The Next Big Thing: 
Sarah Geronimo 
About Regine & Sharon

by Louie C. Camino, Gerrilyn Cadiz

The next 'Sharon'

SARAH Geronimo is a sweet, petite, courteous student from the University of Sto. Tomas Education High School and is the third of four children. Her family rents an P8,000 apartment in crowded Sta. Cruz, Manila. That might change soon as Viva honcho Vic del Rosario believes that Sarah will be the next big star.

Do you have a boyfriend?

Sarah Geronimo: Wala pa po. (None)

Mother (Divina Geronimo, 42): Laro pa ang nasa isip niyan. (She still thinks of dolls and toys.)

Who is your crush from local showbiz?

SG: None. Foreign, yes.

Who?

SG: Leonardo di Caprio.

Who's your idol?

SG: Regine Velasquez.

Is your dream coming true?

SG: Opo. Una ko pong naging idol si Michael Jackson. 'Tapos po naging Lea Salonga. (Yes. First it was Michael Jackson. Then, Lea Salonga.)

(To Sarah's mother) Vic del Rosario said Sarah will be the next Sharon or Regine.

Mother: If it's God's will. We will do our best

You've done TV before. How old were you when you started?

SG: Mga 7 years old po. Sa 'Ang TV.' (I was 7 years old. On 'Ang TV')

Mother: Second na 'yan, anak. Una ka sa Channel 9, mga 4 years old ka. Dapat sabihin mo rin yung mga pinagdaanan mo para 'di nila sabihin na nakalimutan mo sila. Kasi, before ka nag-Channel 2, nag-Channel 9 ka muna. Sa "Pen Pen de Sarapen." Magdamagan. Ang ipinapakain sa kanila, yung galletas. Pinagtiyagaan niya yun. More than one year yata bago siya nakuha sa Channel 2. (She appeared on Channel 9 when was 4 years old)

What songs do you like to sing?

SG: Gusto ko po Christmas song. Yung (sings) "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire . . ." Kahit ano pong Christmas song. 'Tsaka gusto ko po mag-Christmas sa America. (I like Christmas songs)

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

SG: Hanggang ngayon po. Kaya nga po gusto kong pumunta ng America . . . Pero alam ko po na daddy ko po nagpapanggap na ano e . . . (Yes, until now. But I know that it's just my Dad.)

Do you already have a sad experience?

SG: Malungkot? Opo. Pag nag-audition po, 'tapos di po ako natatanggap. Yun nga pong "Star for a Night," nakailang audition po ako, siguro tatlong beses. Nung pangalawang beses po, ayoko na talagang sumali. Yung kasabay kong nag-audition, nanalo na. Ganun. 'Pag natutulog po ako, napapaiyak ako. (Yes, when I fail an audition. When I sleep, I cried.)

People say you're rich now.

SG: Hindi po. Naubos nga po agad. Pambayad sa utang. (Not at all. Just enough to pay off my debts.)

What's your first single?

Mother: "Forever is not Enough" by Vehnee Saturno.

SG: Love song po. Pang-matanda.

Mother: 'Di naman pang-matanda. Pang-dalaga ang tawag dun. (Not really, its for single girls.)

SG: Malalim po yung kanta. (The song has depth.)

Who is your love team?

Mother: Si Mark (Bautista, second placer to Sarah in the search finals).

Don't you like him?

SG: (laughs) Not really.

Mother: He's older, about 22 years old.

SG: Eh, guwapo naman po si Kuya Mark. Kaya lang po, naiilang po ako. (He's handsome.)

What will you not let Sarah do?

SG: Go bold!

SHOW TIME
The next big thing
Posted: 10:15 PM (Manila Time) | Sept. 28, 2003
Inquirer News Service

'Biggest dream'

Mother: Siyempre, tao lang tayo, ayaw nating magsasalita ng tapos, pero hihingi ako ng guidance kay Lord na huwag dumating ang punto na bibigyan siya ng ganun. Singer na lang. Kung lalabas siya sa movie, yung naaayon lang. (Who knows. But we pray for guidance from the Lord that such an offer would not come her way. She should just be a singer.)

What's your biggest dream?

SG: I want to be an international artist, like Regine Velasquez.

What has Regine done to help you?

SG: Nung nag-recording po. Kasi po siya po ang nag-produce. Yung isang song po, yung song po ni Ogie (Alcasid). Tinuruan niya po ako kung pa'no po yung style niya, kung pa'no po yung head tone, kung pa'no po yung matataas na notes na hindi ako mahihirapan. (She produced my first record. She taught me how to reach high notes without effort.)

Your story was featured in "Magpakailanman."

SG: Some scenes were not true.

Mother: For cinematic purposes lang. Pero parang nakasira sa kanya yung eksena na nanood siya ng sine na naka-school uniform. Iniba kasi nila yung story. Napagalitan siya sa school. Parang lumalabas nag-cutting classes siya. Pagkapanuod nila ng Thursday, tumawag ang school sa bahay ng Monday. Although 'di nila tinumbok ang true reason, alam ko na yun ang dahilan. Sabi ng principal, hindi niyo po ba alam na makaka-apekto yun? (For cinematic purposes. But school principal said it was not good to show her watching movies while in school uniform. It appeared like she was cutting classes.)

Do you like to dress up?

Mother: Bata pa eh. Hindi siya mahilig sa material na bagay. Basta kung ano lang ang ibigay mo. (She's still a child.)

SG: Ang gusto ko po Play Station, PS 2. 'Tsaka yung Dance Revo. (I want a Play Station and Dance Revo.)

What do you do to relax?

SG: Manood ng TV. 'Tsaka naglalaro. May mga aso po kami, hinaharot po namin yung aso. Tatlo po sila. Si Padji, bata pa po kami nandun na. 'Tapos, yung binili po namin nung nanalo ako sa "Star for a Night." Basset hound. Annie po ang pangalan. 'Tapos, yung isa po, bigay po ni Direk (of "Star for a Night"). Schnauzer po, yung may balbas po siya. Ang pangalan niya Spot pero wala po siyang spot. (Watch TV. Play with my dogs.)

What do you like to read?

SG: Yung mga Goosebumps po by RL Stine. 'Tsaka ano po, Sweet Valley High. (Goosebumps and Sweet Valley High)

Tell us about your concert.

SG: Sa Music Museum po ang concert. Guest ko po si Ms Regine Velasquez, yung mga artists ng Viva at yung mga kasama ko po sa "Star for a Night." Ang concept po, yung rising pop star. "Sarah Geronimo, Pop Star: A Dream Come True." Yun din po ang title ng album. (At the Music Museum. I would like Ms Regine Velasquez, some Viva artists and the others from the Star for a Night. The concept is that of a rising pop star.)

The Sarah Geronimo concert is on Saturday, Oct. 4, with a repeat on Friday, Oct. 24. Louie C. Camino, Gerrilyn Cadiz

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