Sharon asks court to allow Estrada to attend birthday bash

It would indeed be her birthday wish, complete with tears of joy in her eyes.

And this will only take five minutes of your time, according to mega star Sharon Cuneta who asked the Sandiganbayan yesterday to allow jailed former President Joseph Estrada to greet her on her 37th birthday this month.

In a written request sent by her talent coordinator Ace Burwell to the anti-graft court, the popular singer-actress asked Sandiganbayan special division presiding Justice Minita Chico-Nazario to allow them to take a VTR (video tape recording) of Estrada inside his detention ward at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.

"The country’s mega star Ms. Sharon Cuneta will be celebrating her 37th birthday this January and because of this, we would like to ask your permission, if we can ask former President Estrada to greet the mega star on this special day," the one-page request stated.

Burwell told The STAR that Estrada’s VTR birthday message will only be five minutes long.

He stressed the VTR to be taken from Estrada will only contain his birthday greetings and wishes for Cuneta.

Burwell said Estrada’s VTR will be included in the array of personalities greeting Cuneta on her birthday on Jan. 8.

Aside from Estrada, himself a former movie personality, other well wishers include President Arroyo, Comedy King Dolphy, Nora Aunor, Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos and former actor-comedian Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

"We would like to ask permission (from the Sandiganbayan) if we can do the shoot for a very short greeting for the mega star on Jan. 8," Burwell stated.

Burwell said their original plan was to request the anti-graft court to allow Cuneta, wife of administration Sen. Francis Pangilinan, to have a one-on-one interview with Estrada last November.

He said the crew were not available during that time which prompted them to cancel their plans for a different date.

"The whole month of January will be allotted for four specials for Shawie’s (Cuneta) birthday," Burwell said.