Sharon Cuneta and Chito Roño felt nervous about CEB's Grade "A" for "Caregiver"

When Direk Chito Roño entered the FAB restaurant of Holiday Inn Galleria last night, May 27, people started clapping in appreciation of his movie Caregiver. In an interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last night, the director of this Star Cinema movie admitted that he felt tense upon learning that this film was graded "A" by the Cinema Evaluation Board.

"Nakaka-tense kasi minsan, ang grade A kasi, natatakot ang mga tao. So hindi sila dapat matakot sa Caregiver kasi makaka-relate sila. Siyempre, experience, e. Marami silang kilalang nag-a-abroad," says Direk Chito.
Regarding the Grade "A" that was given unanimously by the 12-member panel of the CEB, Sharon Cuneta recalled that she told Direk Chito, "I want to say thank you before it gets crazy, before the premiere. Tatandaan ko sa lahat ng movies na dadating, lahat ng turo niya, bago mag-take, I'll take a moment... Mami-miss ko si Direk..." but before she could complete her sentence, Sharon began crying.

Despite the grade "A" received by Caregiver, Sharon still feels anxious how people will react to this movie. "Ang dasal ko nung una, ‘Lord sana i-bless n'yo yung movie namin. Lord, yung disente lang ang showing sa box-office...sana huwag naman akong mapapahiya kasi ang tagal kong nawala. And I'm a mommy now, I'm trying to get back to my old form...I'm getting there."

Sharon also pointed out that she liked Direk Chito's style of mixing humor with dramatic moments of the movie. The director explains: "Ganun talaga ako. Ayoko ko kasing siyang maging soap [opera] na nagda-drama-dramahan for the take-off."

Earlier during the premiere night at SM Megamall, Direk Chito joked about making the film even more grandiose. "Kung alam ko lang na magiging ganito yung movie, sana nag-shooting pa kami sa tatlong bansa."

As for Sharon, she teased her husband Senator Kiko Pangilinan to give her a more passionate kiss than the one given by John Estrada during the movie. "Hon, lagpasan mo ‘yan mamaya! Higitan mo ‘yan!"

The Megastar also dedicated this movie to her daughter KC Concepcion. "Baby, I want you to know that this is for you. You'll always be my number one."

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. Caregiver is Sharon's first movie in four years and fourth movie with Star Cinema following Madrasta (1996), Kung Ako Na Lang Sana (2003), and Minsan Minahal Kita (2000). In the 15th anniversary offering of Star Cinema, the Megastar portrays Sarah Gonzales, an English teacher who gives up her teaching career to follow her husband Teddy (John Estrada) in London to work as a "carer" (the British term for caregiver).

Sharon said that she was unable to sleep for the past two to three days because she was nervous about Caregiver. Addressing the caregivers and the OFWs whom she hopes will watch this movie, she said, "I hope I gave justice sa inyong mga propesyon. At para naman sa ating lahat, sana maging abot langit ang ating pagtingin para sa mga nagtatrabaho abroad."

The Megastar also admitted that she has been thinking about retiring from the showbiz industry. "Akala ko nga magre-retire na ako. Matagal ko nang iniisip, mga ten years na! Pero ganun, e. [laughter] Ten years ago, ang sagot Niya sa akin ang Madrasta!"

KIKO'S VERDICT. Sharon's husband Senator Kiko Pangilinan gave his own comment regarding the movie. "I was very impressed. It's a wonderful film that is very real. Acting was superb but, of course, I'm biased," he quipped.

Regarding the kissing scene between Sharon and John, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said that it was just part of the film. "Trabaho niya yun, e. More than that, she did a good film. Hindi ko na iniisip yung ganun. Cinema is art and when you look at it as a work of art, hindi mo na maiisip yung mga ganun."

As a lawmaker, has Caregiver inspired him to do something for Filipinos working abroad? "It's a reminder that in the long run, we should be keeping them at home. They should stay here rather than finding work elsewhere. As a lawmaker, ang gusto mong mangyari dadating ang panahon ang ekonomiya natin katulad na rin ng ekonomiya na ating kapit-bansa tulad ng Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia kung saan hindi na kailangang mag-ibang bansa ng mga kababayan nila.

"It's a reflection of reality in our country in the hope that in twenty years' time, hindi na ganun kalaganap ang OFWs. Hindi na kinakailangan at magiging thing of the past dahil dito pa lang, hindi na kailangang makipagsapalaran sa malayong lugar at mahiwalay sa pamilya," says Senator Kiko.

Star Cinema's Caregiver is currently showing in theaters nationwide.

Source: PEP