A touching farewell for Sharon

MANILA, Philippines - The Sharon Show taped its last two-part finale episodes last Aug. 31, before a live packed audience at the Oasis Events Place. The tape rolled at around 11 p.m. due to technical setbacks but nonetheless, Sharon Cuneta, the lighthearted, happy, giddy Megastar kept everyone up and about and entertained with her humor and charm in between takes. Special guests in the Sept. 26 episode were Side A that opened and closed the episode with upbeat ‘80s music, followed by a production Champions number with WCOPA junior champ Rhap Salazar and Pilipinas Got Talent grand winner Jovit Baldivino.

Pokwang amused us with a Madonna dance interpretation number alongside Marion, Paul Jake Castillo, Will Devaughn and Johan Santos of Pinoy Big Brother. Sharon also called in her favorite vocal group The CompanY for Pakisabi Na Lang. Through the years, even when the show reformatted, The CompanY never failed to guest in all of Sharon’s TV variety shows.

For the finale episode shot for Oct. 3, Sharon opened with We Built This City with Journey’s lead vocalist Arnel Pineda, followed by daughter KC and Billy Crawford who both sang a special arranged duet Umbrella by Rihanna. Sharon also formally introduced her newest upcoming TV show Star Power: The Sharon’s Search For The Next Female Pop Superstar. She called in co-hosts champions Erik Santos and Christian Bautista who joined her in a Barry Manilow medley masterfully arranged by Louie Ocampo. Sharon tearfully closed her final episode with a heartfelt rendition of Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko (the audience sang along with her) and Sana Maulit Muli with an added string ensemble.

A touching moment was Sharon’s tribute to her devoted staff who worked alongside her for the last 200 episodes or so in a span of five-and-a-half years since 2005. Sharon took a one year break from the show in 2004 after giving birth to Miel. Sharon was originally a musical variety T.S.C.S. in 1987 that aired on IBC Channel 13. In the mid ‘90s, it moved to its new home, ABS-CBN. In 2008, the network decided to tweak the show and turned it into a talk show/musical variety type. Through the years The Sharon Show has adapted to the times and showcased a variety of formats highlighting Sharon’s inexhaustible talent to entertain her legions of fans here and abroad. From singing, dancing, hosting, comedy, acting you name it, she’s done it. No wonder she’s the one and only Philippine Megastar.