Sharon to star in upcoming Star Cinema film

Majority of the press who were invited to the thanksgiving dinner of food czar secretary cum senatorial aspirant Kiko Pangilinan held the other night at the Celebrity Sports Plaza were all excited to see Megastar Sharon Cuneta whom they haven’t seen in the flesh for a long time.

It has been almost a year since Sharon returned to her “home” – the Kapamilya network where she served as a jury for “Your Face Sounds Familiar” for two seasons. After that, the actress-singer had been missed. The last time we saw the Megastar was at the 6th Golden Screen TV Awards held last year at the RCBC Plaza where she was given the Dolphy Lifetime Achievement award for her exemplary work as an actress, singer and TV host.

Of course, we all know about Sharon’s battle with the bulge and since we heard that she had been on a strict diet since December, we were also eager to see the new Sharon at her husband’s thanksgiving dinner. And lo and behold, it was a better looking Sharon that we saw.

“I’ve lost 36 pounds based on my last count,” the Megastar told the media, most of whom she knew by their first names. And if we were glad to see Sharon, she was also happy to see her media friends.

“Since December, I started dieting. Pero dahan-dahan muna after I shot my last commercial kasi I am excited to go back to work. I’m doing a movie for Star Cinema, but I am sorry that I cannot divulge details about it yet. Tita Malou (Santos, Star Cinema executive) will kill me if I will reveal too much. It’s a family drama and love story but I really can’t give details yet.”

She is also excited to be one of the coaches of the next season of “The Voice Kids.”

“I was surprised when I got the offer but I am really excited. We are starting with the auditions this month, after the elections, then we go full blast. I am very excited since I will be with my friends Lea Salonga and Bamboo. Do you know that the son of Bamboo is the best friend of my son Miguel in school? I am really excited to get back to work.”

“I have a TV show and other surprises this year. Nagmamadali ako pumayat,” Sharon said. When asked what she eats to become a better version of her, she replied, “Panalangin at pride. Kinakain ko na lang ang pride. Tinanggal ko ang carbs. Hindi ganun kadali tanggalin ang carbs but when will I do it? Pag 60 na ako? I might as well do it now.”

Sharon is also happy to have joined her hubby Kiko in the last few days of the campaign which took her and her kids to the provinces like Pampanga and Tarlac, among others. “We are doing this as a family. Magandang bonding time din ito for us,” said Sharon who was happy to touch base with her fans during the campaign.

Sharon was mum when asked to comment on the breakup of her friend Zsa Zsa Padilla and Conrad Onglao. She said she only found out about it that day. “I don’t want to comment since I haven’t talked to her. I want to respect her privacy.  Ayoko naman makialam because she is going through something. Let us give her time and respect her privacy,” said Sharon, adding she is sad about what happened to her friend.

Sharon met the media again yesterday in ABS-CBN in connection with her stint as “The Voice Kids” coach. We will write about that and more about Sharon in our column next week.

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The blessing and opening of the brand new office of BG Productions, owned by astute businesswoman Ms. Baby Go, is a sign that she will continue doing more movies.

The blessing of her new office in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City held yesterday was attended by important personalities from NBI, the Philippine Chinese Chambers of Commerce Mandaluyong Chapter, film directors, celebrities and the media.

“My office is just simple but it has a good location since it is very accessible. Aside from my film production office, housed here are my other businesses like BG Beauty Soap and art gallery. I was the one who designed the interior. I am really hands-on. This is also the home of my staff and my directors have their respective tables in this office,” Ms. Baby says with pride.

Of the latest count, BG Productions already produced ten films namely “Lihis,” “Lauriana,” “Bigkis,” “Homeless,” “Child Haus,” “Iadya Mo Kami,” “Sekyu,” “Laut,” “Tupang Ligaw” and “Siphayo.”

Principal photography has begun for the movie “Area” featuring Ai Ai Delas Alas in the lead role under the direction of Louie Ignacio, and “Balatkayo” that will be shot in Singapore, Dubai and Abu Dhabi from the direction of Neal Tan. Come June, shooting will start for the films “Nuclear Family” directed by Jason Paul Laxamana and “Smell of Fear” to be handled by Italian director Paolo Bertola.

BG Productions is also proud of its triumphs in various international film festivals which were personally attended by Ms. Baby Go. At the start of the year, “Child Haus” won Best Children Film at the 14th Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh. This was followed by the victory of “Laut” (directed by Louie Ignacio) at the 35th Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal where it won the Special Mention Jury Prize award and where its lead actress Barbie Forteza won Best Actress.

Just a few days after that, Allen Dizon won Best Actor at the 4th Silk Road Film Festival in Ireland for “Iadya Mo Kami” (directed by Mel Chionglo). The same film also won the Silver REMI Awards in Houston, Texas. Director Joel Lamangan is also nominated for Best Director for “Sekyu” at the 2016 Madrid International Film Festival. “Laut,” on the other hand, is in competition in a film festival in New York this June, while “Iadya Mo Kami” is in competition in a film festival in Italy to be held in September.

“It is very inspiring because the movies produced by BG Productions are getting recognized not only in the Philippines but also abroad that is why I am a proud Pinoy every time we win in festivals abroad,” the producer added.

Even if the projects of BG Productions are independently produced, these movies have the appeal of a “maindie” with its star-studded casting and good production values. Ms. Baby Go also announced that BG Productions will soon have its own set of contract stars who will be presented to the media very soon.

“I am excited with our forthcoming projects and we are really going full blast in film production. We would like to thank the major TV networks for their support and the foreign distributors who are buying our movies. Who knows, we might look into doing a mainstream film that will make people line up in theaters,” the Queen of Independent Film Producers said.