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 The Beginning of Forever On the day Kiko first met Shawie, during the wedding of brother Anthony Pangilinan to actress Maricel Laxa, sparks did not fly, violins did not play in the background. They simply exchanged curt and civil His and Hellos. Still, you couldn't help thinking that the seeds of forever were planted on that day. "She thought I was cranky," Kiko now laughs about their initial encounter. "My first impression of Sharon was that despite her being a Megastar, she was a true person." At that time, he was already looking for "a lifetime partner." "And I found that in her," Kiko avows. "It seems that minus the trappings of show business, she was a person I could learn and would like to live with for the rest of my life." While they were still in Boston, Atty. Kiko wrote the following write-up, for the essay on Sharon in the 100 Women of the Philippines Coffeetable Book: "Extremely hardworking. Too hard on herself, sometimes. A cry baby, yes, but strong-willed. Genuine and without pretensions. Quite stubborn and headstrong (but suits me fine). Has her emotional moments. An artist." "A dreamer. Relentless in her pursuit of professional excellence. Relentless in her pursuit of excellence at home. Very human. Very real. Has her share of vulnerable traits. Childlike and silly. Passionate. Loving. My secret keeper. My dream sharer. My best friend." That about sums up the seemingly complex (but, in actuality, simple) Miss Mega. Atty. Kiko elaborates: "I can share my most important dreams, my hopes and aspirations with her." That is precisely one of their common traits: their idealism, their being dreamers. "Oh, yes, with her, right is right, wrong is wrong," Atty. Kiko avows. "In fact, between the two of us she could be more stringent. As a lawyer, I could sometimes see the gray areas pa. But with Sharon, black is black; white is white. Which is good, I think, because we complement one another." Another characteristic they share is their being homebodies. "How I wish I could spend more time at home," Atty. Kiko sighs. "It's our sanctuary. Our refuge. In fact, I prefer to stay home than go out on my free time." In their home and sanctuary, the Pangilinans would be very much content to just watch TV, talk, joke around, compose silly songs, and have fun. "I have such simple pleasures," Kiko acknowledges. Another trait he shares with Sharon. KC, me & Francis and his family on our wedding day April 28, 1996 Atty. Kiko has this standard joke he always tells people--to break the ice, so to speak. "I don't mind if you call me Mr. Sharon Cuneta," Atty. Kiko chortles, "just don't call me Mrs. Sharon Cuneta!" Secure in his own achievements as a lawyer and youth leader, Atty. Kiko is not the least perturbed by his famous wife's equally exemplary accomplishments in show business. "I've accepted it," he asserts. "Any objective individual should accept the fact that my wife is extremely popular because of her work. And I am happy for her. In any case, I am the type of person who believes that you should utilize your God-given talents to the fullest. Her popularity is the fruit of all her hard work. Her being committed and disciplined." Atty. Kiko clearly doesn't sweat the small stuff. "It's a given fact that she is more popular than I am," Atty. Kiko reveals. Being a high-profile lawyer-politician, Atty. Kiko, "in the beginning, had to adjust somewhat." He elaborates: "Boom! Overnight I had no personality. I had no identity. No privacy. It took a little adjustment. But in the end, I told myself that I know my strengths, I know what I am capable of. My life would not lose its meaning should I get involved with her . . ." It became more meaningful, in fact, because they found their lifetime partner, their dream sharer, their best friend, in each other.