Sharon Cuneta has apologized for the words she used to call out senatorial bet Salvador Panelo for singing her song at a campaign event.
The Megastar on Thurday took to social media to explain her controversial reaction on Panelo’s use of her hit song Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas in a campaign sortie for Sara-Duterte-Carpio, who is her husband Kiko Pangilinan’s rival in the vice presidential race.
“I posted about someone singing my song during a campaign sortie that wasn’t one of VP Leni and Kiko’s. I thought that since I said ‘I only allow Leni-Kiko (people) to sing it (during campaign season is what I meant),’ people would understand why I reacted in such a way.
“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.”
Sharon said she was never selfish with her song, composed by the late Willy Cruz, but the actress-singer admitted that she found it a bit “off” when it was performed at the campaign event of a rival political party.
“My song is thirty-six years old. Ilang libo na ang umawit ng kanta ko sa parties, contests, shows. 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. Pero panahon ng kampanya ngayon. Iba ang dating sa akin nung inawit ng politiko na hindi namin kapartido.”
Sharon went on to state that she had no idea that Panelo had a child with special needs, who passed away some years ago, but whom the latter continued to honor “each time I sing the song.”
“Mula nung bata ako mas masaya ako sa pagbibigay kesa nagtatago ng puedeng ibigay. Kanta ko pa kaya? Hindi ko rin naman alam noon na meron pala siyang special child at siya ang naaalala niya sa awit ko. At balita ko, gagamitin na daw niya ito ‘to raise awareness on the needs of special children,’” said Sharon.
“Natutuwa ako na kanta ko pa pala ang magiging paraan para maisip niyang gawin yon,” Sharon added, saying that she has been “helping and supporting children with special needs since 1993.”
Following the backlash over her rants against Panelo, Sharon has since apologized to her fans and those who were hurt by the words she used in her now-deleted post.
“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. I am also so sorry, my Sharmy/Sharonians. I disappointed you,” she wrote.
Read her full statement here:
