It has been reported that former matinee idol Gabby Concepcion will return to the Philippines after 13 years. KC Concepcion, Gabby's daughter with ex-wife Sharon Cuneta, confirmed the report.
But as to the exact date of Gabby's arrival, KC told the press during the media junket of her ABS-CBN show I Am KC last Thursday, March 28, that her father wanted to make it a "surprise." KC made it clear, however, that the main purpose of her father's return is to visit her paternal grandfather, Rolly Concepcion, who has a heart condition.
Gabby's homecoming will also coincide with KC's 23rd birthday on April 7.
There were reports that Gabby will arrive on April 1, while others say the former Regal baby will come home on April 4.
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) got a report yesterday, March 29, that Gabby will arrive today, March 30, via Philippine Air Lines, although the exact time is not clear. Also, earlier today, we got a text message from an ABS-CBN insider saying that Gabby has already arrived and that he will make his showbiz comeback as a Kapamilya by appearing on The Buzz this afternoon for a full-length interview with Boy Abunda.
PEP later found out that Gabby arrived at around 3 AM today.
Months before Gabby's return to the Philippines, it was reported that he will make his showbiz comeback through a movie that will be co-produced by GMA Films, with Jolina Magdangal as his co-star. During Jolina's birthday celebration on SOP last November 2007, Gabby greeted the multimedia star through an overseas call. Gabby is now based in San Francisco, California working as a real-estate agent.
Gabby's comeback film was supposed to be I.T.A.L.Y., which will be shot entirely in Italy and other parts of Europe on a cruise ship. When everyone thought that everything was okay, a few weeks before the shooting would start, Gabby decided not to do the film.
It is not clear why the former actor backed out, although Jolina revealed to the entertainment press during the presscon of Pinoy Idol last March 28 that Gabby was not happy with the script. When she asked if he was still willing to do the movie if the necessary changes were done to suit his taste, Gabby did not answer back.
Dennis Trillo has been chosen to replace Gabby.
GMA Films also reportedly gave Gabby a down payment for I.T.A.L.Y. and he signed a contract binding him to make his first movie after 13 years with the film arm of GMA-7.
But Gabby signed the contract with GMA Films when he did not yet have an agent/talent manager. Apparently, he got the services of film producer Mrs. Rose Flaminiano of FLT Films to negotiate his offers from the Philippines. Gabby was accompanied by Mommy Rose from the U.S.
Now that Gabby will make his first appearance in ABS-CBN, where his daughter and ex-wife are premiere talents, does this mean that his first project will also be with the Kapamilya network? What about his contract with GMA Films?
Hopefully, these questions will be answered by Gabby on his first live interview after 13 years.