Sharon Cuneta is endorsing Tito Sotto, and it's not a surprise.
"Blessing in disguise, it's really quite a blessing," Tito Sotto told the press last night, April 27. The former senator treats Sharon as his eldest daughter.
The entertainment press got a chance to interview Sharon and Tito Sotto during the shooting of their TV commercial at Broadway Centrum, Quezon City. The award-winning actress was very jovial and accommodating despite the late hour of the shoot.
"Sa dami ko talaga ng pinsan, sila talaga yung lumaki na ang trato sa akin, panganay na kapatid," Sharon said, referring to the children of Tito Sotto and Helen Gamboa—Lala, Gian, and Ciara. "Hanggang sa mag-asawa na lahat, ganun pa rin. So talagang panganay na anak ako nina Tita Helen. Na siguro kami yung mga pinaka-nakakakilala sa kanila."
Sharon is the niece of Helen, the wife of Tito. Helen and Sharon's mom, Elaine Cuneta, are sisters.
Sharon said this is the first time she would officially endorse her uncle. She said she thought she was never needed in the past.
"Tinext ko siya, e. Touched na touched ako nung sumagot siya. Sabi ko, 'Sorry, Pads, ngayon lang.' Sabi ko, 'I just want you to know that I don't take you treating me as your eldest daughter very lightly.' In other words, dinidibdib ko yun mula nung pagkabata. So, sabi ko nga, 'Sorry po, ngayon lang.' Kasi nahihiya rin ako mula tumakbo siyang vice mayor, senador, di ba, super lakas siya? I thought I was never needed. Tapos ang sagot naman niya, 'Alam mo naman, ayokong nag-aabang.' Oo nga naman, dapat ako nagpupumilit," she said, laughing.
"She's always needed," seconded Tito Sotto. "Kaya lang nahihiya lang akong magtanong sa kanya."
Sharon continued, "Actually kahit nung last election, naalala n'yo yun? Hindi ako nakasama sa kampanya kasi kumakampanya rin si Kiko. Pero bawat lugar na pupuntahan namin, kinakampanya ko rin siya. Tapos nire-report ko sa kanya. 'Da, in-announce ko rin po kayo.' Kung saan-saan kami nakakarating nun."
Lastly, Sharon bannered, "Sana suportahan po natin siya. Sotto, ibalik po natin sa Senado. We need to have someone like him, a father figure also."
HORROR MOVIE. On showbiz issues, the entertainment press asked Sharon about her projects this year.
"Yung movie ko, hindi kakasya this year," Sharon volunteered. "But by June, I will be starting on my movie with Star Cinema, which is horror. My first horror! Tapos meron din kaming naka-schedule ni Robin Padilla sa Unitel. Depende na yun sa schedule-an. Tapos I will have a movie with Ate Vi [Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos], hopefully matuloy this year. This is just nasa kontrata namin 'yon. So if not this year, next year. Nag-uusap na kami. Afterwards, it might be me and KC [Concepcion, Sharon's daughter]."
For the horror movie, Sharon said she still has no idea who her castmates will be. She added, however, that she plans to pick workmates who are easy to work with.
"Ako, I like to have siguro a little say in it...disente mga producers ko. Tapos pag sinabi ito, kung medyo may experience yung ibang tao na kalapit ko na [sinabi] hindi okay katrabaho yun, siyempre iwasan mo na para walang intriga.
"I like to be happy on the set, so I like to work with people na magaang. You know, life's too short. And I've been in this business for 32 years. I deserve to be with people who make the set happy for everyone's sake, di ba? They have to be talented."
Sharon adds, " I like people who like me, who don't judge me before they get to know me."
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. Moving on to personal issues, Sharon said that today, April 28, is her wedding anniversary with Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan.
"Mga 14 years na, it's a blessed marriage. Kasi hindi naman tatagal ng ganun kung walang guidance atsaka protection ng Panginoon, di ba, sa dami ng paninira sa kanya [Kiko]?"
She said she just takes lightly the accusations against her husband, including rumors that he has a child by another woman.
"Si Kiko, tuwing tumatakbo, laging may babae. Nag-offer na nga ako, umabot na ng P10 million, ni MMS wala akong nakukuha. Ganun talaga ang pulitika... Ang dami na nga niyang anak, wala pa akong nakikita!
"Palaki na nga nang palaki offer ko. Natatakot ako baka lumaki, sana naman 'wag dun tumama. 'Wag na!" Sharon joked.
Shifting to a serious tone, Sharon added, "He's a good husband, he's a good father, and you know what, frankly, he has no time for anything else."
Where are they celebrating their anniversary?
"Magbi-beach lang kami. Dapat three days, pero mauuna siyang umuwi after two days. Nakaabala pa yung anniversary!" laughed the Megastar.