Cover Story
Shinging Bright
Written by Tinna S. Bonifacio
After topping the first ever Star For A Night search, Sarah Geronimo went to dazzle music lovers and impress showbiz with the quality of a young Nora Aunor.
They say lightning never strikes twice. Does that hold true for showbiz too?, Maybe so because its not everyday that we see a true star born. The first was Nora Aunor back in 70’s—small and dark but possessed of a kind of charisma that defied tradition.
Now, we are seeing that charisma come alive once more in the person of Sarah Geronimo. Just turned 17, this former Star For A Night winner is a star meant to shine not just for a night but for a long, long time.
STAR QUALITY
It is uncanny how their stories are strikingly similar. Like Nora, Sarah’s family was plagued by financial problems early on. Her mother’s small garments business had suffered a downturn, and family debts were mounting. There were times when Sarah’s parents borrowed money just to keep her and her siblings in school. On certain days, the Geronimo kids would walk from their home in Sta.Cruz, Manila all the way to the UST campus so they could save for lunch what they would have spent on jeepney fare.
Then along came the Star For A Night contest. Again, like Nora, a former Tawag ng Tanghalan champion, Sarah joined and won a bumper crop of prizes that included a million pesos and a recording contract.
Now, Sarah’s daily itinerary is chockfull of concerts, guests appearances, tours, designer outfits ( by the likes of Rajo Laurel of the House of Laurel, no less ) and awards.
And this September, the 17-year-old multi platinum recording artists faces the biggest challenge of her career as she stages “The Other Side”, her first major solo show at the 17,000 seater Araneta Coliseum, a venue that has been conquered only by the so-called “legitimate” concert artists like Regine Velasquez, Pops Fernandez, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera and Lani Misalucha.
It’s an ambitious thing for Sarah to attempt, but if successful, will lift her several notches from her contemporaries.
But knowing how popular Sarah is, there should be no doubt that she can fill up those seats on September 30.
Sarah does have this effect on people. During her cover shoot at the WJ studio, for instance, employees left their desks and lined the hallways, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sarah. Men and women all wanted to reach out to her, have a photo taken or ask for her autograph.
“Di ko po alam kung bakit ganyan ang mga tao kay Sarah. People really gravitate to her,” says Bambi Diploma of Viva Records, “Ako din nagugulat.”
Yes, the girl definitely has it.
CLAIM TO FAME
According to Sarah’s mother Divina, her daughter’s star quality was evident even during her younger years. She saw this in the way the young girl related to others. Sarah loved crowds and enjoy chatting up strangers. If she weren’t in showbiz, she’d probably make a good politician precisely because she can work up crowds.
“Mula nung maliit siya, ganyan na talaga ang batang yan,” says Mommy Divina. “Sobrang masayahin sya. Minsan sasakay kami ng bus, tapos habang bumibiyahe kami, si Sarah tatayo at aalis sa upuan niya. Iikot sya sa loob ng bus. Ang hilig nya yung kakanta sya at kakausapin niya ang mga ibang pasahero.”
Although most people believe it was Sarah’s mother who encouraged her to pursue a career in singing, the truth is that it was Sarah’s Daddy Delfin, an ex-PLDT employee who had also been a singer back in his day, who first spotted their daughter’s star appeal.
“Ang tiwala sa akin ng Daddy ko, sobra,” says Sarah. He shepherded her through countless auditions and singing contests—including the annual PLDT Tuklas Talino competition that is open to the children of company employees, which Sarah won handily every year—to the point that , when she turned 13, Sarah started to get tired of it.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Daddy ayoko na. Pero ang sagot niya pos a akin, ‘Huwag kang susuko. Magtiwala ka sa sarili mo.’ Kaya hindi rin ganun kadali para sa akin ang sumuko. Siguro kung hindi po dahil sa kanya, baka wala ako sa kinalalagyan ko ngayon.”
In this, she draws inspiration from her favorite literary character, young wizard boy Harry Potter from the best-selling book series of the same title. Like Harry, Sarah has surmounted the greatest of odds.
And like Harry who belong to Gryffindor House ( which is valued for its courage, its emblematic animal being the lion—that most courageous of all joungle creatures ), Sarah prides herself on her courage.
“Tingin ko po, importante ang pagiging matapang, lalo na sa business na kagaya ng showbiz,” she says, “Dapat wala kang takot na subukan ang mga bagay-bagay. Ako siguro masasabi ko na nagiging courageous ako dahil sa mga ginawa ko noong nag-uumpisa ako. Hindi ako nag-give up.”
Topping the Star for a night contest was the fruition of all Sarah’s dreams. “Sa totoo lang po, hindi ko ineexpect na manalo. Ang gagaling kasi ng mga kalaban ko. Feeling ko po noon, ako yung weakest link doon.” At the time, Sarah was also nursing a slight cough and cold. She also had her period.
In Sarah’s case, mind prevailed over matter. Her motivation—wanting to help her family—proved stronger than whatever physical discomforts she was feeling that day.
HERE AND NOW
Today, there is no doubt that Sarah is on top of her game. While there are many other promising young singers in the industry, few have found fulfillment the way Sarah has.
She has trophies form the Aliw Awards ( Most promising Female Performer ), the Awit Awards ( Best Performance by a Female artist ), the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation ( Most Promising Singer ), and the Tinig Awards of the National Press Club ( Most Promising Female Singer ), to name a few.
But along with her remarkable success has come the thing she hate mosts about the business: intrigues. People have pointed out how Sarah has supposedly turned into her family’s “cash cow” and how she is being worked to the bone just to pay off the family’s debts and meet their needs.
“Minsan naiiyak na lang ako kapag may mga ganoon na nasusulat,” she admits. “Iyakin talaga ako, lalo na kapag nadadamay ang pamilya ko, especially my parents. Inaamin ko na totoo, kaya ako nagta-trabaho ay para makatulong sa pamilya ko. Ano naman ang masama doon?”
Its not true, she says, that her parents are now living off her labors. “Pinagusapan na naming pamilya yan.” claims Sarah. “Nagka-retrenchment sa pinagta-trabahuan ng Daddy ko. Ang choice ay madestino siya sa malayong lugar o mag-resign. Karamihan ng mga kasamahan niya nag-resign, so ganoon na rin ang ginawa niya.”
Her mother Divina, meanwhile, attends to Sarah’s needs. She accompanies Sarah to most of her showbiz commitments and concert tours here and abroad, but at the same time, manages the family business, which consists of the Popstar Salon and Boutique, both located on Piy Margal street in Sampaloc, Manila.
When she was just starting out, she really worked hard. “Pati mga raket sa probinsya pinapatulan namin,” says Sarah. “Kasi siyempre, noon, gusto ko talagang makilala as a singer, doble kayod ako.”.
There were times when she had days packed with commitment that she couldn’t work up energy to get out of the bed the folloeing morning. She also had to give up her studies at UST to make time for her showbiz commitments.
These days, Sarah is in the home study program of Angelicum College. A teacher comes to visit her at home whenever she has a free day to guide her through the course modules.
She also has earned the rights to choose her gigs. “Hindi na ako ganon kapagod,” she smiles.
She is happy that she has been able to fulfill her own dreams, and the dreams of her family as well. “Masayang-masaya po ako,” she smiles. “ang laki talaga ng difference ng dati sa ngayon.”
FUTURE PERFECT
Of course, she still has dreams and goals she’s working to fulfill, like buying her family’s dream house. Right now, Sarah and her family are staying in a two-bedroom duplex in an exclusive subdivision in Quezon City. The house belongs to the family of her Aunt and is only being lent to them. “Gusto ko magkaroon ng sariling bahay.”
This Araneta Coliseum concert may be the key to achieving that goal. But Sarah says that while most people proclaim her ready for a big venue like tha Araneta Coliseum, she is terrified by the idea of performing there.
“First time ko magsolo don. Nakakatakot. Iniisip ko na baka sobrang konti ng manood, kasi beginner pa lang naman po ako. Hindi po ako kagaya ni Ms. Regs ( her pet name for Regine Velasquez ) na talagang sanay na sanay na mag-show sa Araneta.”
Incidentally, Sarah will be joined by Regine as her very special guest and other friends like Piolo Pascual, Star for a night runner-up Mark Bautista, and Sarah’s rumored crush, teakwondo star turned actor Japoy Lizardo.
Regarding the concert, Sarah can only promise one thing: “I will give my best to it. Bahala na po sila kung magustuhan nila o hindi.”
1. How was your last birthday?
Okay naman po, masaya! Happy Birthday talaga, hehe! Kaya lang sa airplane ako nagcelebrate.
2. What is it about you that not many people know?
I’m a Harry Potter fan. Saka po sensitive ako, iyakin, pero kapag nage-enjoy ako, para na akong clown.
3. If you would be in a Hollywood stars shoes, who would it be?
It would be Jennifer Lopez, kasi po sobrang successful niya pero tingin ko humble pa rin sya.
4. What role in Hollywood movie you’ve seen do you wish you could play?
Love interest of Harry Potter, hehe…
5. What do you wish your fan knew about you?
Na ako’y katulad lang nila na isang fan din.
6. Would you consider having a cosmetic surgery?
No, happy na po ako sa bigay ni God.
7. What are the usual things you have in your kikay kit?
Face powder and lip gloss.
8. When you’re in a mall, ehat is the first thing you buy?
Makeup.
9. What scares you?
Ipis at saka teacher kapag di ako nakakapag-review ng lessons.
10. What do you hate about the business?
Intrigues.
11. If you weren’t in showbiz now, what would you be?
A college student.
12. What is your favorite travel destination?
The U.S.A.
13. What place in the world would you like to visit if you could?
Rome.
14. When you’re at home. What is the one food you ask for at the drop of a hat?
Fruits.
15. If you could have one power, what would it be?
I want to be a wizard! Harry Potter fan po talaga ako eh.
16. What is the one modern convenience you can’t live without?
Cellphone.
17. What books are you currently reading?
Harry Potter Book 5. Opo, book 5 pa lang ako. Gusto ko na rin sana basahin yung Book 6 ( Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ) pero wala po talagang time ngayon.
18. What was the last movie you saw and enjoy?
Van Helsing.
19. Where do you like to hang out?
At home.
20. Given the chance to advocate something for the community, what would it be?
Help the needy people.
21. What would you like to be in your next life time?
Ganoon pa rin po.
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