MANILA, Philippines—All politics aside, Megastar Sharon Cuneta thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for his “precious gift of a message.”
In a video posted on Instagram by Cuneta on Saturday, February 10, the President was seen thanking his “good friend,” “Ma’am Sharon,” for “remembering” him.
“My daughter Sara ay talagang ina-idolize ka hanggang ngayon (really idolizes you until now),” Duterte said, referring to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte who is known to be a ‘Sharonian.’
“I am happy she has chosen the right person to be an inspiration. She has been an avid admirer… ako rin for the many things that you have done for me and the family. I am grateful,” he added.
Along the caption, a gushing Cuneta thanked her “Tatay Digong” for the message that she will “treasure forever.”
“ALL POLITICS ASIDE, Excuse me po, pero si Pangulong Duterte po ito! So sorry am not sorry but in fact, am thrilled! Maraming salamat po, Mr. President,” Cuneta wrote.
The Dutertes and Cuneta’s husband, Senator Francis “Kiko” Panglinan, are from opposing political factions, but it did not get in the way of the friendship between Cuneta and the Dutertes. In fact, it was Pangilinan who introduced his wife to Sara, according to the President in his past speeches.
Cuneta said that she and Mayor Duterte who has been friends since 2012 “never cared about each other’s politics.”
“I adore her as much as she, a “Sharonian” as the President himself once said, must adore me too,” she said.
“I am blessed that she and I are sincere and thoughtful enough to separate politics from what after all is more lasting – our friendship,” she added.
Sara, on her part, has said before that she holds Cuneta to a high esteem.
“I have high respect for Ate Sharon, she has been very kind to me since I was a child. She has always been apolitical despite growing up with a politician father,” she told Inquirer.net in a text message on October 12, 2017.
True to what was said of her, Cuneta reiterated that she is “apolitical,” and thanked her husband for “understanding” and “respecting” her “’wala akong pakialam sa politika (I don’t care about politics)’ stand.”
Moreover, Cuneta vowed to the President that one day, she will sing to him his favorite Sharon Cuneta classic “Ikaw.”