Gabby Eigenmann to sister Andi: Learn from experience

Gabby Eigenmann, the eldest of the late actor Mark Gil’s children, is now responsible for taking care of his siblings.

He revealed that he and brother Sid Lucero help each other in keeping the family intact and looking after their siblings Andi, Maxene, Ira and Stephanie.

Call for help

“Nagtutulungan kaming dalawa, may kanya kanya kaming toka. Toka niya yung isang kapatid namin na babae na si Maxene, ako naman toka ko si Andi at yung bunso naming kapatid. Meron kaming kanya-kanyang assignment. Kaya nga yung Christmas wish ko talaga ay maging mas strong yung family namin. We really need our support from each other,” Gabby said at the press conference of GMA’s new teleserye “Once Upon a Kiss.”

The Kapuso actor revealed that Andi always calls him for help and pieces of advice.

“Sabi ko nga it’s a learning process for her. You get to be broken hearted, darating iyan sa buhay. Ang lagi ko kasing sinasabi sa kanya learn from experience. I don’t wanna say mistakes, sabi ko just learn. Kapag nadapa, bangon ka. Hindi yung nadapa ka, bangon ka nga. Nadapa ka ulit ibig sabihin you’re not learning.”

Andi recently admitted on social media that she feels hurt since her ex-boyfriend Jake Ejercito already has a new love.

‘Tita Jane’

“Sabi ko, even if I give them advice, nasa sa kanila pa rin iyon. Ako lang naman ay boses lang. Whether they do it or not, basta hindi ako nagkukulang sa pagpayo sa kanya,” Gabby said.

He’s close to Andi’s mother Jaclyn Jose, who sometimes confides in him, too.

“Tag team din sila ni tita Jane (Jaclyn), kasi kapag may problema din sila (Andi and Jaclyn), tita Jane would always call me. Palagi naman akong andito. I don’t want to be unfair to my other siblings, but if they want me to be part of their lives, I’m always here. Pero kapag binigyan mo ako ng wall for me to climb pa, you may enter. Minsan kasi diskarte na nila iyan. Si Sid would also call me kapag may problema din siya.”

Now that their dad is gone, Gabby says it is him who keeps the family together.

Eyes everywhere

“Before he passed away, actually kahit naman nung nabubuhay siya, I always promised him na I’ll take care of my siblings. Not just financially, emotionally, sabi ko nga hindi kami madalas nagkikita dahil busy kami, but I would always say I’m omnipresent. Kumbaga I have eyes everywhere."

Gabby hopes the family will always stay strong.

“I always watch what they do. Parang nababalitaan ko lahat ng kilos nila, so ngayon mas careful sila sana. Sana hanggang 2015 kasi it’s so hard for them to accept na nawala ang father figure nila. Ayaw ko na namang ireplace iyon. Wala naman silang choice kasi ako ang pinakamatanda sa kanila.”

After the successful run of his teleserye “Dading,” Gabby is back on TV drama with “Once Upon a Kiss,” where he plays Father Philip Madasalin, a guidance counselor. Gabby said it's a "50-50 good year" because "Dading" was successful, but he lost his father this year.

Triumph at the end of the day

“Pero sabi nga ng iba, kung ano man ang pinagdaanan mo na malungkot, there’s always triumph at the end of the day. Kumbaga iyon din naman ang gusto ni Daddy, basta maging happy at successful din ako aside from career, sa family life.”

“Once Upon a Kiss” starts airing on January 5, 2015, after “24 Oras.” It also stars Miguel Tanfelix, Bianca Umali, Manilyn Reynes, Mylene Dizon, Cris Villanueva, Tessie Tomas, Keempee De Leon, Sabrina Mann, Cai Cortez, Frank Magalona, Maricar de Mesa and Eunice Lagusad.