I first met Sharon when she was 10, and aside from the friendly and outgoing nature, what I remembered most about her was that she was dressed in a lovely white party dress (the rest of us were in jeans) and dainty, little girl jewelry - a tiny pair of diamond earrings, a gold chain bracelet and a very pretty necklace. TO my 12-year-old eyes, they were quite an eyeful, but then, I thought, she was an only girl and the apple of her father's eyes.

A Father's Day present for her dad, former Mayor Pablo Cuneta, a ring with a letter 'P' cut from one stone, and which Sharon now keeps and sometimes wears on a chain

She is her father's most precious "jewel," so to speak, and nowadays, the jewels she treasures most are those given to her by dad. "It's a luxury I 'grew' into, also because I'm a girl and I have a daughter," Sharon says.

Sharon does not collect jewelry for investment. "When I buy, I look for really good pieces. As much as possible, I want them perfect because I don't buy too often. I'd rather have a tiny perfect stone that a big, imperfect one." The Megastar's real indulgences are watches. "I will think twice about buying a perfect stone, but show me a watch and if I like it, instantly I will buy it." This is another trait which she says she inherited from her dad. "I used to wonder why he would change watches quite often, but now, well!"

Each favorite gem she treasures has its own unique story. Among her favorites is a ring she bought as a Father's Day present for her dad, former Mayor Pablo Cuneta, four year ago. "The latter 'P' was cut from one stone and when I saw it, I knew I had to get it for Daddy." Nowadays, the mayor no longer wears the ring and Sharon keeps it, sometimes wears it on a chain," so I'll feel close to him," she says wistfully.

A Vintage 1950 Rolex ladies' watch the Mayor's first gift to wife Elaine, which Sharon now keeps

Among the other treasures that her father has given her which she holds precious and dear are a set a diamond earrings, a ring and a set of emeralds he gave her on her 25th birthday. Then there is the gold and diamond bracelet he gave her when she was in the 6th grade, which she keeps to this day. There is also a stunning, vintage Rolex ladies' watch which was the Mayor's first gift to wife Elaine, and which Sharon now keeps, an elegant piece of jewelry that dates back to the 1950s. "This was my dad's first gift to mom, which she passed on to me some 10 years ago."

Sharon's twin-hearts diamond earrings, which she designed herself, and her heart-shaped diamond engagement ring

Close to her heart also are two pieces of jewelry given by the other significant man in her life, her husband, Atty. Kiko Pangilinan. "On our wedding day, he gave me a double strand of South Sea pearls," she says with glee. The other piece she holds dear is the engagement ring he gave her, a lovely heart-shaped diamond.

Sharon, who is partial to diamonds, considers her everyday pair of emerald-cut diamond earrings her all-time favorite. This is the piece that she wears on a daily basis and perhaps, in her own words, "the one I'm most identified with." For more formal occasions, there are the "twin hearts" earrings which she herself "designed." "First I bought the small ones, then a few years later, when I had more money, I bought the bigger ones. After a while, I realized, I wasn't using the small ones anymore, so what I did was to have the two put together, and so now, I'm able to wear both at the same time."

A Tiffany & Co. gold locket bought back in 1989 with daughter KC's picture inside

However, it's not all diamonds for Sharon. There are also the silver and gold favorites, and she shows us one silver jewelry from Tiffany and Co., including the bracelet she wore for that famous Selecta Ice Cream ad, give "by an old, old friend whom I don't see anymore." Then there is also the Tiffany & Co. gold locket bought back in 1989 that has daughter KC's picture inside. Next to this, she also considers a gold Bulgari bracelet she bought in 1996 one of her treasured possessions.

Friendships are dear to Sharon, and one of the favored pieces she showed us was a simple maroon pendant made of Murano glass, a recent gift fro old friend Cherie Gil. "We don't see each other that often anymore, so this is really quite precious to me."

A maroon Murano glass pendant, a gift from Cherie Gil

There are probably more substantial pieces in the Megastar's treasure chest, but it is heartening to know that the ones she holds dearest to her heart are those filled with "sentimiento," as she likes to put it. The final piece she showed us that afternoon is one that clearly reflects her emotional attachments, evidence that, in spite of the glitz, glamour and fortune, she's got her feet firmly planted on the ground. "This," she shows us with great pride," is the very first Rolex that I bought at the Hong Kong airport duty free shop back in 1986. I had to go around the airport three times before deciding to buy it." She recounts with a smile, "I was thinking then, 'What? That much for a watch!' It's only steel and gold and thought I have more valuable watches, this one is really precious to me, because it will always remind me that it wasn't always good times."