Sarah Geronimo is reigning Box-Office Queen of ABS-CBN/Star Cinema

With the tremendous (unexpected?) box-office success of her first-starring movie, Star Cinema’s A Very Special Love (with John Lloyd Cruz), Sarah Geronimo has handily dislodged (as in "wiped out") her colleagues at ABS-CBN/Star Cinema as the twin company’s Newest Box-Office Queen. She could be the New

Millennium’s Nora Aunor, somebody the masa can identify with, not very beautiful but pretty just the same.

Even in the US, according to Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre (of The Filipino Reporter), Sarah is hailed as the new "superstar," with dozens lining up to reserve tickets ($15 per) to the East Coast showing of the movie on Sept. 6 (at the AMC Loews Kips Bay 15 Theater at Second Ave., Manhattan) and Sept. 7 (at AMC Loews Jersey Garden 20 at 651 Kappowski Road, Elizabeth, New Jersey).

"Mabilis ang bentahan ng ticket," said Edmund. "The US-based SCAT Productions, led by Satrick Uy, Cathy Uy and Rolando Abaquin said they are overwhelmed by the response. Last year, Sarah gave SCAT a blockbuster concert, Sarah Geronimo in Motion, at the Manhattan Center." "We want to be part of Sarah’s successful crossover as a silver screen superstar," Edmund quoted Satrick as saying.

"Sarah has a big following in the US East Coast," said Rolando. "The interest and enthusiasm to see Sarah in her first major movie was amplified after they heard about the movie surpassing P130-M on its third week of showing in the Philippines."

A Very Special Love is directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina who also megged the hit romance-drama One More Chance starring John Lloyd and Bea Alonzo.

There’s no word yet if any of the cast members will be present during the screenings, but Cathy Uy said they are hopeful Star Cinema will send a special guest to add excitement to the event. "We love her because she’s so down-to-earth and so simple, and she always gives her all in every performance. Like Lea Salonga, she’s a perfect role model for other young artists."

Part of the proceeds will go to SCAT Productions’ favorite charity, Children’s Chance, Inc., which has been helping numerous ailing Filipino kids get life-saving and life-changing surgery and medical care in US hospitals. It is headed by Dorita Urrata, who was responsible (along with PAL Foundation) for bringing to the US the formerly conjoined twins Carl and Clarence Aguirre of Bacolod.