After Funfare published the scoop last week that Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli were confirmed to be (secretly, so far) going steady, poor Sarah has been besieged with inquiries about it, such as yesterday during the lunch presscon for her Perfect 10 concert on Nov. 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with a second show on Nov. 30 at the SM MOA (for tickets, call Viva Concerts at 687-7236, SM Tickets at 470-2222 or Ticketnet at 911-5555).
Sarah was at a loss for words but the more she tried to avoid admitting anything, the more obvious it became that she is love, in general that is, short of naming Matteo (who has had a long, secret crush on Sarah) as the current inspiration in her life.
All that Sarah’s overly-protective mom Divine could comment was, “Friends lang sila,†even if, according to reports, she’s inclined to give Matteo a thumbs-up (which she vehemently denied Sarah’s other suitors including John Lloyd Cruz, Rayver Cruz and Gerald Anderson). Why not? Matteo comes from an affluent, influential and well-respected clan in Cebu (former Chief Justice/Senate President Marcelo Fernan is Matteo’s grand uncle).
“Huwag mo na pakawalan ‘yan,†Tempo’s Ronald Constantino teasingly reminded Sarah who reacted with an approving smile.
At 25, Sarah never had a serious boyfriend. Asked by Funfare Update before the Q&A if she didn’t feel that she might be missing anything which most of her contemporaries have been enjoying to the hilt (like being in love), Sarah said, “Siempre, ‘yung normal na buhay parang you can do whatever you want, you can go wherever you want to go. ‘Yan naman ang payoff kung ano man itong mayroon ako ngayon.â€
What qualities is she looking for in a suitor/boyfriend?
“Maramdaman ko lang ‘yung kanyang sincerity and his patience,†she said. Told that Matteo is sincere — and patient — Sarah blushed.
Later at the presscon proper, when pressed what the real score is between her and Matteo, Sarah tried to be evasive, requesting the press to spare her from answering questions about her love life and for her to talk about only her concert.
Will she have a surprise guest like when Gerald Anderson, then linked to her, made an impromptu appearance and sang a duet with her during her Big Dome concert last year?
“No male guests this time,†she clarified. “Kung sino man ‘yung nali-link sa akin, ayokong ihalo ‘yon.â€
And who is being linked to her?
Making a Freudian slip, Sarah replied, “Kilala n’yo naman kung sino.â€
That prompted other press guys to bombard her with more questions about her love life. Sarah vainly tried to ward them off, hinting that she didn’t want what happened before to happen again.
“Tingnan na lang natin kung gaano siya ka-sincere,†she said. Read her lips, read between the lines. “Sana kung ano man mayroon kami, sa amin na lang dalawa.†Oops! Another Freudian slip!
Matteo himself is mum on the matter. Are he and Sarah into a conspiracy of silence?
The general consensus is that Sarah has finally (finally!) found Mr. Right and, as well-meaning friends are reminding her, she shouldn’t let him go. As the song goes, Once you have found him, never let him go…never let him go!
For a clincher, Funfare Update asked Sarah what her current favorite song is.
“The Climb by Miley Cyrus.â€
And her favorite line from that song?
“In about how fast I get there, in about what’s waiting on the other side, it’s the climb.â€
For sure, what’s waiting for Sarah on the other side is true happiness…at last?