Is Gabby amenable to a reunion movie with Sharon?

MANILA, Philippines — The Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta loveteam is one for the books. Even if the two movie stars have their own families, many still anticipate for their reunion on the big screen. Gabby, in a media interview during the GMA Regional TV event for Davao City’s Kadayawan Festival, attributed that clamor to their loyal following. This was the result of their ’80s movie team-ups (from Deart Heart, P.S. I Love You, My Only Love to Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?).

“Nagkaroon kami ng fan base dun (from those movies, we had our own fan base), yung fan base na yun (those fans), who are probably parents now, their children continue to watch our past movies,” he said, “na-i-influence (sila), nagkakaroon sila ng awareness without them knowing na nakikila na nila yung mga pinanonood ng mother nila, paulit-ulit nilang naririnig, because they’re still young.”

The subject came up when Gabby was on the set of (K)ampon for which he was tapped as the replacement for lead actor Derek Ramsay who backed out of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) project produced by Quantum Films (but was disqualified due to a technical reason about replacing any member of the major cast without MMFF’s prior approval). The movie’s lead actress asked Gabby about the possibility of his reunion team-up with Sharon and when Gabby expressed interest, the actress said that she could produce the movie since she’s a Gabby-Sharon fan.

“I think because during the ‘80s, iilan lang kami (there were only a few love teams then),” added Gabby on another reason for the Gabby-Sharon clamor and the fan fascination. “Kung bibilangin mo yung loveteam ngayon, isang katutak (If you will count the number of loveteams now, there’s a lot). Pero (noon) mabibilang mo lang kami, mga apat lang kami the most.” The actor added that, let’s say, of the four, “may pag-uusapan, mayroong hindi. Also because kami lang ata ang naging true-to-life, eventually nagkaroon kami ng anak.” He was referring to KC, who is on a showbiz hiatus.

If this pushes through, it will be the biggest movie event.

For now, Gabby continues to be every Kapuso’s Jake in Love You Two weeknights.

“I don’t count my days of work,” said Gabby, essentially a movie actor, on his TV work. “In fact, I look forward to them. The more days I’m working, the better I feel.” This is perhaps Gabby’s advice to newbies who complain about the demands of TV acting like long taping hours. “I don’t feel that way,” said Gabby. “I tell the young ones that... I’ve been there. There are times that you’re not working, there are times they won’t even get you.”

Since the pacing of TV work is fast, Gabby said, “You have to read the script to see where it (the story) is going and where it came from. Now the pacing is masyadong mabilis and the jumps, there’s a coach, I don’t know if other networks have this and they (the coaches) give you the background... Sa dami nang ginagawang projects ng artista, na mi-mix na nila (yung characters). The coach is there to remind that you are Jake here. ‘Remember that Jake came from this. (While we’re) shooting this scene, you have remnants of this.’” This is a big help on the part of stars like Gabby. “(So) you can continue that flow,” he said, “mayroon kang follow through, hindi yung hindi mo alam kung saan ka galing at ibabato mo lang ang linya mo, na hindi mo alam kung anong nangyari sa nakaraan.”

As for the prospect of doing independent movies (although he has done a cameo role before), Gabby said, “If there’s a nice project, I’m open to that. Lately, I’m not accepting any because of the teleserye.” He was also up to the idea of getting deglamorized for a role “as long as may significance.”

After the media call, Gabby joined Derek   and Andrea Torres of The Better Woman, Rita Daniela and Ken Chan (of the upcoming primetime series One of the Baes) for a Kapuso Mall Show at SM City Davao. He performed Ikaw Ang Aking Mahal and Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko to the delight of the Dabawenyo crowd. At the Gaisano Mall, Jason Abalos and Mark Herras, stars of Bihag, also graced another Kapuso Mall Show.