Sharon Cuneta | |
|---|---|
 Cuneta in 2019 | |
| Born | Sharon Gamboa Cuneta (1966-01-06)January 6, 1966 (age 59) Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 4, includingKC andKakie |
| Father | Pablo Cuneta |
| Relatives | Helen Gamboa (aunt) Tito Sotto (uncle) Gian Sotto (cousin) Ciara Sotto (cousin) Lala Sotto (cousin) Gab Valenciano (nephew) Gary Valenciano (brother-in-law) Maricel Laxa (sister-in-law) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels |
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Musical artist | |
Sharon Gamboa Cuneta-Pangilinan (born January 6, 1966) is a Filipino actress, singer, and television personality. Prolific in multiple fields of entertainment, she is known for playing dramatic and comedic leading roles in film and television. Her accolades include threeFAMAS Awards, aGawad Urian Award, nineteenBox Office Entertainment Awards, threePMPC Star Awards for Movies and twoLuna Awards.
Referred to as the "Megastar", Cuneta began her career as a recording artist with the release of the 1978 single "Tawag ng Pag-ibig" underVicor Music Corp. She rose to prominence following the success of "Mr. DJ", composed byRey Valera.[1] With record sales exceeding a million in the Philippines,[2] Cuneta is one of the best-selling Filipino musical artist of all time. Among hermulti-platinum albums includeIsn't It Romantic? (2006),For Broken Hearts Only (1989),Movie Theme Songs (1990) andSharon Sings Valera (1991). Some of her most successful songs include "Bituing Walang Ningning", "Mr. DJ", "High School Life", "Maging Sino Ka Man", "Langis at Tubig", "Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas", "P.S. I Love You", "To Love Again" and "Kahit Konting Pagtingin."
Following her success in music, Cuneta also ventured into film and television acting. In 1981, she starred in her first feature filmDear Heart oppositeGabby Conception. It was followed by a string of acclaimed andblockbuster films such asBukas Luluhod ang Mga Tala (1984),Bituing Walang Ningning (1985),Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita (1989),Kahit Konting Pagtingin (1990),Maging Sino Ka Man (1991),Madrasta (1996),Crying Ladies (2003),Caregiver (2008) andUnexpectedly Yours (2017). In television, Cuneta hosted musical shows such asThe Sharon Cuneta Show (1986),Sharon (1998), and served as judge in numerous talent competitions such asStar Power (2010),Your Face Sounds Familiar (2015),The Voice Kids (2016), andThe Voice Teens (2017).
Sharon Gamboa Cuneta was born on January 6, 1966, atOur Lady of Lourdes Hospital inSanta Mesa, Manila.[3] Her mother, Elaine (née Gamboa; 1934–2014), who had one-quarter American blood, was the sister of actressHelen Gamboa.[4] Her father,Pablo Cuneta (1910–2000), was a former mayor ofPasay. She has a brother named Cesar "Chet" who ran for Pasay mayor in the2019 elections but lost.[5]
Cuneta grew up listening to her father's record collection. Her mother, Elaine Gamboa, was a piano major at theUniversity of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music in her youth. The young Cuneta would take up piano, guitar, and flute lessons to broaden her musical training and exposure at a young age. At the age of three, Cuneta would accompany her aunt, actressHelen Gamboa, during recordings of her television shows.[6]
Another of her first proper TV appearances was onIke Lozada's show, for the "Bulilit" portion, where she mimicked the songs of her aunt,Helen Gamboa. Cuneta was just as young when she appeared in her first movie, the Rosanna Ortiz-George Estregan vehicleLovers for Hire where she played one ofRoderick Paulate's playmates.[7]
Cuneta attendedSt. Paul College, Pasig, andInternational School Manila for her primary to secondary education.[8]
In January 1978, the 12-year old Cuneta made her first visit to 782 Aurora Boulevard, which was the address ofVicor Records. Her Uncle and Vice-President of Vicor,Tito Sotto, asked her to record "Tawag Ng Pag-Ibig"[9] which he produced for her at Vicor and shortly after, she was on television promoting her own song for the first time and on the TV showDiscorama hosted by TVJ.[10]
The young Sharon was being interviewed live on Discorama, where she stated: "This is the show I watch every week. This is the show that I don’t know how many hundreds of thousands or millions of people watch in the whole country. When it hit me, I couldn’t talk."[11]
In May 1978, Sharon Cuneta followed up with a song byRey Valera entitled "Mr. DJ". Her producer in Vicor, Tito Sotto, wanted Valera to make a song that would appeal to the Radio DJ's and convince them to play her record on the air.
"Mr. DJ" became a popular hit and gave Cuneta the moniker, "DJ's Pet" (which also became the title of her debut LP). Cuneta received her first Gold Record for this and her music label Vicor Records came out with succeeding albums like "Sharon" and "Sharon Cuneta", and then "High School" with the same level of success.
Cuneta released further popular singles including "Naaalala Ka", "I-Swing Mo Ako", "Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko" and "High School Life", which were also part of the Manila Sound era.
Aside from her recording career, Cuneta also began hosting with her aunt,Helen Gamboa, in a TV variety show titledC.U.T.E. orCall Us Two for Entertainment on IBC 13.[12]
In 1980, because of her commercial success as a young singer, Cuneta's boss at the time in Vicor Music, Boss Vic Del Rosario, gave her the golden opportunity to record her firstGeorge Canseco song "Tubig at Langis". This became the theme song of the film with same title starringVilma Santos and directed byDanny Zialcita.
During the Cebu Film Festival that same year, "Langis at Tubig" was an official entry and had a float made for the parade at theSinulog Festival. The only people there were the director,Danny Zialcita and Sining Silangan producer, Ernie Rojas. But there were no actors from the actual movie who were able to go to Cebu for this event as the main lead, Vilma Santos, was pregnant at the time. Sining Silangan asked permission from Boss Vic Del Rosario if the young Sharon Cuneta who sang the theme song could join them on the float. Boss Vic agreed and Cuneta, accompanied by her Mother, Elaine Cuneta, headed to Cebu.
"My Mom and I got on the float. We went to Cebu, my first time ever. When I got on the float and it started moving, I couldn’t believe how people reacted to me. That they knew me. I just felt all this love come towards me like a rain of bullets. I can’t explain the feeling. At that age, I was 14 already. A veteran (laughs) after 2 years of singing."[11]
On the same day as the Sinulog Festival Float Ride during the Cebu Film Festival, Director Danny Zialcita asked Cuneta to appear in an upcoming film. Her parents eventually agreed to meet with Danny Zialcita. Despite asking for an outlandishly large fee, Silangan agreed to pay the sum without reservation. "Ok po. Call". That was it.[13] Zialcita told her: "If you would do this for me I will make you a star. It was a commitment, a promise I made to her."[14] "The topic of the leading man came up. Direk Danny said, 'Who would you want to be your leading man?' And my answer, of all things to say, was anybody but Gabby Concepcion. Turns out, the only one available was Gabby Concepcion."[11]
Cuneta starred in her first feature film,Dear Heart.[13] She was paired with thenClose-Up model andRegal Films' 1980s heartthrob,Gabby Concepcion.Dear Heart was successful and paved the way for future collaborations.[13]
Due to the commercial success ofDear Heart, a sequel was made. Since Sining Silangan didn't have the means to create an immediate follow up film,Mayor Pablo Cuneta collaborated with Vic Del Rosario and establishedViva Films. On November 12, 1981, Viva Films released its first feature film,P.S. I Love You, starring Cuneta and Concepcion. The film was a box office success and was followed by another Sharon-Gabby collaboration,My Only Love (1982).[15]
Cuneta was also paired with other leading men, with the likes ofWilliam Martinez (inForgive and Forget), Rowell Santiago (inCross My Heart andFriends in Love) andMiguel Rodriguez (inTo Love Again) from 1982 to 1983, which made her the Ms. RP Movies for the years mentioned.[15]
Cuneta top billed three blockbuster melodramas in 1984:Sa Hirap at Ginhawa,Bukas, Luluhod And Mga Tala, andDapat Ka Bang Mahalin? that led to her eventual crowning as 1984's Box Office Queen of RP Movies.[16]
Cuneta also staged a two-night sold-out major concert at theAraneta Coliseum titledSharon Solo with the Boys on July 20 and 21, 1984, and was cited as the year's Most Outstanding Female Concert Hall Act byAliw Awards.[17]
In 1985, a pet project of the late Mina Aragon-del Rosario,Bituing Walang Ningning was made into a film byViva Films starring Cuneta,Christopher de Leon andCherie Gil. The film was released on Valentine's Day, 1985, and was a box office success, crowning Cuneta once again as 1985's Box Office Queen of RP Movies and "Bida sa Takilya", the latter given at the 1986FAMAS Awards. The moniker "Megastar" was also given to her by the press during that year because of her continuous success in the box office.[18]
Cuneta was also awardedBest Actress byFAMAS for her performance in the 1984 filmDapat Ka Bang Mahalin and by theFilm Academy of the Philippines forSa Hirap at Ginhawa].[16] In 1986, Cuneta's string of hit movies continued as she stars on three major movies:Nakagapos Na Puso (withLorna Tolentino),Captain Barbell (where she played a cameo role asDarna) andSana'y Wala Nang Wakas (with Cherie Gil andDina Bonnevie), the latter seeing her again awarded the 1986 Box Office Queen of RP Movies.[15]
Her first solo musical-variety show,The Sharon Cuneta Show, also premiered in September 1986 onIBC, which also went on to be one of the longest running musical-variety shows in Philippine television.[19]
While filming her first feature filmDear Heart (1981), Cuneta began dating her on-screen partnerGabby Concepcion and the two continued co-starring in films likeP.S. I Love You (1981) andDapat Ka Bang Mahalin? (lit. Shall You Be Loved?) (1984).
After her short-lived marriage with Concepcion, Cuneta worked with National Artist for Film,Lino Brocka, for the first time via the filmPasan Ko ang Daigdig. The film did not fare well at the box office; however, it earned Cuneta another Best Actress nomination fromFAMAS.[15] In 1988, Cuneta only did two films,Jack 'n Jill Sa Amerika andBuy One, Take One, both receiving lukewarm response from the public. Cuneta's variety show was moved fromIBC toABS-CBN on March 6, 1988.[20]
Cuneta continued touring abroad with "The Sharon Cuneta US Concert Tour '88" and was given a Plaque of Welcome and Appreciation from Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley at her show at the Los AngelesShrine Auditorium. In 1989, Cuneta worked withLino Brocka once again in two movies,3 Mukha Ng Pag-ibig andBabangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita, the latter giving her another Best Actress nomination fromFAMAS and theFilm Academy of the Philippines.[16]
Cuneta's box office success continued with roles alongside popular action stars likeFernando Poe Jr.(Kahit Konting Pagtingin-1990)Robin Padilla,(Maging Sino Ka Man-1991),Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr.(Pangako Sa 'Yo-1992),Rudy Fernandez(Kung Kailangan Mo Ako-1993). All those movies were certified blockbusters, that though she was already elevated to Hall of Fame as Box-Office Queen in 1990, she was crowned again in 1991 through 1993 because of the success of her movies.[16]
Cuneta also reconciled with estranged husband,Gabby Concepcion, in three more films,Bakit Ikaw Pa Rin? (1990),Una Kang Naging Akin (1991) andTayong Dalawa (1992), the latter giving her a grandslam Best Actress nomination from PMPC Star Awards for Movies,FAMAS,Film Academy of the Philippines andGawad Urian.[16] Cuneta won a Platinum award in 1992, Double Platinum award in 1991 and 1992, and Triple Platinum award in 1992.[3]
In 1992, Cuneta reunited with former flame,Richard Gomez in the filmNgayon at Kailanman and in 1994 withKapantay Ay Langit.
For the first time, in 1996, Cuneta made a film outside her mother studioViva Films via the filmMadrasta fromStar Cinema. This film garnered her Best Actress Awards from all major award-giving bodies in the Philippines, hence a Grandslam win for her outstanding performance in the film. Cuneta became one of the few actresses (along withVilma Santos,Nora Aunor, andLorna Tolentino) to be given a grand slam best actress award in Philippine Cinema.[21][22]
In 2000, Cuneta filmedMinsan Minahal Kita alongsideRichard Gomez, which earned P10 million on its opening day.[23]
She was named Best Actress during the 2002 Manila Film Festival in June for her role inViva Films'Magkapatid. In the same month she was given a civic award by the City of Manila the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinwigan for cinema. Other list of awardees included the likes of Raul Locsin for architecture, Agnes Arellano for sculpture and the late Santiago Bose for new art form.[24]
She did not make any films from 2004 through 2007 as she concentrated her career more on television and music. In 2006, she released a studio album,Isn't it Romantic, which was awarded with a Diamond certification (sold over 250,000 units in the Philippines).[25]
On January 6, 2006, Cuneta returned to television from her maternity leave with a 40th birthday celebration on ABS-CBN'sAng Pagbabalik Ng Bituin (The Return of the Star). The following month, she came back to her musical talk show,Sharon. After a long rest from filmmaking, she made another film,Caregiver, in 2008, which, according toABS-CBN, is their most expensive film. In this film, Cuneta played the role of a school teacher working abroad as a caregiver. The film was the fifth highest-grossing film of 2008.[26]
In 2009, Cuneta starred inBFF: Best Friends Forever withAi-Ai delas Alas and for the first time in her 30 years, a film withRegal Entertainment viaMano Po 6 (which later on gave her another Best Actress citation at the2009 Metro Manila Film Festival). On January 12, 2010, coinciding with her annual birthday show, she launched her eponymous magazineSharon at Home.[27]
Her long-running musical talk show,Sharon, ended on October 3, 2010, and was replaced by a talent show (which she also hosted),Star Power with singersChristian Bautista andErik Santos as her co-hosts. After Star Power, Cuneta hosted the Philippine franchise of the popular US reality show,The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition on May 30, 2011, which she co-hosted.[28]
On November 22, 2011, Cuneta left ABS-CBN, her home network of 23 years, and signed a five-year contract withTV5. The contract was rumored to be worth one billion pesos, according to celebrity tweets in microblogging site Twitter, which is the biggest talent fee ever of any local artist in the Philippine showbiz history.[29]
In 2012, Cuneta started her first talk show under her new network,Sharon: Kasama Mo, Kapatid. The show ran for eight months.[30]
In September 2013, Cuneta became a co-host of musical variety talk showThe Mega and the Songwriter alongsideOgie Alcasid.[31] Cuneta's comedy series,Madam Chairman, premiered on October 14. It was her first TV series in 35 years. It revolves around abarangay chairwoman and her struggles in dividing her role as a mother and as a public official.[32]
In September 2014, Cuneta announced through Facebook and Twitter that she had pre-terminated her five-year contract with TV5 and was a freelancer.[33] In March 2015, she signed a contract with ABS-CBN, marking her return to her home network of 23 years, saying: "It is overwhelmingly wonderful! There's really no place like home. I don't belong to anywhere else, and now I'm back home, safe and sound."[34] Upon returning, she also announced that her first project in the channel would be as a judge inYour Face Sounds Familiar.[35] In an interview on May 2, 2016, onTV Patrol, she stated that she will serve as one of the three coaches (judges) for thethird season ofThe Voice Kids, replacingSarah Geronimo who earlier this year confirmed her departure from the show.[36] She also became one of the coaches for the first season ofThe Voice Teens.[37][38]
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While filming her first feature filmDear Heart (1981), Cuneta began dating her on-screen partnerGabby Concepcion and the two continued co-starring in films likeP.S. I Love You (1981) andDapat Ka Bang Mahalin? (1984). The two married on September 23, 1984, atManila Cathedral. Then-President and autocratFerdinand Marcos was among the sponsors.[39] The couple had one child, actressKC Concepcion, born in April 1985.[40] In August 1987, Cuneta and Concepcionlegally separated, citing irreconcilable differences andbigamy; Concepcion was already legally married to another woman.[41] Their marriage wasannulled in 1993.[42]
Cuneta met politicianFrancis Pangilinan during a taping ofHoy Gising!, which Pangilinan co-hosted.[43] The two began dating in 1994 and married on April 28, 1996.[44] In 1997, Cuneta, her daughter KC, and Pangilinan moved toBoston, where Cuneta completed her major in business while her husband finished his post-graduate studies atHarvard University.[45] Pangilinan has since adopted KC.[46] Aside from KC, Cuneta and Pangilinan have two daughters, including singer-songwriterKakie, and one adopted son.[47] The Pangilinan family maintains residences inMakati and inAyala Westgrove Heights inSilang, Cavite.[48][49] Cuneta and her daughter KC also maintain theirlegal residency in the United States, currently based inLos Angeles.[50]
Cuneta is a fan of theK-pop groupsExo,NCT 127, andShinee.[51] She, along with her youngest daughter, met NCT 127 in 2019.[52]
On May 10, 2024, Cuneta and Pangilinan filed before theMakati prosecutors' officecomplaints against radio hostCristy Fermin. Britanico Sarmiento and Ringler Law Offices said the case is anchored on allegeddefamation, in violation of theCybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, centering on the couple's "personal and family affairs".[53] OnCristy FerMinute, Fermin replied to the complaints, saying that "she understood where the couple was coming from".[54]
"The industry cannot survive, the history of the industry cannot be made without mentioning the one and only Sharon Cuneta."
Dubbed as the "Megastar"[56][57][58][59] for her unprecedented success in film, music and television, A&R Director ofBMG Philippines Vic Valenciano noted Cuneta's commercial power saying: "Sharon is a huge singing, acting, television and modeling star in the Philippines and has a strong following of [Filipino] domestic helpers inHong Kong,Taiwan andSingapore... andMalaysia."[60] Cuneta is the first Filipina artist to sell out at theLos Angeles Shrine Auditorium, first in 1988 and again in 2005. Her poster is enshrined in the Shrine Auditorium's Hall of Fame next to those ofMichael Jackson,Barbra Streisand and theBallet Folklorico de Mexico. Her concert reportedly created atraffic jam in the 1980s that puzzled the former Mayor of Los AngelesTom Bradley. After hearing of her success, the mayor attended the concert and awarded Sharon with an HonoraryKey to the City of Los Angeles.[61] She has interviewed other celebrities such asMandy Moore,Vic Chou andJerry Yan.[62]
Cuneta is also recognized as the most expensive and effective product endorser in the Philippines,[63][64][65][66] dominating billboards, TV commercials, newspaper ads and selling everything for the upscale market and the masses.[67] She was recognized as an "Ulirang Ina" and a Hallmark Channel Woman Achiever awardee in 2001.[68] In 2002, she was one of the youngest honorees in the "Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan (for Cinema)", given by theCity of Manila.[69] In 2004 she was named one of the "Philippines' 15 Best Actresses of All Time" by the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI)[70] In the same year, she was also named "Most Effective Product Endorser" because of her credibility by theA.C. Nielsen, a top-rated survey group in the Philippines. In December 2004, Sharon Cuneta was the first in her category (“Arts/Movies”) to be awarded the highly prestigious TOYM or "The Outstanding Young Men" award, presented to her by then-PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo.[71]
Cuneta is the first recipient of theMyx Magna Award in 2006 as a music icon with an exemplary contribution to Philippine music. She was the recipient of the OPM Lifetime Achievement Award at the MOR Pinoy Music Awards in 2015.[72] On April 26, 2015, Cuneta received the Dolphy Lifetime Achievement Award at the 6th Golden Screen Awards. In 2017, Sharon Cuneta was elevated to the Makabata Hall of Fame of the ANAK TV Awards for being voted as Makabata Stars for seven years.[73] In 2018, she received the History Maker Award 2018 fromA+E Networks Asia which honors Filipinos who have had a significant impact on the nation's life and culture.[74] Cuneta was also the first recipient of the VIVA Icon Award at the Viva Convention in 2019 for her invaluable contribution to television, film, recording and concerts.[75]
Cuneta possesses anAlto vocal range,[76] noted for her delivery and tone. Her music, primarily in pop, has been referenced and impersonated inpop culture likePinoy drag and singing competitions,[77] as well as influenced a generation of artists like the American R&B artist,H.E.R[78] and Asia's Songbird,Regine Velasquez. She has already worked with world renowned performers includingAngela Bofill,[79]Andy Lao,[79]Billy Preston,David Pomeranz,[80] andMichael Buble.
As an actress, Cuneta is among the most accomplished and acclaimed actresses in the country. She is noted for her charm[81][82] and versatility.[83]
Cuneta is the most expensive and effective product endorser in the country.[84][85]
McDonald's,Coca-Cola,Lux,Selecta,Sunsilk,Globe Telecom, pH Care,Lucky Me,SuperFerry,Alaska Milk,Colgate,Nestlé,Smart Communications andTempra were some of the products that made Cuneta a notable ambassador. At one time, Cuneta was earning ₱8 million to ₱15 million per product endorsed.[85]
Cuneta has also released her ownlifestyle magazine,Sharon at Home, published byABS-CBN Publishing. She serves as the magazine's editor-in-chief.[86]
Cuneta owns a residential project of six high-quality exclusive four-storey townhouses at No. 74 Scout Rallos,Quezon City, near trendy restaurants in the area and within walking distance to and fromTomas Morato andTimog Avenues.[87]
Aside from residential real estate enterprises, Cuneta and Pangilinan own a three-hectare farm called Sweet Spring Country Farm in the uplands ofAlfonso, Cavite.[88]
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