Is Sarah Geronimo the 21st century version of the Philippines' legendary "Superstar" Nora Aunor, since both of them have authentic "rags-to-riches" Cinderella sagas, both of them were discovered in singing competitions, and both of them excel in singing as well as acting? What are the success secrets behind the phenomenal rise of Sarah to superstardom?

In this modern era of so many instant starlets and studlets in showbiz coming from reality TV shows, modeling contests and other means, not a few of these so-called "stars" also easily fade away. One of the few exceptions and a true showbiz star in the real sense of the word in terms of innate talents, public acclaim and admiration as well as enduring success is the 22-year-old singer and actress Sarah Geronimo.

Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte told S Magazine: "Another reason Sarah is so adored by many among the public, apart from her singing talent and acting ability, is the fact that she is a very good, humble and wholesome person with positive moral values. She is an ideal role model for the youth. Her being a good person is why I asked her to publicly endorse my vice-mayoralty candidacy, not just her tremendous popularity."

A former poor girl from Santa Cruz, Manila whose father Delfin Geronimo was a lineman at Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and whose mother Divina "Divine" Geronimo used to have a small beauty parlor from their home, Sarah rose in meteoric fame after winning various singing contests, especially the pivotal 2002 Star for a Night competition.

Sarah told this writer her family was not well-off, so during Michael Jackson's December 8 and 10, 1996 at the Asiaworld complex in the bayside area of Parañaque City, her parents couldn't afford to buy her a ticket to watch her idol perform. Her mother Divine Geronimo told S Magazine that she once had to pawn her ring in order to help defray expenses of her daughter's joining in singing contests.

Sarah has become a singing and acting star of exceptional charisma. She is, without any doubt, the "Box Office Queen of Philippine Movies," with her two movies generating sales exceeding P400 million pesos. Warner Brothers Pictures Philippines General Manager Francis Soliven told S Magazine that Sarah's 2009 romantic comedy flick with John Lloyd Cruz entitled You Changed My Life broke box office records and surpassed even top Hollywood competitors' blockbuster films, becoming in fact "the biggest grossing movie in Philippine history.” Soliven said: "Sarah Geronimo is phenomenal in popularity, talents and wholesome positive public image."

Read more about Sarah Geronimo in S Magazine, August 2010 issue.