When Kiko Met Shawie … The Beginning of Forever … KC on Francis … A Mega-Fans' first meeting with Atty. Kiko … Meet Miss Mega's Hubby … 2001 Senatorial Campaign Trail When Kiko Met Shawie . . . . . . You could say it was a magical moment. In fact, it was straight from the movies. Something like the garden scene in Notting Hill, with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Only better because, this was for real. Real and symbolic? Yes, the metaphor was quite vivid. And cinematic. Atty. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan only realized just how popular, how immensely famous, his future wife was on their first big date after officially becoming a couple! "It was traumatic," Atty. Kiko jests. "Two days after we went steady, a mob ran after us." Shawie, you see, had a taping of The Sharon Cuneta Show in Subic that time. And after work, the young couple foolishly, recklessly thought of doing a little shopping at the Duty-Free complex, where her fans, of course, chased after them. "Even the cashiers left their cash registers to run after her," Kiko recalls. "We found ourselves locked in the guest room." But since the room had a big glass window . . ."We left like goldfish in an aquarium. Everyone was staring at us." 2001 Senatorial Campaign Trail Click on a photo to enlarge. Addressing the crowd Photos of Frankie The Pangilinans • A Warm Thank You From Kiko, Sharon • In The Running • Kiko Is Not An Opportunist • Sharon Frowns at Political Intrigues • Sharon Not Leaving Showbiz,    Even If Kiko Wins • Sharon Denies Pro-Erap Crowd Booed Her • Sharon Silences Pro-Erap Hecklers • Kiko Ready For His Mega Campaign    For 2001 It was metaphorical. "I asked myself: What am I getting into?" Kiko candidly relates. Yet, Atty. Kiko lovingly and willingly plunged into this aquarium? Yes, love conquered all, like it did in the case of Julia and Hugh in Notting Hill. What spelled the difference, despite that nerve-wracking and "traumatic" fish-in-a-bowl moment? "I think it was because we shared the same values," Atty. Kiko asserts. "As early as then, I already saw that she was committed to family. It was really simple. I could readily face all the problems--present and forthcoming. But these were non-negotiable: That she loves me. That she values family. That she is God-fearing. I mean, a girl could be the biggest star in the world, but if we didn't have the same principles in life, I wouldn't marry her." He is unequivocal: "I'm here for the long haul. My parents have been married for the past 43 years. That was what I grew up seeing. I know that fame, wealth, all this would one day pass. But values, faith, family, marriage, forever 'yan."