The Return of the Native

Absence made his fans’ heart grow fonder, contrary to the popular belief that it makes the heart wander.

When Gabby Concepcion flew home at dawn Sunday last week from San Francisco where he now lives with his (third) wife, Genevieve “Ginbee” Yatco, and their two-month-old daughter Samantha, he was met with an outpouring of love and affection he never expected, away as he had been for 13 long years. His coming ushered back the ’80s era of the well-loved Regal Babies, the batch of new faces launched by Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde; he came like a long-delayed, very much welcome whiff of fresh air in a country burdened with all sorts of problems. Gabby seems to put a face to the hope that most Filipinos haven’t seen or felt for a long time.

“I’m a changed man now,” Gabby told Conversations in a no-holds-barred session.

A “changed man” inside, all right, but not so much outside.

Pushing 45 (on Nov. 5), Gabby still looks the way he did when he was launched in the early ’80s with fellow Regal Babies William Martinez, Albert Martinez, Snooky Serna, Dina Bonnevie and Maricel Soriano (all of whom have survived their own share of heartaches and heartbreaks). The dimples are still visible, and so are the pinkish cheeks and lips, the still-shy smile and everything that sets him apart from his contemporaries. Gabby Concepcion stands as a symbol of the Exciting ’80s in Philippine movies. (Gabby’s homecoming was facilitated by “Mommy” Rose Flaminiano, his current manager.)

Did you expect to be welcomed so warmly by your fans?

“No, I did not. After all, I’ve been gone for years. No, I never expected this kind of welcome.”

You have changed. You used to be evasive, shying away from issues.

“You’re right. Now, I confront the issues head-on. Why shouldn’t I answer all the questions, all kinds of questions, when I’m not promoting any movie or TV show? I would lose nothing. No taping or shooting has yet been scheduled. I told myself, ‘If Kris Aquino and Gretchen Barretto can face the issues, why can’t I?’ Kapag sumagot sila, tagos-tagusan, di ba?”

Oh, you’re up-to-date with goings-on in local showbiz.

“Thanks to TFC (The Filipino Channel, ABS-CBN’s international sister company).”

You came back purposely to visit and attend the birthday party (last Friday, April 4) of your dad, Rolly Concepcion, who has a heart ailment (requiring a bypass).

“We haven’t seen each other for 13 years; we only talked on the phone. He can’t travel because of his condition.”

Is making a movie comeback part of your homecoming agenda?

“No. ‘Yung pagbabalik-pelikula hindi ko plinano. In fact, I never thought that any (producer) would still be interested in hiring me.

My dad is okay, thank God for modern medicine.”

I heard that you are the one sending your dad the medicines he needs.

“Medicines are quite expensive here, so...”

What was your first reaction when you saw him on a scooter at the airport when you arrived?

“Mangiyak-ngiyak ako. He looked thinner in the Internet video but I was a bit surprised to see him in a scooter.”

Your absence made your fans’ heart grow fonder. You were away from the limelight for 13 years, all right, but you had been constantly in the news, regularly reported to be coming back. How has your life and your outlook changed these past 13 years?

“A lot! In the US, I would look back and realize that I let down many people...marami akong pinagsisisihan. If you noticed, I’ve been asking for forgiveness over and over again. I remember the saying, ‘Take note of the people whom you meet on your way up because they are the same people you will meet on your way down.’ I always bear that in mind.”

But you were never really down.

“Sabi nga nila, you may be down but you are not out.”

How was your life as a private citizen in California?

“There were ups and downs; there were good times and not-so-good times. But that’s life anywhere you are. But generally, life there was generally good, so okay lang na bumalik ako doon kasi nakita ko na ang daddy ko, eh, although siempre I want to stay here longer especially now that I have movie and TV offers. I owe these offers to my fans and the people who continue to trust and believe in me.”

In the US, you did get invited to perform in concerts. Naging singer ka pa yata doon.

(Laughs) “I was an entertainer there.”

In the US, you are a real-estate broker and you even went to school to get a degree for that. I heard that you were an honor student.

“Not really an honor student. Dean’s Lister lang.”

How is it working as a real-estate broker? Does your being Gabby Concepcion help?

“Nagagamit din. I learned how to face the public, how to speak to people na hindi ako nahihiya. If you know what to talk about, things become even easier. One thing about our kababayan in the US, they listen. They look for their own kababayan to transact business with.”

Of course, okay din ang married life mo.

“Oh yes, it is.”

How did you and Ginbee meet? Was she really your fan?

“She’s not really my fan, contrary to what was written. We met years on the set of one of my movies. I mistook her for the owner of the house where we were shooting. She was only 17 then. The next time we met, she had just graduated from college. The next time we met, sa California na. Here pa lang, we were friends na. We became closer doon na sa States.”

And you have your first child, born two months ago.

“Yes, another daughter. Her name is Samantha.” (He has three other daughters: Gabrielle with Grace Ibuna, KC with ex-wife Sharon Cuneta and Chloe with ex-wife Jenny Syquia. — RFL) “You know, Samantha kept on crying when I was about to board the plane at the San Francisco airport. Hinatid nila ako ng mama niya. She’s only two-months old but I think she knew that I was leaving her. What I did was got her mittens and I keep them in my pocket anywhere I go. Souvenir niya sa akin.”

Did you miss anything about showbiz? Not the intrigues, I suppose.

“I miss the location shootings, marami akong napupuntahan na hindi ko normally pinupuntahan. The crew, my co-stars. And the acting part, of course.”

Your last movie was...

“Ika-Labing-Isang Utos, directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. It’s a very, very dark movie; very brutal ang role ko doon, that’s why hindi ko masyadong pinanood ang pelikulang ‘yon.”

During our last phone interview (in a tie-up with Mar d’Guzman Cruz on his dzXL radio program Showbiz Power with Kuya Mar), you said that among the many things that you missed about home were danggit and your vacation house in Batangas.

“That was my favorite hideaway, my vacation house in Batangas. I also missed the food; ‘yan talaga ang weakness ko, food and fish.”

If that vacation house could talk, it would have a lot of exciting stories to tell.

“Hmmmmm.”

How long do you plan to stay?

“The contract that I signed with ABS-CBN is for two years.”

You mean contract for TV, right?

“Yes. For a teleserye.” (And a guesting on Maalaala Mo Kaya, the long-running drama anthology hosted by ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio. — RFL)

And you did sign a contract for a movie with GMA Films and you said you’re honoring that contract (for which Gabby, according to GMA Films head Annette Gozon-Abrogar, was given a downpayment gross of P1.75-M, net of P1.3-M).

“Yes, I am. But I still don’t know when the shooting of the movie will start. I had a meeting with Annette last night (April 3) and we discussed the matter thoroughly. We’re going to meet again sometime next week. Certain aspects of the contract need to be straightened out. We will decide what is the best thing to do.” (Note: According to Annette, Gabby signed the contract in the US in September last year. It stipulates that Gabby cannot work with any other film company upon its signing until three months after the exhibition of the movie. He was supposed to be in the cast of I.T.A.L.Y. — meaning I Trust And Love You — which is being co-produced by GMA with the family of Jolina Magdangal who is in the all-star cast that includes Rufa Mae Quinto, Mark Herras and Dennis Trillo.)

You know the Magdangals, don’t you? (Gabby has “guested” in Jolina’s concerts in the US, which is what he’s referring to when he said that he was an “entertainer.”)

“Yes, I do. Jolina is a nice girl, mabait siya. I’m flattered and honored that she asked me to do a movie with her. But just to clarify, I didn’t beg to do a movie with her; hindi ako namamalimos. Of course, natutuwa ako sa offer nila. I don’t have any intention nor I want to hurt anybody. But sometimes, may mga nangyayari beyond your control.”

Also to clarify one thing... You worked only as a real-estate broker in the US and not a hotel boy, right?

“There was a report na pagbukas daw ng door ng hotel, ako ang nagbuhat ng mga maleta (ni Jolina). I was just being a gentleman, I guess, so I carried her luggage for her. Natural lang ‘yon; walang masama d’un. But make no mistake about it, huh. There’s nothing wrong with working in a hotel because in the US there is dignity of labor. Also, I want to make it clear that I didn’t work as a security guard or a gas-station boy. Again, walang masama d’un.”

Nanghinayang ka ba na hindi natuloy ang movie n’yo ni Jolina?

“Oh yes, I do. Nanghihinayang ako. I texted Jolina. I told her na sana our friendship would not be affected.”

What’s your idea of a “comeback” movie?

“It’s hard to explain what my idea of a ‘comeback’ movie is. I don’t want to elaborate because I might be misunderstood but my fans know I think what I mean.”

When you left 13 years ago, wasn’t it against your will?

“Ginusto ko na parang hindi. I had mixed emotions. But at that time, I felt that I had to go. That was the turning point of my life. So many things were happening. Mahabang estorya. One session is not enough to tell them all.”

Hindi ka ba nanghinayang sa career mo?

“I left everything to God. And whatever happened during the past 13 years, ‘yon ang mga kasagutan ng mga dasal ko.”

Did you find the answers in America?

“Oh yes, I did. I always pray before I make any decision; I always ask for His guidance.”

If you had a choice, who would you like to be your leading lady in your comeback movie?

“Naku, marami! There’s Claudine Barretto, Gretchen Barretto, and many others. When I met LT (Lorna Tolentino) in the States long ago, I would tell her, ‘LT, kelan tayo gagawa uli ng pelikula?’ I would also tell Daboy (Rudy Fernandez), ‘O, pagbalik ko sa Pilipinas, gawa tayo ng pelikula, ha.’ There are a lot of good actresses around. I’m willing to work with anybody.”

And you said you’re willing to do a movie again with Sharon.

“Oh yes.”

But Sharon said that although she would like to, she’d rather not because it would mean putting your private lives at stake during the movie’s promo. She also acknowledged that you are one of the country’s finest actors.

“Well, I agree with her. But showbiz is like that. Maski naman ayaw mo, talagang mabubulabog ang buhay mo. But it would be the best gift that we could give our fans and followers. As Daboy said in one of his movies, ‘Walang personalan, trabaho lang’.”

Sharon said in a TV interview that there has never been any “closure” between the two of you.

“I’ve asked for her forgiveness. Pero walang problema, we can sit down again and have a heart-to-heart talk if necessary.”

And you also said that you would love to do a movie with KC.

“Yes, why not? But again, I want to make it clear: Hindi ko ginagamit si KC o si Sharon para iangat ang career ko. As I’ve said, I came home not thinking of reviving my career. I came home to visit my father.”

But you’re okay with KC. You had a grand “bonding” time when she visited you and Ginbee in San Francisco. Sharon said she appreciated Ginbee’s taking care of KC.

“At that time, she was busy with school (in Paris) and she wasn’t sure yet about joining showbiz. But I already reminded her, ‘Being in showbiz is tough’.”

Do you give her (pieces of) advice as far as her love life is concerned?

(Smiles) “Sa amin na lang mag-ama ‘yon.”

It’s her birthday tomorrow (April 7). Are you attending her party (reportedly to be held at a beach “somewhere”)?

“Ahhhh...I might not be able to.”

Are you in touch with your other daughters?

“Only with KC. I have pictures of Chloe.” (Jenny is now married to a Swede. When last heard from Jenny, they were living in Boston, Massachusetts. Gabrielle, who lives with her mom in the Philippines, said in a TV interview that she’s looking forward to meeting her dad. — RFL)

Isn’t it a nice idea if your four daughters, all panganay (first-born), have a reunion?

“Wow, I would love to see that!”

Are you okay with their moms?

“I think okay na kami ni Sharon. Okay na rin kami ni Grace. With Jenny, wala kaming contact.”

Since you’re staying here for two years, are Ginbee and Samantha joining you?

“Oh yes, they will. They’re coming. It will give Ginbee a chance to visit her family and relatives (in Biñan, Laguna). It’s her lola’s birthday in May, so tamang-tama.”

Of course, you and your Nanay Lolit (Solis, his former manager) are also okay now.

“Yeah, okay na rin kami. We met last year in Las Vegas during the Pacquiao-Morales fight.” (True to form, during that meeting, Lolit was able to squeeze out $100 from Gabby’s “tight” pocket. — RFL)

“I’d like to think that I have unburdened myself of any negative things. I came home feeling light.”

It’s good that now you know how to face the issues squarely.

“I think that’s what I lacked before — communication. Everytime there was something negative written or said about me, I didn’t know how to react, I didn’t know how to air my side. But now, I know how. I’m ready to face anything, answer anything. I’m not hiding anything; I have nothing to hide.” (A day after he arrived, Gabby went to a Manila Regional Trial Court to post bail for a pending “falsification” case filed against him by Jenny Syquia. Manila Mayor Fred Lim, also the incumbent during the 1994 Manila Filmfest scam, said that he has forgiven Gabby who has suffered more than enough. — RFL)

When you look back, what are the things that you think you should have done otherwise?

“Marami. A lot! It would take a whole day for me to tell you everything. Some of them involved my personal relationships.”

And what’s the best lesson that you learned from the past?

“Taking things for granted.”

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