The billboard that changed Andi's mind

MANILA, Philippines - It’s perfectly understandable if traffic stalls or drivers miss their turns on Katipunan Ave. upon seeing the huge billboard of Andi Eigenmann. Any guy would surely crane his neck at the sight of Andi’s alabaster skin, aquiline nose and perfectly chiseled features.

These days, everything’s coming up roses for Andi, 17. She has a new primetime show at ABS-CBN, she’s the newest endorser of Pond’s Clear Solutions Anti-Bacterial Facial Scrub and various film projects are in the offing. So how come just weeks ago, Andi seriously thought of quitting showbiz?

Andi told The STAR that she’s recently been at crossroads whether to continue her acting career or not because of personal problems.

“Yes, I admit that I was almost on the verge of giving up. It came to a point that a problem affected my personal life. Somebody was playing with my emotions to the point na pati na loved ones ko naapektuhan. They were hitting me and it was affecting me and my family, so I thought, why not give this up, maybe showbiz is not for me.”

In a year or so after she started in showbiz, she said intrigues don’t usually bother her. She can hack the vicious rumors, she says, but not when it already affects or involves her loved ones.

The episode not only dampened her spirits but also made her faith in God waver.

And then one day, all of her doubts and apprehensions disappeared after seeing her Pond’s billboard ad in Katipunan Village, a dream come true since she has been dreaming to be the brand model since she was five. It was like an epiphany, she says.

“The billboard served as a sign for me that God was telling me that all my dreams will come true, every desire will come true. I know it was God’s way of telling me that I shouldn’t question His love for me.”

Now, she has ditched her thoughts of quitting showbiz and steeled herself to bear with the sting of intrigues. Andi has become more resolute in her goal to be a serious and successful actress.

“After that crisis, I became more determined and focused on my goal to be a good actress. It’s all that matters to me right now,” she says.

Andi is excited to be the new face of Pond’s Anti-bacterial wash.

“This has been my childhood dream. You should ask my mom, this is true. My one and only dream when I was a kid was to have my face on the Pond’s billboard outside our village in Katipunan. Before my love for acting, all I wanted was to get that Pond’s billboard, I swear. So I honestly cried when I got that offer.”

Jonathan Pua, Pond’s assistant brand manager, says they chose Andi because she personifies the Pond’s brand.

“We believe she’s the next big star. Coming from a family of veteran actors, she has bloomed into a young lady admired by many for her clear skin and unique mestiza features. We believe Andi as the new endorser will further strengthen the brand,” Pua says.

Andi admits that she was never really conscious of her skin when she was growing up.

“I recall that I had acne. I was fat, not the cute fat, but there was nothing I could do. I’m not the vain type or someone who would fuss over her looks.”

In school, Andi says she would rather play basketball, swim or dance rather than go to the parlor and do girly stuff.

But Andi keeps a loyal skin-care regimen.

“I just keep a fuss-free beauty regimen or I simply wash my face with Pond’s Clear solutions anti-bacterial facial scrub to keep it clean and pimple-free. Before I discovered Pond’s, I tried other things. I remember the first product of Pond’s that I tried, it was Perfect Matte Facial Social Foam, Since, then I became a loyal Pond’s user,” says Andi. 

Right now, Andi is busy taping for her newest drama series Minsan Lang Kita IIbigin opposite Coco Martin where she plays a soldier in love with Coco’s character. The soap is due to air this month.

Andi says her role here is more challenging than her role in Agua Bendita.

Minsan is an acting piece and hopefully signals her intentions to be a serious actress. “It’s an epic drama, more like Tayong Dalawa. It tackles the deeper side of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). I can say that my character here is more mature and deep,” says Andi.

What makes her extra proud is that she is working with some of the country’s brilliant actors.

 “I work with the best in the lot. I’m aware that they expect something from me. I somehow feel the pressure. But it’s also a great honor because I know they put me in the show because they believe in me.”

She admits that the showbiz, although coveted and glamorous for some, was not spectacular for her. As the daughter of Mark Gil and Jaclyn Jose, Andi finds acting and being in the industry very natural for her.

“I started acting when I was 16. My mom, my dad, my kuyas, my ate, my aunts and uncles and my grandparents are all actors So it was nothing spectacular, it was so normal to me, at that time, I said I wanted to be part of the business, I want to do something out of it because I’m really interested in the arts, music, fashion, film. I’m a film junkie, I like dialogue films. I like Winona Ryder and Ellen Page, I love Juno,” she enthuses. “When I first ventured into my first show, my acting was raw, dry and then eventually I learned to deliver lines, show the right emotions. Now, it’s still a learning process.”

Her first drama series Agua Bendita will always be memorable, Andi says. She was thoroughly natural as both Agua and Bendita. The drama rested on her shoulders and revolved around her, it made her a star.

Agua, she says, afforded her more than just learning the rigors of acting, she also learned to hone her social skills. Andi admits being an introvert, to the point of being painfully shy.

“ I am a quiet person. I’m a little bit anti-social, sometimes. Sure I have friends at school, but if you put me in a big crowd, then most likely, I won’t talk, I’m super shy.”

She would also like to parry criticisms that she got those plum roles because of her acting lineage.

“You know, it wasn’t something that was served to me on a silver platter. I really worked hard for that. I went through a lot.”

Andi also denies reports that she snubbed fans in Iloilo during a show or acted primadonna in one of the tapings.

“One of the issues about me is that I’m a snob, masama daw ugali ko, it’s so funny because once you know me, you’ll just laugh, I’m not like that. I try to ignore all these rumors about me because they aren’t true. The thing is I really don’t care. I’m here to work.”

To prove she’s serious about her career, she says she’s putting on hold her love life.

“Right now, I don’t have a boyfriend and it’s a personal choice,”

Andi’s other dream is to go back to school because education is important to her.

“Right now, I’ve stopped school and that’s also one of the reasons why I’m mulling to quit, sometimes, yeah, I ask why am I here? I can be in school. Someday, I’ll go back to school. The business is fickle and I can’t be here forever, so I’m thinking of really someday going back to school. You only live once, so make the most out of it. I’ll try to accomplish what I can.”