Megastar Sharon Cuneta has issued a public apology for her outburst when senatorial bet Salvador Panelo sang her classic song on the campaign trail.
Sharon, in a latest Facebook post, conceded that she should have been more forthright and respectful instead of reacting to the song use with joke and sarcasm.
Without mentioning Panelo’s name, the actress/singer admitted that she felt “slighted” thinking her husband’s vice presidential bid was being belittled by a candidate running under a rival political party.
She apologized to the people hurt by the words used to call out the candidate. A special apology was sent to her legion of fans for having “disappointed” them.
‘Don’t mess with a classic!’ Sharon Cuneta says Panelo not authorized to sing ‘Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas’ in campaign event
The controversy started when senatorial candidate Salvador Panelo performed Sharon’s popular song “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas” during a campaign event of vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte Carpio in Quezon City last March 10. Duterte is the running mate of presidential bet Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Sharon’s husband, Senator Francis Pangilinan, is with Vice President Leni Robredo.
In an Instagram post, Sharon immediately chastised the former Cabinet official for using her song without consent, adding he should “not mess with a classic.”
Panelo later explained he actually obtained permission from the concerned record producer to sing Sharon’s song. He also informed the megastar that he performs the song to honor his late son Carlo, who had Down Syndrome, not earn profit or get elected.
May VIVA Records consent naman pala! Panelo vows to sing Sharon Cuneta’s song not for votes or profit, but for children with special needs
After receiving backlash from some groups, Sharon later deleted her anti-Panelo post on Instagram and declared she will stick to “good vibes” from then on.
‘I AM SO SORRY’
“So though I stand by my feelings and thoughts on the matter, I would like to apologize for the words I used in my post, and to those I have hurt by them. I should have just said exactly how I was feeling, and in a more respectful manner – no matter what,” the megastar wrote on her social media accounts.
“I am also so sorry, my Sharmy/Sharonians. I disappointed you,” she added.
Sharon explained she has never been “plastic” when reacting to people and situations but regretted how she reacted to Panelo’s song use. “Even then, mali ako sa pagkakasulat ko sa post ko,” she said.
‘I FELT SLIGHTED’
Sharon admitted she felt “slighted” when Panelo sang the song as if belittling her husband Senator Francis Pangilinan’s vice presidential candidacy.
“Truth is, I felt slighted. Sa akin, parang minamaliit si Kiko at ang pagtakbo niya ng VP. Dahil sa dinami-dami ng kanta, bakit naman kanta ko pa ang napili? Dahil kaya Goliath ang VP candidate niya sa David kong asawa? Nasaktan ako. Ang pagkakamali ko lang, sana yun mismo ang pinost ko. Pero dinaan ko sa biro at sarcasm, kaya madaming di nakaunawa,” she said.
‘NEVER KO IPINAGDAMOT ANG AWIT KO’
She explained that she has never been selfish when it comes to her songs. The 36-year-old song has been performed in parties, contests and shows without her protest.
“Never ko ipinagdamot ang awit ko kahit kanino. In fact, I feel honored whenever someone chooses it to sing. Siempre, mas madaming may gusto sa kanta mo, mas maligaya ka,” she pointed out.
In the same post, Sharon revealed that she was not aware that Panelo sang the song for his late son. She also learned about his plan to use to song to raise awareness about children with special needs.
“Natutuwa ako na kanta ko pa pala ang magiging paraan para maisip niyang gawin yon,” she said.
CHARITY WORK
Amid the song controversy, Sharon seized the chance to highlight her own charity work. She bared that she has actually been “helping and supporting” children with special needs since 1993. She was named Honorary Chairperson by the Chosen Children Village Foundation.
“That was where I started and I moved on to other organizations – and individuals – both with special needs and not. At di ko ginawa lahat yon dahil tumatakbo ako for public office. Ganon lang ako talaga pinalaki ng Daddy at Mommy ko,” she said.
REAL FRIENDS
Since the song controversy erupted, Sharon said she found out who her real friends are. She lamented that people who don’t know her personally were “quick to attack and call me names” while those she thought knew her have joined the other party.
“But it is during times like these when you find out who your real friends are – those who sincerely care about you and tell you what they think,” she said.
