Sharon nixes plans to retire from showbiz

Sharon Cuneta is all set for a busy 2020. She’s currently in negotiations for seven projects.

“So far, the confirmed are three,” the megastar revealed during a presscon on Thursday for her contract renewal with ABS-CBN.

These include films under major studios Viva, Regal and possibly one for the ABS movie outfit Star Cinema.

The new projects come on the heels of her pronouncements last year that she was mulling retirement from the industry she has been a part of since her preteen years.

“Sabi ko po kasi nung in-announce ko na mag-re-retire ako in a couple of years, nagulat ako kasi nagdagsaan yung offers, pati yung concerts, bumalik yung TV show,” the 54-year-old singer-actress said.

“Tita Cory (Vidanes, ABS-CBN CEO) also brought up the possibility — because I’ve never done one — of a teleserye for ABS-CBN. ‘Pag matuloy ang plano, sana matuloy, it will be my first ever. For now, I’m happy to be back with my Your Face Sounds Familiar family.”

Sharon takes these project offers as a sign that it isn’t time for her to slow down yet, recalling instances in the past when work poured in just when she was entertaining thoughts of quitting.

“I said it once (before), ‘Lord, I wanna slow down na, I’m tired na po.’ I think I’m done and then He sent Madrasta (1996). And then one after the other, so I said, ‘Okay, Lord, I guess, you don’t want me to stop yet.’ Basta may pagkakataon, I try my best to be a good Christian… to inspire people na baka magkakaproblema, ‘wag kakalimutan na andyan siya, so I glorify Him all the time. So maybe may assignments pa ako.”

Sharon shared that her original target of retirement is at the age of 55, which is already next year. “But that will really depend because I don’t think anybody can finish possible seven movies in one year.”

Apart from movies, she will be going to Australia to bring her 40th-anniversary (in showbiz) concert tour. In May, she’s going to the US for her Iconic concert series with Regine Velasquez.

Meanwhile, Sharon wrote an emotional open letter addressed to daughter KC Concepcion on her social media pages last Wednesday, wherein she hinted as much that she was hurt over her eldest child’s absence in recent family occasions. According to her three-part post, KC didn’t show up during the Christmas lunch, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, her pre-birthday celebration on the ABS-CBN show ASAP (Jan. 5) and her actual birthday (Jan. 6).

“Where were you, anak? What were you doing? Why not even a text from you? I know you are in your 30s now and are free to do what you want. But if I hadn’t even bothered calling my Mommy when she was alive to tell her where I was going or what I was doing, I know she would’ve found it unforgivable, unacceptable,” part of the long post said.

“Anak, huwag kang lumayo sa amin,” she also said.

During the presscon, Sharon explained what compelled her to pen the open letter and post it on social media. KC didn’t privately message Sharon on her birthday but greeted her instead via Instagram, so she decided to thank and reach out to her daughter through social media as well.

“Parang nag-aalala ako, siempre nanay ako, I think it’s normal lang sa isang ina na may mga panahon na ganyan. I’m just worried because I don’t know what she’s going through,” she said, stressing, “It all boils down to a mother missing her daughter. That’s all.”

KC has not yet reacted to her mom’s post, but fans are hoping mother and daughter will be together again, sooner than later.

In her birthday greeting earlier, KC told Sharon: “Happy birthday, mama. I’m sorry I couldn’t join the ASAP celebration for personal reasons. We may not be perfect, but in the many ways I know how to LOVE you, I have, I do and I always will. I have done all I can to help you when I could and to make you proud knowing you had me so young. If I fail, I’m only human and I’m sorry. But I try my best. Happiest birthday to you mama. May your light shine brighter and brighter and I will see you soon. I love you and pray for your happiness always