Sharon's heart bleeds for Japan

source: abs-cbnnews
MANILA, Philippines - Megastar Sharon Cuneta said her heart is bleeding for the people of Japan over the calamity brought by the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit the country last Friday.

In an interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com during her pictorial for ABS-CBN's upcoming show "The Biggest Loser," Cuneta said she considers Japan as her second home.

"My God, my heart really goes out to them. You know, I was affected by the news about the tsunami in Thailand in 2004. Mahal na mahal ko ang Thailand and I felt for all the countries na tinamaan. Pero since I was a little girl, ang daddy ko kasi at saka kaming pamilya pati ang kapatid ko, mama ko, eh Japan ang favorite naming puntahan at saka Hong Kong laging magkasunod. Since I was 2 years old, nagpupunta kami doon," Cuneta said.

"I remember tuwing pupunta kami doon and whenever I step out of the plane, maamoy ko pa lang ang hangin ng Tokyo anywhere there feeling ko ay home ako," Cuneta added.

The actress said she was even called "Little Haponesa" because of her love for Japan.

Cuneta also shared that she was in Japan less than 2 weeks before the quake and tsunami happened.

"I was there less than 2 weeks before the earthquake and tsunami but I was in Sapporo in Hokkaido and that's not very far from Sendai. Devastated ako kasi hindi ko ma-imagine 'yung nananahimik ka, ang ayos ayos ng society mo, you are the 3rd biggest economy in the world. You see na you are at the mercy not of nature lang, you are at the mercy of God. You are a human being. You build something, [and] no matter how very well you made it, wala kang control over anything," she said.

She also praised the Japanese people for being so calm and resilient.

"Inuuna nila ang kapwa kaysa sa sarili kaya maayos. Sa lahat ng disasters ang ka-partner ay looting at lawlessness. Sa Japan hindi. Nagbibigayan. Maayos. Walang nag-looting kahit isa. It's so admirable but at the same time my heart is broken over it," she said.

Cuneta also encouraged Filipinos to extend their help to the Japanese people by donating to the Red Cross.

"Ang pagtulong sa kapwa hindi naman kailangang kababayan lang. If you have a lot to share, kahit a little you can donate to Red Cross. More than anything, I think the biggest help we can give is our prayers talaga kasi doon tayo magaling. Let's pray for them, kapwa tao," she said.

She also called on the people to stop spreading text rumors that radiation from a nuclear plant in Japan has reached the Philippines.

"Kasi you're causing panic. Siguro ang iba paranoid lang sila. You can't blame them. Pero sana they think twice bago sila mag-spread ng rumors or mag-text blast ng ganoong messages. Kasi mayroon ding mga nerbiyoso lalo na ang matatanda sa atin na baka sa sobrang nerbiyos ay makaapekto sa kalusugan nila imbes na makatulong. So let's wait for the official announcement kasi hindi naman tayo pababayaan ng Department of Health o ng sarili nating gobyerno. Lalabas naman sa TV 'yan o radio. Huwag tayong bastang magpapaniwala sa mga ganoon," she said.

Losing weight for 'The Biggest Loser'

Meanwhile, Cuneta is happy as she continues to lose weight as part of her preparation for her upcoming show "The Biggest Loser."

"Pumapalakpak ang puso ko. It encourages me kapag nagpapayat ka. Mas nawawalan ka ng motivation kapag may nagsabing, 'Ang taba mo'. Hindi kasi nila alam na naka-lose ka na ng 5 pounds kasi hindi pa naa-appreciate dahil malaki ang kailangang i-lose. Ako talaga kapag nag-lose ako ng weight [gusto ko] 'yung remarkable ang change [para] makabalik ako sa dati," said Cuneta.

The singer-actress said she's really excited to host the Philippine version of the hit TV franchise program.

"I'm really very excited kasi napanood ko ang pre-interview nila. Nakaka-touch ang istorya ng bawat isa at may kanya-kanya silang rason. I'm excited kasi I like to meet all of them. It gives me more motivation to lose also my remaining extra weight para makapagbigay din ng konting inspirasyon," she added.

source: abs-cbnnews