Raymond Lauchengco expresses appreciation for showbiz crush Sharon Cuneta

Raymond Lauchengco, known for his role in Bagets, recently took to social media to share the heartwarming story behind a special virtual duet with Megastar Sharon Cuneta at his 40th anniversary concert.

On his Facebook page, Raymond expressed his gratitude to Sharon, revealing that she played a significant role in his showbiz career.

“Not too many people know that I have the Megastar herself, Sharon Cuneta, to thank for my start in show business.  That happened because back in the day, Sharon was a student of my father (his favorite one 😊), and one day, she saw my picture on his desk while she was in his office,“ Raymond shared.

Raymond went on to explain how Sharon helped him launch his career by arranging a meeting with Vic Del Rosario of Viva Films which led to him being cast in Sharon’s movies and recording songs under Vicor Records.

He also fondly recalled how Sharon was his first showbiz crush and how he loved listening to her songs.

“So can you imagine what a thrill it was for me to finally meet her, act out scenes with her, and sing duets with her at her concerts!” he added.

Raymond also referred to Sharon as his “showbiz Ate” and mentioned their strong chemistry together, describing it as a “brother and sister” bond.

“To this day, with my silver hair and all, she still calls me her baby bro,“ he said.

Raymond expressed his appreciation for Sharon’s influence on his 40-year career, which culminated in his recent Just Got Lucky concert.

“Sharon turned out to be the best showbiz Ate ever as she set off a wonderful chain of events that saw me through 40 years all the way to my Just Got Lucky concert last Saturday,” he added.

Raymond also shared how he asked Sharon to be part of his concert as a special person on his entertainment journey. However, due to a conflict of schedule she wasn’t able to personally attend.

“So I reached out to her and asked. She replied almost immediately saying she really wanted to do it for me but couldn’t because she would be touring her Dear Heart concert in the US and Canada,” Raymond shared.

Sharon then ensured to be there for Raymond even miles away.

“She could have left it at that and it would have been totally understandable, but because she has such a big heart she came up with an alternative— what if we recorded something together before she left?.”

The two then agreed to surprise Raymond’s fans with “an interactive video duet where Sharon appears on screen and Raymond would sing his parts live.”

Raymond was amazed by Sharon’s willingness to make time for the duet despite her packed schedule.

“To my utter surprise, she said yes. She would definitely make time for me.  And she did it gratis et amore, because she said she wanted her gift to me to be complete!” Raymond expressed.

During the concert, Raymond performed a song from his movie with Sharon, Bukas Luluhod ang Mga Tala. 

“As I sang our virtual duet, my mind was flooded with 40 years of beautiful memories.  All the ups and downs, all the starts and stops, and most importantly, God’s faithfulness and guiding hand all through out,” he said.

He ended his message by expressing his deepest gratitude to Sharon, saying: “Memories that would not have even existed without Sharon Cuneta. Thank you, Sharon, for such a selfless, beautiful and perfect gift!  Your baby bro loves you! ❤️.”

Last November 23, Raymond successfully held his 40th anniversary concert at The Theatre at Solaire.

“Last Saturday night, my dream of doing a major concert again, something I hadn’t done in years finally came true. And it was so worth the long wait! It was a magical night! Not because of me, but because of all the people who came to fill up the Theatre at Solaire, not only with their presence, but with all their love and warmth,“ he said. “Only this time, 40 years later!”

In addition to Sharon, Raymond was joined on stage by singer Bituin Escalante, whom he praised for her powerful voice and generous spirit.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Bituin Escalante, ever since her theater days,” Raymond said. “What a powerful voice she has, coupled with such a generous and encouraging spirit!”