In the heart of their farmhouse in Alfonso, Cavite, Sharon Cuneta and Kiko Pangilinan have found a serene escape that nurtures both their souls and their marriage. Here, love grows. Here, love feels organic—rooted in patience, commitment, and a shared purpose—much like the harvest they reap together.

Growing their farm

In a cozy sit-down with Karen Davila, the couple opened up about their peaceful retreat and decades-long marriage. They began with a tour that features a calming expanse of greenery visible from the veranda. 

The home’s charm is simple and close to nature. It was 12 years ago when Sharon and Kiko first acquired the property, which they’ve transformed into their restful haven. Many of the things in their farmhouse, such as furniture, came from their other houses, Sharon shared, adding that most furnishing were purchased from nearby places like Tagaytay.

The kitchen was designed by Kiko himself, with help from their good friend, restaurateur and actress Judy Ann Santos, hence, the functional style.

Sharon loves that the farmhouse is a space where she can truly be herself. The simplicity is intentional, as she envisioned the house as a break from the glamour of her public life. And since their guests are mostly family, it makes perfect sense to keep it humble.

Sharon and Kiko are starting to embrace life’s quieter seasons, and acquiring properties where they, and their children, can find comfort and peace. The farmhouse perfectly embodies this vision, as it offers the perfect kind of rest– fresh air, calming views of trees, and the simple joy of visiting the local market every morning. It’s also where they welcome the New Year every time.

The farm stretches down to a spring, making it easier to develop the land since there’s a natural water source. They also chose this location, which is 1,300 feet above sea level, for its cool climate, which is ideal for growing leafy vegetables, and, of course, for the breathtaking view.

What began as a leisure hobby soon turned into a business. When Kiko became the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, he realized that he needed to experience farming firsthand to truly understand the plight of Filipino farmers.

"Dito nakita namin na importante ang pagkain, na dapat na-eexpose ang mga bata sa hindi puro mga gadget," Kiko shared, explaining how farming changed his perspective. He added that farming is a humbling experience, recalling how Typhoon Glenda devastated their greenhouses in 2014 and made him wonder how much worse it must have been for small-scale farmers. From that experience, he gained a deeper understanding of the struggle, patience, and perseverance of Filipino farmers and developed a newfound admiration for them.

For beginners, Kiko shared that you don’t need a large nursery to start farming; you can begin with a small backyard. He even demonstrated how easy it is to plant lettuce in a small pot, which amazed Karen as she realized how simple it actually is.

As they toured the farm, Karen picked a mini cucumber straight from the vine and took a bite, gushing about its crunchiness and freshness. They also harvested fresh arugula and coriander (wansoy) leaves, and ate them right after picking. Karen couldn’t help but delight in how crisp and full of flavor the fresh greens were.

Growing their love

Twenty-nine years of marriage—this is how long Sharon and Kiko have been together, and they sum it up with two words: amazing and happy. Yet, in marriage, 'amazing' and 'happy' are never easy to achieve. It takes hard work, mutual effort, and, as Sharon and Kiko both firmly believe, Divine guidance.

They're honest about having faced their fair share of challenges. But these tests only deepened Sharon’s faith in God’s miracles, especially in how they overcame several instances when they almost parted ways. There were times when Sharon’s past traumas from her other relationships would resurface, leading to doubts about Kiko’s feelings. Yet, time and again, Kiko would assure her, “I’m not going anywhere." The most recent challenge they faced, almost a year ago, had Sharon praying earnestly for their marriage, until she woke up one morning with a renewed love for her husband.

Both Sharon and Kiko admit that outside noise has always been part of their relationship, given their careers in showbiz and politics. However, Sharon felt like the noise only grew louder as the years went by. She had married Kiko, a non-showbiz man, thinking it would bring her a quieter life. But to her surprise, politics proved far more intrusive than the entertainment industry. Despite it all, prayer has remained their strongest weapon.

Although they experience occasional clashes, Sharon and Kiko always find themselves aligned when it comes to prioritizing family life, which was modeled by their own parents. Belonging to different professional fields also allows them to learn from each other’s experiences. Coupled with that is their deep mutual respect, which strengthens the foundation for their relationship.

Listening to their conversation, it’s also easy to notice how humor keeps their marriage light and strong. At one point, Kiko joked, “After 29 years, ginagawa niya ang gusto niya, at ginagawa ko naman ang gusto niya." Sharon playfully chimed in, sharing that Kiko always gets the last word—and that last word is, “Yes, dear.”

"Para simple na lang," Kiko quipped again, "she goes her way, and I'll go her way."

Sharon and Kiko's love story is one of many moments of "saving"—saving the marriage and saving each other because they both chose to fight for their love. Borrowing from the title of her current series, Sharon describes her husband as her very own 'saving grace.'

But for Kiko, the feeling is mutual. "For 28 years going on 29, she gave me meaning and purpose as a husband and a father. So, in that sense, she also saved me. May dahilan akong mabuhay, may dahilan akong bumangon sa umaga kasi asawa ko siya at ama ako ng mga anak namin. 'Pag nawala 'yun, nasaan na ang purpose ko? 'Yung ibig sabihin ng buhay ko ay mawawala 'pag nawala siya."

Finding purpose in each other’s love, Kiko would move heaven and earth to protect their marriage and family. As he spoke, Sharon was visibly moved, feeling a familiar kilig, and shared her prayer that their children would one day find partners as devoted as Kiko.

The couple also opened up about their adopted son, Miguel. As they revealed, Sharon had always wanted a son, and Miguel was her answered prayer. She just knew she was ready to have him. On her relationship with her eldest daughter, KC Concepcion, Sharon expressed joy that they got to bond during the holidays and gratitude for how Kiko loves KC as his own.

Sharon couldn’t help but get emotional as she thought about how Kiko’s devotion has helped in her healing. For Kiko, love really does conquer all, and being Sharon’s husband and the father of their children gives his life true purpose. He wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just like farming, building a family takes patience, commitment, and care, but the rewards are always worth it.

*Photos credit to Karen Davila and Sharon Cuneta IG