Sharon Cuneta

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In this Philippine name for married women, the birth maternal name is Gamboa, the
birth paternal name is Cuneta, and the marital name is Pangilinan.

Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan

Born Sharon Gamboa Cuneta

January 6, 1966 (age 55)

Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines

Occupation Singer, actress, television host, brand endorser,

entrepreneur

Years active 1978–present

Television The Sharon Cuneta Show, Sharon, Star Power:

Sharon's Search for the Next Female Pop

Superstar, Sharon: Kasama Mo, Kapatid, Madam

Chairman, The Voice Kids Philippines, The Voice Teens

Philippines, Your Face Sounds Familiar, Your Face

Sounds Familiar: Kids

Gabby Concepcion
Spouse(s)

(m. 1984; ann. 1993)
 Francis Pangilinan

(m. 1996)

Children 4 (incl. KC Concepcion)

Parent(s) Pablo Cuneta

Elaine Gamboa Cuneta

Relatives Helen Gamboa (aunt)

Tito Sotto (uncle-in-law)

Gian Sotto (cousin)

Ciara Sotto (cousin)

Gab Valenciano (nephew-in-law)

Gary Valenciano (brother-in-law)

Maricel Laxa (sister-in-law)

Musical career

Genres  OPM

 Manila sound

 pop

 Pinoy pop

Instruments Vocals

Labels  Vicor Music Corporation

 Viva Records

 Star Music

 Sony BMG Music Philippines

Sharon Gamboa Cuneta-Pangilinan (/ˈʃærɔːn kʊˈnɛtʌ/ koo-NE-ta; born January 6,

1966) is a Filipino actress, singer and television host.
She has starred in 59 films, hosted over 10 TV shows, and recorded over 40 albums.
She is the only actress to have been elevated to the “Box Office Hall of Fame” in 1990
by holding the Box Office Queen Title five times. She would, later on, hold the most Box
Office Queen titles in history with nine recognitions.[1] She has garnered "Best Actress"
awards and 23 nominations as an actress from notable Filipino award-giving bodies
such as the Film Academy of the Philippines, FAMAS, the People's Choice Awards,
the Metro Manila Film Festival, PMPC Star Awards for Movies, KOMOPB Awards, and
the Gawad Genio Awards. 1996 was a particularly notable one as a Grand Slam Year
for her for winning as "Best Actress" in all major award-giving bodies in the Philippine
entertainment scene:[2] PMPC Star Awards for Movies, Film Academy of the Philippines,
People's Choice Awards, FAMAS Awards and Gawad Urian. As a television host,
Cuneta has also garnered a PMPC Star Award for Television for The Sharon Cuneta
Show and a KBP Golden Dove Award for Sharon.
As a singer and concert performer, she is a multiple awardee with the following under
her belt: Gold Record, Platinum Record, Double Platinum Record, Triple Platinum
Record, Quadruple Platinum Record, Diamond Record, ALIW Award, AWIT Awards,
GMMSF Awards[3] and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Board of Directors of the
Philippine Association of the Recording Industry (PARI).[4]

Contents

 1Early life
 2Career
o 2.11978–1980: career beginnings
o 2.21981–1984: Dear Heart and the start of a movie career
o 2.31985–1989: 'Megastar' and  The Sharon Cuneta Show
o 2.41990–1995: box-office hall of fame
o 2.51996: 'Madrasta', second marriage and hiatus
o 2.62000s: multi-media
o 2.72011–2013: transfer to TV5
o 2.82014–present: departure from TV5 and return to ABS-CBN
 3Personal life
 4Other ventures
o 4.1Endorsements
o 4.2Sharon at Home magazine
o 4.3Real estate enterprises and other business ventures
 5Filmography
 6Discography
 7Television
 8Honors
 9Awards and Nominations
o 9.1FILM
o 9.2Television
 10References
 11External links

Early life[edit]
Sharon Cuneta was born on January 6, 1966, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Santa
Mesa, Manila[5] to Pablo Cuneta (1910–2000), a former Mayor of Pasay who was the
longest-serving mayor in the Philippines from 1951 to 1998, and Elaine Gamboa (1934–
2014), the sister of actress and singer Helen Gamboa. Her early years were spent in
San Lorenzo Village, Makati and then in their family home in Paraiso Street Dasmariñas
Village, Makati.[6]
Cuneta grew up listening to her dad's record collection. Her mother, Elaine Gamboa,
was a Piano Major at the UST's Conservatory of Music in her youth, [7] the young Sha-
Sha would take up piano, guitar, flute and piano lessons to broaden her musical training
and exposure at a young age. At the age of three, Cuneta would accompany her
famous Aunt Helen Gamboa during tapings of her television shows.
Another of her first proper TV appearances was on Ike Lozada's show, for
the Bulilit portion, where she also mimicked the songs of her Aunt Helen. Cuneta was
just as young when she appeared in her first movie, the Rosanna Ortiz – George
Estregan starrer Lovers for Hire where she played one of Roderick Paulate's playmates.
[6]

Cuneta attended St. Paul College, Pasig and International School Manila for her primary

to secondary education.

Career[edit]
1978–1980: career beginnings[edit]
In January 1978, 12-year old Sharon Gamboa Cuneta made her first visit to 782 Aurora
Boulevard, which was the address of Vicor Records. Her Uncle and Vice-President of
Vicor, Tito Sotto, asked her to record “Tawag Ng Pag-Ibig”[8] which he produced for her
at Vicor and shortly after, she was on television promoting her own song for the first
time and on the TV show Discorama hosted by TVJ.[9]
The young Sharon was being interviewed live on Discorama, where she stated: "This is
the show I watch every week. This is the show that I don’t know how many hundreds of
thousands or millions of people watch in the whole country. When it hit me, I couldn’t
talk."[10]
In May 1978, Sharon Cuneta followed up with a song by Rey Valera entitled "Mr. DJ".
Her producer in Vicor, Tito Sotto, wanted Valera to make a song that would appeal to
the Radio DJ's and convince them to play her record on the air.
"Mr. DJ" became a popular hit and gave Cuneta the moniker, "DJ's Pet" (which also
became the title of her debut LP). Cuneta received her first Gold Record for this and her
music label Vicor Records came out with succeeding albums like "Sharon" and "Sharon
Cuneta", and then "High School" with the same level of success.
Cuneta released further popular singles including "Naaalala Ka", "I-Swing Mo Ako",
"Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko" and "High School Life", which were also part of the
Manila Sound era.
Aside from her recording career, Cuneta also began hosting with her aunt, Helen
Gamboa, in a TV variety show titled C.U.T.E. or Call Us Two for Entertainment on IBC
13.[11]
In 1980, because of her commercial success as a young singer, Cuneta's boss at the
time in Vicor Music, Boss Vic Del Rosario, gave her the golden opportunity to record her
very first George Canseco song "Tubig at Langis". This became the theme song of the
film with same title starring Vilma Santos and directed by Danny Zialcita.
During the Cebu Film Festival that same year, "Langis at Tubig" was an official entry
and had a float made for the parade at the Sinulog Festival. The only people there were
the director, Danny Zialcita and Sining Silangan producer, Ernie Rojas. But there were
no actors from the actual movie who were able to go to Cebu for this event as the main
lead, Vilma Santos, was pregnant at the time. Sining Silangan asked permission from
Boss Vic Del Rosario if the young Sharon Cuneta who sang the theme song could join
them on the float. Boss Vic agreed and Cuneta, accompanied by her Mother, Elaine
Cuneta, headed to Cebu.
"My Mom and I got on the float. We went to Cebu, my first time ever. When I got on the
float and it started moving, I couldn’t believe how people reacted to me. That they knew
me. I just felt all this love come towards me like a rain of bullets. I can’t explain the
feeling. At that age, I was 14 already. A veteran (laughs) after 2 years of singing." [10]

1981–1984: Dear Heart and the start of a movie career[edit]

On the same day as the Sinulog Festival Float Ride during the Cebu Film Festival,
Director Danny Zialcita asked Cuneta to appear in an upcoming film. Her parents
eventually agreed to meet with Danny Zialcita. Despite asking for an outlandishly large
fee, Silangan agreed to pay the sum without reservation. "Ok po. Call". That was it.
[12]
 Zialcita told her: "If you would do this for me I will make you a star. It was a
commitment, a promise I made to her."[13] "The topic of the leading man came up. Direk
Danny said, 'Who would you want to be your leading man?' And my answer, of all things
to say, was anybody but Gabby Concepcion. Turns out, the only one available was
Gabby Concepcion."[10]
Cuneta starred in her very first feature film, Dear Heart.[12] She was paired with
then Close-Up model and Regal Films' 1980s heartthrob, Gabby Concepcion. Dear
Heart was successful and paved the way for future collaborations. [12]
Due to the commercial success of Dear Heart, a sequel was made. Since Sining
Silangan didn't have the means to create an immediate follow up film, Mayor Pablo
Cuneta collaborated with Vic Del Rosario and established Viva Films. On November 12,
1981, Viva Films released its first feature film, P.S. I Love You, starring Cuneta and
Concepcion. The film was a box office success and was followed by another Sharon-
Gabby collaboration, My Only Love (1982).[14]
Cuneta was also paired with other leading men, with the likes of William
Martinez (in Forgive and Forget), Rowell Santiago (in Cross My Heart and Friends in
Love) and Miguel Rodriguez (in To Love Again) from 1982 to 1983, which made her the
Ms. RP Movies for the years mentioned.[14]
Cuneta top billed three blockbuster melodramas in 1984: Sa Hirap at Ginhawa, Bukas,
Luluhod And Mga Tala, and Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin Ragudo? that led to her eventual
crowning as 1984's Box Office Queen of RP Movies. [15]
Cuneta also staged a two-night sold-out major concert at the Araneta
Coliseum titled Sharon Solo with the Boys on July 20 and 21, 1984, and was cited as
the year's Most Outstanding Female Concert Hall Act by Aliw Awards.[16]
1985–1989: 'Megastar' and The Sharon Cuneta Show[edit]
In 1985, a pet project of the late Mina Aragon-del Rosario, Bituing Walang Ningning was
made into a film by Viva Films starring Cuneta, Christopher de Leon and Cherie Gil. The
film was released on Valentine's Day, 1985, and was a box office success, crowning
Cuneta once again as 1985's Box Office Queen of RP Movies and "Bida sa Takilya", the
latter given at the 1986 FAMAS Awards. The moniker "Megastar" was also given to her
by the press during that year because of her continuous success in the box office. [17]
Cuneta was also awarded Best Actress by FAMAS for her performance in the 1984
film Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin and by the Film Academy of the Philippines for Sa Hirap at
Ginhawa.[15] In 1986, Cuneta's string of hit movies continued as she stars on three major
movies: Nakagapos Na Puso (with Lorna Tolentino), Captain Barbell (where she played
a cameo role as Darna) and Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas (with Cherie Gil and Dina
Bonnevie), the latter seeing her again awarded the 1986 Box Office Queen of RP
Movies.[14]
Her first solo musical-variety show, The Sharon Cuneta Show, also premiered in
September 1986 on IBC, which also went on to be one of the longest running musical-
variety shows in Philippine television. [18]
While filming her first feature film Dear Heart (1981), Cuneta began dating her on-
screen partner Gabby Concepcion and the two continued co-starring in films like P.S. I
Love You (1981) and Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? (lit. Shall You Be Loved?) (1984).
After her short-lived marriage with Concepcion, Cuneta worked with National Artist for
Film, Lino Brocka, for the first time via the film Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig. The film did not
fare well at the box office; however, it earned Cuneta another Best Actress nomination
from FAMAS.[14] In 1988, Cuneta only did two films, Jack 'n Jill Sa Amerika and Buy One,
Take One, both receiving lukewarm response from the public. Cuneta's variety show
was moved from IBC to ABS-CBN on March 6, 1988.[19]
Cuneta continued touring abroad with "The Sharon Cuneta US Concert Tour '88" and
was given a Plaque of Welcome and Appreciation from Los Angeles Mayor Tom
Bradley at her show at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium. In 1989, Cuneta worked
with Lino Brocka once again in two movies, 3 Mukha Ng Pag-ibig and Babangon Ako't
Dudurugin Kita, the latter giving her another Best Actress nomination from FAMAS and
the Film Academy of the Philippines.[15]
1990–1995: box-office hall of fame[edit]
Cuneta's box office success continued with roles alongside popular action stars
like Fernando Poe Jr. (Kahit Konting Pagtingin-1990) Robin Padilla ,(Maging Sino Ka
Man-1991), Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr. (Pangako Sa 'Yo-1992), Rudy Fernandez (Kung
Kailangan Mo Ako-1993). All those movies were certified blockbusters, that though she
was already elevated to Hall of Fame as Box-Office Queen in 1990, she was crowned
again in 1991 through 1993 because of the success of her movies. [15]
Cuneta also reconciled with estranged husband, Gabby Concepcion, in three more
films, Bakit Ikaw Pa Rin? (1990), Una Kang Naging Akin (1991) and Tayong
Dalawa (1992), the latter giving her a grandslam Best Actress nomination from PMPC
Star Awards for Movies, FAMAS, Film Academy of the Philippines and Gawad Urian.
[15]
 Cuneta won a Platinum award in 1992, Double Platinum award in 1991 and 1992, and
Triple Platinum award in 1992.[5]
In 1992, Cuneta reunited with former flame, Richard Gomez in the film Ngayon at
Kailanman and in 1994 with Kapantay Ay Langit.
1996: 'Madrasta', second marriage and hiatus[edit]
For the first time, in 1996, Cuneta made a film outside her mother studio Viva Films via
the film Madrasta from Star Cinema. This film garnered her Best Actress Awards from
all major award-giving bodies in the Philippines, hence a Grandslam win for her
outstanding performance in the film. Cuneta became one of the few actresses (along
with Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor, and Lorna Tolentino) to be given a grand slam best
actress award in Philippine Cinema.[20][verification needed]
2000s: multi-media[edit]
In 2000, Cuneta filmed Minsan Minahal Kita alongside Richard Gomez, which earned
P10 million on its opening day.[21]
She was named Best Actress during the 2002 Manila Film Festival in June for her role
in Viva Films' Magkapatid. In the same month she was given a civic award by the City of
Manila the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinwigan for cinema. Other list of awardees
included the likes of Raul Locsin for architecture, Agnes Arellano for sculpture and the
late Santiago Bose for new art form.[22]
She did not make any films from 2004 through 2007 while she concentrated her career
in television and music. For 2006, she released a studio album, Isn't it Romantic, which
was awarded with a Diamond certification (sold over 250,000 units in the Philippines). [23]
On January 6, 2006, Cuneta returned to television from her maternity leave with a 40th
birthday celebration on ABS-CBN's Ang Pagbabalik Ng Bituin (The Return of the Star).
The following month, she came back to her musical talk show, Sharon. After a long rest
from filmmaking, she made another film, Caregiver, in 2008, which, according to ABS-
CBN, is their most expensive film. In this film, Cuneta played the role of a school
teacher working abroad as a caregiver. The film was the fifth highest-grossing film of
2008.[24]