Sharon takes pride in ‘Caregiver'

After an almost four-year absence, Sharon Cuneta marks her return to the big screen with Star Cinema’s 15th anniversary offering, Caregiver. The Megastar says that she never realized how much she missed making movies until she did this film. But the movie is proving well worth the wait, with Sharon herself admitting that the shoot was a very memorable experience.

"Naiiyakako. Nagta-tighten yung chest ko kasi proud na proud ako sa pelikulang ‘to. Ang feeling ko I am not just an actress in this movie, but I am also representing all the OFWs," she reveals.

After portraying the role of a caregiver, the Megastar now has a deeper respect for all the OFWs. In Caregiver, Sharon gets a taste of the struggles and sacrifices of the "bagong bayani" who forsake home and family for better opportunities. She says that the three weeks of her doing real caregiver work cannot compare to the years that OFWs have spent performing this thankless job.

Caregiver tells the story of Sarah, played by Sharon, a teacher in the province who gives up her career and leaves behind her son to join her husband who works as a caregiver in London. The cast and crew went on location for three weeks in the British capital, but the shoot was anything but a vacation.

"I was there for three weeks. I had a hard time living for three weeks lang in an unfamiliar territory, in conditions that my body is not just used to. I lived in for a year in Boston, pero mas grabe ang lamig sa England. Tapos yung demands ng schedule. I had one day off in three weeks. Nakawan ng tulog, I had three hours of sleep a night, masuwerte na ‘pag four. Kadalasan sa van kapag break magna-nap ka muna." she recalls.

Sharon also has nothing but praises for her director, Chito S. Roño, for seeing her through the entire moviemaking experience. "Walang Megastar kay Chito Roño.Hindi uso dun. Truth be told sa lahat ng direktor na nakatrabaho ko walang ganun.Pag nasa set kayo it’s understood that the director is the boss. Lovable at funny si Direk Chito ‘pag off hours, pero pag trabaho na para siyang teacher na terror. Manginginig ka, maiiyak ka, hirap na hirap ka na, pero ‘pag pumasa ka, ang yabang mo!" she describes.

Given all the blood, sweat, and tears that went into making Caregiver, Sharon cannot help but look back on the experience with an overwhelming sense of pride. "First time ‘ata na halos na immerse ako sa isang character. I think nakatulong yung araw araw for three weeks, more than the usual number of hours. Lahat ng meron ako, inilabas ko na. Walang minuto na dumaan sa paggawa ng pelikulang ‘to na hindi ko nadama. If there’s a movie that I gave my 100% heart and soul into, this has to be it. I never thought this would come. Thank you to Star Cinema."

Finally, the Megastar extends her excitement about Caregiver to all the fans. "Magbubuhat na ko ng sariling bangko, paumanhin niyo na po, pero napakaganda ng pelikulang ‘to. Hindi po ako mapapahiya sa inyo. I hope I did justice to the role. I hope that this movie does what I prayed God would help me do which is to bring more attention and honor to all OFWs, especially the caregivers. I hope that you feel every beat of my heart when you watch this movie."