Sharon pays tribute to OFWs

"Everything a caregiver does, ginawa ko, kasi may training kami bago umalis papuntang London where we learned everything they do. It’s not an easy job. You’ll feel proud kasi puro papuri ang tinatanggap ng caregivers natin for the good job they do, but then, mahirap talaga ang trabaho kaya maaawa ka rin. "

Her last movie, "Crying Ladies," was shown in 2003 yet. "Kaya excited ako. Sana, may puwang pa rin ako sa puso ng moviegoers natin. It’s showing on May 28 at bale 30th anniversary presentation ko dahil 30 years na ko sa showbiz, at 15th anniversary presentation naman ng Star Cinema. Also in the cast are John Estrada, Rica Peralejo, Monique Wilson, Jhong Hilario, Boots Anson Roa, Marita Zobel, Lotlot de Leon, Mickey Ferriols and Makisig Morales.

"It’s no joke to shoot in London na sobrang lamig ng weather. Lamay kami lagi, then we keep on traveling, palipat-lipat ng location. Mahirap talaga. Sobrang homesick pa ako. I realized how much I love my husband and my kids, especially the two small girls, Frankie and Miel. Ayoko na uli malayo sa kanila ng ganun katagal."

Those who’ve seen her acting say she’d surely win another award. "Pero ayoko ngang i-pressure ang sarili ko. Basta I’m proud sa pinaghirapan namin and I feel so blessed kasi ang ganda ng comeback movie ko. Masaya ako and grateful to Star Cinema and Direk Chito Roño. Also, mag-iiba rin ang tingin nyo to all caregivers all over the world at mas maa-appreciate nyo sila."

At the presscon for "Caregiver," Sharon only had one request: not to be asked any questions about Gabby Concepcion. This is understandable. If she’d answer questions about Gabby, she’d only be accused of using him to help promote "Caregiver."

What can she say about the KC Concepcion’s forthcoming movie with Richard Gutierrez? Are the two now playing beautiful music? "Kung matutuloy ang movie, I’m happy for them kasi maraming nagre-request na magtambal sila. But I don’t know kung may ligawan between them. When it comes to KC’s love life, hindi ako nakikialam. Family friends sina Tito Eddie at Tita Annabelle but when it comes to love, it’s KC who makes her own decisions."

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Plinky Recto was in demand as a TV host in the ‘90s doing shows like "Wake Up Call," "Perfect Match," "It’s A Date," and others, and also doing movies like "Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis" with Bong Revilla, "Abkadabra" with Dolphy, "Zacarias" with Edu Manzano and "Hanggang sa Huling Bala" with Lito Lapid. Then she suddenly disappeared.

"Paano, na-in love," she says.

Her marriage didn’t last but it gave her one son, Armand, now 12 years old. The next thing we heard about her is that she’s fighting for custody of her second son, Julian Henri, who was kidnapped from her home. How did she meet the baby’s father who’s now a mayor in Negros? "I got him as my lawyer for the annulment of my marriage. In one year, na-resolve niya ang case. But he didn’t court me while the case was going on. It was after that that he courted me at na-in love na naman ako, without knowing I’m marrying someone who batters women.

"At one point, inuntog-untog ang ulo ko sa floor that’s why I now have a permanent neck injury. The first time he got my son, baby pa lang at hindi niya maalagaan so ibinalik sa akin, parang package na iniwan na lang. Then, nang mag-one year old na, dumating sa bahay ko on January 4 three years ago and abducted the child by force. I filed for custody and I won sa Supreme Court. Executory na ‘yun. Ibalik sa’kin ang baby ko dahil the law mandates that a child below 7 years old should stay with the mother. The court ordered NBI to return my child to me, but they cannot implement it.

"The whole experience was very stressful. I felt anger, bitterness. I got so depressed. I fear for my life kasi once, after a hearing, lahat ng tires sa car ko, flat, sinaksak, pati yung car plate. But I fought back through the courts, kaya lang, our justice system is so disappointing. Dapat, I asked the help of the NPA na lang kasi Ka Roger was then asking me if I needed his help. I still haven’t lost hope. They say my son, now 4, is in the US, but I know tinatago lang siya sa Negros.

"I believe in karma. Sooner or later, the universe will balance itself and karma will catch up with him and all those who are helping him keep my son away from me."

But the experience also helped make her strong. "I’m spending millions for litigation so I have to earn on my own. I put up some small businesses. I’m also a certified fitness specialist in the Pilates Method, getting my training from the US. I have my clinic-studio, The Bodyworker, at 145 Esteban Abad, Loyola Heights and I’m also a consultant to Moro Lorenzo Clinic and Amezcua Medispa. I specialize on back problems and now, also knees."

An AB Masscom (cum laude) graduate from Assumption, she now wants to come back as a TV host. "I really missed hosting and Boy Abunda encouraged me to try it again."

How’s her sister-in-law, the Batangas governor? "She’s doing great. She, Kuya Ralph and Ryan just came back from a vacation in the States. She told me she just finished doing a new TV commercial with Ryan, a vitamin daw na pampatangkad."

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Geneva Cruz was in the "Hot Seat" in last Sunday’s "Showbiz Central" and jurors Rufa Mae Quinto and DJ Mo asked her if it’s true that she came back to Manila because her husband KC Montero has no work in the States. "That’s not true," Geneva vehemently replies. "Ano ako? Sugar mommy niya? He works with his dad’s company and he earns more than me. I wasn’t able to come home for sometime because I had to fix my papers first and wait for my green card."

But when Mo asked her how she’d rate her marriage with KC is in a scale of 1 to 10, it took sometime before Geneva could reply and she hemmed and hawed like she didn’t understand the question. She even said that she’s upset at that moment then she gave their marriage a rating of only 6. The two jurors said that’s okay, but definitely, it’s not. That’s barely the passing mark. A happy marriage should rate at least a 7 or 8, and if everything’s really well between them, it wouldn’t have taken Geneva that long to answer. And it was only much later when somebody prompted them that Mo asked why she is upset. Geneva said it’s because she’s calling up KC on the phone and he won’t answer.

For the "Killer Question," Geneva willingly revealed it as she says it’s so easy. It asked if it’s true that one of the reasons she broke up with first husband Paco Arespacochaga was because he had an affair with the "yaya" of their son, Heaven?

"Not true dahil galit nga si Paco sa yaya na ‘yun. It turned out pinupukpok niya ng tabo si Heaven. When we’re not around, she lets her boyfriend in and wears my lingerie. Sana naman, you gave me a question na mas mahirap sagutin."

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Dennis Trillo was featured on the "Don’t Lie to Me" portion of "Showbiz Central" last Sunday. It’s also his birthday and he seems to be on a lucky streak since most of his answers to the questions thrown his way by host by John Lapus proved to be true. He said he didn’t miss the Italian actress, Andrea de Lugo, he had a kissing with in the movie "Italy." He admitted he practices macho dancing in front of the mirror in preparation for his role in "Magdusa Ka" (the question came from his manager, Popoy). He also admitted he felt uncomfortable in his kissing scenes with Katrina Halili in "Magdusa Ka" (a question that came from Katrina herself). The lie detector only said he was lying when asked about Heart Evangelista (a question from Marian Rivera). He said he has no crush on her and this was a lie. For this, John Lapus got the chance to kiss him on the cheek.

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There was no nomination night at "Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition Plus" last weekend as three female housemates got automatically nominated for mouthing their words, not using their lapel mikes, and asking questions about the outside world. These are Beauty, Priscilla and Nicole (her second nomination).

To make matters worse for them, aside from Shy, another House Player entered the Bahay ni Kuya. This is Andie Eigenmann (daughter of Jaclyn Jose and Mark Gil who appears in "Prinsesa ng Banyera"). Kuya said that two of the automatically nominated housemates will be evicted this weekend, to be replaced by Shy and Andie. Priscilla and Nicole quickly speculated that the two of them will be the ones evicted.

The housemates had a happy Mother’s Day celebration with their moms, especially Nan from Davao who, along with his mom, got the chance to see his dad, a seaman, who’s about to leave for his work abroad next week. Nicole’s mom was also glad to see her youngest son visiting her in the confession room. But the happiness of the housemates soon turned into tension when soldiers invaded Kuya’s house, placing it under military rule, shouting at them and ordering them like they’re in a boot camp.

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The new album of Rachelle Ann Go, "Rachelle Ann Rocks Live," is one of the best albums released so far this year and we listen to it frequently. Her interpretation of classic rock songs is just so heartfelt and electrifying, like "Honestly," "The Search is Over," "Crying," "Two Steps Behind, "This Ain’t a Love Song," "No Rain," Someone," "Missing You," "That’s What Love is For," "When You Love Someone," "Can’t Fight This Feeling," "I Just Can’t Let Go" and "Can’t Cry Hard Enough."

She started her bar tour around Metro-Manila last Wednesday at the Hard Rock Cafe, to be followed by Circle Cafe on Wednesday, May 21, 9 p.m.; Eastwood Central Plaza on Saturday, May 24, 9 p.m.; Bagaberde Pasig on Friday, May 30, 10 p.m.; and Bagaberde Roxas on Friday, June 13, 10 p.m. The bar tour is sponsored by Skechers Time, MYX, Sennheiser, Hard Rock, Circle Cafe. Bagaberde, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer and Sugar Sugar.