Kiko boosted by mega showbiz support in final campaign stretch

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‘Megastar’ Sharon Cuneta is one supportive wife to her husband, Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan who is hoping to return to the Senate. TMT PHOTOS

IT was an emotional afternoon for Sharon Cuneta. Sitting beside her husband, former senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, at an enter-tainment media gathering, the Megastar broke down in tears as she opened up about the campaign trail, the mounting pressures of public life, and most of all, the unexpected swell of support from the entertainment industry for Kiko's Senate comeback.

"He really deserves it," Sharon said, her voice trembling. "Kiko has the purest intentions. And I guess people — especially those in our industry — are seeing that now."

The media event — thoughtfully organized by Regal Films' Roselle and Keith Monteverde, whom Sharon described as "family" — had the air of a reunion. While it was meant to bolster Kiko's return to the Senate, it felt more like a homecoming for Sharon.

Among the celebrities vouching for Pangilinan are Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis. SCREENSHOTS FROM VICE GANDA, ANNE CURTIS FACEBOOK AND X ACCOUNTS

"Mother Lily would've been so happy," she said of the late Regal matriarch, who had supported both her and Kiko through the years — even if the Megastar had long been associated with rival studio Viva.

Now, as super slim as everyone has been raving, the A-list singer-actress recalled how, during a time when film offers had slowed due to her weight, it was Mother Lily who entrusted her with the lead role in "Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love." The film, of course, turned into a blockbuster. Sharon also remembered how, during Kiko's vice presidential run in 2022, Mother Lily once again showed unwavering support.

That heartfelt nod to loyalty and legacy quickly gave way to raw emotion. Sharon, overcome with gratitude, began crying in front of an audience she called her "home base" — Regal's team, the showbiz press, and a spattering of talent managers and fellow celebrities.

Piolo Pascual has notably shifted from political neutrality to purposeful endorsement in recent years. He is not only supporting former Sen. Pangilinan but just this week went on the road to campaign for former Sen. Bam Aquino (leftmost) along with fellow celebrities Iza Calzado and Bea Binene.

Pascual renews his support a second time for reelectionist party-list Ang Probinsyano, which consistently delivers on its promise for grassroots development across the country.

"You know me, I'm not like this in political events," she said with a smile through tears. "But here with you, I can be myself. I can be Shawie."

The media con certainly served as a reminder of how much Sharon's showbiz family was showing up — not just for her, but for the man she loves.

And the names kept rolling in.

Cuneta considers Regal Films’ Roselle and Keith Monteverde, who organized the event for the husband-and-wife, as family. The Monteverdes have long been staunch supporters of her career and of Pangilinan’s work in public service.

Throughout the afternoon, the Pangilinans mentioned the growing number of artists — the Megastar's friends and col-leagues — who have openly pledged support for Kiko. Among them were Piolo Pascual, Vice Ganda, Maricel Soriano, Anne Curtis, Iza Calzado, Judy Ann Santos and husband Ryan Agoncillo, to name a few. Other familiar names included Zsa Zsa Padilla, Pops Fernandez, Edu Manzano, Maja Salvador, Nadine Lustre and Janine Gutierrez. At one point, Sharon turned to the crowd and said, half-joking, "I could name 50 more if I had the time!"

Asked what the industry's support meant to her on a personal level, Ate Shawie, as she has come to be called even by this columnist, didn't hesitate and declared, "It's everything."

She added, "Sometimes you go through so much and wonder if people still see who you really are. But when your own industry, your friends, show up — not just for you, but for your husband — my God, it fills your heart."

Sen. Kiko, for his part, remained composed and focused on his message. His grounded yet forward-thinking food securi-ty platform remains unchanged from the last election: an urgent and deeply rooted vision to uplift the lives of Filipino farm-ers and strengthen the country's agricultural backbone.

"Sa panahon ngayon, hindi lang dapat mura ang pagkain — dapat sigurado rin ang pinagkukunan nito," he said. "Kung hindi natin aalagaan ang magsasaka, mawawala sila. At kung mawala sila, sino pa ang magtatanim para sa atin?" (In times like these, food shouldn't just be affordable — it should come from a secure source. If we don't take care of our farmers, they will disappear. And when they do, who will grow food for us?)

Despite having previously served three terms in the Senate, Kiko acknowledged the steep climb ahead. With polling tight, especially around the 12th and final spot, he's relying on grassroots organizing and now — on their own volition — the star power surrounding his iconic wife.

That afternoon, however, wasn't just about name-checking supporters or defending platforms — it was also about reclaim-ing the narrative.

It was the Megastar who took a moment to address critics who have reduced her husband's candidacy to memes of his ads with farmers, fishermen, and Filipino families. She said that while others may mock his campaign, Kiko has served the country with honesty and dedication for over two decades and not once used his position for personal gain.

At this point in their lives, she explained, their family is already comfortable, yet the former senator continues to offer him-self for public service because they both believe it's the right thing to do.

Sharon dutifully reminded the room that her husband had authored and passed more than 200 laws — an accomplishment critics can't easily dispute. She said this is likely why attacks zero in on his campaign ads, because they can't argue with his record.

She went on to cite Kiko's academic and professional background: two degrees from the University of the Philippines, a strong A-minus finish at Har-vard's Kennedy School of Government, and years of teaching at Ateneo. But beyond credentials, the Megastar underscored his character, call-ing him a "hardworking businessman, devoted husband, and exceptional father, raised with a deep faith in God and an un-wavering conscience."

More than frustration, Sharon admitted it hurts to see someone so sincere be made a joke. Kiko, she said, isn't running for power but to be part of the solution — which is why she urges voters to look past fake news and misleading uploads, and instead base their choices on verified records.

She also returned to Kiko's long-standing focus on agriculture, sharing how their children were raised to respect farmers and fisherfolk. At just nine years old, their daughter Frankie already asked, "What will happen to the farmers?" — a question that continues to resonate today, as those in the sector grow older and struggle to survive, while the next generation sees little reason to take their place.

If nothing changes, Sharon warned, the country could soon be forced to import even its most basic food supplies. Prices will soar, and families may need two jobs just to eat.

"That's what Kiko is fighting for," she said. "Not politics — basic survival."

At one point, I asked Ate Shawie something I had been observing from across the room: "You must have heard Senator Kiko's speech countless times by now, but what struck me was how you looked at him — still so focused, so absorbed. Was there something you saw in him today that had been miss-ing while he was away from public office?"

She nodded with a knowing look in her eyes. Clearly moved by the question, she turned to her husband and replied, "Yes, we loved having more of his time, but what did I tell you then?" she recalled. "I told you, you don't have that spark because you were born to serve. You have to run. I know his heart so well.

"Early in our marriage, napapag-awayan pa namin 'yan (we still fought about that). I wanted him to stay with us, but that's not how we were raised. We were taught to give back to a country that's been so good to us. It's just hard to understand why we have to fight this hard to serve, but that's where we're at. And that's why we're counting on your support."

As the event wound down, Sharon made it a point to thank the Monteverdes again. "They didn't have to do this," she said. "But they did. And that says a lot."

With just days remaining before Filipinos head to the polls, the campaign trail is hitting its sharpest, most decisive turns. But if that afternoon at Regal Films showed anything, it's that Kiko Pangilinan's long service, clean record, and quiet integri-ty are finally finding the amplification they deserve — through the unwavering voice of his wife, the loyalty of an entertain-ment industry that knows sincerity when it sees it, and the hope of a nation ready to be fed in every sense of the word.

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Piolo Pascual steps up — again

Among the stars who've come out in support of Kiko Pangilinan as Ate Shawie reported is actor Piolo Pascual, who has notably shifted from political neutrality to purposeful endorsement in recent years.

When I first spoke with him for Lights, Camera, Boto back in 2022, he candidly admitted that he never used to involve himself in politics. But over time, he realized that if he truly wanted to see change in the country, he couldn't stay on the side-lines.

"I want to be able to use my influence," he told me then, "so that at least we can use it for good in campaigning for some-one we believe in."

That belief led him to support then Vice President Leni Robredo in the 2022 presidential elections and the winning party-list Ang Probinsyano led by Rep. Alfred "Apid" delos Santos.

This year, Piolo is once again putting his voice and visibility behind candidates and causes he believes in — former sen-ator Bam Aquino, in particular, who, like Sen. Kiko, has positioned himself as an independent candidate focused on service and reform. The two have often been linked by common values and a shared platform that prioritizes education, livelihood, and good governance.

Just days ago, Piolo joined Sen. Bam's motorcade across Metro Manila, flashing the No. 5 hand sign alongside fellow celebrities Iza Calzado and Bea Binene.

He also made time to campaign anew for Ang Probinsyano Party List, appearing with Cong. Apid in Zamboanga and Pa-gadian where he once again vouched for the party's grassroots efforts. "They don't just make promises," he told a cheering crowd, "they deliver."

From staying silent to showing up, Piolo Pascual's evolving role in the political space may be quiet, but it's certainly consistent — and as always, sincere.