KC Concepcion in NYC to study acting not to hide rumored pregnancy

‘Paulo Avelino is not my boyfriend, yet.’ Photos by Elton Lugay

KC Concepcion is done being in the shadow of her famous parents.

She recently won two acting awards, making her an actress in the eyes of many and no longer the love child of one-time heartthrob couple Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion.

“How many of us, children of actors, have achieved such honor?” KC wondered aloud during an interview with The FilAm. “Malaking bagay sa akin ang award because it’s so hard for us having parents who are into showbiz as well. Oftentimes people would see us no different from our parents.”

She won Best Actress at the 30th Star Awards for Movies for her role as a stripper in “Boy Golden: Shoot to Kill, The Arturo Porcuna Story;” and Best Drama Supporting Actress at the 27th PMPC Star Awards for Television for the series “Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala.”

She learned about the Star Award from a friend’s text showing a smiley face and three hearts. She couldn’t believe the news at first. It only sank in when her mother’s text followed soon after.

“It’s an R-18 movie based on a true story, based on real people, like that of the 1960s vaudeville,” she said of “Boy Golden.”

She accepted the role because of her faith in Director Chito Rono, and it was a role that brought her out of her comfort zone.

“I’ve experienced first-hand certain roles that didn’t interest me at first yet gave me the chance to shine and get recognized.” “Boy Golden” was one of them.

KC is currently in New York — and will be in the city for a while — to study business and acting and so was not able to receive her acting award.

Rumors flew fast that she is in New York to hide an unplanned pregnancy. She denied it, insisting she needed a long break from her highly demanding schedule.

“After doing ‘Boy Golden,’ I had pneumonia,” she said. “The doctors here said rundown yung katawan ko.”

KC said she had a back-to-back schedule, from hosting “The X Factor Philippines” to filming “Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala” soap with Judy Santos and Sam Milby and then “Boy Golden.” Her work schedule overlapped, and before she knew it, her body just shut down.

“I just realized my body was screaming out for a bit of rest and probably it came to a point that I would really want to explore (the city),” she said. “I’ve always been the type to need rest cause it’s so difficult to do that in the Philippines. It’s a different world out there and everyone knows your whereabouts.”

She is so happy to be in New York and to be able to live on her own. “Here, I can read three books in one week. In the Philippines, wala akong time mag-basa ng libro kasi di ba parang itutulog mo na lang.”

She has relatives in L.A. but her parents taught her to be independent and to not appear to be “too needy.”

“This is a good break kasi sa Philippines kahit mag-banyo lang ako kailangan may kasama pa.”

Actually, she will be shuttling between New York and Manila because of her many commitments. “I will be flying back and forth for work, been doing a lot of shoots for my endorsements and guestings because I still have many contracts that I need to fulfill.”

She is thankful to ABS-CBN and Viva for giving her a chance to pursue her studies.

An interview with KC – done over a period of two hours — is never complete without questions on love and relationship.

“Paulo Avelino is not my boyfriend yet,” she declared, setting the record straight. “I’m not committing to anyone right now. I have no commitments to anyone.”

After a tumultuous breakup with Piolo Pascual over a widely rumored gay past, KC is very cautious about becoming romantically involved.

“It’s not my priority right now. But it will be soon enough. Honest naman ako eh, alam ng mga taong involved kung ano yung state of mind ko ngayon or kung ano yung mga limitations ko,” she said, intentionally sounding vague and elusive.

“I don’t wanna be hurt , kakapagod. I’m taking it slow. Talagang very slow. I’m very careful with my heart right now. I’m being good to myself, welcoming enough but also putting limits kasi masyado akong nagbigay dati so (ngayon) mag-iwan para sa sarili.”

She avoided talking about Piolo. “I’d rather keep that to myself,” she said.

For now, she is taking it easy and taking in as much as she can of New York.

“Apart from my classes, I enjoy the household chores. I do my laundry and spend some bonding time with my friends here like Ate Ritz Brinas.

“I’m lucky to have friends here who (no matter how busy they are) are always there to give me company when I want to go out.

“Sometimes, I play tourist but I’ve always been a traveler rather than a tourist.

“Other times I go to nearby cities like Toronto and spend some time with friends over there. Throw a party in my balcony para mag-barbecue. Other times mag museum, manood ng concerts.

“But I like the fact that everything happens here in New York City, the center of everything.

“Yung mga apps dito, pwede ka nang magbayad, tutok mo lang yung phone mo or kakain ka lang ng oysters may app pa dito.”

KC is an avowed pescatarian and eats only fish and some seafood.

Living it up in NYC and loving it