Sharon as Madam Chairman

For the megastar, Sharon Cuneta, being immersed in politics is a big no no. She’s been asked a “million” times to run for a public office but she always give the same answer: “No thank you. I have no inten- tions to join poli- tics.” But here she is, at Brgy. Doña Imelda in Quezon City, in the midst of a barangay council meeting where the nitty-gritty of grassroots poli- tics is being threshed out and with the entire ba- rangay council present. So what gives?

The answer is TV5’s upcoming teleserye Madam Chairman where the Megastar plays the “accidental politician” whose emergence and maturation as head of her barangay council would take the viewer through the myriad glimpses of Filipino socio-political milieu right at the grassroots where the ordinary Juan and Juana live, work, play and interact (in both laughter and tears). Penned by acclaimed writer Jose Javier Reyes, Madam Chairman

As Bebeth, Sharon takes on the role of a single mother of three trying to make ends meet when suddenly inherits the awesome responsibility of being a community leader. As a neophyte yet willing village chief, she confronts the everyday problems of her community.

Since this is Sharon’s first teleserye in all the years that she has been in showbiz, she naturally wanted to be involved in the planning of this project. So there we were at Brgy. Doña Imelda hall one afternoon because Sharon herself in- sisted that she wanted to “see and feel how the barangay dynamics work.” The sudden and heavy downpour did not deter her from doing her homework and was touched at the sight of the schoolchildren, kibitzers and barangay lead- ers who eagerly waited for her to arrive. “I am nervous because this will be my first time, in my whole showbiz career, to do a teleserye,” says Sharon. “That’s why I want to do my assignment and prepare for this role.”

On hand to welcome the megastar was brgy. chairman Connie Malangen and the two women felt immediately comfortable with each other as the chairman tries to brief Sharon about her office. Sharon was then led to the meeting hall where all the kagawads were gathered. It was a regular, yet special day for them as they tackled the day’s business. Sharon keenly observed the proceedings and stayed on the sidelines. Joan Banaga, TV5 business unit head, observed that Sharon seriously watched the deliberations, and even partici- pated by asking the barangay leaders about problems on garbage, flooding, etc. One can say that Sharon, daughter of long-time Pa- say Mayor Pablo Cuneta, has it in her DNA to channel her “leadership” instincts in her forthcoming role as Madam Chairman.

The day’s proceedings were capped by the distribution of disaster-preparedness kits to the purok leaders who were briefed on the importance of these kits in saving lives. The mega- star also gave time to the children who were in awe of her presence by reading to them. TV5’s Alagang Kapatid Foundation provided a soup kitchen and also distributed school packs for the kids as part of TV5’s continuing corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.

Aside from being Sharon’s first foray into prime- time series, Madam Chairman also reunites her with one of her favorite auteurs, award-winning director Joel Lamangan, who has previously helmed some of Sharon’s most memorable films such as Ngayon At Kailan Man (1992) and Kapantay Ay Langit (1994). With the right mix of comedy and drama, Madam Chairman promises to present a humorous yet meaningful look at Filipino life not only from the point of view of the family, but also of one’s rela- tionship with the community.