Megastar Sharon Cuneta is so grateful for “Family of Two,” the Metro Manila Film Festival entry of CineKo Productions. This marks her first collaboration with CineKo, director Nuel Naval, and actor Alden Richards. The heartwarming drama for MMFF 2023 becomes extra special as Sharon discovers a kindred spirit in Alden.
During the recent press conference at Novotel Hotel in Cubao, Sharon shared her joy at finding in the Kapuso actor someone who aligns with her attitude and values.
“My kids told me this, ‘Mom, parang Kuya Alden is more like you than any of us is.’ Sabi ko, you’re right. We have so much in common,” recounted the actress. “We are so alike. It’s very weird – in a good way.”
Even during workshops, Sharon senses an immediate connection, feeling Alden is a counterpart of herself. This resemblance extends to their interests, perspectives on real estate, family values, and shared birth month.
“Workshops pa lang natin, [I said to myself] parang isinilang ko to.
“Nung ininterview siya ng YouTube team ko, they told me, Inay it’s so weird. We just finished interviewing Alden and my God, he’s like you. I said, I knew it, we think the same way, we have the same interests. We’re both into real estate. We both think the same way about certain issues, we think the same way about our family… He’s basically the boy me, and I’m the girl him. The girl Alden.”
The award-winning actress said she also shared the same birth month as Alden and that is another thing they have in common.
When she was asked what her wish for Alden was, she replied, “I wish that all his hearts desires are given to him because he deserves only happiness. He’s very giving… He’s a good boy, a good son. I want my son to grow up the same like him. I want Alden to end up with a girl who deserves him. I want him to get the best for everything.”
Much like what they are off screen, Alden and Sharon are a loving mother and son in the drama written by the award-winning Mel Mendoza del Rosario. The conflict comes when Alden’s character tries to intervene with his mother’s personal life. In real life, though, Sharon is not one to meddle in Alden’s private life. When asked whether she thinks Alden needs a girlfriend, she said, ‘Hindi nya kailangan pero kung gusto nya, madali lang ‘yun. Because he is very loving.”
Given that they treat each other like real mother and son, their on-screen chemistry was effortless. Alden recalled, “Our scenes together were madali kasi parang instantaneous ang dating ng emotions and we were not acting at all.”
“Sobra ang naging bonding namin. I didn’t expect – ‘di ba I wrote you a letter? – na durating sa buhay ko ang sang Alden Richards na mamahalin ko nang ganito,” Sharon said.
“I am so grateful for this project, really so grateful.”
The actress said she is confident about the strength of “Family of Two” – a simple, solid family story.
“Confident about our movie it is very simple, and the beauty of our movie is in its simplicity. It’s like ‘Dear Heart,’ my first movie. It’s like truth, beauty, simplicity.
“I’ve missed making movies like this. It’s like going back to that at a different age na. I am so in love with this project,” she added.
“Family of Two” also stars Pepe Herrera, Miles Ocampo, and Jackie Lou Blanco. It will open in cinemas starting December 25.
