“To me, ma’am Sharon Cuneta is STILL the #Megastar”
This is how Malcolm Conlan, a British ‘Pinoy at Heart’, started his March 12 post a day after he penned an open letter to the Mega Star Sharon Cuneta with regards to Sen Panelo singing her hit song.
He wrote: “What would happen if she didn’t support her husband? I can’t blame her. As much as stand by my letter, I am not keen on some of the hate directed towards her, particularly rude comments about her personally.
I am a fan, but I also have my own political views and I hope that Sharon would appreciate that and understand that I still love her music and movies. As I said, it was awesome to have met her personally before. But I do understand that people get passionate about politics too. I don’t mind however many people tell me to get lost or whatever, that’s politics I guess. Salamat po. I fundamentally believe that it’s best to tackle the actions and words of others with positivity and debate, rather than hate.”
Back Story
The singer-actress reacted strongly against Sen Sal Panela after learning that the latter sang one of her hit songs “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas” during a campaign event of the UniTeam to which he belongs.
“WHY?!!! Tell me WHY?!!! I gotta fight for my song’s rights as well as Willy Cruz’s who wrote it! Cannot be,” she wrote. “‘Di dapat sinisira ang isang classic. Basta TAYO ANG MAY ORIG! Oh, please. WE HAVE NOT ALLOWED YOU TO USE OUR SONG. Please stop. Nakakaawa naman ang kanta namin at nakakahiya.”
[Related: Reaksyon ni Sharon sa paggamit ng kalabang partido ng kanyang hit song: WHY?!!!]
While there were those who sided with the Mega Star, others criticize her vehement reaction over Panelo’s singing her hit song to entertain attendees. Some even said it was not modified into a campaign jingle.
Turns out Senatorial bet Salvador Panelo had been singing it for some years for other events as can also be found on the video-sharing app YouTube.
In response to Cuneta’s reaction posts, Panelo said: “I’m sorry she feels that way. It’s one of my favorite songs because it reminds me of the great lengths I took to care for my late son, Carlo who had Down Syndrome. I honor him each time I sing the song.” He also added that he asked permission from Viva records to sing it.
[Related: Atty. Sal Panelo sa pagtutol ni Sharon sa paggamit ng kaniyang hit song: ‘I’m sorry she feels that way’]
After Cuneta’s outburst over Panelo’s singing of her hit song, Conlan (whose wife of over two decades, by the way, is a Filipina) penned an open letter to Cuneta over this song issue. He is, we found out, a fan of Cuneta for decades and he felt it was shameful of the Mega Star to react in that manner.
“I am a fan of your music and career. I have watched many of your movies and have always found you have a way of connecting with your audience and fans. I have also had the pleasure of meeting you and your husband personally and have always found you to be very nice and amiable,” he started his letter.
“I do find it rather a shame that you have had to become all political. I fully understand that you want to support your husband Kiko as he runs for public office, of course I understand that it’s natural for any wife to want to support her husband,” he continued.
“But with respect Ma’am, when you are a performer and celebrity, particularly when you have become such a megastar and icon of popular entertainment in the Philippines and indeed around the globe, I don’t think you can stop people connecting with you and your music in some way? When people idolise a singer or entertainer, they connect with their music, songs and performances.”
“I understand you had an issue lately of Sir Sal Panelo singing one of the songs that you have sung and become known for, ‘Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas’ at a recent campaign rally for BBM and Inday Sara Duterte. Unless you have issues some kind of court order banning people from singing your songs publicly, then I don’t see what the issue is ma’am?
Sir Salvador “Sal Panalo” Panelo sung the song I understand as a tribute to his late son, I would hope that you would be proud of the fact that this song has enabled a fellow human to find a connection with your music as well as helping him in the his grieving process, which I am sure many of your countless millions of fans around the world have also done?
I would suggest that it’s an honour that your song, which in fact was written by Willy Cruz could resonate with the masses. I have no doubt that many fellow citizens of your country were singing it too and thus bringing your music to an even greater audience.
I have one final question ma’am Sharon, is it ok if I still watch your movies and listen to your songs as I am a supporter of President Duterte, as well as Sir BBM and ma’am Inday Sara Duterte as well as still being a fan of yours?”
[Related: Sharon Cuneta, naka-move on na sa isyu nila ni Atty. Salvador Panelo? ‘From now on, good vibes only’]
After the ‘Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas’ issue made the rounds on social media, instead of releasing more heated reactions, Cuneta has, apparently chosen to totally drop the subject.
She posted on her Instagram account, “From now on, good vibes only.”
Apparently, she has also deleted from her social media account any post/comment related to the Panelo song issue.
Well, Conlan is just too glad over this. He shared, “Glad to hear. Well done Sharon for listening to your fans and more power to you ma’am.”
Moreover, Conlan shares this message via SMNI News: