Gladys Reyes and Christopher Roxas are now parents to a teenager, as eldest son Christophe enters his adolescent years.
“Oo, actually. Thirteen lang si Christophe, pero anlaki, ang taas na bata. May teenager na ako, 'no?” Gladys says.
Is Christophe courting anyone yet?
“Parang more on music ang kinahihiligan niya ngayon. Gusto niyang mag-gitara.”
Christophe also sings well, and regularly performs at their restaurant, Estela, which, the actress calls her son's "training ground."
“Yung music side niya, kay Christopher yun. Kasi ako, hindi ako, well mahilig ako sa music pero hindi kasinghilig nila.
“'Tsaka yung nag-aano ng instrument, ng gitara, wala akong kaganun-ganun, e.”
What if Christophe says he wants to pursue an acting career?
“More on hosting siya, tingin ko. May vlog siya.”
It seems that Christophe got his hosting talent from his mother.
“Except, Inglisero. So siya, ang vlog niya, English.
“'Tsaka very spontaneous, 'tsaka yung confidence niya, gusto ko, kapag nag-iinterbyu ng tao, kapag may tinatanong siya.
“Like recently, we had Nyoy Volante sa Estela.
"Nagulat ako, kasi, well... siya ang nag-entertain kay Nyoy sa holding area ni Nyoy, nagulat ako na spontaneous yung mga tinatanong niya kay Nyoy!
“About music, Beatles, old soul si Christophe, e. Ang gusto niya, mga old music.”
How does it feel to have a teenage son?
“Minsan, meron akong disbelief na, ‘Naku, may teenager pala ako,’ kami ni Juday, di ba? Parang anlalaki na ng mga anak namin, di ba?
“Siya, may Yohan. 'Tapos ako, siyempre may Christophe.
"Si Angelu din, si Nicole, dalaga na!”
Gladys, Angelu de Leon, and Judy Ann Santos are good friends.
“Yung mga era naming mga magkakaibigan kami, may teenagers na kami.
“So sabi ko, how time flies.
“At ang ano ko ngayon, iba kasi ngayon ang pagpapalaki sa teenagers!
“Iba yung panahon namin noon, di ba?
“Ngayon, with the presence of social media and modern technology, we have to be, I think ha, more vigilant.
“I mean, hindi natin makokontrol yung mga bagets ngayon, pero importante yung constant yung communication at saka yung paalala sa kanila.”
Is Christophe free to use social media as much as he wants?
“Alam mo, ang gusto ko kay Christophe, he has self-discipline, he has self-control, alam niya kung ano yung puwede at hindi puwede, ganun, na ilabas, halimbawa, sa social media.
“He’s very careful, alam mo to the point ako pa nga yung careless minsan. Siya, hindi iyan gagamit ng basta-basta music na walang copyright.
“Alam niya yun, very aware siya dun, sa vlog niya. ‘Ah, mommy I can’t use that because there’s a copyright!’
“Meron akong thought bubble na, ‘Ganun pala yun?’
“So, ako pa yung mas natututo sa kanya, di ba?
“So, natutuwa ako, nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos na yung mga anak ko naman ay mukhang tama naman ang kinapupuntahan.”
Gladys and Christopher's other children are 11-year-old Aquisha, 8-year-old Grant, and 2-year-old Gavin. Grant will turn 9 in November.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) speaks to Gladys during the taping of the upcoming GMA-7 drama series Madrasta on Monday, September 2, at Sitio Elena Events Place along Ortigas Avenue Extension, Cainta, Rizal.
ONSCREEN SON
Madrasta marks the third time that Gladys is working with Juancho Triviño. They first worked together in Little Nanay and Inday Will Always Love You.
“Kaya super-relaxed na kami sa isa’t isa, actually.
"Lagi niya akong niloloko, kasi sinasabi niya, ‘Sino mas favorite mo sa amin na mga naging anak mo?’
“May mga ganun,” Gladys laughs. “Si Juancho naman nakakatuwa kasi very relaxed na akong ka-work siya, e.”
Gladys is playing a good character again, this time as an aesthetic doctor named Dra. Elizabeth Ledesma, mother of Dr. Sean Ledesma (played by Juancho).
“Mahirap lang sa mabait, jiyak [iyak] nang jiyak! Iyakin, ganun. Parang minsan, kapag umiiyak ako, gusto kong magsalbahe,” Gladys jokes.
She does miss being a kontrabida.
“Siyempre, parang comfort zone ko yun pero on the other hand, okay rin na minsan e napi-feel mo yung inaapi-api ka. Pero parang hindi ko matagalan,” she says with a laugh.
Madrasta stars Arra San Agustin and Thea Tolentino, who plays the kontrabida.