KC Concepcion tells dad Gabby Concepcion he more than made up for their years apart
(From left) Gabby Concepcion, KC Concepcion. Image: Instagram/@kristinaconcepcion
KC Concepcion was emotional as she looked back at her reunion with her dad, seasoned actor Gabby Concepcion, who she said more than made up for their almost 15 years apart.
Calling him the “first man she ever loved,” KC told her father in their Father’s Day video that she was happy that they reconnected after so many years apart. The video was posted on Gabby’s YouTube channel on Sunday, June 18.
“The first man in my life, a daughter’s first love is her father… I’m so glad we reconnected after not being with each other all those years. And you made up for it talaga, like, sobra-sobra. You’re very, very involved, and very, very present in my life, in my adult years. So you you really made up for all the time we didn’t spend together. As in, it’s even better now,” she said.
KC went on to say that she got so excited about speaking to Gabby after “almost 15 years” that she had to “miss class” for the special moment.
“I was so nervous because I haven’t heard your voice in 15 years almost,” she began. “I remember na nag-absent ako sa school (I was absent from school), nag-cut class ako that day because nag-usap tayo for the first time. It was the first time that we reconnected. It was such a big moment for me that I had to miss class.”
The actress, while wiping tears off her eyes, then shared that she was in awe after she heard her father’s voice for the first time.
“I remember I was crying at the bus stop when we put the phone down kasi natulala ako after. Then I couldn’t believe na naririnig ko pa rin ‘yung voice mo in my ears, even after we put the phone down. I was crying alone sa bus stop,” she said.
(I remember I was crying at the bus stop when we put the phone down because I was in awe after. Then, I couldn’t believe that I heard your voice in my ears. Even after we put the phone down. I was crying alone in the bus stop.)
For his part, Gabby recalled that moment when he spoke to her for the first time in years. He said that he knew that the time would come when his daughter would come looking for him after their separation, and he prepared for that moment, saying he instantly recognized her voice as soon as they reconnected through a phone call.
“It was very meaningful for me. When I was in California, biglang nag-ring ‘yung telepono. Pagsagot ko sa telepono, merong, ‘Hi, can I speak to Gabby Concepcion, please?’ And then I said, ‘Hi, is this my baby?’” he said. “When you called, it was at the back of my head, sinasabi ko n’un sa sarili ko, ‘One day, hahanapin ako nito. One day, tatawag ‘to. I don’t know when but one day it’s gonna happen.’ It happened.”
(It was very meaningful for me. When I was in California, the telephone suddenly rang. When I answered the phone, someone asked, “Hi, can I speak to Gabby Concepcion, please?” And then I said, “Hi, is this my baby?” When you called, it was at the back of my head, I told myself, “One day, she will look for me. One day, she will call me. I don’t know when but one day it’s gonna happen.’ It happened.”)
Since the actor hasn’t seen KC in a long time, he admitted that hearing his daughter’s voice again made him feel warm inside, which is a seeming hint of how happy he was at the time.
“Maybe it’s at the back of my head already. I knew you were gonna call, I just didn’t know when. I knew it was you and it’s you. ‘Yung lamig n’un, ang lamig-lamig, hindi ko naramdaman ‘yung lamig. I talked to you outside and I didn’t feel the cold until I went inside,” he said.
(Maybe it’s at the back of my head already. I knew you were gonna call, I just didn’t know when. I knew it was you and it’s you. It was very cold at that time, but I didn’t feel it. I talked to you outside and I didn’t feel the cold until I went inside.)
During the video, the actress-entrepreneur then spoke about Gabby being such a supportive father, especially when she was going through some tough times in her life.
“You’re not just there for the good times. You’re there for me in my lowest of lows. You don’t leave me. You’re always by my side when I’m really low. That’s how I know you really love me. Hindi lang dahil (It’s not because) you have to kasi you’re my papa but you really listen and you really know me. That’s so important for me,” she said.
KC, who was born in 1985, is Gabby’s daughter with veteran singer-actress Sharon Cuneta. After tying the knot in 1984, they opted to go their separate ways just three years later. Eventually, their marriage came to an end and was legally dissolved nine years afterward.
Both screen veterans are now happily married to their respective partners — Gabby to Genevieve Gonzales, and Cuneta to former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who stood as KC’s father figure many years since. EDV
