Which of his kids sing like him? “Lahat sila, kumakanta, but Sara has a better voice. Leila has a facility for language, parang novelist kung magsulat, using high falutin’ words. Sara is more business oriented. Negosyante yun. Pero ang pinaka-showbiz sa lahat, si Nate. Ang dami ng followers. When we appear in public, siya ang kumakaway sa fans. Missed ko na nga dahil sa November 6 pa ang balik nila ng mommy niya from the U.S.”
How did he feel when the airing date of “The Gift” was postponed for next year to give way to the PBA Games? “Somehow, I felt relieved. Kasi kung tuloy-tuloy yun, ngarag-ngarag na ako ngayon sa pagod. Now, we have the time to streamline the script and polish the special effects. We’ll resume taping after All Saints Day.”
Meantime, he’s busy taping “The Megastar and the Songwriter” when we visited their new, impressive set at the spanking new TV5 building at Reliance St., Mandaluyong. Amiable TV5 exec Wilma Galvante and the very friendly Director Bert de Leon were also there to greet the press. Watching them work together, it’s obvious Ogie and Sharon Cuneta have high respect and love working with each other.
“Enjoy ako sa shows ko sa TV5, like ‘Tropang Unli’ na para lang kaming naglalaro and I love the young stars I’m working with. You can feel their passion in what they do. Dito naman sa ‘Mega & Songwriter’, Sharon and I are doing something we both love to do, which is singing, kaya kanta lang kami ng kanta. I love working with her kasi she’s the megastar but she’s so humble and doesn’t make you feel na megastar siya. I also get to write new songs here based on stories sent by letter senders, kamukha ng latest composition kong ‘Ikaw ang Buhay Ko’. We now pay tribute sa favorite naming composers. Last Sunday, we paid tribute to Rey Valera at ang ganda lumabas, iyak ng iyak si Sharon kasi marami siyang Rey Valera hits. This coming Sunday, we’ll pay tribute naman to Gloria Estefan and Patti Austin, then next Sunday, to the Beatles. Gusto rin namin to pay tribute later to Joe Mari Chan, Freddie Aguilar and Yoyoy Villame na iba ang gagawin naming treatment sa songs niya.”
For tomorrow’s show at 9 PM, Sharon and guest Cookie Chua will sing Patti Austin songs, while Ogie and guest Amber Davis will do Gloria Estefan songs. Then Sharon and Ogie, along with Aia de Leon of Imago will give a modern rendition to various songs of the 80s. Ogie is also all set to be the first guest of his friend Michael V when he hosts the local version of “Killer Karaoke Pinoy Naman”. “Natatakot ako, sa totoo lang,” says Ogie. “Basta sabi ko, ayoko ng ahas ang ilalagay sa’kin. Hindi ko makakaya yun.”
