But it's been quite a while since Sharon bid her fans farewell when her musical talk show "Sharon" bowed out last May while she was pregnant with her third born Miel. The delicate condition of her pregnancy prompted Sharon to quit her show. But no regrets as she won't risk the life of her child in favor of work.
The megastar made her TV comeback via a TV special produced by ABS-CBN that was aired Sunday two days after her 40th birthday. It was a big event as Sharon marked her 40th summer. She's still very much on top of the heap, very secure of her position in the industry as the well-loved and much adored idol.
Even if she had not done a regular show on TV and has not made a movie since her last project under Star Cinema titled "Kung Ako Na Lang Sana" opposite Aga Muhlach, Sharon has a number of product endorsements that keeps her visible to the public eye. These are constant reminders that she's very much around, just waiting for the opportunity to bounce back and reclaim her throne, as if her throne was threatened to be taken by another at all.
Sharon feels so blessed having three beautiful daughters, KC, Frankie and Miel, the source of her inspiration and happiness, not to mention her loving husband, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, who obviously loves and adores her.
"I can't ask God for anything more," says the megastar. "I have three wonderful children and a very loving husband. Nothing compares to the kind of fulfillment I have when it comes to my family. I continue to pray that God will keep them always healthy."
While Sharon has yet to win her battle against the bulge, the megastar is slowly but surely getting there. She had been religiously following her weight reducing regimen and when she met the press during the launch of her latest BMG album titled "Sharon Sings Alcasid," she's looking and feeling much better. "I am on a South Beach diet and it's working wonderfully. There's still a lot of work to be done, and I know it takes time but I am slowly getting there."
"I also have plans to work out in a gym pero I want to be in good shape for, I mean, in fighting form kaya nga I am religiously following my diet because I really want to be in shape."
She's not against the idea of undergoing cosmetic surgery or liposuction, but she's not seriously considering it either. After all, she's 40 and a mother of three, but Sharon would rather take things easy.
"Undergoing cosmetic surgery is a matter of choice. To each its own iyan. If ever I go back to the movies, I want to be in shape. Ayoko naman magpa-lipo tapos mas aabangan ng mga tao pag pinapanood nila ako sa movie kung alin parte ba ng katawan ko ang ni-liposuction. Hindi naman maganda iyon," says Sharon with a laugh.
"If you can have a way to improve the way you look, why not? There's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong with stars wanting to look good. You owe that to your audience. It would be nice if the process was done well and properly but if not, I pity the person who went through it kasi sila ang napipintasan."
High on the list of Sharon's priorities is promoting her latest album from Sony BMG "Sharon Sings Alcasid" where she gives her own version to the hits composed and popularized by Ogie Alcasid. The album is produced by Eloisa Matias, a long-time friend of Sharon and who has been the musical researcher for her musical variety show "Sharon" on ABS-CBN.
Belated happy birthday, Sharon!
But even if they have not been working together, Juday and Piolo have remained friends. "We remained this way because it's our choice. So kung anuman mangyari in the future, siguro we'll just see. We are becoming more mature, more independent, and responsible, but for now we're focused more on our careers," says Piolo. The actor believes it was probably for the better that he and Juday ended up as friends than lovers. Maybe that was the will of God.
"I think our friendship endured because of our mutual respect for each other. I guess it would be hard for me and Juday to jump into a relationship then because we were both young. Mas pangmatagalan ang friendship namin ngayon. Baka we might have been affected had we went into a relationship before friendship. Tapos biglang mag-aaway kami at maputol bigla ang relationship namin," he explains. "Like I've said, it worked to our advantage that after six years we're still together because mataas ang respeto namin sa isa't-isa. I think it's much better that way."
"Don't Give Up On Us" is not the usual "pampakilig" project that Juday and Piolo movies are known for. Their past three movies were the usual "pangkilig" romance that has all the necessary elements to make fans swoon and be delirious with the thought that Juday and Piolo would end up together both in reel and real life. Not this time since Juday and Piolo are portraying mature individuals who are capable to decide what to do with their lives when faced with a difficult situation.
"Dumating na siguro kami sa point na hindi na namin kailangan na magpa-cute ng todo. Dumating na kami sa edad na hinaharap namin ang katotohanan na may mga pangyayari na sa umpisa pa lang ng relasyon dapat mangyari. We are of age and know now to tackle relationships. We know what is pa-cute, puppy love and any other kind of love," says Juday.
Produced by Star Cinema, "Don't Give Up On Us" is an answered prayer both for Juday and Piolo fans. "I myself have been waiting for this moment," says Piolo who is featured with an entirely new look in his role as an aspiring singer in the movie.
In the story, Juday plays Abby, a domineering and cranky woman and Piolo is Vince, a hunky and long-haired aspiring singer. They cross paths while on separate soul-searching vacations in Baguio and Sagada, a perfect setting for two strangers who develop an aversion towards each other on the first meeting, but gradually become closer as they get to know each other better.
In this movie, Juday and Piolo give love and romance a new kind of touch and treatment calculated to titillate and touch the hearts not only of Juday-Piolo diehards but those of other romantics as well.
Of course, it can't be helped that they have to live apart since Sheryl works here in the Philippines as an actress while her husband Norman has a business in the United States. Her husband is even due to arrive and visit her again.
Sheryl is once more featured in the Season 4 of "Now and Forever" titled "Tinig" where she plays an aspiring singer who falls in love with her composer (played by Gary Estrada). This is a reunion for Sheryl and Gary who were both mainstays of the defunct teenage program "That's Entertainment," where some of the brightest stars today came from. The two were also together in the Viva movie "Ikaw Naman Ang Iiyak," the first drama movie that Sheryl did for Viva Films many years back. She and Gary played husband and wife there.
"I am glad to be working again with Gary," says Sheryl who plays mother to teenstar Yasmien Kurdi in this afternoon drama series directed by Mac Alejandre. The love story of Gary and Sheryl in the TV series did not materialize because Sheryl's mom, played by Sandy Andolong, had them separated because she wanted Sheryl to continue with her career as a singer.
Their child (Yasmien) was given away for adoption as an infant and grew up hoping to become a singer to the point of idolizing Sheryl whom she didn't know was her mother. It will be mother versus daughter in the fight for stardom.
He also considers being nominated as Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for "Lagot Ka Isusumbong Kita" in the 2nd Golden Entertainment TV Awards as another high point in his career last year. "Even if I didn't win, the nomination was enough to boost my confidence and make me feel that I am doing a good job," says Teri. He's hoping to get an acting assignment in the movies, possibly with Nora Aunor (if it's a drama movie) or with Maricel Soriano (if it's a comedy flick).
He is launching a new business at the SM Mall of Asia in Manila. He has come up with his own product line, which he calls Teritory. This includes perfume, lotion, and hand sanitizer just to name a few. "We have products for men and women, pati bading at tomboy," says Teri. "When I was young, I couldn't afford to buy perfume. Pag nagsisimba kami noon, kung ano ang pabango ni Mama, yun din ang pabango namin magkakapatid. Now that I am already earning, I thought of putting up this business. I really love perfumes."
He has also put up the Teri Onor Foundation and for its first project, he is planning on either a feeding program, or a medical or dental mission for street children sometime this January. But he is still attending to the details of the project that's why he declined to discuss it lengthily. But Teri hopes to launch the foundation's first project before the end of January.
Editor's Note: Beginning this Wednesday, Star Circuit by Ricky Calderon takes the space of Penpoint by Ryan Mark. In the light of Ryan Mark's bigger and more exciting responsibilities as editor of Hugyaw!, the new entertainment section of The FREEMAN's sister publication, Banat News, Penpoint will be a twice-monthly column that comes out Saturdays.