Sarah: Breaking down is breaking free

By Nestor Cuartero

JUST A THOUGHT: When the heart speaks, the mind finds it indecent to object. – Milan Kundera

•

THEY’RE PEOPLE, TOO: News of Sarah Geronimo’s breakdown scene in the middle of a concert performance in Las Vegas, Nevada last April 28 brings home a point not to be missed by showbiz folk and their public as well.

Actors, singers, entertainers are also people. While they may lead highly public lives, given to a dash of glamour, wealth, popularity or fame, deep inside, they’re no different from ordinary people with ordinary pains and hurts.

These go hand in hand with that basic human need to reach out for our dreams, passions, ambitions in life.

In the case of Sarah, and also those of Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos long before her, the drive to make it in showbiz is coupled with a desire to support the family financially. Such often leads to crisis situations that become too stressful to the artists concerned.

•

VULNERABLE SIDE EXPOSED: Sarah may have reached the pinnacle of her success as a singer, actress, entertainer. But, has that made her truly, really, deeply happy?

It appears not, from what we saw in that tearful video clip from the concert. The Sarah we saw that evening revealed for the first time her most vulnerable side, so human, so touching, so affecting.

The entertainer of 15 years has been reported grappling with family issues, finding herself at the crossroad between love and career, love and family.

At 29, Sarah is said to be beholden to her parents, who seem to have reservations about her choice of boyfriend, Matteo Guidicelli.

She is not even allowed to act in a movie with him, sing with him on TV, or casually be seen with him in public.

The lovers are even prevented from discussing each other during interviews. What a throwback to Philippine showbiz, circa 1950s! Even Gloria Romero, that era’s movie queen, will be shocked.

•

BREAKING FREE: The situation may be causing undue stress and unhappiness on the actress, who probably wants to break free from all that bondage. How many times have we seen similar situations in the cases of stars, who have come and gone before Sarah in our midst?

As she broke down just before singing Forever’s Not Enough, Sarah spoke about the pressure of image building, becoming a role model, feeling empty through it all. That line spoke volumes about her inner pains, frustrations. She may have reached the top of her career as an entertainer, but has that made her truly happy, made her cup truly full?

It’s time Sarah stepped out on her own and become the person she wants to be, so she can be truly happy and at peace with herself. With her immense talent, artistry, and rich body of work behind her, rest assured the public will love her any which way.