Not really a fairy-tale life

From the ‘70s to the mid-‘80s, the late Pablo Cuneta of Pasay City was one of the more high profile mayors of Metro Manila. His success story — starting out as a rig driver — became an inspiration for the poor to do better in life.

When daughter Sharon Cuneta joined showbiz as a singer at 12 years old in 1978, the mayor’s name had even more recall and was soon known all over the archipelago and eventually abroad where there were Filipino movie fans.

In the beginning, of course, Sharon was referred to as Mayor Cuneta’s daughter and Helen Gamboa’s niece. But in time, she became her own person and turned into a huge box-office draw — until she was crowned megastar.

But surely, success doesn’t come without sacrifices. Her aches of the heart that included a failed first marriage (to Gabby Concepcion, father of her first-born KC) were always used to sell fan magazines (television wasn’t that intrusive yet).

Her having survived all that crises — both personal and professional — should definitely be attributed to her upbringing. Credit goes to both her parents, who obviously brought her up well (Sharon did the same thing to KC and now with Frankie and Miel).

The circumstances of her family life, of course, weren’t all that perfect. In the very late ‘70s, when Mayor and Mrs. Pablo Cuneta marked their golden wedding anniversary, there was a splashy coverage of the event in a Sunday magazine that reported how the couple and their children celebrated such important milestone — church wedding and grand reception. But at the end of the article, the writer asked: “But where was Sharon?”

That was a subtle, but not so gentle way of implying that the then teen star wasn’t part of the legal family. Instead of getting ostracized (in those days, there was still so much stigma attached to being born outside of marriage), Sharon was loved by the public even more.

In due fairness to the movie press, they never made a big deal about Sharon’s origins and save for that nasty aside, nobody made a fuss out of her family situation. This I attribute to the following reasons:

1) She never made an attempt to hide it — but neither did she flaunt it. She merely moved around polite society decently and got respect in the process.

2) Viva publicity took good care of her press.

3) She was ever so charming and charismatic from the beginning that you don’t care anymore about the little imperfections that life gave her.

4) She was so kind and in turn everyone became kind to her.

5) Her mother, fondly called Mommy Elaine, had always been so lovable and now it pains a lot of us that she isn’t as healthy like she used to be. But we all loved her (we still do) and my fondness for her is still engraved in my heart to this day. Never mind that we didn’t really spend that much time together. All that matters to me is the fact that the few instances we were together, she had always been so nice and accommodating and I will never forget her kindness.

Last week I had another chat with Sharon — arranged by Regal in line with the promotional activities for Mano Po 6, which is directed by Joel Lamangan. Since Mano Po 6 is basically a family drama, Sharon talked about her growing up years and was candid enough to discuss her not belonging to her father’s first family. “We’re not even the second family — pang-ilan na kami,” she says without any hint of bitterness.

“As children, we had normal lives and didn’t feel different from the rest,” she offers. “If we compare ourselves to kids who belong to legitimate families, but keep fighting among themselves, our lives were even more okay,” notes Sharon.

If she has any resentment at all, it was because “my Mom, of course, was not spared from snide remarks.” Elaine Gamboa eventually became Mrs. Pablo Cuneta when she and the then already retired mayor had a church wedding at the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park in 1993 (the first wife had already passed away that time).

She and full brother Chet got along well with their half siblings. How many were they in all? “25 yata or 26,” she laughs. “I do not know them all, but am close to those I know.” Sharon felt love and affection even from the first Mrs. Cuneta when the latter was still alive. “And I loved her dearly.”

Today, it is no secret that the Cunetas have a family drama — no, not among themselves — but against the person who was entrusted with everything the late Mayor Cuneta had. “No, he is not even a Cuneta,” Sharon clarifies, “and I am angry not for myself, but for all my siblings who are the legal heirs. We don’t know where everything went and it’s like we’re going on a treasure hunt.”

Ironically enough, the Cuneta children are having family troubles now that they are all grown-ups (some with grandchildren) — all because of an outsider. “At least, from our end, we didn’t have problems getting along with my half siblings. My childhood was happy and Daddy made sure he spent time with all of us,” shares Sharon.

The megastar must really be upset because you can feel the anger within her (she can be so transparent) no thanks to “that outsider.” Only the presence and support of her producer, Lily Monteverde, buoyed her spirits after a grueling afternoon that was all work, work and work.

She relishes this experience of finally being able to work with Mother Lily, who actually stood as principal sponsor during her first wedding. “But the one she loves now is the new one… Ha! Ha! Ha!” (referring to husband of almost 14 years, Sen. Francis Pangilinan).

The offer to do a film with Regal came 10 years ago, but they had to find the right material and script and according to Sharon, “this is it.”

In this star-studded film, Sharon plays a woman who goes through hell and back. To her relief, the scenarios in her real life pale in comparison compared to the dramatic moments that take place in Mano Po 6. Compared to her screen character, Sharon Cuneta’s life is a fairy tale.