Sharon plays title role in Mano Po 6

Take a look at the inset photo at right: That may be how Sharon Cuneta will look when she’s made up for the title role in Regal Films’ Mano Po 6: My Mother, with Sharon’s face superimposed on the picture of Vilma Santos who was in one of the Mano Po movies.

Like the previous Mano Po flicks, the sixth edition is intended for the Metro Filmfest in December.

“It’s my first movie with Regal,” Sharon confirmed to Funfare, sounding very excited. She was last seen in the Star Cinema comedy BFF (Best Friends Forever) with Ai-Ai delas Alas.

Sharon joins a glittering array of A-List stars who have played lead roles in the Mano Po franchise which took a bow in 2002: Maricel Soriano and Kris Aquino in Mano Po 1; Susan Roces, Lorna Tolentino and Judy Ann Santos in Mano Po 2: My Home; Vilma Santos, Jay Manalo and Christopher de Leon in Mano Po 3: My Love; Zsa Zsa Padilla, Cherry Pie Picache and Jay Manalo in Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife; and Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin in Mano Po 5: Gua Ay Di.

Mano Po 2 was directed by Erik Matti and the rest by Joel Lamangan might be tapped again for Mano Po 6. It was also Joel who directed the spoof Manay Po with Polo Ravales, John Prats and Jiro Manio playing gays. 

As the matriarch of an influential Chinese clan, Sharon will have to deliver some of her lines in Chinese just like her predecessors. Regal Matriarch Mother Lily will hire a Chinese expert for that. Perhaps Sharon can ask her pure-Chinese good friend Philip Cuazon (who owns and manages a few McDonald’s outlets) to “tutor” her.

Incidentally, Funfare’s New York-based contributor Bobby Yalong (yes, the couturier) reports that Sharon’s show last May 31 at the NJPAC Prudential Hall in Newark, New Jersey (produced by Bing Gabriel’s MPG Global Productions) was a big success despite Sharon’s running a 41-degree fever.

“Sharon was a delight as she brought the audience down Memory Lane with well-loved OPM songs like Kahapon Lamang, Tawag ng Pag-ibig, Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Hagkan, Maging Sino Ka Man, Bituing Walang Ningning, Pangako Sa’yo, Kahit Wala Ka Na, Pangarap Na Bituin, Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas, Kahit Maputi na Ang Buhok Ko and Dear Heart which she did with daughter KC Concepcion.”

Before singing Dear Heart, Sharon said in jest, “This is one of the special songs close to my heart at ang laking pagsisisi ko.” The audience roared with laughter.

KC sang Isang Hakbang before Sharon joined her onstage for a duet of I Will Be Here. Applause, applause!

Briefly noted

• Funfare’s Bohol correspondent Leo Udtohan reports that Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee, together with their three children, enjoyed a vacation in Bohol. They stayed at the high-end Eskaya Resort in Panglao Island (where Kris Aquino and James Yap also stayed). Leo said that Manny had to rush to the US on June 12 to receive the Fighter of the Year Award from a sportswriters group and fly right back on a connecting flight to Bohol as soon as he came back on June 16 to rejoin his family.

• Reader Jordan (no surname given) reminds Funfare that Lani Misalucha’s stint in Las Vegas is far from over. “Lani presently performs six days a week at the Las Vegas Hilton (off The Strip) with Earl Turner in the show Voices,” said Jordan.

• Reader Alex Alferez said the following words of wisdom is an eye-opener and he wants to share it with Funfare readers: The heart is like a flower. Unless it is open, it cannot release its fragrance into the world. The fragrance of the heart is made up of the qualities and virtues of our spirit. Most of us have learned how to keep our hearts closed in a world that would trample all over us if we let it. Being open-hearted today seems to require tremendous courage. It is a courage which comes only when we realize that no one can hurt us, no matter what they say or do. They may hurt our body, but if we have realized we are spirit, nothing outside can touch us, if we so decide. Little by little, practice opening your heart to those you think have hurt you. Realize it wasn’t them that hurt you, it was yourself. And it taught you not to trust and you closed your heart. A closed heart is in need of opening. And when you do, you will have begun to heal yourself.

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