KC FROM THE BLOCK
by Tim Yap, Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 11, 2003
"MERMAIDS and fairies, she also likes cherries. Belly-dancing, Britney Spears is her thing. In the school hallways, she sings in her way. And sing it, sing it-it's your birthday, it's your birthday!"
Grooving to their own a capella beat, Stephanie Zubiri and Alex Escat rapped their hearts out as a tribute to their buddy Kristina Cassandra, better known as KC Concepcion, on her 18th birthday which was celebrated at the NBC Tent.
Wearing an exquisite Joe Salazar gown inspired by pre-Victorian fairies, KC radiated a unique glow that would make Arwen of "Lord of the Rings" blush. "I don't want structure, I just want things to flow" was her only bid to event director Freddie Santos, her Trumpets' godfather.
Amidst a mystical forest of tree stumps and buffet tables of 30 different flavors prepared by Le Souffle, champagne, wine and AlizĒ overflowed. At the center was a giant pond where our heroine awaited the creatures who chose to serenade her.
And serenade the debutante Jericho Rosales, Piolo Pascual and the boys of 17:28 did. Noel Rayos, prince to KC's "Little Mermaid" in the Trumpets production, sang a duet with the princess.
KC's International School friends surprised her with an interpretative dance number, while danseur Anatoli did an excerpt from "Swan Lake." Cousin Ciara Sotto hit the high notes with a Sarah Brightman song. Regine Velasquez, just back from the US, headed straight for The Tent to be able to sing to KC at her coming out party.
As KC approached her cake-a five-layer fondant of strawberries by Penk Ching of Pastry Bin-mega mom Sharon Cuneta, (along with dad Francis Pangilinan and sister Frankie) solemnly sang the "Happy Birthday" song.
After the formal party, KC changed into a denim patchwork dress with cream pants by Paul Cabral. Then, as her friend Alex put it, "KC shook her booty like there was no tomorrow!" Everyone who stayed danced non-stop to DJ Kevin Ruiz.
On the dance floor, everyone had a blast doing the KC and the Gang dance routines -- The Shower, The Shopping Cart, The Cowboy and The Kylie -- all to the house tunes and R&B beats.
It has been a long debut-party season for KC, what with all the gatherings for press, family and friends that she has had to host.
Through it all, she has remained full of grace without being cloying, youthful without being too eager, and self-assured without being overconfident.
Just like other young adults, she is at a crossroads in her life, and it's going to take a lot of searching, both inward and out, both mystical and real, before she can be certain of the direction to take.
Maybe that's the reason imprinted on the flap of her invitation are Bilbo Baggins' lines in her favorite "Lord of the Rings": "It's a dangerous business, going out of your door... You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
Knowing KC, she'll find beauty and magic wherever she gets swept off to.
