A tale of two concerts:1. Sharon again wows her Hong Kong fans

Several nooks along the pedestrian walkways in Hong Kong’s bustling Central district last Sunday (May 12) were visibly deserted. It was the same scene at the Philippine Consulate in Admiralty (Pacific Place to you, shopaholics), usually miles deep in warm bodies trying to renew work contracts, transfer to new employers, file complaints. Where was everybody?

Where else but at the Hong Kong Coliseum, venue of the much-awaited concert of Sharon Cuneta sponsored by Regent Forex Cargo, Philippine Airlines, Holiday Inn Golden Mile and Express Padala, among others?

Much has happened in the past 12 years since the Megastar performed in Hong Kong, now known as the Special Administrative Region or SAR. As part of Mainland China, the city faces challenges from last developing hubs such as Beijing and Shanghai. As with the rest of the region, it fell victim to the global recession, the events of Sept. 11 and continues to experience sluggish economic growth that earlier this year prompted the government to consider reducing the minimum rate of a foreign domestic helper’s wage of HK$3,670 (P23,470) by as much as 20 to 30 percent, naturally a highly explosive move that sparked street protests. Some years ago, the minimum wage was also slashed. Guess who suffered?

So when you ask Filipino amah to shell out from HK$50 to HK$200 for tickets to a two-hour concert, which, along with the commute, queuing up in the driving rain before show time and waiting for it to start, takes up more than half of the day off, that is really asking a lot. But to the fervent Sharonians, who filled up nearly all of the Coliseum’s 11,600 seats, this was a chance not to be missed.

Whether or not, Sharon was aware of the exact conditions her kababayans toil under, I guess, is not the point of this report. She gave an outstanding (alas, but short) performance, which began dramatically with her ascending from backstage to the top of the platform, taking up the last lines of our national anthem from her back-up singers and a mesmerized audience. The applause, you can imagine, was deafening, overwhelming even "Mega" herself, who reacted by putting her hand over her heart as if to stop it from bursting with extreme emotion. From the second row, where Holiday Inn Golden Mile marketing director, Sonny Ang, insisted I stay, I could see clearly that she was close to shedding tears.

Seated in front of me, Sharon’s nearest and dearest, Mommy Elaine, a very composed daughter, KC, beaming husband Kiko and friends Raymart Santiago, Agot Isidro-Sandejas (husband Manu by her side) and Fanny Serrano also basked in the adulation she generated. KC, undoubtedly one of her mom’s biggest admirers, was first to jump to her feet and holler encouragement when she appeared beneath the smoky klieg lights, resplendent in a Joe Salazar black chiffon number. (Second daughter, Frankie, was asleep in the dressing room).

Despite a new CD – All I Ever Want – to plug, Sharon wisely stuck to hits she had popularized: Mr. DJ, PS I Love You, Pagputi na ang Buhok Ko, Kahapon Lamang as well as those of other singers: Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Ewan. And since it was Mother’s Day, the eponymous Anak. This allowed the crowd to sing along to lyrics that were very familiar to them.

I found it strange, however, that Tubig at Langis, the first composition that showcased the young Sharon’s amazing vocal depth, was left out. (Oo nga, no? she remarked when I asked her about the omission after the show.) Only a "Shawi" but like me – I have five CDs of hers, including the superb Sharon and Canseco that have kept the company in Singapore and now in Hong Kong – would have noticed.

With showbiz and politics jointly running in her genes, Sharon has matured into elegant and confident performer who certainly knows the art of working a crowd. Not a corner of the stadium did she neglect, turning to acknowledge the audience behind her, to her right, her left, and before her, always predicating each song with an "especially for you" with her trademark sweetness that made you feel special even if there were 11,599 others sharing the dedication. She said later: "I always feel such appreciation performing for Filipinos overseas, not that I don’t feel appreciated back home, but in another country, it’s different. They spent part of their salaries to see me, and that really means a lot to me."

If there’s one thing, the Megastar should never doubt is that she is seriously adored by her fans in Hong Kong, many of whom she realizes, "saw me grow up." The bouquets, bought from hard-earned pay; the effusive screams of "I love you, Sharon" throughout the concert, which just couldn’t be contained; the crowds who waited patiently in the drizzle after the show, refusing to leave even when told that their idol had already left for the evening – these are all proof of the enduring love affair between the (rich) girl next door and her not so privileged fans.