The secrets that Gladys & Christopher share

MANILA, Philippines - Acting couple Gladys Reyes and Christopher Roxas, who first met as a teen love team in a hit ’90s soap opera, are finding themselves working on a same TV project again via GMA 7’s newest afternoon teleserye Pyra.

In Pyra, Christopher takes on a bida role as the father of the title character played by Protégé 2012 female winner Thea Tolentino, while Gladys does what she does best as the resident kontrabida anew, who will torment Pyra from the moment she is born. They’re not sharing scenes here (at least not yet), and for Mr. and Mrs. Sommereux (that’s their real family name), it’s better that way.

“Of course, we’d like to work on different projects. But it’s a bonus to be on the same project. I’m very grateful to GMA because we’re able to work in one show although we don’t share scenes because we are not partnered here. Actually, we like it better that way,” Gladys told The STAR in an interview on the sidelines of the recent media launch of Pyra.

“Actually, we avoid it,” added Christopher.

Gladys also said that it’s a little difficult getting serious on the set and acting out roles before each other if you live in the same house and know each other so well.

When teased if they’re a “package deal,” Gladys was quick to react, “No, we’re not.”

Christopher admitted that one reason why they’re typically reluctant about getting paired together, or even doing the same project is that this might give rise to the wrong impression that he could be part of it because of Gladys, who’s more active in showbiz.

But Pyra is simply hard to pass up. Gladys shared, “In fact, it’s his first time to work with GMA 7. During the story-con, (the bosses) were asking me, patingin naman ng hitsura ni Christopher ngayon. Maybe, their memory of Christopher was from way, way back, you know, a little chubby, etc. So, they were surprised to see him looking fit now. Then, they saw that he fits the role as he’s also a father in real-life. He got the bida role and I’m so happy for him because he wants  roles that are very challenging — and not just the barkada one, barkada two type of roles.”

Christopher said that if and when he gets offered those kinds of roles, he’d rather do other things.

“Pag-ganun kasi di ko na lang tatanggapin,” he confessed, “I’d rather stay at home and work on my cars.” (Christopher is in the business of assembling cars.)

“Yeah, he’s kinda picky in that sense,” Gladys said.

“Maybe, I’m just choosing projects wherein I can give my 100 percent,” Christopher explained. “Honestly, tuloy-tuloy naman yung trabaho kahit sa kabilang network. Siguro kailangan ko lang yung mas magandang trabaho. Okay naman yung roles na binibigay sa akin. Although (this is the) first time I’m doing this kind of role.”

When asked if they are each other’s critics, Gladys said yes, but for Christopher, “For my part, no. Since Day One, when I got to work with her, I already saw how good she is. I do ask her opinion. I’m the one who asks her what she thinks of my acting.”

Christopher and Gladys have been together for 20 years now — nine years as husband and wife, then girlfriend-boyfriend for 11 years, a relationship that first blossomed when they hit their teens on the set of Mara Clara.

The couple is known in showbiz as to having one of the most solid relationships around.

During the presscon, they were pressed for secrets to their successful marriage. Christopher gave candid answers which offered a peek into the dynamics of their home life, drawing laughs from the media and prompting Gladys to ask her husband to move his seat near to hers (they were seated apart) so she could feed him answers. 

“When there are conflicts, someone has to compromise and give way…and that’s him,” Gladys said with a laugh. To which Christopher mused that it’s not necessarily because he wants to, it’s just that he’s used to doing it. “Sanayan lang.”

Gladys would later tell us, “He really has no showbiz answer. What you see or what you hear is what you get. Sanay na ako sa kanya. Kinakabahan nga ako kanina before the presscon. I couldn’t feed him answers. Di rin siya nagpapa-feed.”

But their strong bond was not lost on the media. “Honestly, in showbiz, I can only count with my fingers people like her. I’m a very lucky guy to have her. She’s a great mother, great wife, and she treats her family well. She’s one of a kind,” said Christopher.

For Gladys, despite their “opposite personalities,” their marriage works “because of three P’s: Prayers, Patience and Partnership. Apart from that, what also matters is the faithfulness, it’s a sign of respect and fear of God. I’m also very lucky with my husband, kasi pag dating sa akin, wala siyang pride. As I’ve said, someone has to give way, and that’s him (laughs). Aminado ako dun.

“Nung mag-boyfriend kami, there was this only one time we broke up. Had he not wooed me back, I don’t think we would have ended up together. Never kong gagawin na ako lalapit sa lalaki, di dahil sa nagmama-ganda ako, but maybe because that’s my personality. I’ll never make the first move. For me, a girl should be pursued and wooed. After he woos me, that’s the time I give in and say sorry as well. Also, he’s my first and last so maybe that’s what I take pride in, and maybe that’s why he wouldn’t dare let go of me (laughs).”

Meanwhile, their kids, Gian Christopher, 7, Aquisha, 4, and Grant Carlin, 2, are showing interest in acting as well.

Related Gladys, “In terms of interest, I can see it more in Aquisha, our only girl. One time, I brought her to a taping for Home Sweet Home (her previous GMA series), and she saw Jillian Ward. Aliw na aliw siya sa ginagawa ni Jillian. When Jillian left the set, she told me, ‘Mommy, can I be Jillian for a while? Where’s my mic? Where’s my script?’”

Gladys said that at home, their bonding moments are “acting workshops.” “The acting exercises I learned from acting workshops, I teach them to my kids. And they like it! They have fun. They think it’s just playtime without knowing that I’m already slowly teaching them (acting) tricks — how to cry, motivate themselves. Nakakatuwa naman na sumusunod sila.”

This is one reason that Gladys hopes she gets to do a project that allows her to mentor young ones. Meantime, she’s busy as a MTRCB board member and as producer-host of Moments on Net25. The informative, mommy-oriented talk show airs Saturday nights at 7, with replays on Mondays to Fridays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. Her guests this week are husband and wife Anton Lagdameo and Dawn Zulueta. Gladys also wrapped up shooting for an indie, Barber’s Tales, directed by Jun Lana, co-starring Iza Calzado, Eugene Domingo, Eddie Garcia, among others, and which is eyed to compete in international film festivals.