Sharon closes P1B deal with TV5; Ogie sings a song for son Nate

BREAKING NEWS: Sharon Cuneta is really leaving ABS-CBN, her home for the past 24 years, and is moving to TV5 effective early next year.

Nobody from both Kapamilya and Kapatid would confirm nor deny the report but Funfare Update sources have confirmed that the deal is sealed.

Tomorrow, Sharon will reign a P1B deal — yes, One Billion Pesos!!! — with TV5 for a package that includes a talk show. The sources didn’t elaborate details of the contract (for how many years, etc.) and only said that it’s the biggest ever for a local artist.

It was Sharon’s manager, Boss Vic del Rosario Jr. of the Viva Group of Companies, who negotiated with TV5.

The rumor that Sharon was leaving ABS-CBN has been going around, but Sharon kept mum about it even if there were tell-tale signs, including her non-inclusion in the Kapamilya Christmas Season station ID. Sharon’s farewell show for ABS-CBN is Sharon At Home which she shot early this month and will be aired on the network’s sister station Lifestyle Network.

Earlier this year, there was a rumor that Piolo Pascual was asking for the same amount (yes, P1B) when a TV5 offer was dangled before him. “Sorry but he’s not worth it,” said somebody close to TV5 management. Piolo denied the rumor and has remained a Kapamilya.

The big question now is: Will Sharon’s transfer to the Kapatid Network pave the way for other Kapamilya stars to follow suit?

Stay tuned.

Sharon Cuneta

* * *

Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid finally agreed to show pictures of their first baby, Nathaniel James, in yesterday’s edition of GMA noontime show Party Pilipinas.

Said Regine on a phone patch, “Ang cute ng baby namin, ang guapo-guapo, so bakit naman namin ipagkakait na ipakita sa publiko?”

Nicknamed Nate, the baby was born on Nov. 8 weighing only 4.4 lbs. two weeks ahead of schedule. It’s Ogie’s third child, coming after his two daughters with ex-wife Michelle van Eimeren who herself has remarried (to a fellow Australian).

“It was Michelle who was among the first to know about Nate’s arrival,” said Ogie who, also in Party Pilipinas, sang the song titled Aking Anak which he wrote specially for Nate.

Here’s the song:

Aking anak, aking anak,

Pagmamahal ko sa iyo’y laging asahan.

Ika’y biyaya ng maykapal,

Hinding-hindi kita pababayaan.

Araw-gabi ika’y aalagaan,

Bawat yugto ng iyong buhay

Ako’y kasama, aking anak.

Ogie was choked with emotion when he sang it.

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