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Even this early into 2004, Viva Pop Stars Sarah
Geronimo and Mark Bautista are being groomed to
surpass their successes last year by signing up with
ABS-CBN for a yet untitled soap opera due to air end
of this month.

Joining the two in the upcoming teleserye are Talent
Center artist Michael Agassi (younger brother of
rapper-actor Carlos) and recent Metro Manila Film
Festival Best Supporting Actor nominee Mikel Gaddi
Campos.

Sarah and Mark, top winners of `Star For A Night,'
were hot newcomers in the music scene in 2003. "Star"
grand champ Sarah released her debut album, "Popstar:
A Dream Come True," that shipped double Platinum and
spawned five radio favorites. These were "If Only,"
"Sa Iyo," the remakes of "Broken Vow" and "To Love You
More," and the Number One smash "Forever Is Not
Enough."

Touted as the next Regine Velasquez because of similar
Cinderella life stories and singing styles, the
15-year old star also held a jampacked concert at the
Music Museum and was introduced in no less than two
Metro Manila Film Festival entries namely "Captain
Barbell" and "Filipinas."

"Star For A Night" first runnerup Mark Bautista was
also in high gear. Viva Music signed up the
20-year-old-guy to a five-year management deal
jumpstarted by the release of his eponymous debut
album under the label.

A familiar face in Sarah Geronimo videos and numerous
mall tours, Mark will be competing as interpreter in
the Mang Levi Songwriting Contest for the song "Baliw"
(also his album's first single) come April 2.

We were able to speak with the two during an intimate
presscon tendered by ABS-CBN after their contract
signing. Although obviously nervous about the new
world they just entered, both feel very honored to be
singled out by the network among a sea of upstarts.

"I was really surprised that this break came our way
kasi I never thought I would become an actor, too.
Akala ko hanggang pagkanta lang ako," says Mark who,
just over a year ago, was leading a quiet life at
Cagayan de Oro.

For Sarah, her soap opera at ABS-CBN is homecoming as
she was a talent of the station's "Ang TV 2"
teenage-oriented variety show in the '90s. Still not
used to her celebrity status, the soft-spoken singer,
too, could hardly believe that another dream (the
first was a promising singing career) of hers has come
true.

"Parang last year lang kasi ay nanonood lang ako ng
`Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggang' at `Saan Ka Man Naroroon'
sa TV. Tapos ngayon, ako na ang mapapanood! Sana lang
maging kasing galing din ako ni Claudine Barreto sa
pag-arte. Paborito ko po kasi siya," Sarah says.

In their upcoming teleserye, Mark is one of Sarah's
love interests together with Mikel and Michael. Since
last year, Sarah and Mark have been packaged as a love
team by pairing them in duet songs ("Broken Vow"
included in the album of Sarah and "Ako'y Maghihintay"
on Mark's debut CD).

"Pero Kuya ko lang talaga si Kuya Mark!" Sarah
clarifies. "Alam ko pa nga kung sino ang mga crushes
niya, eh. Besides, hindi pa ako pwede ligawan sabi ni
mommy. Tsaka na lang daw pag may trabaho na ako."

So meantime that Mark is waiting for the go-signal of
Sarah's mom, he nurtures his fancy for ABS-CBN stars
Amanda Griffin and Heart Evangelista.

"One time ay pareho kaming guest ni Heart sa `Morning
Girls.' Nuong magkasabay kaming dumaan sa corridors ng
studio, nagkatinginan kami. Yun nga lang, di niya ako
pinansin," relates Mark, laughing.

Sarah on the other hand was mum on her crushes. She
instead enumerated the names of her favorite movie
actresses namely Nora Aunor, Maricel Soriano and
Regine Velasquez.

"Hanga kasi ako sa galing nilang umiyak. Ako kasi pag
pinapaiyak, natutuyuan ng luha! At saka kailangan pang
ma-motivate nang husto bago merong tumulo. Kailangang
isipin ko pa lahat ng pinagdaanan naming hirap at
pagod bago maiyak," Sarah says.

Mark remains positive that it's just a matter of time
before their acting abilities improve. "Time and lots
of workshops. Actually, meron na din naman kaming mga
workshops na na-undergo last year with Peque Gallaga
at Mac Alejandre. Those helped a lot kasi mahiyain
kami talaga by nature ni Sarah," says Mark.

Sarah seconds what Mark says by citing her
predilection to keep her head down at malls whenever
strangers utter her name. "Mahirap na kasi baka hindi
naman ako ang tinutukoy nila. Kapag kinalabit na lang
ako or nagpa -autograph at saka ako tumitingin at
ngumingiti. Nahihiya talaga akong mag-assume kasi sino
ba naman ako?" Sarah humbly says.

Besides, Sarah has been extra careful in dealing with
strangers after she started receiving mysterious text
messages. "Kaya nga po papalit-palit ako ng SIM card.
Madami po kasi ang nagte-text ng `mahal kita' o
`patunayan mong hindi ka nga mayabang' mula sa mga
numbers na di ko naman kilala. So ngayon, number
nalang ni mommy ang binibigay ko at duon na lang ako
nakiki-text," says Sarah.

Mark, however, uses his own mobile phone to the max.
Lagi kong tinetext ang mga friends ko kasi ayokong
isipin nilang nagbago na ako. I also correspond daily
with my family in Cagayan de Oro. Nami-miss ko sila
kasi ngayon lang ako nalayo sa kanila ng ganitong
katagal," says Mark.

While the ABS-CBN teleserye is underway, Sarah and
Mark will be busy doing concerts and mall shows around
the country.

(Manila Bulletin/Feb. 10)

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