Singer-actress Sharon ‘Mega’ Cuneta announces ‘semi-retirement’ after 41 years in showbiz

Singer-actress Sharon Cuneta, one of the country’s biggest celebrities, announced last night on her Instagram account that she’s planning to go on “semi-retirement” after 41 years of working in the entertainment business.

Sharon, 53, made the announcement in a post where she also shared how she said goodbye to her second child Frankie Pangilinan in New York, where the 18-year-old has decided to pursue her college education. Frankie is Sharon’s eldest daughter by husband Senator Francis Pangilinan, with whom she also has another daughter, Miel, as well as their adopted son Miguel Pangilinan.

 

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I couldn’t talk about how it was when Kakie and I said our goodbyes. This is all I can share with you. Taken a few minutes before I left for the airport. I had asked her to not take me downstairs and see me leave the hotel, so the goodbyes were in the room, where I was trying so very hard to hold back my tears. I left her by our room’s door, then she closed it and stayed inside. I walked to the elevator and let go of my tears. Then while I was waiting for the lift to come up to our floor, she ran from the room to me and we hugged each other one last time, our tears freely flowing now, then I told her to run back to the room before I entered the elevator. It was a painful goodbye. But my girl is strong. She is my and her Daddy’s daughter, so I know she will be fine. I miss her so much. But this is for her own good and I have put my selfishness aside to let her spread her wings and fly. On another note, and this is important- Since last year l have seriously been thinking of semi-retiring. I am so very tired. It has been 41 years of work, work, work for me, and at some point, kailangan na rin sabihin sa sarili na “tama na.” When will it ever be enough? Sometimes you just have to put your foot down and say it’s okay, and it’ll all be okay. Maybe I’ll do a concert here and there every once in a while, or a movie that I feel will really be worth the few months it’ll take me away from my home and family. Sinasabi ko na sa inyo ito, mga mahal kong Sharonians. Mahal na mahal ko kayo…pero pagod na rin si Mama…Di naman siguro ako biglang forever na mawawala…pero konting-konti na lang siguro ang kakayanin kong ibigay until magpahinga na ako at i-enjoy naman ang tinatawag na private life na alam ng karamihan pero tungkol saan kokonti lang ang alam ko…I know you will all understand. I love you all and this has nothing to do with Kakie leaving. Like I said, last year ko pa naiisip at nararamdaman ito, at kinausap ko na rin ang pamilya at manager at team ko noon pa tungkol dito. I love you all so much, and I will try my very best to give you the best of me before I say goodbye. God bless us all. Goodnight everyone.😊🌟❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻

A post shared by ActorSingerPresenter (@reallysharoncuneta) on Sep 2, 2019 at 9:09am PDT

According to Sharon, she’s exhausted from the four-plus decades of working in the business.

“I am so very tired. It has been 41 years of work, work, work for me, and at some point, I also have to tell myself, ‘This is enough.’ When will it ever be enough? Sometimes you just have to put your foot down and say it’s okay, and it’ll all be okay,” Sharon wrote in a mix of English and Filipino.

However, Sharon promised her fans — known as Sharonians — that she will occasionally do concerts or movies that “will really be worth the few months” that she’s away from her family.

Addressing her fans, she said, “I love you very much… but Mama is tired… I don’t think I would be gone forever, but I have very little to give to you until I will finally rest and enjoy the private life that most people can experience but I know so little of… I know you will all understand.”

The daughter of the late Pasay City mayor Pablo Cuneta, Sharon started her career with the release of the hit song Mr. DJ in 1978. This was followed a few years later by the blockbuster success of the movie Dear Heart, in which she starred with her former loveteam partner and ex-husband Gabby Concepcion, the father of her first child KC Concepcion.

Since then, she has starred in memorable movies such as Pangako Sa ‘Yo (“My Promise to You”), Madrasta (“Stepmom”), Caregiver, and Crying Ladies. Her success as a singer and an actress have led the local press to give her the nickname “Megastar” — or “Mega” for short.

Sharon’s friends and followers were supportive of her decision to take a break from the business. @bigbadbawang wrote, “Do what is right for you, [M]ega. We are happy to support you.”

“Love you mega-Mom. Choose whatever will give you joy and peace. YOU DESERVE IT,” wrote @macoyski.

Fan @elypotnishasha07 told Sharon she loves her. “Thank you for constantly giving us happiness and inspiration. We will support [you] all the way,” she wrote.

Instagram user @mishellbass said Sharon deserves to rest. “You have [had to] constantly lived with (sic) the limelight for several years now. You deserve a break to finally spend much (sic) time with your family without having to worry about showbiz and commitments,” she wrote.

How do you feel about Mega’s semi-retirement from the entertainment industry? Tell us by leaving a comment below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.

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