MANILA, Philippines — Never Too Late: The time has come at last for Gabby Eigenmann, one of two sons by Mark Gil (the other being Sid Lucero) working in show business, to shine.
Sidelined to character roles throughout his relatively young career, Gabby has finally been blessed with a lead role in “Broken Vow,” GMA’s afternoon teleserye set to premiere on Feb. 6, Monday. It has been a long wait, Gabby admits, but one that has been worth it.
It might have helped that just some weeks ago, Gabby won a best supporting actor award from the Entertainment Press Society for his work in “Munting Heredera.”
The budding thespian impressed viewers with his ruthless performance as the villain in the said soap opera.
Back in the ’80s when he was but a teen, Gabby passed up a chance to be built up as a matinee idol by way of Regal Films’ “Gwapings.” He expresses no regrets at the lost opportunity, focused as he was on his schooling then.
In an interview, he said it’s probably best that he started an acting career when he was older and a bit more mature. His career may have fizzled out fast, anyway.
While network has promoted Gabby to lead status, he must, for his part, work on his physique to better look the part. He’s a bit overweight, a view that doesn’t look good on a leading man.
More Breaks Coming: Bianca King gets to follow up her growing popularity as a lead actress by starring in her second full-length teleserye, “Broken Vow” opposite Gabby and another male lead potential, Luis Alandy.
Earlier, GMA Network launched Bianca as the lead star in “Sinner or Saint.” While both teleseryes are aired in the afternoon block, they are a perfect preparation for greater opportunities yet to come.
Another actor enjoying graduation from support to lead is Luis Alandy. GMA’s efforts to assign lead roles to actors within their reach speak of a notable lack in lead stars within the network and elsewhere. Building up stars has to start somewhere and must be continued with the regularity of tears falling with every sampalan in the teleseryes they star in.
“Broken Vow” is the story of – as usual – a woman scorned by love. The first man (Gabby) dumps her, a second man (Alandy) comforts her, until the first man resurfaces to claim her back. How wonderful it is to be on teleseryes, ’no?
Bea B. Gets it, too: The quest to build up more stars around GMA in 2012 has similarly reached teen actress
Bea Binene, who lands the title role in another new series, “Alice Bungisngis.”
After playing second lead to Barbie Forteza in “Tweens” and other TV projects, Bea has come into her own as lead. She plays a teenage witch, a good one, in “Alice B.”
The project propels Bea Binene in the lighter, easy-to-digest mode of romantic comedy laced with a dash of fantasy. The format suits her best as a teenage star, one that can endear her to fans and a wider audience.
Bea is paired opposite Derrick Monasterio, another star on the build-up platform, and constant partner Jake Vargas in “Alice Bungisngis.” The laughter starts also on Feb. 6.