the movies and recording, hence, the classically arranged medleys backed by a full orchestra. ‘My Mega’ is a preview of where I am at now and where it is I’m taking my music; that is, more into pop. Though my biggest hits like ‘Sana’y Wala Ng Wakas’ or ‘Bituing Walang Ningning’ were the pang-singing contest types, people forget that I actually began my singing career doing pop with ‘Mr. DJ,’ ‘To Love Again’ and ‘So Much In Love.’ My next album with Sony BMG, in fact, will be a pop album of cover songs done acoustically."

"That I used to be thin! (laughs) Unfair nga kasi I’ve only been big for three years yet that’s how some people seem to remember of me. Pero papayat din ako——at malapit na!"

"First of all, Christopher can really sing. In fact, Lino Brocka once said that he has the range of Sammy Davis, Jr. Few know this, too, but he is already doing an album to be released this year. I’d probably do a duet with him in one of the tracks. Second, Boyet is my ultimate idol and the crush of a lifetime! (smiles) I remember seeing him first in the movie ‘Kasal’ with Hilda Coronel when I was just 13 years old. It was in a cinema pa nga yata at Session Road in Baguio. Anyway, I was so taken by his and Hilda’s acting that I became an instant fan. I even told Boyet this when we filmed ‘Magkapatid.’ Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Alam mo bang naninigas pa din ako pag tayo na ang magka-eksena kasi I’m such a fan of yours.’ Natawa lang siya. He told me jokingly, ‘Trabaho lang yan.’ I told myself, ‘And I’m blessed!’"

"Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey. And Susan Sarandon! I once saw her in the States boarding——or was it departing from?——an elevator. Dali-dali akong pumunta sa kanya. Sabi ng mga kasama ko, ‘Hoy, ano ka ba? Si Sharon Cuneta ka!’ But I told them, ‘Eh, ano? Si Susan Sarandon kaya yon!’"

"Absolutely. I loved her from the time I heard her ‘Dito Ba’ loved her even more when she sang ‘Magbalik Ka Na Mahal’ from ‘Rama Hari.’ I have so much respect for Kuh, the singer and artist.

Many do not know this but I get thrilled whenever artists like Regine Velasquez and Lea Salonga acknowledge me in their shows. Regine, whom I consider not only one of the best singers here but worldwide, once sang one of my songs in a tribute concert and I was so touched. One day, mag-ja-jamming session kami ni Regine. She’d do the really high notes and I’d do the really low ones kasi nga alto ako, di ba?

I also love Lea Salonga. She once said, ‘Sharon Cuneta is one of my favorite singers and people.’ Isn’t that the greatest compliment? And to think that’s Lea Salonga. I also like it that when she sings my songs she does so faithfully to the original version. It not only shows respect for the songs but indicates that she is so big as to be that humble as an artist."

"I know. Usually kasi, I work with Mel Villena or Homer Flores, right? But here I am working with Louie because he’s a soul mate. I knew Louie long before he became the Louie Ocampo kasi I took up piano lessons with him in Yamaha way back. Louie and I are the type who’d be thinking of the same song even before anything is mentioned. When we brainstorm or during rehearsals, he’d play three notes of a song and I’d be surprised because I was just thinking of that same song that very moment! Plus, Louie wrote some of my biggest songs as ‘Hagkan’ and ‘Ewan.’

But I love Mel Villena equally and respect him as much. Be sure to write that down, ha? Because nothing could be truer."

"More for the entire family, actually. You know, I can’t bear having Valentine’s Day without my kids. Sa amin ni Kiko, every day is Valentine’s Day. Magsuot nga lang ako ng sexy gown, Valentine’s Day na yon para sa kanya. (laughs) Kiko is one of the easiest person to please and that makes me love him all the more.

Why else did I not choose to hold ‘My Mega Valentine’ on Valentine’s Day? To give my fans a chance to watch other artists’ shows. And, of course, to spare them from horrendous traffic jams!"

" ‘Dear Heart’ for its message of love pure. ‘Sana’y Wala Ng Wakas’ because that’s what love does to you, right? It makes you hope for forever. And of course, ‘Bituing Walang Ningning’ because true love is that powerful; enough to make you turn your back on everything just to be with the person you love.

Whenever I see that movie, I’m always sure how the story really ends: The lead characters live happily ever after in love everlasting."