Megastar Sharon Cuneta and veteran actor Gabby Concepcion are set to hold their much-awaited reunion concert on October 27 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The live performance will be the erstwhile loveteam’s first grand show together in decades. Will a big on-screen reunion follow? Here’s what the former reel- and real-life couple have to say.
Photos and text by Ma. Angelica Demegillo
Fans of famous ’80s love team Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion, or Sha-Gab for short, are in for a treat as the former on- and off-screen partners will be reuniting in a show that promises to bring back that kilig (thrill) to the bones feels they elicited from avid admirers from the past.
The “Dear Heart” reunion concert, which pays homage to the 1981 film of the same title that Cuneta and Concepcion first starred in as a pair, will try to reignite their chemistry on stage.
To give a glimpse of what everyone can expect from the much-anticipated reunion show, the two stars sat down with journalists and bloggers in an exclusive back-to-back media press conference held last Friday at Okada Manila.
A grand reunion
According to concert producers, the two were supposed to not see each other in public until the very day of the concert for an added kilig and surprise effect on fans, but that didn’t happen, because for the first time ever, just a few weeks before their concert, much to the media’s delight, the two former lovebirds shared the stage just as Concepcion was done answering questions. They even shared a friendly hug and a kiss on the cheek, as if letting the world know that they’ve remained friends and have forgiven and forgotten whatever ill feelings they had for each other because of their separation.
Everyone in the venue couldn’t help but cheer when Cuneta, who looked dazzling and youthful in a pastel pink and black ensemble, received a bouquet of fresh flowers from her former husband.
The moment marked the first time that the two have been seen together in public since PLDT’s Gabay Guro event in 2019.
A trip down memory lane
More than just a concert, “Dear Heart” promises to be filled with heartwarming performances, lovely moments, familiar melodies and even surprise performances from a line-up of stars that will be revealed in the coming weeks.
During the press conference, Concepcion expressed his anticipation for the upcoming reunion concert, which he treats as a special gift to their fans who waited for decades to see the well-loved tandem together again.
“I’ve told Sharon before that I’m excited for this show more for the fans kasi sila naman talaga ang nag-umpisa sa amin. Kahit wala akong kitain dito, mas maganda kung maibalik natin sa kanila. Sa kanila talaga ako nagpapasalamat,” Concepcion said.
(I’ve told Sharon before that I’m excited for this show more for the fans because they’re the ones who started [our loveteam]. Even if I don’t earn anything from this, it would be good if we could repay them. I am very thankful to them.)
Meanwhile, Cuneta shared that she has always been open and ready for a reunion project with Concepcion, the father of her eldest daughter KC Concepcion.
“I was always ready. If you’re going to ask me if we’re going to have a movie after the concert, I think it will all depend on the dynamic that we will experience while doing the concert,” Cuneta said.
She also revealed that they have had several talks with Star Cinema before to do a possible reunion project, but things didn’t work out.
After years of not being seen together on the big screen, Cuneta also expressed her excitement for doing a concert with Concepcion. “It’s like a brand new experience after so many decades that we will be working together again. I’m excited and happy,” she told journalists, adding that they will be performing songs from the past that will take them and hopefully their fans on a trip down memory lane.
When PeopleAsia asked the Megastar what makes Concepcion – who was once a big part of her life, especially her career – a man who matters to her, Cuneta, who is also the magazine’s cover star for its August-September “Women of Style and Substance” issue, shared a heartfelt response.
“I started my movie career with Gabby and I respect the team-up very much. I respect that he is such a big part of my stardom and history, and I will always be grateful to him for that – for being half of the love team that so many people have loved for decades,” she said.
Despite living separate lives now, Cuneta mentioned that she is grateful to Concepcion for being the father of KC.
“I will always respect the good times that we shared and I will always remember him fondly,” said Cuneta.
Cuneta and Concepcion’s “Dear Heart” reunion concert will be held on October 27 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
To make the reunion even more memorable, the loveteam will treat fans to a special VIP Night on October 30 at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila.
For fans living in the south, a concert titled “InLife’s Dear Heart in Cebu” is slated for November 17 at the NuStar’s Convention Center.
Tickets can be purchased at SM Tickets outlets nationwide or via www.smtickets.com
