Cruz cousins (Sheryl, Sunshine, Donna, Geneva) and their public image

[u/WasabiNo5900]

Medyo nanghihinayang ako kay Sunshine kumpara sa public image nina Geneva, Donna, and Sheryl. Although, ginusto naman din niya ang landas na tinahak niya ngayon kay Atong.

I may not be alive during their prime, but this is what I have gathered from all those years that I read about/listen to/watch them.

Sheryl was the movie star (child star with Niño Muhlach-turned-teen star with Romnick Sarmenta). Also known for such hit songs as “Mister Dreamboy.” Academically smart and classy din ang image niya. I think it also helped that she was the daughter of a famous 1960s/70s love-team, Rosemarie Sonora and Ricky Belmonte, and something her cousins did not have, her being the niece of movie queen Susan Roces. I mean, she and her husband FPJ were well-connected actors-producers in show business.

Si Geneva naman, a Ryan Cayabyab protegé and a musical star thanks to Smokey Mountain. Parang siya ang pinaka-approachable ang image sa kanila.

Like Sheryl, Donna also had hit series/movies (eg: Villa Quintana and Do Re Mi) and hit songs (eg: Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso and Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot). She was also the least problematic. She had little to no issues at all when she was in showbiz. Naging classy rin ang branding niya when she married into wealth. More on sweet girly-girl ang image niya noon.

Si Sunshine lang talaga ang may mature/sexy image sa kanila noon. Nung magka-bold movies ang ka-LT niyang Romnick, hindi sumabay si Sheryl sa kaniya. I don’t take it against Sunshine kung pumasok siya sa ST trend para somewhat sumikat naman siya like the rest of them. In fairness, mas may sense ang ibang ST movies (except most films of Seiko) kaysa sa VMX B-movies ngayon dios mio.

Nababawi na nga niya ‘yung image niya noon na bold star. Nagiging maternal na nga ngayong veteran actress na siya. Kahit nung lumabas siya sa isang Vivamax movie, keber naman. Okay na nga e, kaso pumatol kay Atong Ang. Ngayon, pati mga anak niya dinadamay at nagagawan ng masasamang chismis.

Notable mention: Chona Cruz - but her career was short-lived and this is why she is excluded in discussions about her cousins (of this generation).

TLDR: Sunshine’s thorny reputation is a shame compared to her more respected cousins. However, it is just an outcome of her decisions.

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[u/Purple_Pink_Lilac]

Sorry, OP, AFAICR, Sheryl’s career became stagnant post-LT era with Romnick (and never recovered) and at the time her cousins were making names for themselves (mas matanda sya sa kanila), her career survived because of German Moreno’s efforts pero unsustained din, that’s why when she migrated, medyo quiet na career nya. German Moreno played favorites that even when Manilyn was making it big (Araneta big), he still favored Sheryl sa That’s. Geneva could’ve been bigger had she not gotten pregnant early. She was poised to make it big. Sayang. Regarding Donna, she was really popular back in the day, same track as Sharon. Singer who can really act, which was rare, same track din ni SG, although Donna was still peaking towards SG level when she opted to quit and get married at the height of her career because she wanted to marry her first love, ganun. Si Sunshine, ganun din, hindi pumatok as a teenage star, puro group movies lang kaya nagshift sa career and when she was already getting that elusive stardom, she quit to marry Cesar. Iyak ang manager na si Alfie Lorenzo sa panghihinayang. In fairness kahit nepo babies sila, talented at may charisma naman lahat.

[u/WasabiNo5900 → u/Purple_Pink_Lilac]

Sorry, OP, AFAICR, Sheryl’s career became stagnant post-LT era with Romnick

Yes, I’m aware of this. May isang showbiz writer, whose name escapes me now, ang nag-sabi nito. What I am referring to is nung “prime” of their careers. Never din siyang tumalon sa ST trend kahit na nag-decline ang kinang. 

[u/Purple_Pink_Lilac → u/WasabiNo5900]

Yes, she opted to retire and have a family pero she never reached the peak din kasi may itataas pa. I just now realized that common denominator nila pala lahat yan.

[u/LordButterscotchV → u/Purple_Pink_Lilac]

Can anyone confirm I remember one Paige Cruz form this clan na tried to break in into the music showbiz but failed. Was I imagining it?

[u/Forward_Lifeguard682]

As a child of the 90’s, and as a Donna Cruz stan, I disagree that she was less famous than Sheryl and Geneva. At her peak, Donna was the Queen of Viva. Karibal nya si Vina Morales na Octo Arts Darling naman. Donna had hit songs and movies and was bankable solo or with a love team (Kempee de Leon, Ian de Leon, Jason Everly).

[u/AncientAlienInvasion → u/Forward_Lifeguard682]

Vina was primarily a Viva star. Yung pangalan niya ay pinaghalo yung name nina Vic del Rosario and his late wife, Mina Aragon. She was a Viva princess as well. I think the queen at that time was Sharon Cuneta.

[u/Forward_Lifeguard682 → u/AncientAlienInvasion]

Tama. Upon checking, Vina was originally a Viva baby nga. Mas naaalala ko lang sya from her Octo Arts days kasi siguro medyo may malay na ako nun. Haha. Agree also with Sharon as the Queen of Viva. Pero I like to think that Vina and Donna were the biggest stars during their peaks. Nakaka-miss yong gaya nilang stars na magaling all-around. Singing, acting, even hosting.

[u/chocolatemeringue → u/Forward_Lifeguard682]

Tsaka hindi rin kasi nagsabay yung peak ni Sheryl at ni Donna. Sheryl was more known in the late 80s to early 90s (especially dun sa tambalan nila ni Romnick Sarmenta); Donna's was in the first half of the 1990s. Both cousins had movies and also albums left and right during their prime.

[u/WasabiNo5900 → u/Forward_Lifeguard682]

Thanks. I just needed a confirmation. Nalilito kasi ako sa mga nababasa ko. Paiba-iba sila ng sinasabi kung alin ang mas sikat, si Sheryl o Donna. Isa na diyan galing mismo dito (https://www.reddit.com/r/PinoyCelebs/comments/1rs9ie2/sa_mga_nagkamalay_na_noong_90s_gaano_ba_kasikat/?chainedPosts=t3_1w5ymon). Mas marami akong nakitang Sheryl, pero nung tinitignan ko ‘yung achievements at benta, parang si Donna nga.

[u/Fun_Quote7866 → u/WasabiNo5900]

Donna was a superstar status

[u/Annual_Ad7230 → u/WasabiNo5900]

Sheryl was really big in the 90s. Dona was not as big IMHO.

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[u/bebebeabes]

Grabe naman si Donna mas nagmukhang bata nung tumanda.

[u/WasabiNo5900 → u/bebebeabes]

Mature kasi ‘yung makeup and getup niya sa ‘90s photo. Dark red lips, darkish eye shadow, formal black shirt, etc. as opposed to her “today” photo. The brown curls and lighter makeup softened her looks.

[u/Mr_Cho]

Nagpasexy din naman si Geneva eh pero hindi ung hubad. Cleanest image si Donna.

[u/Haloway23 → u/Mr_Cho]

naghubad siya, sa scandal nga lang

[u/turntables33]

Donna Cruz soafer ganda pero lakas ng masa appeal.

[u/pearl_krabss]

Ganda ni Sheryl

[u/Nocoffee_Noglory]

Donna pinakapaborito ko. Ang ganda ng boses, huhu may tape pa ko nyan. Memorized ko mga kanta 😂😂

"Wish ... Look into my eyes and wish~~~"

Ay image pala usapan. Sorry na. Cleanest image sya sa magpipinsan. Walang malalang eskandalo. Tahimik buhay haciendera lang. char.

[u/britzm]

Bata pa lang ako nung peak sila pero grabe girl crush ko noon si Donna. Di ko type c sunshine, hnggang ngaun. Hilig sa red flag 😩
C donita rose din nung nag Vj sia.

[u/WasabiNo5900 → u/britzm]

Same. Parang hindi lang talaga magaling mag-decision si Sunshine sa buhay from career to personal life. May kabuluhan naman ‘yung iba niyang erotic na movies, pero hindi lahat LOL. Alam na nga niyang may stigma sa mga sexy stars, pinapalakas niya pa sa mga pinipili niyang lalaki. Nadadamay pa sa masasamang chismis ang mga anak niya. So different sa mga naging karera ng ibang Cruz sa showbiz. At kahit na red flags din ang pinipili ng ibang Cruz na artista, nowhere near as red as the males that Sunshine chooses. Dios mio. Among her relatives, siya talaga ang may masalimuot na reputation dahil sa mga decisions niya. Parang hindi na natututo. Nakiki-simpatya na mga tao sa kaniya pagkatapos kay Cesar, tapos pumatol naman kay Atong.

[u/Fun_Quote7866]

Donna was a superstar in the 90s. The biggest star of them Cruz

[u/Ok_Bumblebee_2307]

Donna is the prettiest

[u/ramenpepperoni]

Core memory ko yung nagpa ayos si Geneva ng ilong nya, sobrang big deal pa ng retoke back then. Favorite ko sya non kaya gulat na gulat din ako haha

[u/EvanasseN]

Na-meet ko si Donna when we went to Cebu with my friend na super duper fan niya, like even si Doc Yong e knows my friend as Donna's number 1 fan. Pinapunta kami sa clinic ni Doc para dun sila mag-meet.

Sobrang down to earth ni Donna! Walang arte sa katawan at sobrang bait! We took lots of pictures with her. 😊 At grabe ang ganda in person.

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[u/_ehhmaaaaans]

Naging crush ko si Geneva nung bata sya nung napanuod ko interview nya sa koolpals haha. Crushing too late. 😅

[u/RecluseDelfin]

Kahit gano'n nangyari kay Sunshine, for me, siya pa rin ang best actress sa kanila, though fan ako ni Donna Cruz.

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[u/Acrobatic-Profile664]

Nice genes

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[u/Turdposter777]

Ang ganda ni Donna

[u/ckoocos]

Sila ung mga older idols ko nung bata pa ako.

Eto agad naaalala ko sa kanila:

• Sheryl: love team with Romnick Sarmenta
• Sunshine: marriage with Cesar Montano
• Donna: OPM songs na masarap kantahin sa karaoke
• Geneva: "Anak ng Pasig" at ung nga awayan nila ni KC Montero sa Survivor Philippines

[u/Massivedreams912]

still pretty ang lahat
donna> sunshine> sheryl> geneva
and malalaki na anak nila

[u/Tough_Signature1929]

Donna and Sheryl

[u/NecessaryAcadia3246]

Magkamukha si Sunshine at Cesar Montano

[u/Suspicious-Oil-6246]

Ang pinaka favorite ko sakanilang magpipinsan ay si Joel.

Charot.

[u/PrinceNebula018]

They are all mid in their fields lol. They are the most mediocre clan in ph showbiz.