Sharon Cuneta, Gabby Concepcion open up about preparations for 'Dear Heart' reunion concert

Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion surprised their fans with the announcement that they are reuniting for a grand concert on October 27 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Before sharing the stage together once again, Sharon and Gabby graced the latest episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" in separate interviews to prevent spoiling their upcoming get-together.

Titled "Dear Heart," the reunion concert has long been in the pipeline, Gabby revealed.

"Actually matagal na itong nakaplano hindi lang matuloy-tuloy. Katulad ng sinabi nila, timing is everything," he said.

["We've been planning this concert for a while now. So I guess timing is everything."]

Sharon said that a reunion project has been a request from their fans for decades already.

Since they "couldn't really agree on a movie together, we tried to bring up the idea of having a concert."

She said she agreed on doing the concert despite their history because "walang personalan trabaho lang."

["It's just work."]

When asked about the concert's kilig factor, Gabby said, "Well, we're hoping na mayroon pang gan'un. Mayroon kaming mga followers. Hopefully, nand'yan pa sila."

["We're hoping there's still that feeling. We hope that our fans will be there."]

The former couple admitted that there was awkwardness during rehearsals.

"I think it's paninibago. Because we haven't really been in each other's company for such a long time and considering our history. Hindi madali. You just keep reminding yourself it's just work, be professional," Sharon said.

["We haven't been in each other's company for such a long time. Considering our history,  it's not easy. But I just kept reminding myself that it's just work, we have to be professional."]

Gabby meanwhile said it was unavoidable to think of the good times.

"Kahit na, of course mayroong not-so-good pero kaya kayo nagsama because mayroon kayong pinagsamahang maganda. Pero kami ni Sharon OK kami. Hindi katulad nu'ng araw," he said.

["Sharon and I had good times together. It's not something that can be forgotten. We're OK."]

'Dear Heart'

Sharon said that their reunion concert is called 'Dear Heart' as it will serve as a trip down memory lane, recalling their 1981 film of the same name.

However, Gabby shared that they didn't actually talk much at first while filming, because "first time ko lang siya makikilala."

["We didn't talk that much at first since we never saw each other before."]

But eventually, they got closer to each other.

"Habang nag-shu-shooting kami. Sabi ni Direk Danny Zialcita, 'Gabo, Sharon, dito muna tayo sa loob ng kuwarto ha mag-wo-workshop tayo.' Pak, sinara," he said.

["In the middle of our shoot, Direk Danny Zialcita called us into a room for a workshop."]

The director told them that they would shoot intimate scenes, so they have to talk to each other prior to filming.

"Sabi ni Direk Danny, 'Iiwanan ko kayo pagbalik ko sana okay na kayo,'" Gabby said.

["Direk Danny left us and said, 'I'll leave you two alone, hopefully when I come back, you guys are OK."]

Sharon and Gabby eventually got to know each other better and, soon enough, fell in love.

In September 1984, they tied the knot, and in the following year, they welcomed their daughter, KC Concepcion.

But three years after their wedding, Sharon and Gabby separated.

Sharon said that having a child together is what binds them forever.

"May kanya-kanyang pamilya na kami pero 'yung kaisa-isa naming anak. 'Yun yung parang I wish she could've had a more wonderful or a perfect life with both parents. And unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way," she said.

["We have our own families now, but we still have a child together. I guess I wish that she could've had a more perfect life with both parents."]

Sharon continued, "But at her age, it's a choice na. Do I mope about what happened to mom and dad or do I live a great life? I hope she chooses this time, mukha naman."

She said she's okay with Gabby and hopes they can be friends "because we do have a daughter together."

Meanwhile, Gabby said that they no longer needed to explain what happened between him and Sharon to their daughter.

"Actually nu'ng lumalaki na si KC, she had her own experience with her mom. She had experience with me. So we didn't have to explain to her anything. Kasi explaining to her something that happened in the past na she had nothing to do about, parang medyo unfair 'yun," he said.

["When KC was growing up, she had her own experience with each of us. So we didn't really have to explain everything to her. It would be unfair to explain things to her about".]

Gabby said that he's very close to KC, and they often hang out together.

"Pero 'yung mga friends niya nagulat nu'ng nag-photo kami na she went to Europe. Sabi nila 'who's your boyfriend?' Sabi niya 'no, no that's my Papa.' She's still my baby," he said.

["Her friends were surprised when we had a photo together when she was in Europe. They mistook me as her boyfriend, she said 'No, no that's my Papa.' She's still my baby."]

In 1993, Sharon and Gabby's wedding was annulled.

Sharon said that their separation broke her heart.

"Ang feeling ko n'un was my marriage failed. What little control I have over other things like my career, I will do my best and pray that God takes me somewhere," she said, saying that was when she became a workaholic.

"Never, never did drugs. I don't drink. I used to smoke and then I figured I'm not an idiot, so why was I smoking? So I quit it. It's been 20 years. I have very small group of dependable friends," she added.

The little girl that saves Sharon

Sharon said that she has always seen herself as a simple girl "thrown to a very complicated situation."

"I have always seen myself as that. But if we spend time together, napakababaw ko pala," she said, saying she's a fan of 'My Melody,' 'Hello Kitty,' stationery items, cards, and stickers.

"My kids call me a big baby, baby Mama," she added. "I like doodling but it's all kids stuff. Nothing serious."

Sharon then explained, "Because I had a fantastic childhood. But at 12 I started working. I started being put in the real world. My God, I had a baby at 19."

"I'm child-like. I trust too much, too quickly, I'm trying to work on that cause it's hurt me a few times," she said.

Sharon also likes K-pop, K-dramas, and doing K-pop dances with her daughter, Miel.

"I lost a big chunk of my childhood and my growing up years. Parang I was raising KC while I was still also growing up myself. So parang I haven't lost the child in me," she said.

["I lost a big chunk of my childhood. Because at the time, I was raising KC, but I was also just growing up too. So until now, I have that child in me."]

Sharon said that the little kid inside her always saves her.

"Ang daming distractions sa mundo ngayon. I'd like to go back to that little kid inside me. Even in the midst of minsan may crisis ako. I always go back to that little girl, she saves me," she said.

["There are a lot of distractions right now. I'd like to go back to that little kid inside me. Even in the middle of a crisis, I always go back to that little girl, she saves me."]

Sharon also loves books and said she is renting a whole warehouse where she keeps her collection.

"But this is a collection that started when I was in grade school. I'm a hoarder of books. I think nu'ng una akong na-broken hearted, na-realize ko my books have never and will never leave me," she added.

["This is a collection that started when I was in grade school. I'm a hoarder of books. When I had my first heartbreak, I realized my books will never leave me."]

Sharon is also "crazy about dogs" and her pets occupy one of her units.

"One of them belongs to KC. One of them belongs to Frankie. And I have a rescue, an aspin, called Powiebow. And then they have a caretaker. So all in all 17," she said.

Sharon's weight loss

Diet became the key to Sharon's weight loss.

She admits she misses herself, "but it was more from my health."

"Kasi gusto kong makita ang mga apo ko. 'Pag may nagtatanong, anong ginawa mo para pumayat? Gusto ko ng sagutin ngayon ng isipin natin ano ang ginawa natin para tumaba. 'Yung opposite na ang gawin natin kasi di ba it's the simplest answer," she said.

["I want to see my grandsons and granddaughters. When people ask me what I did to lose weight, I want to tell them to think how about how they gained weight in the first place. I think that's the simplest answer."]

Sharon said her skin sagged when she lost weight, so she had it surgically removed. Additionally, she admitted that she gets botox.

"Kasi hindi naman ako perpekto. At saka pagdating ng araw, pag kailangan magpapa-face lift ako. Kasi ngayon nag-the-thermage ako," she said.

["I'm not perfect. So when the time comes and I need to do it, I'll undergo a face lift. Right now, I'm undergoing Thermage treatment."]

She shared that her parents were the ones who taught her how to keep her feet on the ground, despite the fame.

"Sabi nila mawawala 'yan isang araw. So I've been prepared for that. 'Pag nawala ito lahat bukas, mami-miss ko pero hindi ako mamamatay. Hindi ko ito buhay, trabaho ko 'to," she said.

["My parents told me that fame won't be there forever. So I've prepared myself for that. When all this is gone, I'll miss it. But that's the way it is. This is just work."]

"The minute I enter the house, I'm just mommy. I'm just sweetheart to Kiko.  When it all ends, I'm gonna have a good life. A happy life. Because I took care of my loved ones," she added.

Sharon said that one will not survive if they only live by the praises they receive.

"In the same way na didibdibin mo lahat ng negative na comments about you, hindi. Ang pinakamahalaga sa akin yu'ng puso. Na kahit marami akong pagkakamali like sa social media, pag sinasabi nga nilang plastik ako. Paano akong naging plastik e kaya nga ako pinipintasan kasi masyado akong pranka. Minsan wala akong preno."

["Don't take all the negative comments to heart. What matters the most is your core. On social media, people would tell me that I'm a hypocrite. But I'm the opposite of that.."]

Gabby's showbiz career

Like Sharon, Gabby also entered the showbiz industry at a young age.

Despite his life being an open book to fans, he admitted that he thinks he "wasn't cut for show business."

"For me I wasn't cut for show business. Mas gusto ko nasa probinsya ako kaysa nandito sa siyudad," he said. "Ang damit ko lang simple lang e. Boots, jeans, and t-shirt. Mainit e. Kaya ako nag-je-jeans madalas because sa bukid, maraming insekto."

["I like the life I have in the province, more than the one I have jn the city. I'm a simple man who wears boots, jeans, and a t-shirt.]

He said that he's constantly at the farm and regularly goes to the public market.

"Bumababa ako talaga e tutal sanay na 'yung mga tao sa akin doon e. Mayroon na akong suki doon kung saan ako bumibili ng karne, isda, gulay," Gabby said.

["I always went there by myself and people have gotten used to me there. There's this vendor that I go to where I buy meat, dish, and vegetables."]

The "First Yaya" star also revealed that he is colorblind.

"Actually mayroon na akong PWD, matagal na," he said. "I'm colorblind."

["I actually have PWD ID, because I'm colorblind."]

"'Pag tumitingin ako ng color or any thing na mahina na yung ilaw, nahihirapan akong i-differentiate," Gabby added, sharing that he cannot see greens and reds. "I dive. And everything down there becomes gray. Kasi nawawala yung ilaw e. Maski yung mga isda colorful, sometimes nagiging black and white na lang yun or gray."

["I find it difficult to differentiate colors in low light. When I dive, all I see is gray, since there is no light. The colorful fishes can look like black and white to me."]

If given the chance to talk to his 16-year-old self, Gabby said he will remind him to "be nice to the people on your way up. Why? They are the same people that you will see on your way down." This was something that his father told him.

Asked if his womanizer days are over, Gabby answered, "Mahilig ako sa manok. 'Pag nagmahal ako talagang tunay."

["I like chickens. I love unconditionally."]

'Balutin mo ako'

Sharon said that she's well-aware of the "balutin mo ako" memes on the internet.

"Tawa ako nang tawa. Kasi nu'ng una hindi ko makuha ba't may picture ako tas parang may gan'un parang no parking 'di ba," she said.

["I didnt get the joke. Why was there a picture of me that says 'no parking'?"]

"'Yun pala 'yun. Bawal mag-uwi ng pagkain kasi nasa buffet. So tinatag ako ng mga fans ko," she said.

["Then I eventually got the joke. We can't have takeouts at buffets. My fans would constsntly tag me in those posts."]

For the laughs, Jessica Soho challenged Sharon to wrap lumpiang shanghai, which the Megastar happily accepted.

A love letter from Mega

In the episode, Gabby was surprised to receive a letter.

"Dear Gabby, matagal na kitang gusto makita at yakapin. Sana one of these days magkaroon tayo ng date," Gabby read. "Dear Heart, ang tagal na nung huli tayong nagkita. Palagi kong hinihiling ang kaligtasan at kabutihan mo. Kaligtasan ibig sabihin, freedom ba 'to? Nagmamahal. PS. I love you. Aba pelikulang-pelikula talaga ha."

["Dear Gabby, I've been wanting to see and hug you for a long time. I hope I hope that we can have a date together. Dear Heart, it's been a while since we last met. I always wish for your wellbeing and safety. I guess safety means freedom too. P.S. I love you. It's like a movie, huh?."]

But instead of Mega, "Ito ay galing kay Agem, nabaliktad pala."

["This came from Agem."]

Agem is an impersonator of the Megastar herself.

Gabby and Agem took on an acting challenge, reenacting scenes from Sharon and Gabby's films "My Only Love," "P.S. I Love You," and "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin."

—JCB, GMA Integrated News