Maniolas

By Edwin P. Sallan

Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta ended their four-year marriage in 1987. After that, they still managed to appear together on the big screen for the last time in Laurice Guillen’s “Una Kang Naging Akin” in 1991.

That was 22 years ago. Still, as far as their fans are concerned, Sharon and Gabby have remained one of the greatest screen couples in Philippine cinema. And yes, the clamor for them to do a long-overdue reunion project is getting louder than ever.

Time and again, both Gabby and Sharon have personally expressed their interest to see that project come to fruition.

“Alam nyo, gusto kong mapanood ang movie nayan,” Gabby quipped when asked about it again during the recent story conference for his latest television project — TV5’s upcoming supernatural series “Cassandra: Warrior Angel”.

In explaining why it has been taking so long for such a project to finally get off the ground, Gabby explains that they’re still looking for the right material for it.

“I always believe that any project starts with a good story. If you have a good story, you can also branch out with good sub-stories. Right now, I still don’t know kung anong klaseng story ang puwede naming gawin. Is it going to be a drama or a comedy? What is it? I do have an idea but I don’t want to say it yet. But yes, we’re still open to suggestions,” he declared.

He said he has discussed such a project with his megastar ex-wife. The seemingly ageless actor, added, however, that while both of them agreed that the reunion film is something worth doing, it should also be worth doing right. He’s even open to the idea of having daughter KC Concepcion as part of the cast.

“Ang gusto lang naman namin, maging tama. If we finally find the right story, then it would be great if we can shoot it as early as six months from now,” he shared.

But until that Sharon-Gabby dream project is finally realized, Gabby’s focus right now is “Cassandra: Warrior Angel” , the much-awaited second season of “Third Eye” where he plays a dual role of a good and bad “maligno”, one of which also happens to be the father of Eula Caballero’s character.

He concedes that it’s a good change of pace for him after appearing in one dramatic vehicle after another, the last being ABS-CBN’s hit teleserye, “Kahit Puso’yMasugatan”, in which he starred with Iza Calzado, Andi Eigenmann and Jake Cuenca.

“Ngayon lang ako gaganap ng ganitong klaseng role na dalawang tao so parasa akin, maganda ito. Kaya rin siguro ako kinuha dahil anghel ito, gayang pangalan kong Gabriel who was a fallen angel and that’s what will happen to me here. Excited ako kasi mag-iiba ang anyo ko dito so abangann’yo,” he teased.

Aside from the upcoming fantaserye itself which is scheduled to premiere this coming May, Gabby is also excited about the fact that his co-stars include Viva Films contemporary Eula Valdez (who plays his wife and mother of the lead character, Cassandra) and close friend and former fellow Regal Baby William Martinez (who plays his best friend here).

“Madalas naman kaming nagkakasama ni William sa Batangas. We brainstorm a lot about our projects, we talk about life in general, things like that. Natutuwa ako at magkakasama kami ni William saisang project. Actually, I’ve been asking my producers to get him, and I’m happy that it’s finally happening now,” he enthused.

He also welcomes the opportunity to work with a new set of young stars in “Cassandra: Warrior Angel”, namely lead actress Eula Caballero, Victor Silayan, Daniel Matsunaga, and Morissette Amon.

“May mgakanya-kanya naman silang galing. Ang importante lang naman ay mabigyan lang silang chance. At pag binigyan naman silang chance, lalabas at lalabas ang mga galing nila,” he pointed out.