Gabby as Jaime Salcedo aka Boss Yummy with Carla Abellana as Andrea and Rafael Rosell as Oliver topbill GMA Network’s primetime series “Because of You”
GABBY Concepcion is a rare breed. In spite of being in his 50s, he feels like he has yet to hit his stride, both in showbiz where he is considered as one of the industry’s most sought-after actors, and in his personal life, where he’s a doting father.
The fair-skinned and fresh-faced actor was in Cebu at the height of the Sinulog weekend, looking every bit the heartthrob, who can still give the current crop of young stars a run for their money in appearance, even in the acting department.
And the best thing about it is that he feels there’s more to come in a career that has spanned over 30 years with nearly a hundred films to his credit.
A case in point is Gabby’s most recent work, GMA Network’s primetime series “Because of You,” a light romantic comedy that he topbills with younger stars Carla Abellana and Rafael Rosell. Yes, it is drawing a lot of viewers due to his charming portrayal of the role of Jaime Salcedo. Gabby says that this character is a result of his latest reinvention, a process he assumes every five years to reinvigorate himself and keep his goals dynamic and exciting.
Here, Gabby tells us about his colorful acting career and the secret to his forever-young demeanor.
What were your thoughts when “Because of You” was pitched to you?
Maganda talaga kasi kahit sa first reading pa lang ng script, very exciting na siya. Tapos nag-formal meeting kami. Sabi ko okey yung ingredients. Kakaiba siya eh. Hindi siya katulad ng mga drama that I have been a part of.
Your leading lady in the show is Carla Abellana. How is it working with her?
Carla and I have worked together but hindi ganito. Drama din siya pero eto hindi, eh. May halong comedy. Kaya yung nabasa ko ito, sabi ko na hindi na muna ako gagawa ng drama kasi lahat na lang drama. Mabibigat. Tapos magpaPasko pa naman. So sabi ko ayoko ng ganun. Eh, tamang tama na may ganito sila. Eksaktong-eksakto. Sometimes you need to do something different. Sabi nga nila you have to reinvent yourself every five years kasi the body changes every five years din. ‘Yung buhok natin, balat natin.
How is it working in a new home, GMA?
I had sana the opportunity to work with GMA back in 2008. It was for a movie sana. Eh, hindi maganda ang storya. Binasa ko ng binasa. Nag-suggest ako ng revisions para sa kagandahan ng pangkalahatan. I was trying to contribute my thoughts din. Eh hindi napapansin mga suggestions ko, so I didn’t do it.
And this time…
For this project, I got excited. Para yung nagbabasa ka ng libro. Di ba pag nagustuhan mo yung libro, itutuloy mo? I felt the same way with the script of this project.
“Because of You” has been getting a lot of good feedback. What’s the best compliment you’ve received so far?
The chemistry, the characters are eksakto, ‘yung mga barkada ni Carla, bagay din. Napapansin na rin nila ‘yung bodyguard ko. Hindi siya pilit. Hindi siya slapstick.
What points do you look for in selecting a project?
General ‘eh. It comes in pieces. Tapos maski wala dun lahat, alam mo na may elements siya. Pwede mong kargahan. Pwede pa i-develop.
You mentioned about the need to reinvent yourself every five years. Did this project help you with that?
Gabby Conception
I would say na it’s very good timing. When I returned to the country, I knew had to do something different. So I started singing. That was different. Yung challenging talaga. Yung singing, hindi ko naman talaga gustong pasukin yun, eh. Hindi naman ako kumakanta. Hindi nga ako makabuo ng kahit isang kanta, eh. Sayaw, hindi ko rin hilig. Pero sabi ng family ko na andiyan ka na rin din, galingan mo nalang. Yung ang mga challenges ko. Pumasok ako ng showbiz, wala akong kahilig-hilig ng showbiz. (laughs) Tapos pakakantahin mo ako? I just did my best and something good came out of it.
Yung changes ko came in sa 2015 at a very right time although medyo huli na. Dapat 2013 pa lang, ginagawa ko na ang mga ito. Pero at that time, I was still doing teleseryes. And now, this is something different. For one, ngayon pa lang ako nakapag-shoot ng November. Akala ko tapos na ang taon eh. Pero andun talaga ang
ingredients na hinahanap ko. You can’t grasp what it is, but I could feel that it was there when I was reading the script.
What do you think is the next step in your so-called evolution?
Ang gusto ko talaga i-play na role is yung hindi ako. Yung mga tipong character na naaksidente ka… you don’t know who you are and you’re trying to look for yourself. Yun ang maganda. Actually nagawa ko na siya pero sandali lang. Hindi nagtagal ang character ko sa ganoon na state.
How about deglamorized characters? Are you open to play these?
Nagawa ko na rin yun! Yung taong grasa! May prosthetics pa kami nun. It was an independent film. Hindi rin napalabas sa mainstream. Yun ang maganda! I even got to play an off-character in the 90s. I played dark characters. ‘Yung kontrabida. Nakasama ko sila Rudy Fernandez, sila Philip Salvador, ako ang kontrabida nun.
How do you maintain this youthful glow all these years?
Genes na rin siguro. But I think ‘yung number one talaga is to moisturize. Hindi ako nagpupunta sa mga derma sa America ‘eh. I was there for 13 years. Pero nagmo-moisturize ako.
Of late we are seeing a lot of reunions of former love teams. Is there anyone among your past leading ladies that you’d like to work with again?
It’s funny kasi we (Gabby and Rafael Rosell) were talking about this. Sabi ko nga na I wanted to do something different, di ba? Dito pinag-aagawan naming si Andrea (Carla Abellana) pero in the end, kami pala ang magkakatuluyan. (laughter) ‘Yun ang mga roles na hindi ko pa nagagawa. Pero I’ve done roles na nakapagbihis na ako ng pambabae.
Well, dun sa tanong … si Lorna (Tolentino), Snooky (Serna), Vilma (Santos), Dawn (Zulueta) sana pero naudlot din eh. Sino pa ba andiyan sa GMA? (laughs) Pero mas maganda kung bago. Sino sa tingin niyo? Si Jennylyn (Mercado)? Marian (Rivera)? Ai-Ai? Gawa tayo ng bagong BFF!
For 2016, what else can we expect from you?
My idea of being in showbiz is one project at a time. I don’t plan my next projects. Yung mga projects, hindi mo talaga alam kung kalian darating unless you produce it. I did some production work in showbiz before and mahirap. Ang buhay ko is one day at a time, and that’s the nice thing. Life is a mystery. Ginagawa ko lang palagi ang best ko.
How would you complete the statement “Because of You…”
‘Yang “Because of you…” na ‘yan, you can relate it to everybody. Kasi hindi ako mapupunta kung saan ako ngayon kung hindi dahil sa mga tao, mga producers, directors, mga kasama ko sa cast. Lahat! Dikit-dikit ang buhay.
Describe yourself as a father.
Sensitive. Caring. Very loving. But I’m not perfect.
