To become a star, and not just to become famous, was Andi Eigenmann's reason for joining showbiz.
So when some of the reporters—who attended the Hair Transformation event of Pantene at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel—tagged her as a "Primetime Actress," she was "flattered, happy, and overwhelmed."
She said, "Kasi, parang yun...Natawag na talaga akong actress, primetime pa! Kasi, yun po talaga yung goal ko...I entered the business to be able to do my craft, to be able to create, to be a common actress. Yun, that's it..."
The title "Primetime Princess," however, pits her against another young actress Erich Gonzales, who is part of Magkaribal.
But before the press could reinforce the rivalry, the daughter of Mark Gil and Jaclyn Jose was quick to say, "Magkaibigan naman po kami ni Erich, so parang, I don't think of such...to be ilang to each other kasi, you know, pareho kaming artista ng ABS-CBN. Pareho kaming yun, maganda yung ibinibigay ng ABS-CBN, 'tsaka inaalagang alaga...Madalas kami magkasama, kaya friends kami."
But who deserves the title more?
A very brief pause, before she answered, "Si Erich naman po yung nauna, so you know, I can't, I couldn't say...I can say that I think Erich can hold the title, has more right to hold the title more than me. So, siya yung nauna sa akin. She's been in the industry about five years, I think."
With regard to the "primetime actress" tag, Andi also underlined that it is not exclusive to her.
"I'm just here to work. I'm also a human being, I have my flaw just like everybody else. I don't think [there should be] a reason to be insecure because yun, tinatawag man akong primetime actress, hindi puwedeng, hindi naman sinasabing ako lang. Puwede namang lahat kami, di po ba?" she quipped.
This has been asked so many times. But after almost five months of playing the twin-role Agua Bendita, how was it?
"Ay, grabe, napagod talaga ako. Pagod na pagod..." the 20-year-old Kapamilya star said. "Nahirapan po talaga ako. Doble pa dahil nga nag-a-adjust pa ako, dahil nga bago pa ako. You know, I'm a very competitive person so the role was very overtiring because na-test talaga yung skill ko."
After Agua, she is set to have another TV project. "Napag-usapan na po namin, nagkaroon na po ng meeting. No definite slot yet because I'm gonna take a break," said Andi.
She will also be part of Regal Films' entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival, the Shake, Rattle, & Roll, plus the remake of Temptation Island.
ANDI'S CRUSH? Now, let's talk about boys. She cut in, "There's not much to say."
To continue her statement, "People always ask me, 'Kamusta yung lovelife mo? Ready ka na ba magka-boyfriend?' Ganito, ganyan, ganito, ganyan...For me, doesn't matter kung merong boyfriend or wala basta masaya ako at that specific moment. Like someone with no one, parang even if there's someone, parang kahit di ko boyfriend, kung meron mang nandiyan and masaya ako, yun..."
We asked Andi about her leading men. Is there something special going on between her and Jason Abalos?
Her honest answer: "Magkaibigan lang po talaga kami, yun lang po talaga...Hindi showbiz answer yun."
But who's closer to her as a friend—Jason or Matteo Guidecelli?
"Mas close ako kay Jason kaysa kay Matteo, pero hindi naman ibig sabihing hindi kami friends or whatever ni Matteo. We are also close, it's just that I guess I get along with Jason more," she shared.
She described Matteo as "real man and masyadong matipuno," but Jason is more approachable when it comes to "kuwentuhan."
But after Agua, if she'll be asked to pick a leading man, she will choose "Jericho Rosales!"
With a smile, she said, "Siguro po, alam na ng buong mundo...Sa tuwing ini-interview ako kahit saan, lagi tinatanong, 'Sinong ina-admire mong artista?' Sagot ko palagi, 'Siya, Jericho Rosales.' Siya lang naman, e."
Why Echo?
"Besides being a great actor, he's so funny, and he's so...seems that he's so real. Sobrang taong-tao siya, na parang hindi siya mayabang, hindi po ba. 'Tsaka ano, siguro dahil type ko rin kasi siya..." (CLICK HERE to view video.)
After that statement, she issued a disclaimer: "Hindi naman siya crush...Ina-idol ko talaga siya."
And her subsequent sentences lauded Echo for being a "great actor," and recalled the time when she was still a little girl wanting to meet him in person. "Starstruck pa rin ako hanggang ngayon!" she said, after relating that the actor-singer usually says "hi" to her.
A few feet away from her, the girlfriend of her "idol" was being interviewed by other reporters. When asked if Cesca Litton knows that Andi admires her beau Echo Rosales, Andi initially whispered, "Sila ba? Hindi ko alam..." Then, she added playfully, "Sasabihin ko mamaya."
But even if she talks about boys the entire night, Andi's priority is not them, but her work.
"Kahit anong mangyari, work pa rin ang mas importante sa akin," she said firmly.