Broadcast journalist Karen Davila issued a clarification about a circulating photo featuring her and showbiz personality Kris Aquino.
The news anchor responded to a Facebook post by the “Pinoy History” page on November 13, which shared an anecdote about how she was mistaken for Sharon Cuneta, also known as the “Megastar” of the showbiz industry.
The post claimed that Kris and Karen were spotted together in public during their high school years.
“Isang araw, magkasama ang dalawa nang biglang may grupo ng mga tagahanga na nagsisigawan,” the post read.
“When Kris Aquino was still in high school and known as the President’s daughter, she was with her classmate Karen Davila,” it added.
“One day, when a crowd suddenly started screaming. At first, they thought the people were shouting for Kris, but to their surprise, the fans were actually yelling, ‘Sharon! Sharon Cuneta!’ because they mistook Karen Davila for the Megastar herself,” the post continued.
“Kris then turned to Karen and said, ‘Wave at them! They might think the real Sharon is being snobbish,'” it said.
The post was accompanied by an image of a young Kris inside a car with Karen, who appeared older and was waving to the crowd.
The post has received 35,000 likes and reactions, 912 shares, and over 520 comments, including one from Karen herself.
“Hahaha — OK, guys! Yes, the story is true, but it didn’t happen this way in the graphics,” the broadcaster wrote with laughing-with-tears emojis.
“Para akong nangangampanya dito,” she added.
Karen’s comment has garnered over 5,000 likes and reactions from other Facebook users, many of whom believed the image was AI-generated.
“That’s what I’m thinking too, malamang AI na ‘yan, tsaka ang daming tao na ‘di background, parang may rally lang,” a Facebook user responded.
“Ang wholesome,” another commented with a laughing emoji.
“AI ba ‘to?” a different Facebook user wrote with a grinning-with-sweat emoji.
Others commented about the anecdote.
“Napaka-good heart ni Kris, she protected her friends,” a Facebook user wrote.
“Nice of them to protect Shawie’s public image,” another Pinoy commented, using Sharon’s nickname.
“At least they show respect to the people,” a different Facebook user wrote.
The story
In 2007, Karen recounted being mistaken for Sharon when the latter was in her third year of high school.
According to her, she was with her classmate Kris at the time.
“Kris Aquino, who was then my classmate, and I were stuck in Divisoria. People kept screaming, ‘Kris, Kris!’ And then we heard voices shouting, “Sharon, Sharon!’ which made us wonder if Sharon Cuneta was there, only to find out they thought I was Sharon!” Karen previously told The Philippine STAR.
Divisoria is a commercial center in the districts of Tondo and San Nicolas in Manila known as a low-cost marketplace bustling with bargain finds for almost everything, from housewares to ready-to-wear items.
“It’s funny, because from that time on, I cannot count the instances where people have said I resemble Sharon in some way,” Karen said in the interview.
She also mentioned that she was a fan of the “Megastar.”
“Let me just say, I am extremely flattered — being a super Sharonian myself. But I don’t know if Sharon would want me as a look-alike,” Karen added.
Reports stated that Karen and Kris attended Colegio San Agustin in Makati during high school and were part of the Class of 1988, the same year as broadcaster Pinky Webb.
Meanwhile, Sharon has starred in more than 60 movies, hosted over ten television shows, and recorded more than 40 albums throughout her showbiz career.
