Gabby Concepcion has been managing his own career for several months now.
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) curiously asked if his "ex-manager" still has a say about the projects that come his way.
Gabby's brief reply was, "I get phone calls, I get text messages."
Aside from his television and movie projects, he's busy with corporate shows, provincial tours and fiestas. And he's the one who personally attends to most of the queries.
It's quite manageable, he said. Add the fact that he is able to expand his network in the business where he became invisible for 13 years.
"Nakaka-build na ko ng mga kaibigan sa industry, and sila na rin ang natatanong. Somehow, nagtsa-channel thru them," he said. "Whether it's from ABS, whether it is from the munisipyo or whatever city that you know...especially the provinces. Ang daming tumatawag sa mga kaibigan who know me and all that."
His expertise as a former real-estate broker in the U.S. comes in handy. He is a pro when it comes to handling queries and closing the deals. He is very organized, and jots down his bookings in a planner. He has the makings of a good talent manager, but Gabby admitted that the job is not really his piece of cake.
"I'm enjoying what I have right now. Yun muna," he began. "Of course, I'd like to meet the right person whom I can give this job to. I'm up for it, because maraming anggulo 'to, e, and I'm probably just on one...looking on one side.
"I've never been a manager all my life for, you know, any talent. This is my first job. So I really don't know. But I think it would be better, and a lot of people tell me na it's better if I choose the right person to manage me."
He stressed though: "That, I think will take a real time, [and] not to just jump into it."
REVIVED FRIENDSHIP WITH SHARON. Rumors recently circulated that he will make an appearance in his ex-wife Sharon Cuneta's upcoming movie with Ai-Ai delas Alas.
Gabby interjected, "Nabalitaan mo ba yun?"
Before calmly adding, "Wala. I don't even know where that came from. May nagsabi sa akin, 'Guest ka ba?' Sabi ko, 'Hindi, hindi ko alam.'"
So, to those hoping for a project that will possibly bring Gabby and Sharon together, sorry to dash your hopes, but Gabby said it has not been explored at all.
PEP inquired: How does Ginbee, his lovely wife, take all these talks about Gabby-Sharon?
He answered, "She knows about Sharon even a long time ago. She knows about my past a long time ago. So, even before our relationship, kilala na niya ako, kasi we were friends before."
The topic shifted to how he spent Holy Week with his family, and in the course of his storytelling, he casually revealed his "encounter" with Sharon while in Thailand.
When we pressed him to give more details, he clarified, "That was not planned. It just happened."
Then his tone changed from casual to cheery. He said animatedly, "Naglakad-lakad pa kami sa beach, e. Para nga kaming nasa ano, e, nasa shoot dahil nasa beach kami. Naglalakad kami..."
We were so caught up with his story that we did not realize he was just joking.
He laughed, then spelled out: "Muntik lang. Muntik kaming nagkita."
We asked again, "So, hindi talaga kayo nagkita ha?"
Turning quite serious, he affirmed, "Hindi, hindi. Pattaya yun, e, and it's a big place."
(Pattaya is 147-kilometer away from Bangkok. It boasts wide beaches and exciting night life.)
Gabby related that he learned about Sharon's stay in Thailand through KC, their daughter.
"Nag-usap kami ni KC. From time to time kasi, nag-uusap kami. Ayun... Sinabi ko, 'I'm in Bangkok.' Sabi niya, 'Oh yeah? We are also.' E, di yun na."
Gabby did not bump into Sharon in Pattaya, but he was able to talk to her.
Continuing his story, "Sabi ko ke KC, 'Ah talaga? O sige, I'll speak to Mama.' [KC said], 'Okay.'
[I went], "Ano, kamusta na? What a coincidence na we're here also... Magkikita ba tayo?'"
Before we could react, Gabby retracted his last sentence with a laugh. "Biro lang," he said repeatedly.
He underlined, "Small talk lang yun. Yun lang. Friendly talk. Yun nga... Buti nga, nag-uusap na kami ngayon, e, which is great!"
Compared to our exclusive interview with him last October 2008, Gabby was more relaxed this time. He is definitely back in the game, and enjoying every minute of it.
His parting shot, "I've already changed a lot from what I was before, when I left show business and what I am today. Basically, I just want to be a better person."