“Kuya [brother], is it possible to raise the camera angle a little? Make me look thin,” Filipino star Sharon Cuneta tells my videographer, chuckling. She is seated next to her daughter, actress KC Concepcion, who deftly weaved our lapel microphone inside her black dress and up the shoulder strap where she clipped it inconspicuously. “Are you okay with the light?” Concepcion softly asks her mum. “Yeah, of course,” Cuneta replies. The celebrity mother-daughter dynamic is inadvertently present as we roll with the interview.
The two held a concert in Dubai on Friday night, Cuneta’s second in the emirate after eight years. This time, Concepcion made an appearance, fresh from winning this year’s Best Supporting Actress award at the PMPC Star Awards for TV for her role as Alexis in Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala opposite actress Judy Ann Santos. “She fell in love with Dubai after visiting this place a couple of months ago,” Cuneta says.
It’s not every day that the megastar — as she is called by Philippines’ media and fans for her prolific work in the entertainment industry — comes to Dubai. Or that she performs here with her daughter. She is due to perform in Milan on December 8.
It’s been a hectic year for Cuneta following her move to TV network TV5, which reportedly earned her a P1 billion (Dh83 million) contract — the highest ever for a Filipino celebrity.
There are a couple of movies in the works, but recordings for her TV series Madam Chairman and TV musical show The Mega and the Songwriter are a daily event. “I want to get Sundays off,” says Cuneta, “but I guess when we go on a big break we can start those movies.”
She tells tabloid! she plans to celebrate her 35th year in the entertainment industry with a major concert next year, and with a couple of albums.
Is there going to be a more professional collaboration between mother and daughter?
“We don’t get to work together very much at home because she works for another station, so this is a treat even for us,” Cuneta says. “But we’re really lucky that we still get to do shows like this. It’s more of the quality time I get to spend with my mum, and while she’s resting I’m there exploring the place,” Concepcion adds.
What are your expectations of each other?
“I just expect her to keep the values she’s grown up with — which she does — and I just really want KC to find happiness, not only in her career but in her personal life because she really deserves that,” Cuneta says.
What was the best lesson you passed on to your daughter?
“I wanted to be an example for her that a woman can make a life for herself even without a man around. She really kind of got that,” Cuneta says. “Really?” Concepcion interjects, “It’s nice to have a man around!” “Oh yeah, it is,” Cuneta answers back, making both of them laugh.
Do they have a specific match in mind? “Even if she says ‘I think you should be with someone like this and like that’, I know deep inside she would be okay with anyone who I would be happy with,” Concepcion says. “I think the fear is more that she will end up with somebody who will not care about keeping the family together. We are a close-knit family and I’d like to keep it that way,” Cuneta adds.
Does being born into a showbiz family put a lot of pressure on them as artists?
“It had opened doors, I suppose. But once the doors were opened, she really worked hard to get to where she is now and we’re really proud of that,” Cuneta says.
“She has her own niche; I have my own niche and you can’t compare it at all,” says Concepcion, who is relishing opportunities to do “offbeat roles”. She is starring in the action-drama Boy Golden, which premieres in the Philippines on December 23 and is her first entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival. She will play the role of Marla Dee, the partner in crime of notorious gangster Boy Golden, whose life the movie is based on.
“I’m really excited because we’ve been working on it for months; doing 38-hour tapings in Ilocos, Laguna, Pagsanjan, Quiapo...” Concepcion says, adding that she trained with Angelina Jolie’s stunt coordinator for her action scenes. Concepcion shares the screen with veteran actor Eddie Garcia. “This is really a step up... it gives me a lot of energy to be doing roles that aren’t so typical wholesome, love stories,” Concepcion says, “I know I’m going to go back to that... I’m just glad I have my mum’s blessing [to do offbeat roles].”
Quick fire with the mother-daughter team
KC, what is the score between you and Paulo Avelino?
Sharon (teasing): Don’t be afraid...
KC: Mum! Really?! With everything I’m doing right now?
Sharon: Of course. I went through that.
KC: We were together three years ago and he’s really devoted to his work and we are really good friends. [Sharon makes a face like she doesn’t believe it]. We’re good friends, he’s nice...
Sharon: Papa and I were also good friends.
KC: He is somebody...
Sharon cuts in, smiling: He’s courting you, just say.
KC (smiling sheepishly): Yeah, he is.
What’s your ideal partner?
KC: I don’t like judging people... For me what really matters is he is a responsible guy who you have fun with and who you know is sincere towards you
Sharon: And whoever she marries, I have no problem... (turns to KC) Just give me all your children.
KC: I’ll give you?
Sharon: Yeah, give...
KC: What will you do with them?
Sharon: Give, I say.
KC: And?
Sharon: You borrow.
KC: The house has to be big, mum!
Sharon (with a grin): That’s why I’m building one.
What kind of man can sweep you off your feet?
KC: Mum, your turn to answer...
Sharon: I think they know my life story...
KC: What’s your type, mum?
Sharon: Oh, the cute leading men I went out with.
KC: My mum is fun. She likes to be taken on an adventure.
Sharon: I just like to be happy and laughing a lot, and laughing with someone. I’m a romantic.
KC: I think I got that from her. I need to be with someone I can go on adventures with. Exploring the world. Travelling. Hiking. Being outdoors.
Sharon: I like being indoors!
What’s your dream project?
KC: I’ve always wanted to do an action film... a really offbeat role, and to work with director Chito Rono. He’s known to be really detailed about how he works, and I want to work with someone like [him].
Sharon: I also want an action project like that. I was an eight-year-old who was crying when Bruce Lee died, and now I’m in love with Jackie [Chan]. I don’t know if it’s too late for that. Another one would be to do a movie with KC.
KC: What? Really? I’d be scared..
Sharon (teasing): You better be! We will be sharing clothes and bathing suits...
