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Sharon Cuneta reveals reason for flying to US: ‘I was so happy; I was going to announce the next day’
After much speculation, Sharon Cuneta finally revealed the reason why she flew to Los Angeles, California, this month.
In an Instagram live session with her husband Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, the Megastar said she was supposed to be a part of Jo Koy’s all-Filipino cast Hollywood film, which was going to be produced by Steven Spielberg.
However, she had to let go of the opportunity after she received a “false positive” COVID-19 test result.
According to the actress, she was supposed to play Jo Koy’s character’s supportive aunt in the film, which was loosely based on the comedian’s life.
“I was coming to Hollywood to do my first Hollywood film, not for any platform, not for Netflix, but for cinematic release with premieres all over,” Sharon said.
“Produced by Dan Lin who made ‘Aladdin,’ and the big boss, the one and only Steven Spielberg, the very first all-Filipino cast [that] I was so honored to be chosen to be part of.”
Sharon said Jo Koy talked about her and after several meetings with the casting director, she was cast as one of the two main female roles in the movie.
Because she was a legal resident, she was allowed to travel to the US. She was supposed to go to Los Angeles on May 18, then fly out to Canada the next day where the shooting was being held. She said the film was on a very tight and efficient schedule especially because Jo Koy was going to have a big and long tour.
“What happened was before you get on a flight, you need to get a COVID test at least 3 days before your flight. I was flying out May 18. On May 16 I got swabbed by one laboratory. I cannot find it in my heart to forgive,” Sharon said.
“I was so happy. Naka-pack na kami and I was going to announce to you the very next day,” Sharon said tearfully.
However, just after getting off of a Zoom call with the film’s travel coordinator, Sharon was told that she tested positive for COVID-19.
And because they couldn’t afford any delays, Sharon knew she couldn’t make it to the filming.
“It was heart-wrenching for me. Literally nanlambot ako para ako nalula (my knees weakened and I felt dizzy),” Sharon said. What hurt more, said the actress, was after she got the result, she took seven more COVID-19 tests.
“After that supposed positive test, all the seven different labs tested me negative,” Sharon said. “That’s why I was so depressed. It was false positive and seven trusted labs tested me negative.”
“Nawalan ako ng malaking oportunidad na ’di na mababalik sa akin. Kahit gusto nila Jo Koy at director na nandoon pa rin ako, wala silang choice na ituloy ’yung movie,” the actress said.
[I lost such a huge opportunity that can’t be returned to me. Even if Jo Koy and the director wanted me there, they didn’t have any other choice but to proceed with the movie.]
Her role then was given to Tia Carrere, the voice actress behind Nani from “Lilo and Stitch.”
“When I couldn’t make it, she got the other lead role. It broke my heart. It really did because it was such an honor to be part of the very first all-Filipino production in Hollywood backed by a producer as big as Steven Spielberg.”
She added, “I felt like dala-dala naming lahat ’yung bandila ng Pilipinas in the middle of all this Asian hate in America and some parts of the world ... ’yun ang kina-break ng puso ko and pinabayaan ako ni Kiko magluksa.”
[I felt like we brought with us the flag of the Philippines in the middle of all this Asian hate in America and some parts of the world ... that’s what broke my heart and Kiko let me mourn.]
Sharon shared that Kiko was very supportive of her, even when she couldn’t attend dinners with the family because she was too heartbroken and was just crying in bed.
“I needed to go to America and just leave the country and make myself productive so I licked my wounds here,” she said. “Hindi na maibabalik sa ’kin ’yung oportunidad dahil lang sa isang pagkakamali sa COVID test kasi seven labs against one. Siguro naman tama ’yung seven.”
[I can’t get the opportunity back just because of one wrong COVID test because it was seven labs against one. Hopefully it was the seven that’s correct.]
The good news, however, is that she’s going to multiple auditions, that’s why she’s staying in the US for a while.
“The good news is my manager hasn’t stopped. I have Zoom meetings left and right, auditions left and right. That’s why I’m here because now people here know I am accessible and I am available,” the actress said. “Don’t worry because I still have commitments at home.”
She added that she and her manager were planning to start their own production company in the US to let the world know more about the Filipino people.
In June 2020, Jo Koy announced that he was working on a film based on his real life experiences with Steven Spielberg and Dan Lin. – RC, GMA News
