‘Sabi ko, tatapangan ko na lang ang sarili ko, but I have to do it in my own way. — Sharon Cuneta’
SHARON Cuneta is back home after a two-month vacation in the US. She was still in quarantine when she attended the Zoom press con for her new movie “Revirginized,” now showing on Vivamax. She plays the role of Carmela, who got pregnant at 16 and never experienced “pagdadalaga.” Later on, her husband, Albert Martinez, dumps her. And during one wild weekend, she rediscovers how it is to be young again with the help of some “kunsintidor” friends and a virile tattoo artist played by Marco Gumabao.
What can she say about the violent reaction of some fans after they saw her saying cuss words and obscene Tagalog words for the sex act and sex organ?
“I was already expecting that, kasi nasanay sila sa wholesome roles na ginagampanan ko na disente,” she said. “But after 60 movies, I think I have earned the right to try other roles like this one, written by the genius that is Darryl Yap. When you watch the film naman, you’d see na may kalokohan lang sa umpisa, but in the end may tusok siya sa puso. When they told me nga the story, napaluha ako. Sabi ko, tatapangan ko na lang ang sarili ko, but I have to do it in my own way. This movie is truly special to me as the role gave me the freedom to become a totally different person. I just hope I did justice to the role. And I pray that my fans will see beyond the obscene words at makita nila ang serious core and puso ng movie.”
Can you relate with your role since you yourself became a mom at a very young age?
“I identified with Carmela in a lot of ways. Pareho kaming may inner strength. I was already married secretly at 18 when I got pregnant with KC. Si Carmela, nawala ang pagdadalaga niya and ako rin, kasi nag-work ako agad. Pero ‘yung mga na-experience ni Carmela sa ‘revirginized,’ hindi ko na-experience in real life.”
How is it working with Marco Gumabao as her leading man?
“Marco is a dream to work with. I’ve never seen his films, but I trusted Viva. I know they won’t give me a newbie who doesn’t know how to act. And now, anak ko na ‘yan as he’s even younger than KC. He’s very professional and magaling siya umarte kaya masarap siyang kaeksena. ”
She recalled the time they first met. “When he’s introduced to me, naka-mask siya. They said, alisin mo mask mo and he did. Aba, napakaguwapo pala ng batang to. Kung noong ‘90s ito, naligawan ako nito. Hahaha! He’s really a good boy. We’re both Christians. In our conversations, I learned he’s the man of their house now. He has taken on the responsibility of taking care of his mom and his siblings and I’d wish for a son like Marco.
After the movie, I told him I can be his second mama who can give him guidance.”
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Kokoy de Santos plays the bigger role in “Gameboys The Movie” since the whole film is set in his house and the complications in the plot concern mainly his problems with his nosey relatives. So how did it feel when he watched the full-length movie on KTX?
“It’s so satisfying na ang ganda lumabas ng pinaghirapan namin,” he said. “It’s very memorable kasi lock-in shoot ‘yun, unlike the online series na we’re in our own respective homes. This time, we’re all in one location and nag-bond kaming lahat ng cast and the rest of the staff. And I’m so happy na very positive and reception ng viewers at number one raw kami sa tickets sales in all streaming channels.”
In all fairness to him, he is really splendid in the film and stands out in several dramatic scenes, especially when he finally gets the courage to come out to his homophobic auntie that Elijah Canlas as Cairo is not just his friend but his boyfriend.
With his pair of very expressive eyes, he delivers all his lines in such a persuasive and sweet manner that will surely bring lots of kilig to the fans of the series: “Kahit magbigay ng flying kiss, bawal?” “May relasyon tayo, kaya imposibleng hindi kita isipin.” “Sobrang in love ako sa’yo, baby!”
His kissing scenes and bed scenes with Elijah are bound to be talked about as they’re both “give na give” in every encounter they have in the movie.
“Wala kaming hesitations sa love scenes kasi pareho kaming game lang sa ganyang eksena. Malaki ang tiwala ko kay Elijah kasi we’ve become really good friends sa online series pa lang. Alam na niya ang lahat about me. Also, pareho kaming may commitment sa characters namin and we’re both open with each other sa set man or even off the set.”
He’s really amazed at the huge success of the online series that was also shown on Netflix and on GMA. The company that produced them, Perci Intalan’s Ideafirst Company, has now partnered with three Japanese companies to help produce the show’s future seasons and market them abroad. Kokoy is fortunate that he is not typecast to just doing Boys Love projects. GMA-7 has already gotten him to play a straight role in the sitcom prequel “Pepito Manaloto, Ang Unang Kuwento,” where he plays Patrick, the best friend of Sef Cadayona who plays Pepito. You can say his career is really going places!
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Sophie Albert returns to acting after giving birth to her and Vin Abrenica’s baby daughter, Avianna Celeste, in GTV’s featured story, “The Beast Next Door” in the drama anthology, “My Fantastic Pag-ibig.” She gave birth last March 15 via caesarean section.
“I wasn’t expecting na caesarean ako,” she said. “We thought it would be a normal delivery, but it turns out our daughter is such a big baby and won’t come out normally. Our doctor said she’s the biggest baby she has delivered in her 30 years of practice.”
So how is it to be a mom? “Masarap, but she had to stay first in the intensive care unit for newborns until the oxygen levels in her lungs normalized. Noong finally mahawakan ko siya, I just kept on staring at her. Ang sarap ng feeling na ang dinala mo sa loob mo for nine months, finally, heto na, kasama na namin siya. It’s hard to be pregnant and have a baby in the midst of the pandemic, but it’s really worth it, including the sleepless nights when I have to wake up to feed her.”
Since their baby is now five months old, she accepted GMA’s offer to return to work and appear again on TV. In “The Beast Next Door,” she is paired with Gil Cuerva.
“I play Ashley at si Gil naman si Wanggo,” she said. “I am a strong, independent woman, but masyadong suspetsosa. Lahat na lang ng bagay, pinaghihinalaan ko nang masama. Isa na nga rito ang neighbor naming si Wanggo na ang feeling ko, may itinatagong lihim sa buhay niya kasi maraming strange happenings ang nangyayari mula nang siya ay dumating sa lugar namin.”
She eventually falls for him but little does she know that Gil as Wanggo is really an “aswang.” “The Beast Next Door” in “My Fantastic Pag-ibig” airs this Saturday on GTV at 7 p.m.
