The ‘softer’ side of GMA

I’d like to thank President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for granting me a private conversation right in the living room of the Malacañang Palace. It took just a day to finalize our request for an interview. We sent a letter to the appointments office and we got an immediate response. Salamat. You are the people who remind us things can be done right in a government office. Truth of the matter, we can take no for an answer especially from the President whose daily concerns are gargantuan and we realize sometimes interviews can wait.

But it’s nice to be treated well – meaning being told forthrightly and decently whether the President is available or not. So to the appointments office of the President, maraming salamat mula sa aming puso. Continue your good work. The President deserves people like you.

I always look forward to talking to the President. She is always gracious and frank when required. She is straightforward without being brash. She answers questions intently. She’s intelligent and wise that even when she giggles, she does it like a President does.

I will not forget the first interview I did with GMA as President on Jan. 24, 2001 – four days after she was sworn into the Presidency by Chief Justice Davide at the EDSA Shrine. Weeks before that, she was booked to appear on PCBA (Private Conversations with Boy Abunda) as Vice-President. Nobody knew that on Jan. 20, she was to become the 14th President of the Republic. President GMA, who was amidst a tumultuous first few days of her Presidency, could have sent word to postpone the interview, but instead, she decided to honor her word. She came to our small TV show but this time, we moved just for that episode to the main building of the ABS-CBN compound. Had she been requested to go to our small corner at the ABS-CBN News Channel, I’m sure she would have acceded. It is the humanity and humility I admire most about President GMA.

Back to the most recent interview I had with her at the Palace a couple of weeks ago, we had technical problems. The President’s microphone malfunctioned. During gaps, our technician fixed the impertinent wires and cables. Gaps seemed eternity. I indulged the President with small talk about Shakespeare, Tita Conching Sunico, food and whatever I could think of. The President of the Republic of the Philippines patiently sat during that hour-long interview without being fidgety about our silly malfunctioning sound system.

What can I say? Ma’am salamat, salamat and happy new year!

All I Ever Want

"All I Ever Want is my best album in terms of songs, production and collaboration with other musicians. Add to this is the unequivocal support of BMG Records," says Sharon Cuneta.

All I Ever Want is Sharon’s 20th album. For the first time, Sharon collaborates with Ryan Cayabyab, Andy Lau and international pianist Jim Brickman – artists Sharon admires.

"Si Andy Lau, thrill ko yan. I have a collection of foreign movies – Japanese, Chinese, French and I have a collection of his CDs too. And when BMG Records brought his name up, I knew already who he was. Mabait siya when I met him. Walang ka ere-ere."

As for Jim, Sharon enthuses that he is very easy to get along with. "What I have with Jim is a healthy, growing, working relationship." On the other hand, working with multi-awarded composer Ryan Cayabyab is a dream come true for Sharon. "It was always a dream for me to record a Ryan Cayabyab song. I’ve done concerts and TV specials with him but none in recording." Ryan produced for Sharon in the album seven songs, including the title track All I Ever Want and the only Tagalog cut, Nananabik Sa Yo.

Though the album will be distributed throughout South East Asia, Sharon chose to include a Tagalog song because "I am a Filipino and I am proud of it. Hopefully, a translation of the song will be forthcoming."

As to her personal choices in the album, Sharon says, "All I Ever Want is a personal favorite. My other favorites are Where’s The Good in Goodbye and My Heart Beats For You. Actually, all the songs included in the album are great because we spent so much time choosing them."

All I Ever Want is available in CDs and cassettes and is released under BMG Records.