Gabby goes gay

MANILA, Philippines - Gabby Eigenmann plays his first title role in Dading, the new GMA 7 Afternoon Prime series that tells the story of a gay father.

Although the teleserye, based on the teaser and the pronouncements of its director Ricky Davao, has a lighter feel and tone, compared to the network’s last gay-themed series My Husband’s Lover, it doesn’t make the work any easier and less intense for Gabby.

“Honestly, (it puts) pressure on me because as much as possible I want it to be real and I’m not gay to begin with. But since I have a lot of friends (who are gay) and the fact that I know their stories in life, logically, I try to learn, observe and absorb, kumbaga kung saan sila nanggagaling, what emotions to use,” Gabby told reporters during a recent presscon for Dading.

“The most important thing for every character that I’m going to portray, I have to look back and observe. It’s not about literally finding a peg kasi yung kilos andiyan na, madali lang gayahin, but tapping the right emotions is the most important.”

While this is not his first time to play gay, it is his first full-length gay role and he’s very careful not to deliver the kind of acting that will caricature gay people for laughs. “We have to be careful in portraying a delicate role… If you’re gonna ask about the difference between My Husband’s Lover and this one, the former was a love story, and Dading is mostly about being a parent whether the child is his own or not, and how a gay person becomes a parent.”

In Dading, Gabby is Carding who assumes the daddy duties to the baby girl of his ex-girlfriend-turned-bestfriend Beth (played by Glaiza de Castro) after the real father (Benjamin Alves) suddenly disappeared from Beth’s life just when he got her pregnant.

Gabby can relate to his character “in a sense that, of course, my wife, when I met her, she had kids already, and I was a bachelor when I came into her life, then we had our own babies. But as I’ve said, so what? They’re (his wife’s kids) mine now.”

The actor was on a vacation in Japan with his family when he was informed of his first-ever top-billing role. “When I returned, I didn’t expect it would be Dading. Then people started texting me, congratulating me, I didn’t know this was going to be a big deal. For me, it’s work,” he shared.

Gabby belongs to the illustrious Eigenmann showbiz family and he’s been acting — most of the time, as a worthy contravida — for more than 17 years, but never did he aim for the lead roles. “I’ve been patient for the longest time and it’s not that I’ve been patient without doing anything. I’ve been working. If you’ve seen my work and considered it good, thank you. If not, then I’ll have to do another one that will make people notice me. (That’s why I’m) thankful because for the longest time — I’ve been in the business for about 17 or 18 years — hindi ko naman hinangad (ito) kasi para sa akin trabaho lang. That’s why (Dading) really came as a huge surprise.”

He added, “It’s so overwhelming! I’m very happy…Sabi ko nga, feeling ko, this is my audition for primetime (laughs) because of course, they want to try you, so hopefully… I’ve always said that you’re as good as your last show. So whatever is my performance here or in the previous project that I did, this is the result.”

He also shared that his father Mark Gil, who has essayed similar characters and won awards for them, only advised him to be consistent.

Meanwhile, Gabby was asked on the rumored “serious” health condition of his father. “He’s okay!” he said, adding that “if there has to be announced, it should come from my father.”

Gabby is used to being asked about the issues concerning his immediate family and relatives — including break-up or relationship “controversies.” He normally keeps quiet, explaining that his family is not the type that makes a comment at every opportunity, but if they do so, it’s only because they’re standing up for a family member. “That’s why I’m happy… and grateful for Dading because may pinag-uusapan na tungkol naman sa akin,” he mused. “But (seriously), if there’s a problem, we made a vow to protect each other and defend each other. I’ve done my part and am still doing my part, being a brother, a cousin, a nephew and a son.”

(Dading premieres today on the Kapuso Afternoon Prime block after The Half Sisters.)