BEING MTV vj KC

Talk about pressure, man! Imagine this for a second – your mom is the undisputed megastar in the land, your father is one of the all-time handsomest screen idols in Philippine cinema history, your stepfather is a senator, your grandfather was one of the longest (if not the longest) serving mayors in the country, your grandmother’s brother-in-law is also a senator, and your grandmother’s sister is one of the most respected actresses around. Whoa!

Needless to say, living up to the kind of expectation that that situation brings could be traumatic for anyone.

Fortunately for KC Concepcion, she is NOT just anyone. It sounds like a cliché – but yes, she is special.

KC is one of those rare magnetic personalities who come once in a lifetime. For KC’s generation, she is THE chosen one. She represents everything that the new generation wants and desires – free-spirited, assertive, expressive, talented, beautiful, and making the most out of life.

Being an executive in MTV, I am thrilled to have been somehow a part in getting KC to say yes to be a guest MTV VJ. And all of us can’t wait to see her on that small screen doing her spiel, with the nice MTV logo on the upper right hand corner. It’s a dream come true for all us in the team. And happily, it’s a dream come true for KC, too.

During a recent dinner that we hosted for her at the Bubba Gump restaurant, I had a chance to sit beside her and we had a nice conversation:

PHILIPPINE STAR: KC, you had a gazillion offers to do TV work. Of all the media options you had, you chose MTV. Why?

KC CONCEPCION: Well, I grew up with MTV. I grew up in the MTV culture. And I love it! I can identify with it. Plus, I love music. I would have been crazy to have passed up an opportunity to work for the world’s biggest media brand.

Up to this point, your parents have been very careful about over-exposing you. But now, you are an MTV VJ and you are endorsing products left and right. How did this come about?

I guess it was timing. The offers, that is, the good offers, came all at the same. Also, I wanted to get everything done before I leave for Paris. I can only do all of this now, while I am still here.

Tell us about your MTV experience. Any surprises?

The one amazing thing about it is that I felt so at home. The people, the production guys. Wow! We were one big family. I got along well with everyone. And this is one job where you can go absolutely crazy and still be doing your job right.

What it is the one thing you like most about being an MTV VJ?

I can talk and talk and talk. (haha) I can talk about anything, be open-minded, speak my mind – and get paid for it! Haha!

You got to interview a lot of personalities. Tell us the most memorable interview you did.

Well, the first one that comes to mind is my interview with Cris Villonco. She’s a good friend and I know her pretty well. But when I interviewed her, I was able to dig deep into her personality. I got to know her better. And she opened up.

If there’s one person you want to interview, who would that be?

Janet Jackson!

Is "VJ-ing" something you would like to do more regularly, if and when your schedule permits?

Yes, definitely – but I would like to do it in different ways. Not just one genre and not just studio shoots. I want to do different genres and go around everywhere. I like the fact that when I wake up in the morning, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t like routine.

There are some people who think you live a charmed life. True or False.

False!! There are a lot of things I have to put up with that other people don’t have to.

Such as?

Interviews! Haha! Just kidding!

Forget your paycheck then.

Hey, I was kidding!

So was I. Anyway, what is the best thing about being KC Concepcion? And what is your biggest challenge being KC Concepcion?

The best thing? Well, I just like being myself.

I don’t blame you.

Haha! The biggest challenge about being me? Hmmm… I guess, it’s just trying to do my own thing and not be too identified with my parents – that I am a daughter of so-and-so. I find it a challenge to be my own person and be known as someone having her own mind and opinion. Be an individual that is not necessarily identified with someone.

Last question – Do you want to eat your shrimps now?

Yes!!!

You know, I am not clairvoyant – and I am not really an expert on "what if" situations – but I am 100 percent certain that even if KC didn’t have such a lofty pedigree, she would still make a big impact on everyone – be it as a model, a host, an endorser, stage actress, a VJ, or just an overall achiever – and basically, just being a wonderful person.

KC is a beautiful person inside and out. A very grounded person with no airs whatsoever. And that’s an amazing feat in itself, considering who and what she is.

To KC – good luck to you and may your star continue to shine!

* * * Thanks for all your letters, folks! By the way, for all you VJ KC fans out there, you may catch KC on MTV Lokal and MTV Mush starting September and MTV’s KC In Da Haus in October.