MANILA, Philippines – Count Bobby Andrews in among the few actors who remain active despite the mushrooming of new talents being discovered through reality shows and artista searches. Bobby’s name started to ring a bell when he and Angelu de Leon became a hit loveteam portraying the roles of Wacks and Peachy on GMA 7’s TGIS, which aired in the late ‘90s.
Fast forward to 2015, Bobby is still paired with Angelu. They now play husband and wife Arthur and Bettina Buena in the GMA 7 Afternoon Prime Buena Familia.
“Twenty years later, ‘loveteam’ pa rin kami ni Angelu but there’s a big difference in our relationship now,” Bobby told The STAR during a pocket interview. “We’ve been friends for more than 20 years already. We met each other when we were young and she was the first person I’ve worked with when I entered showbiz. Now that we’re working again together, there’s a different sense of maturity. I could say right now that we have become more comfortable with each other. We have our respective families already so there is no pressure of maintaining those things na may ligaw-ligawan.”
Although Bobby admitted that when they were just starting as a loveteam, “we had that ‘what ifs,’ now our relationship is purely professional and we’re very good friends on- and off-cam.”
Just last weekend, Bobby and Angelu met up with their TGIS co-stars Rica Peralejo, Michael Flores and Bernadette Allyson and had dinner with director Mark Reyes. “It’s like a TGIS reunion for all of us after 20 years. And even before that weekend, we really talk and keep in touch.”
As expected, Bobby’s acting approach has matured and “I am given more serious roles unlike before which was more on pa-tweetums. Now it’s more on the (acting) craft already that needs serious hard work.”
With Buena Familia co-stars (from left) Kylie Padilla, Angelu de Leon, Mona Louise Rey, Julian Trono and Julie Anne San Jose
The actor also has no qualms about playing any role — including those he has never done like a cross-dresser — although he has to take into consideration the effect on his children Miguel, 16, and Gabrielle, 15.
“When they were younger, they explore the possibility of getting into showbiz but eventually they had a change of heart. My daughter is into arts — gymnastics while Miguel is into sports; he plays football,” related Bobby whose wife Bienne works as the media relations officer of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.
Does he think he can give more to the public as an actor?
“Acting-wise, I don’t have that much control in terms of social responsibility. I enjoy playing good roles and bad roles. Siguro as a person, part of my social responsibility is what I do with the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) as one of the board members. So ’yun ang malaking nagagawa ko ngayon with my life outside show business. We conduct seminars and talks nationwide regarding the powers and functions of MTRCB. For me, it is one of the gratifying things about my work because being an actor, it’s easier for me to speak in public in different provinces kasi kilala na nila ako.”
In fact, before an actual movie begins in any theater, Bobby is one of the familiar faces you see in the MTRCB video campaign Matalinong Panonood which, according to the actor, is an essential measure to guide the viewing public about the content of the movie they wish to watch.
On the personal front, Bobby spends quality time with his family during his downtime. He goes to the gym with his daughter and play video games with his son.
Discover more about Bobby as he completes the sentence below:
The one thing that scares me the most is…losing my family.
When I was younger I wanted to be like…my father. From military, nag-Air Force siya then he became a commercial pilot. I wanted to do that perhaps because during my generation, all the boys wanted to be a pilot. My perception of being a pilot before was parang adventurer na every day, he’s in another country and flying around the world. So when I graduated, I tried to apply in a flying school but unfortunately, I wore glasses that time and during my time, you cannot enter flying school without 20/20 vision.
My hidden talent is…it’s not a talent but a trait. I’m a very caring person. I always try to put the other person in front of me.
The food I gorge on is…Cheetos Flaming Hot to the point na nagkaka-shortage ng Wasabi chips. I bought a box and finished it all in one day and then I was hospitalized for two weeks, hahaha!
My most prized possession is…a vintage watch that my father gave to me. It’s not expensive; it’s more of sentimental value in it because my dad had this watch when he was an Air Force cadet and when he started flying in the Air Force. Growing up, I saw how important that watch was to him. He would have it with him all the time and when I hit around 20-something, he decided to give it to me. He usually bought us gifts and it was the first time he gave me something of sentimental value and I appreciated it so much. Mas touching ’yung ganun kaysa bago.
The one thing I do before I hit the bed is…I always read but not books. I read what I suppose to do the next day; I read my script before I go to bed at kung wala talaga, I usually read different topics online.