Megastar renews ABS CBN contract, asks Duterte to reconsider franchise

MEGASTAR Sharon Cuneta has renewed her contract with ABS-CBN for another year despite earlier indications on social media that she is contemplating retirement after over four decades in show business.

At the same time, the Megastar took the opportunity to appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider the renewal of the TV network’s franchise that is due to expire in March 2020.

Cuneta—unlike most celebrities who would rather keep mum on the franchise renewal woes of ABS-CBN—surprised everyone by sending a direct message to the President.

“I’ll just say this before saying goodbye—I pray that our dear President reconsiders his decision about ABS-CBN, not just because I just renewed I can always find a job.

“But because everybody I grew up with here—who have remained loyal to the station and have grown up here having learned from the school of hard knocks and have become family and good friends—will lose almost everything they’ve built over the years,

“And even those that might choose to stay—if indeed, unfortunately goes that way—it won’t be the same,

“So, I hope in my heart that our dear President reconsiders the thousands and thousands of Filipinos who have grown up here and learned the ropes here, and that includes me,” Cuneta said.

Speaking about her retirement, the movie and music icon said that whenever she would verbalize her feelings about slowing down from the industry where she has practically lived her entire life — Cuneta — who started singing professionally at the age of 12 — finds an avalanche of offers coming her way.

“Sabi ko nga kay (I tell the) Lord, [it seems] every time I tell Him that I’d retire, He sends something my way. The first time around, He sent me ‘Madrasta’ [the 1996 Olivia Lamasan blockbuster], tapos (after) when ZZ, I’d say it again, may concert naman (a concert comes along),” the Megastar said. “But kahit anong gawin ko basta may pagkakataon (no matter what I do, as long as there is an opportunity), I try to be a good Christian, a good daughter and, so I listen to Him and I glorify Him. That’s how I see it.”

One of the most prominent stars of the country who just turned 54 on January 6 added, “Ang target kong (My target) retirement really is when I turn 55, which is next year.”

However, based on the projects she’ll take on this 2020, slowing down by then will still be impossible.

For television, Cuneta is soon to return to the Philippine franchise of “Your Face Sounds Familiar” with fellow OPM greats Gary Valenciano and Ogie Alcasid. Movie-wise, she has seven projects in the pipeline, while a solo concert tour in Australia awaits her in February and a North American tour of her Aliw Award-winning collaboration with Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez is already locked for May.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Cuneta took a deep breath. “I can’t imagine completing seven movies in a year, and there’s also talk of a teleserye but it’s just a possibility for now.”

https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/01/09/second-headline/megastar-renews-contract-with-abs-cbn-asks-duterte-to-reconsider-franchise/673040/