WHEN word got around that he was about to do a movie with Jolina Magdangal under GMA Films, the whole showbiz industry got excited.
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Forget about the 1994 Manila Filmfest Scam. Forget about his multiple marriages and bigamy cases. Gabby, after all, was the matinee idol of the 80s and the ultimate ka-loveteam of the Sharon Cuneta.

But upon his return last March 30, he once again shocked the Philippine entertainment industry when he announced that he has signed up with GMA’s archrival – the Kapamilya station ABS-CBN.

And all of a sudden, everyone was reminded of what made Gabby notorious in the fi rst place and what probably drove him away. Gabby, indeed, is back. And, true to form, he brought with him another firestorm of controversy.

The return of the comeback  

Indeed, no other showbiz actor has ever been as contentious as Gabby Concepcion. When the actor was presented to the press last April 4, he gamely answered all the questions thrown at him, including that fracas involving his contract with GMA Films.

“I am nervous right now. I’m no longer used to this. I will try to answer your questions the best way I can. I hope I can address your questions properly…para okay na lahat, para wala na akong itatago,” said Gabby during his press conference as the latest Kapamilya star. “Wala naman akong gusting itago. At least, mabukas na ‘yung bago kong buhay rito sa Pilipinas.

Now that he’s back, is he staying for good?

“I’d like to stay for good but I already have a life in the U.S. I don’t (intend) to stay very long. May taning ang buhay ko sa showbiz for now. I will just do the best I can. I will try to avoid all the intrigues that I can while I’m here. I don’t want to stay here for good because it’s been a dream of mine to live in the United States . But it depends and I can’t say for now if I can really stay long. Baka I might like here eventually. But I am really excited to be back,” said the former matinee idol.

One of the reasons why Gabby returned to the Philippines is to be with his ailing dad, Rollie Concepcion, who is suffering from a heart condition. His return meant seeing his father again since leaving for the United States in 1995. Mang Rollie’s heart ailment prevents him from traveling to the States, thus, the father and son hadn’t had the chance to see each other until now. The controversial actor stressed that he wants to be with his father before anything bad happens to him.

During the presscon, Gabby was still unaware of the network’s plans for him. He’s letting his new manager, former FLT Films producer Mommy Rose Flaminiano, handle the negotiations with the Kapamilya network regarding his showbiz comeback. At press time, there are talks that he might do an episode of the top-rating TV drama Maalaala Mo Kaya and in the works is a teleserye which will pair him with Claudine Barretto.

But for his fi rst TV project, Gabby wants to do something light. “Marami na akong drama sa buhay kaya sana ‘yung medyo light lang muna,” says the actor who won an Urian best actor trophy for Narito ang Puso Ko.

“Palagay ko hindi ko na idradrama ang ibibigay sa akin dahil madrama na ang buhay ko. Marami na akong naramdamang sakit. Alam ko huhugutin ko na naman ito sa mga drawer, ‘pag nag-umpisa uli. Kahit na ano, open naman ako. Adventurous naman ako sa mga roles, katulad noong ginawa ko ang Ika-11 Utos , ‘yun ang huling movie na ginawa ko bago ako umalis. Brutal talaga ang role ko roon. Maski ako hindi ko pinanood iyon pero sabi ko gagawin ko ito, maiba lang,” he added.

You were gone for 13 long years. Who were the people you missed during that long absence from showbiz?

“Si Lolit (Solis),” was his quick reply, referring to his former manager who was said to have orchestrated the infamous 1994 Manila Film Festival scam. “If I were to look back at our happier days, I really miss those days. Of course, I miss my family, my dad and my mom, especially my dad as he was the one always taking the cudgels for me ever since I started in the business. I missed Lolit kasi may pinagsamahan kami.”

Sharon , KC, Sharon , KC

“With KC, I get the chance to see her once in a while. She’s part of the family that I miss.”

Is Sharon Cuneta, the ex-wife and ex-loveteam partner who is now married to Senator Francis Pangilinan, not among those people that he had missed?

“Naku baka maintriga ako. Iyan ang iniiwasan ko. Baka isipin ninyo o ng iba, umuwi ako rito, parati kong binabanggit si Sharon . Tinatanong sa akin, pati si KC. Hindi ho sila ang dahilan kung bakit ako bumabalik ng showbiz. Ginagamit ko lang daw. Nagkataon lang na they became a part of my life, important part of my life,” clarified Gabby.

“(With) Sharon , I am happy for her kasi ang dami niyang success sa buhay niya, she has moved on. With KC, she’s making a career for herself and I have nothing to do with that.”

You said that one of your apprehensions in going back to the business has something to do with the intrigues. You said you wanted to avoid them. Now that you are poised to revive your acting career, how would you manage to parry the intrigues that would come your way, especially since you said that you have many unresolved intrigues?

“I (can’t) stay away from them (intrigues) but I would accept them. I used to stay away from intrigues. But I saw that Kris Aquino, Gretchen (Barretto), Annabelle Rama have no fear in facing intrigues, I might as well follow their example and do the same.”

He added, “As I’ve said, showbiz is really like that. My tendency before was really to stay away since I don’t want animosity. Why would I answer something that I saw written in the papers? I’d rather look for the person who wrote it and talk to him directly. But that is easier said than done. If you want to talk to me, I am here and ready to answer all your questions.”