KC to parents Sharon, Gabby: You both are my Dear Heart
MANILA, Philippines — The most touching moment at the Dear Heart reunion show of former reel and real-life partners, Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion, was when their daughter, KC, joined them on stage at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena on Friday night. ShaGab’s first concert together was titled after their loveteam’s debut movie about first love, Dear Heart, in 1981.
As KC sang the George Canseco classic Ikaw to her parents, there wasn’t a dry eye, both in the audience and on the stage itself. Dear Heart was not only a memorable moment for ShaGab’s dedicated fans throughout the years but also a heartfelt gift to their daughter, like a testament to what parents will do for their children despite challenges and separations.
Sharon and Gabby wed in 1984, welcomed KC the year after. Some two years later, they separated and eventually got annulled. So, one can only imagine the joy and pride in KC’s dear heart as she stood with her Mama Sharon and Papa Gabby reconnecting on stage. “Wow, I feel like I’m in a dream,” KC said.
“Ito yung madalas kung pinagdadasal na sana one day we could sing together, tayong tatlo. But this was a surprise,” said Gabby of KC who just flew in from abroad the day before.
Sharon also shared how her eldest of four kids “made my life complete,” adding: “If there’s anything I regret, sorry KC, I didn’t give you that complete family. But you have two families now. And your Papa and I never stopped loving you. You were never the problem.”
Gabby then teased Sharon and KC, “OK na kayo, ha? ‘Pag sinabi OK na sila, OK na kami.”
“I’m happy,” he stressed.
The emotional highpoint of the evening came as KC spoke about her parents. While hugging a crying Sharon and Gabby could be seen teasing his ex-wife in the background, KC joked, “May away na sa likod eh, teka lang moment ko ‘to,” before turning serious in a tribute. “Sa lahat ng single moms na nandito ngayon or naging single mom dati, thank you for loving your children, the way na minahal ako ng mom ko. Sa lahat ng fathers out there na talagang mahal na mahal nila anak nila, Papa, thank you for being there just like mom sa buhay ko, nung lumaki na ako, tumanda na ako.”
She addressed her parents again: “You know, the past, past na yun eh. What matters most is yung ngayon and bukas. Pareho ko kayong mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal.
“You both are my ‘dear heart,’” she sweetly told Gabby and Sharon, and a collective “aww” could be heard throughout MOA.
The parents also “hard launched” KC’s Fil-Swiss special someone, Michael “Mike” Wuethrich, during the concert.
“Yung mga minamahal ni KC at nagmamahal kay KC… Michael, take care of her,” Gabby said during the show.
“Michael, take care of my baby,” Sharon also told her daughter’s date.
Besides the happy tears, there was lots of laughter and kilig. They gave the ultimate fan service, from start to finish. The megastar first appeared with I Don’t Want You To Go from the soundtrack of their first Viva film together, P.S. I Love You, followed by the veteran leading man with Kumusta Ka (penned by this section’s columnist Baby Gil), which became their 2018 McDo commercial theme song.
The entire show featured themes from their string of big-screen hits, including P.S. I Love You (1981), My Only Love (1982), Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin (1984), Sa Hirap At Ginhawa (1984) and their last one even after parting ways, Tayong Dalawa (1992). Also performed were iconic soundtracks from Sharon’s films with other leading men, plus more OPM gems that saw Gabby taking charge of the upbeat portions of the show. The Dear Heart theme Come What May became the encore with Gabby playfully pulling Sharon towards him and hiding behind her gown to suggest a kiss — perhaps the least they could give to fans’ persistent requests for a kiss.
Meanwhile, Gabby admitted he was more an actor than a singer but his vocal chops were probably the biggest surprise that night. Even Sharon declared he could stage his own concert. Hearing Sharon, on the other hand, as my seatmates pointed out, was like listening to a live recording with her voice in such great condition. And she looked great, from hair to styling that highlighted her weight loss journey.
But what is a ShaGab reunion without bringing up the past? Songs were interspersed with segments and spiels about the history of their successful loveteam. Gabby shared that during filming of Dear Heart, “where it all started,” he and Sharon were not talking to each other. Director-writer Danny Zialcita had to put just the two of them in a room to work on their chemistry.
OPM power couple Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez also guested to conduct the Q&A about ShaGab as a real-life couple in the past.
“What is the best part of being married?” began Ogie.
“When I became a father to KC was the highlight and one of the most exciting moments of my life. We were parenting at that time,” said Gabby.
Sharon also asked Gabby, “Aside from having our daughter, being married, what was the best part for you?”
“Yung magluluto ka at kakain ako. Chicken curry, arroz ala cubana with two fried eggs on top,” offered the actor.
Sharon then revealed, “Wala pa akong nakilala na lalake na kasing lambing ko kung ‘di siya.”
When asked about his biggest regret, Gabby said he doesn’t have one. “We should not regret anything that happens to us and kung ano man yun, ayusin natin. Ayusin natin ha (addressing Sharon) para maging OK ang lahat.”
Ogie and Regine then dropped the biggest fan question of them all, “Mahal niyo pa ba ang isa’t isa?” If the answer was yes, they should stand up or if no, they should stay seated, they were told.
“Wag naman ganun, iba-iba ang levels ng love,” said Sharon.
Then Gabby stood up and quipped, “Ako nasa level na ‘to,” prompting Ogie to jokingly throw his chair to the crowd out of “super kilig.”
Overall, Dear Heart the concert was more than proof of the enduring ShaGab magic. It was a nice “fairytale” to experience, even for just two hours and some 30 minutes, on a traffic-heavy Friday night. The banters and references to their past were tasteful and didn’t go overboard. The show recognized that they happily have separate lives and own families to return to. There was none of the slight awkwardness (or was it tension?) that some press felt at the mediacon some months back. It wouldn’t be surprising if this opens up more possibilities like an international tour or finally another movie. Or better yet, as their daughter KC suggested in a special video in the end part, forgiveness, reconnection and lasting friendship.
(The reunion continues with Dear Heart VIP Night tomorrow, Oct. 30 at Okada Manila Ballroom, and InLife’s Dear Heart in Cebu on Nov. 17 at NUSTAR Convention Center.)
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