Despite the glitter and glamour of showbiz life, she’s like anyone else – human and simple – and this side of her is what KC Concepcion will unveil in her morning talk show aptly titled “Simply KC” which started airing Monday on ABS-CBN.

Everyday, KC will take on different journeys with her celebrity guests who will also show their true selves and give viewers a glimpse of their personal life. For the pilot week of the show, KC will have John Lloyd Cruz taking her to bumpy adventures like trail-biking which he has been doing in preparation for his upcoming teleserye “Imortal.”

“I’m really excited with all the things I will get to experience and go through in this show together with my guests and the viewers. We will go to different places, meet a lot of new people, and most especially learn a lot of things,” KC said.

Another celebrity guest in “Simply KC” is Jericho Rosales who will tour her around the marketplace while he shares “diskarte” tips he learned during his teenage life when he was working as a vendor and “kargador” in Concepcion Market, Marikina. “First time kong pumunta sa palengke at magkaliskis ng isda,” KC revealed. And then, KC will be challenged by brothers Luis Manzano and Ryan Christian Recto in their favourite bonding activity – Muay Thai kickboxing.

Other guests to look forward to in “Simply KC” are Mariel Rodriguez, who will talk about her experiences growing up with her grandparents, and Pokwang, who will share the “craziest things” she did for love.

For the first time, viewers will see KC riding the LRT and cutting the hair of some lolas in the home for the aged, Golden Acres in Quezon City.

It’s really an exciting show; actually the first ever interactive morning show that tackles simple and real stories of people. “Kuwento ito ng mga totoong tao,” KC stressed during the presscon of her new show.

KC said she hopes to be guesting in future episodes such popular personalities as Kris Aquino, Boy Abunda, Angel Locsin, Toni Gonzaga, Andi Eigennman, and of course her parents, Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion, but not necessarily together, KC said.

When she learned of KC’s new show, Sharon was really excited because that was what she was hoping for, a morning talk show for her multi-talented daughter.

For those who may be questioning KC’s ability to host her own show, considering that there are a lot more “qualified” among the talents of ABS-CBN, KC was quick to remind everyone that she started out as an MTV VJ (she was such for two years when she was just 16 or 17). “Hindi lang kasi mainstream ito, so maybe not a lot of you watched my shows. I used to do six shows for MTV everyday, and just to think about it now, nakakapagod na…”

She added: “I don’t know everything, but I’m learning…every project is a learning process. I’m really very comfortable doing hosting jobs.” KC is also one of the hosts of the popular Sunday showbiz-oriented talk show “The Buzz.”

With “Simply KC,” it’s like “I went full-circle.” She added: “Pinagdaanan ko lahat: Acting, singing, dancing, and now back to hosting.”

By the way, “Simply KC” is shown Monday to Friday at 9:45 a.m. before “Showtime” on ABS-CBN.

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APO’s grand finale

In their concert aptly titled “Paalam nAPO,” slated on May 27-29 at the Music Museum, the legendary APO Hiking Society bids a bittersweet farewell to their countless fans as they mark the final chapter of their prodigious career.

This once-in-a-lifetime musical event signals the official retirement of APO. This series of shows chronicles APO’s impressive body of artistic work and achievements which, to this day, remains arguably unrivalled by their peers in the industry. More importantly, however, the concert will showcase the friendship that they collectively forged through the spirit of true brotherhood which is embodied by a lifetime of challenges and triumphs, laughter and tears, highs and lows.

Jim Paredes, Boboy Garovillo, and Danny Javier are rightfully canonized as three of the most influential and foremost proponents of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) as they epitomize the vast potential of the Filipino artist in achieving excellence in music.

Their illustrious career encompasses over four decades highlighted by 22 full-length, award-winning, and commercially lucrative studio albums; two immensely successful tribute albums; a gargantuan catalogue of over 40 original and hit singles that greatly helped define the colorful landscape of OPM; and two pioneering and mainstream variety shows that raised bar of noontime entertainment on Philippine television among many other definitive milestones in the field of entertainment.

APO says that they are very excited in sharing their final concert with their fans, friends, and colleagues in the industry, “We are looking forward to this concert but at the same time we feel a bit sad since this is our final performance together as a group. But as they say, all good things must come to an end.”

“Paalam nAPO” is supported by Jollibee with media partners Business World, Barangay LSFM 97.1, Crossover 105.1, and Jam 88.3. Tickets are Music Museum and Ticketworld (www.ticketworld.com.ph).

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Paloma flattered by Star nomination

Fledgling actress Paloma said she’s flattered with her nomination as “New Movie Actress of the Year” in the recently concluded 26th PMPC Star Awards. Paloma was the lead actress in the indie film “Pitik Bulag.”

The nomination came as a pleasant surprise for the actress, who was also in the cast of GMA-7’s hit series “Zorro” last year.

“I was surprised, even shocked! I couldn’t believe what I was reading when my manager and handler texted me the good news,” she exclaimed. In “Pitik Bulag,” Paloma played the wife of a downtrodden stuntman (Marco Alcaraz) who accidentally stumbles on a bagful of millions taken from a bank heist. The movie was directed by Gil Portes.

The sexy actress is currently filming her second indie film with Lawrence Fajardo. Aside from her stint as FHM sex columnist, she also does her regular weekend hosting and singing gigs for Colt 45 (Asia Brewery), which she endorses, along with Premier Condoms and Robust.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on May 25 go to MB Associate Editor Beth Day Romulo, Tacloban Councilor Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez, Parañaque Councilor Alma Moreno, George Sison of Angelos, US-based Loida Navarro-Bernardez, Bechay Vera Perez-Nakpil, Anessa Fiona F. Caalim, France Bonnin, Bobbit Avila, artist Anita Magsaysay, and actress Gelli de Belen. Happy wedding anniversary to Richard Goldwin and Lynette Marie Monteverde.