Angelu de Leon has finally seen the last episode of TGIS's spin-off series, Growing Up.
It may be recalled that during her PEPTalk episode with perennial onscreen partner, Bobby Andrews, back in 2015, Angelu said that she never got to watch the series.
In 1998, she left Growing Up because she became pregnant with her child with action star, Joko Diaz.
Back then, she told PEP.ph, "Kasi nakikita ko or dun ko nadadama na, 'Oh, my gosh, ang dami kong sinaktan na tao.' Not just the people around me doing Growing Up, the actors, the staff, the directors, the writers and everyone, but the fans that loved the show."
In April 2016, during her Tonight With Arnold Clavio guest appearance with some TGIS stars, Angelu was able to see the last part of the final episode, where the cast members were bidding goodbye and saying that their characters are "signing off."
Angelu, who was obviously crying, just covered her face with a game prop.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph after the February 1 press conference of Inagaw na Bituin, Angelu recalled seeing the final episode 17 years after the final episode was aired.
She said with a laugh, "Di ko napigilan, di ba? Umiyak ako!"
Did she know they would be showing the final episode during her guesting?
"No! Tapos parang kahit na anong gawin ko, gusto nilang pilit na ipapanuod sa akin, so parang wala na akong ano."
Angelu said that she actually did not want to watch the final episode because it brings back the what ifs she had.
She explained, "It’s something that yung sana, hindi nangyaring ganun na parang how I wish I would’ve finished the show and malaman...
"Isa siya kasi doon sa may what if, e—sa akin, sa mga audience namin, meron siyang malaking what if."
Still, Angelu has no regrets about choosing her child over finishing the show.
She continued, "Pero at the end of the day, it still felt that it was just that. It needed to be that.
"Sa mata ng mga tao, sa buhay ko, it needed to be just that and, at the end of the day, you’re just grateful that it happened in your life and not think that, sayang, di ba?
"Would I’ve given up my child just to end a series? Parang hindi rin siya tama."
Angelu was also open in saying this during her PEPTalk episode.
She said back then, "Kasi nga, noong part na 'yon ng Growing Up, na we were doing the episode already, I was pregnant.
"And then, parang dumating yung choice na, 'Do you wanna continue the pregnancy, or you wanna continue the show?'
"Para naman sa akin, I mean, not for anything, I’m not gonna judge anyone, but I cannot do an abortion.
"So, I had to do that... na parang that thing na I would be bold enough to admit right away that I was pregnant."
Aside from Angelu and Bobby, TGIS also featured Raven Villanueva, Michael Flores, Ciara Sotto, Bernadette Allyson, Rica Peralejo, Red Sternberg, and Onemig Bondoc.
TGIS THROWBACK POSTS
How did Angelu feel while watching the TGIS finale episode?
She answered, "Kasi nga parang it brings back, good and bad, e.
"Siyempre, may good memories with it, may bad memories with it, meron ding traumatic side na, 'Oh my gosh, ano bang iniisip ko noong panahon na yun?'
"But yung sense of feeling that it was a good show, nakarelate lahat ng taong nakanuod doon."
Still, Angelu is fond of posting throwback photos of TGIS on her Instagram account.
According to her, she was influenced by co-star Michael Flores.
"Napag-usapan namin 'yan ni Mike kasi he always does it, and then they are times nga naman na people still.. pag pinost ko TGIS, for sure yun, everybody [will like].
"And it’s not just for selfish reasons, there are people who would comment na they’re having a bad day and yet, noong nakita nila yun, nagflashback sila to their younger days, yung mga days na pinapanuod nila yung TGIS, what made them happy about the show.
"Hindi na nga lang siya naging Bobby-Angelu e, may nag Raven-Michael, may Rica-Red, Angelu-Onemig. It brings a sense of good memories."
Angelu hopes that TGIS can be aired again to be seen by the new generation, just like how it is with the international show, Friends.
"Sana nga mapanood ng kabataan ngayon the way it was before.
"Kasi magugulat ka, my daughter watches Friends.
"Kung ganun lang rin yun ginawa, kung ipapalabas yung TGIS that way, it would’ve been like that."