Enrique swims with the butanding

MANILA, Philippines - It takes guts for someone…anyone!...to dare swim along with the butanding. But Enrique Gil did just that when he and his family (mom Bambie and brother Javy) took a vacation in Oslob, Cebu.

‘There were about 14 butandings,’ related Enrique, star of the ABS-CBN soap Princess & I (with Kathryn Bernardo as the princess). ‘Some were big, some were small, some were friendly. They came close to our boat as the boatman fed them with small shrimps called uyap. I chose to swim with a friendly butanding.’

It was an awesome family experience, according to Mom Bambie. ‘Because of its size, the butanding can be intimidating, especially if you watch them through goggles underwater.’ But, added Enrique, ‘They can be friendly if you know how to handle them.’

Enrique is managed by Stages Productions (with Star Magic as co-manager). He’s in the cast of Star Cinema’s The Healing, topbilled by Vilma Santos. — Reported by CARLO OROSA