Again, Mega & Goma

When news got around that Richard Gomez agreed to guest in Madam Chairman, Sharon Cuneta’s weeknight primetime series on TV5, one would think that the excitement was for some young stars whose fans are thrilled to see their idols together once again. There’s really no denying that the Sharon Cuneta-Richard Gomez love team still rekindles that spark — perhaps not in their own hearts but in the memory of those who knew of their real-life romance and still yearn for what could’ve been if the Megastar had walked the aisle with her beloved Goma.

Richard and Sharon starred in some of the most memorable romantic films in the history of Philippine cinema: Walang Kapalit (2003), Minsan Minahal Kita (2000), Kapantay ay Langit (1994), Ngayon at Kailanman (1992), Kahit Wala Ka Na (1989) and Buy One Take One (1988). They only did six movies together, but it is with them that the adage “quality over quantity” truly rings true as their excellent portrayals of their starcrossed characters still summon the same feeling of longing to those who have ranked their films among the best of all time.

On the set of Madam Chairman, Richard and Sharon are living proof that it is still possible to be good friends with a former flame. There’s no mistaking the special friendship they share, and it is evident in the boundless laughter, inside jokes and their comfortable closeness in every moment they are seen together. But unfortunately for those who are still hoping for a second run of the short-lived love affair, both Richard and Sharon admit that their friendship now is beyond any romantic inclination as they are very happy and contented with their respective life partners and families.

Richard spent three days taping for his special guesting in Madam Chairman, where he appears as Enzo, Bebeth’s (Sharon) first love and ex-boyfriend who left for the States but is now back in the country to catch up with her. As Bebeth’s marriage with her husband Dodong (Jay Manalo) is currently on the rocks due to his womanizing, Enzo came at an opportune time to spend some quality moments with his former flame.

The scenes and dialogues are reminiscent of the Richard and Sharon who once upon a time brought to real life their on-screen romance, and with award-winning director Joel Lamangan at the helm, there’s a certain curiosity as to how the former lovers will pull off their TV reunion.

Late last year, Richard agreed to guest in Sharon’s weekly musical show The Mega and the Songwriter (which she co-hosts with Ogie Alcasid), but it is only now that he and Sharon will be seen together in a teleserye. “Personally, I was very touched when he agreed to be a special guest in Madam Chairman,” says Sharon. “I didn’t want to be the one to ask him. Sa Mega and the Songwriter, ako ang nagtanong sa kanya if he could guest, so parang nahiya ako after that. Ito kasi for the teleserye, hindi lang sya for one day, kaya nakakahiya to ask so much of him. Pero I’m so happy pumayag siya agad.”

Sharon adds that she cannot thank Richard enough for “doing this,” to which he reacts by reiterating how much he’s enjoying his Madam Chairman experience. “Masaya dito sa set, ang bilis magtrabaho ni direk Joel (Lamangan), at ang ganda ng script nila. No wonder it’s the No. 1 show in TV5,” shares Richard, who had been a Kapatid prior to Sharon’s move to TV5.  He starred in the TV5 primetime series Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak in 2011 and My Driver Sweet Lover in 2010.

Richard is also open to doing more TV projects with the Megastar. In fact, he has been offered to be part of her next teleserye My Pirated Family, for which he says he looks forward to start taping. They will also star in one of the made-for-TV movies of Studio5 Original Movies, TV5’s precious collection of quality full-length films which brings the best of cinema to every Filipino home for free.

Richard’s Madam Chairman guesting airs this week, 7:30 p.m. on TV5.