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A Cinderella Story (No more hand-me-down shoes for Sarah Geronimo)
by Arnel Ramos
The Kris Aquino Magazine
Four years after winning the talent search that launched her as a major star, Sarah Geronimo (who turned 19 last July 25) has proven that her sheen is good not only for a night but even beyond.
True enough, Sarah's exceptional singing prowess and endearing ways are part and parcel of her overall magic, of why the public finds her true-blue cinderella story inspiring.
When Sarah won the plum prize in Star For A Night four years ago, her P1 Milion cash prize went to paying off her family's debts. The 10 year management contract under Viva Entertainment that came with it assured her that she, her parents and three siblings wouldn't be going back to their less-than-privileged lifestyle.
One of the things that can't escape notice about Sarah's pre-stardom life is the fact that there are vignettes from it that are so dramatic they seem like scenes from a movie - in particular, a small critically-acclaimed film titled Mga Munting Tinig, a few years back. In mga munting tinig, two brothers from an impoverished rural family would use a single school family uniform alternately. Sarah remembers inheriting her two sister's old shoes. Kapag napaglumaan na po nila, ako na po ang magsusuot, recalls Sarah.
Thankfully, that sorry episode looks like it will never have to repeat itself. Sarah and her older sisters Johna Rizzi, now 22 and Sunshine Grace, 20 (the youngest is a boy, Ezekiel Gabriel, now 11) can now afford to buy all the stylish shoes that they fancy. Although such is the case, you have to hand it to Sarah and her family for despite their much-improved station in life, the Geronimos remain practical and are never pointlessly extravagant.
Minsan po, pumasok ako sa store ng Prada sa Milan when we had a show there. And daming magagandang shoes kaya lang ang mamahal, says Sarah. The singer-actress - who's busy doing Pangarap na Bituin, a follow up to her hugely successful remake of the classic Sharon Cuneta rags-to-riches movie Bituing Walang Ningning - brought six of her most beloved pairs to our shoot: a pair of gold Giancarlo Fariani stilettos with heart-shaped buckles, a red paid of Enzo Angiolinis, brown stilettos from Laundry, a white diamond-studded pair from Dollhouse, a pair of black pumps from Bebe and silver stilettos from Zara. The last pair bought in Qatar, is decidedly Sarah's favorite. Nagkaroon ng sale sa Zara, recalls Sarah's mother Mommy Divine, whose shoe size, incidentally is the same as Sarah's.
Sa Mommy ko na po ipanapaubaya ang pagbili ng shoes for me kasi alam niya kung ano yong bagay sa akin at gusto ko. says Sarah. Adds Mommy Divine, madalas kasi, whether dito o sa abroad kapag may shows si Sarah, imbes na sumama pa siya sa mall, pinapahinga na lang niya yung libreng pras niya. But when she does have time to spare, Sarah enjoy shopping with her Mom and sisters.
More than ever, now that she's 19 and on the threshold of being the biggest singing luminary of her generation (that is, if she isn't yet), Sarah finds more reasons to be more conscious of how she looks and what she wears. Siyempre po ngayong nagdadala na, kailangang mas maging conscious ka na sa pagharap sa mga tao. And part ng pagiging mas aware ay yung pagpili ng shoes na babagay sa edad mo, she points out.
At 5'4", Sarah looks taller on stage, especially when she's wearing those fabulous gowns and four inch-heels. Naku, minsan po, nung bago pa lang ako nag-hiheels, muntik na akong ma-off balance during a performance. Buti na lang, hindi natuloy, Sarah smiles before obliging for a few sensual (by Sarah's standards, at least) poses for our photographer.
Mommy Divine quickly chastises her daughter: "Anak, hindi bagay sa yo yang ganyang pose". Sarah, of course dutifully abides. Meanwhile, we couldn't help thinking, dalaga na nga si Sarah.
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For those who want to see the shoes of Sarah mentioned in the article, grab the copy of The Kris Aquino magazine.
