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By Mario E. Bautista
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Date Posted: 17:02:36 12/17/04 Fri
A Star Not Only For a Night
By Mario E. Bautista
The Philippine Star 12/18/2004
New stars are born in showbiz almost everyday, but although many are called, only few are chosen. Most of them are flashes in the pan who are here today, gone tomorrow. Only those with real talent last longer and it is the consensus that Star for a Night grand prize winner Sarah Geronimo is surely one of these rare gems.
Born on July 25, 1988 in a crowded district in Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz, Manila, Sarah is the second of the four kids of a poor couple, Delfin Geronimo and Maria Divina Tua. A lot of people think success was given to Sarah on a silver platter after she won in Star for a Night. She wants to correct that impression.
"It was a long, hard climb for me," she says. "I was only four when my parents noticed I got a good singing voice. My father, who also sings, became my first mentor. At seven, they brought me to ABS-CBN to take the audition on Ang TV and I made it. But when I joined the show, it was about to be terminated so I didn’t last very long on TV. Star Cinema then got me as one of the classmates of Camille Prats and Angelica Panganiban in the movie Sarah, Munting Prinsesa. I was not noticed at all because I played such a small role. We then went to GMA 7 and I tried out for a new show, Next. Among my contemporaries there were Geoff and AJ Eigenmann. But the show didn’t rate well so it was also quickly cancelled."
In the meantime, she never neglected her studies. She was a high school sophomore at UST when she joined Star for a Night, produced by Viva Entertainment, singing Celine Dion’s To Love You More.
"At 13, I was the youngest contestant. I didn’t really expect to win as there were other outstanding contestants, but I guess it’s the Lord’s will that I become the winner so I can help my family."
She grew up aware that they were living an impoverished life. "My father invested all his earnings in a business that lost money, so he ended up owing money to a lot of people. We were just renting our house then and since we haven’t paid the rent for some time, our landlord wanted to evict us. We pleaded with him to give us more time to raise the money and it’s good he was kind enough to give us another chance or we would have ended up like homeless people who live in the streets. The first thing I did after I won P1-M in Star for A Night is to give all my winnings to my parents so we can pay back all our debts. Now, we are renting a bigger house with an aunt in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. I am glad I’m now earning quite well doing shows here in Manila and the provinces. I was also given by ABS-CBN the chance to star in my own show, Sarah, Teen Princess and Viva has given me some movies like Annie B, Captain Barbell and now, Lastikman. I’ve also done some concerts with my colleagues at Araneta Coliseum and the US that were all well received by the audience. My ultimate goal is to be able to buy a house and lot for my family so we don’t have to rent anymore."
With success comes a lot of intrigues. One of them accuses of her being a swellhead. She reportedly once ordered the shooting of Lastikman packed up because she was just not in the mood to work.
"I really felt bad when I read that, as it’s simply not true. What happened was the night before the shooting, I came home at dawn from a taping and I had a slight fever due to tonsillitis. My mom called up the Viva office and it was they who decided to pack up the shooting. Kasi, I might report on the set nga, but I can’t shoot anyway as my condition could get worse. I don’t think success has gotten into my head. I feel I’m still the same old Sarah. Nothing has changed other than the fact that we now have a better home where I have my own bed and I was able to buy myself a car which I need so much to transport me from one appointment to another."
What can she say about the rumor that her mom is such a stage mother who makes unreasonable demands for her? "I feel bad for my mother as she’s accused of so many things that are not true. They say she has an attitude problem and is also meddling with affairs concerning me. All I can say is my mom knows her limits. She takes good care of me and I prefer it that way. She accompanies me wherever I go, lalo na sa malalayong probinsiya, because at 16, I’m still a minor. Last year, also around Christmas time, I lost my voice due to so many singing engagements lined up for me. I ended up in the hospital. From then on, my mom insisted there should be rest periods for me and I think that’s only fair. My mom is also hurting but I tell her to just ignore the rumors dahil ganoon lang talaga sa so showbiz. Maraming intriga."
Sarah is the grand prize winner in Star for a Night. How does she feel now that her runnerup, Mark Bautista, plays the title role in Lastikman and she’s just supporting him? "Hindi naman po talaga ako support lang but I’m the leading lady. The truth is I’m happy for Kuya Mark as he also works very hard for his family in Cagayan de Oro. At alangan namang ako ang gawing bida, e lalaki si Lastikman. But if you’d notice, in the billing, my name comes first. Actually, what’s officially being launched here is our love team. In Annie B, where I played Jolina Magdangal’s sister, and in Captain Barbell, where I was Ogie Alcasid’s sister, parehong si Kuya Mark ang partner ko. Our love team was also accepted by viewers in our TV show, Sarah, Teen Princess. Lastikman is the first big movie of our love team."
Their fans feel sad there is no romantic involvement between them off camera. "I regard him as my older brother and he considers me his kid sister. To begin with, he’s older than I by six years as he’s 22 na. I think it’s better this way, strictly business and no personal involvements for us. Kasi pag napasukan na ng love, the moment you have a fight, I’m sure your work will also be affected adversely. At 16, I haven’t had a boyfriend and I feel I’m too young to be involved with anyone right now that I’m also trying to finish high school through a home study program. I want to enjoy being single first. I also have no suitors because I already announced na bawal pa akong ligawan. I don’t even have time for myself anymore considering how busy I am, tapos, magbo-boyfriend pa ako? Huwag na lang po."
Doesn’t she even have a crush? "My crushes are Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter and Leonardo Dicaprio. Sa local showbiz, siguro, it’s going to be Kuya Mark because I’ve seen how responsible he is and he really helps his family a lot. I want a guy who’s family-oriented, just like me."
Did she and Mark get to watch the previous version of Lastikman starring Vic Sotto? "No. And we both decided not to watch it anymore so we don’t consciously duplicate anyone in the film. But we’re told we play totally different characters in our movie. The only similarity is the fact that Kuya Mark also has the powers of Vic Sotto who has an elastic body that can be transformed into various shapes. The main difference of our version is it’s more hip and young even in sensibility. The special effects are also more advanced than the first as we now get to use the latest in digital computer technology. Our director, Mac Alejandre, tells us the resolution of the visual effects in our movie is definitely better than any other local movie because it’s high resolution for film. This is so unlike before, when they used video resolution where the color fades when projected on the big screen."
Since they play sweethearts in Lastikman, do they have a kissing scene? "Ay wala po, but we have plenty of kilig moments that will please our fans. My mom forbids me to do kissing scenes. For her, nakababa raw ito ng dignidad lalo na’t I’m still so young. And I think I prefer it that way since I’m not really in a hurry to be an adult."
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