CERTAIN stories never fade away in the beguiling and bewildering world of Philippine show business. They linger — the most beloved ones for decades, in fact — with those who witnessed them wishing for particular histories to unravel anew or, at the very least, revisit that allcompelling past and reminisce the feels that came along with it.

The story of reel-to-real-life couple Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion is undoubtedly high, if not on top of the list of most cherished Philippine celebrity romances. Sadly, it was deprived of the happy ending every single one of their blockbuster movies demanded. For indeed, the magnitude of the Sharon-Gabby tandem was unprecedented and deserved no less than for love to triumph. Philippine Entertainment’s talented sweetheart and her straight-outof-a-fairytale-looking screen prince charming were a match made in movie heaven and beyond.

So young and so in love, a nation therefore rejoiced when their love story transcended the big screen and headed for the altar. Happy for the new Mr. and Mrs. Concepcion as if they were family, the same Filipinos were just as heartbroken when they realized that without a script to guide ShaGabby union, the picture-perfect couple failed to work things out.

If you do the math, it’s been 42 years since the would-be celebrated Megastar and preeminent dramatic actor met and fell in love on the set of “Dear Heart.” It’s also been 39 years since they tied the knot, had their precious daughter KC shortly after, and went their separate ways 36 years ago.

Their marriage was officially annulled in 1993, but despite the finality, anyone with a semblance of cognition throughout the 1980s can never forget the phenomenon that was Sharon-Gabby to this day.

This is why August 9, 2023, emerged as a turning point in pop culture history when both stars announced on their respective Instagram accounts what even the most tenacious and die-hard fans of the Sharon-Gabby tandem thought would no longer happen. Borrowing no less from the title of the film that sparked their shared and storied history, Cuneta and Concepcion posted that “Dear Heart: The Reunion Concert” will finally unfold on October 27 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Already touted to be a national event, excitement for the concert has been on overdrive ever since. Moreover, curiosity, even for those who feign disinterest, is only becoming more intense every day. Questions abound regarding what to expect, what the Sharon and Gabby’s dynamic might be like at this crossroads, and what their reunion will ultimately come to.

Neither hypocrites, Sharon and Gabby have ever pretended to be friends since their marriage ended. This is not to say they’ve been permanently at odds, but, put simply hardly in contact. Apparently, up until they accidentally shared the stage at the star-studded PLDT Gabay Guro Teacher’s Tribute five years ago, the next time they came face-to-face was last September 15. The public encounter lasted for a little over five minutes and took place at their back-to-back media conference for the concert at Okada Manila. Videos of the brief and light-hearted moment have flooded the internet since.

Nevertheless, that now historic afternoon, which effectively rebooted the Sharon-Gabby saga, has allowed The Sunday Times Magazine just a little more than a bird’s eye view of how this re-connection is panning out from separate interviews of the ‘80s most beloved showbiz couple and hopefully keep curiosities at bay as the countdown to D-Day continues.

What to expect

Both Cuneta and Concepcion promise a night of fun and nostalgia at their reunion concert. As the multi-awarded recording artist and sold-out concert performer between them, Cuneta will naturally take the lead in the singing, effectively guaranteeing a night of OPM royalty performance caliber.

Reminding everyone he is, first and foremost, an actor, Concepcion — who can more than just carry a tune — promised to bury himself in rehearsals in reverence to Cuneta.

He revealed, however, that fans should likewise expect the unexpected at the show because they have agreed to a sort of “gimmick” in their preparations.

“Part of the plan is for [Sharon and I] not to see each other until the concert itself,” Concepcion imparted.

They would instead rehearse with stand-ins and study tapes.

“Hopefully, with enough practice of our own, we can deliver something of value,” he joked, referring more to himself, of course, than the Megastar.

Still due to see the script and sequences of the concert, Concepcion didn’t get to explain the rationale of the arrangement, quipping, “It’s better to see less of each other before the show kasi baka madevelop [lest we develop feelings for each other].”

Meanwhile, the details Cuneta shared about how the concert came to be confirmed that she and Concepcion had not seen each other until that minutes-long encounter in years. Apparently, even the negotiations for the project were course through his people and her people, as they say in the biz.

As an aside, The Sunday Times Magazine unearthed another layer of curiosity and asked the Megastar why, indeed, it took so long for them to embark on a reunion project.

Concepcion had earlier touched on the matter, simply saying, “It’s all about the right timing.”

Known and appreciated for her openness, Cuneta, on the other hand, said of the prolonged wait for their reunion, “It was never on my part. It was always Gabby’s call. In fact, we had several meetings before with Star Cinema. And then things didn’t work out. I was always ready.”

What they might be like

Soon enough, a poignant contrast emerged in this back-to-back interview in how Cuneta and Concepcion responded to similar questions.

Concepcion seemed to carefully watch his step in what he’d say about his ex-wife, so much so that he turned to humor for most of his Q&A.

When asked to describe his relationship with his ex-wife today, he seemed taken aback and, after a long pause, began, “Well, right now, we don’t have one... in the sense that we don’t call or text one another,” he quickly clarified.

“Iwas di’ba [Better to avoid it, right]... para good vibes lang,” he added, turning to humor again before finally declaring, “Actually, everything’s good. Sharon and I are OK, and we don’t have any issues.”

Cuneta, as always, was straight to the point. Never one to skirt any question, she thoughtfully addressed a slightly differently worded ask from The Sunday Times Magazine, which gently pried on how she regards her ex-husband today.

“I will always be thankful that he’s the father of my eldest daughter. I will always respect the good times that we shared. And I will always remember him fondly.”

Not one to need prodding once she gets into the conversation, Cuneta revealed how she recently decided to watch “Dear Heart” to begin getting into reunion mode for the concert.

“It’s been so long [since the last time]. So, what I did was, one day, I watched Dear Heart on YouTube. I wanted to see the purity, the innocence... you know, where we started. And in the end, I said, ‘Oh my God, that is the boy I fell in love with. That moment in time, who Gabby was, what he was during those times.”

She also generously accommodated The Sunday Times Magazine’s request to elaborate, without getting too personal, her favorite memory with “that Gabby” of the “Dear Heart” days.

“When we were just starting out, Gabby was very malambing [affectionate]. That’s what we have in common, or what we had in common. He was sweet, he was sincere... I felt loved by him in the early years.”

Now in presenting these snippets, one may already glean a hint of the dynamic people are eager to discover between the Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion of today.

And reading between the lines, there should hardly be need to thresh out the possibilities anymore, especially since one thing is for sure. That both sides, be there moments of awkwardness that might arise on concert night, will always take off from a deep respect they maintain for each other, because they will always share a daughter and in deference to the lives and families they have built in their common quest for peace and happiness.

What it all comes down to

And so, despite an earlier controversy hopefully put to rest in the lead up to this concert [watch “Megastar Moment” on the The Manila Times’ YouTube channel @The Manila Times] — what The Sunday Times Magazine has realized and believes should resonate with a public eager to pick up where the Sharon-Gabby saga technically left off in the ‘90s is this: That no matter how we adore them as gigantic celebrities, let us be careful as they are respectful to one another to remember that Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion are human just like all of us. That at the end of every day, no matter how brightly their stars shine, Concepcion is not unlike many men who will never be comfortable talking about their feelings — past or present — , thus his jokes here and there.

That Cuneta is just like most women, too, who, though now well-steeled from the experience of a failed marriage holds tightly to the hard lessons she learned in moving on.

And maybe, rather than keep a look for possible slip ups by two human beings with a story like theirs, we can acknowledge instead another thing they share in common: a sense of profound gratitude to generations of Filipinos who have buoyed their showbiz careers to tremendous success. Those who were there from the time they were a love team and even when they had to persevere on their own as they eventually had to. So much so that even if it took them this long to heed overdue pleas to work together again, they still gave in for the sake of their fans. It can’t be easy, right?

The truth is, meeting exes again is hardly an ideal scenario for anyone, no matter the passing years and even if both parties have settled down with new loves and new lives. So consider, what more, a former couple who have been through so much so publicly and yet still agree to relive their past and perform onstage out of the determination to give back in a memorable way to whom they owe.

Some might argue it’s about the money, but do these accomplished stars really have to do it this way?

What it all boils down to, really, is this — and the Megastar couldn’t have put it any better. She said she hopes that the public and media will appreciate this show for what it is rather than what controversy may still arise.

“This is something special we’re doing just for you, and I hope you all know that,” she ended with her Mega smile.

Tickets to Dear Heart The Concert on October 27 at SM MOA Arena are available at SM Tickets Outlets nationwide or via www.smtickets.com. Two more shows are slated for October 30 at Okada Manila, while “InLife’s Dear Heart in Cebu” is scheduled on November 17 at the NuStar’s Convention Center. Tickets to both are available at the Okada Box Office or via the NY Entourage Productions team at 0977-0811006.