Gabby Concepcion felt hurt while shooting confrontation scene in I'll Be There

For Gabby Concepcion, shooting a movie with his daughter KC is one of the best gifts that he has ever received.

"Regalo sa akin ito...ito na ang pinakamagandang regalo na binigay sa akin!" he exclaimed during the press con of their upcoming film I'll Be There. This Star Cinema film, directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes, will be screened in cinemas starting June 16, 2010.

Gabby says that a lot of families will be able to relate to the plot of the movie, which revolves around the relationship of Maxi (KC) and her estranged father Poch dela Cerna (Gabby).

"Maraming makaka-relate dito kasi alam ng tao ang buhay namin...merong element na ganun. Matagal kaming hindi nagkita kaya yung mga sumubaybay dun, curious sila kung anong magiging kalalabasan ng pelikula.

"Of course, the story is not true to life but the emotions are," he emphasized.

Did he felt hurt because of the harsh dialogue used by KC in the movie?

"May mga eksena sa pelikula na matatamaan ka at mahu-hurt ka," admits Gabby. "Meron akong eksena na nahu-hurt ako kasi pinagsasalitaan niya ako ng hindi maganda pero hindi naman nangyari yun sa totoong buhay. Pero masakit pala yun pag pinagsasabihan ka ng ganun ng anak mo kasi defenseless ka...wala kang magawa. Hindi mo kasi alam kung ano yung nararamdaman niya noong panahon na yun, e.

"Although hindi naman nangyari yun sa totoong buhay, pero nararamdaman yung sinasabi niya...masakit talaga."

Does he feel regret for not being able to see KC grow up for 13 years? It will be recalled that the actor went to the United States in 1995 and returned to the Philippines in 2008.

"May advantage at disadvantage ang lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay natin. Nagkakaroon ng change because of that. Kung nagkaroon ng falling-out ang relationship ninyo, may reason yun. But I have a chance to improve on it and fix it.

"For every action, there is an opposite reaction. In most cases, mas nagiging mas maganda pa pag nagkita kayo ulit," says Gabby.


NO BROKEN PROMISES. For her part, KC says that she became wary of shooting the confrontation scene in the movie because it might trigger pent-up feelings against her father.

"Mahirap pong umarte sa harap ng magulang mo. Ang hirap kasi tatay mo siya ang you have to be professional about it. And yung mga confrontation scenes namin dito sa movie, wala naman kaming sagutan sa totoong buhay, e. Kailangan ko talagang mag-trabaho kasi hindi naman talaga kami nagsasagutan.

"There were times na medyo sensitive. Minsan, natatakot ako na baka mayroon akong maradaman na matagal nang nawala or baka mamaya, mag make sense sa akin yung eksena. Or baka mamaya, may madevelop akong galit. O baka may ma-develop na, 'Oo, bakit nga ba nagkaganun?' Pero natapos naman namin yung pelikula na wala naman," narrates the daughter of Sharon Cuneta.

Was there an important occasion in her life when Gabby was unable to be there for her?

"Wala naman," recalled KC. "In fairness kay Papa, pag meron siyang sinabi, gagawin niya lahat para matupad 'yon. Ang nangyari lang, noong skating competition ko, hindi ko inaasahang manalo ko at siya ang nagsabit ng medal sa akin. Dun niya sinabi sa akin na pupunta siya ng States. [Sinakto] niya sa happy moment at nung sinasabitan niya ko ng medal sa gitna ng yelo, nung 11 years old ako, dun niya sinabi na aalis siya pero hindi naman niya sinabi kung kelan siya babalik or kung gaano katagal siya doon.

"Wala naman siyang promise na hindi niya tinupad kasi wala naman siyang sinabi na babalik ako agad."

She stressed that she did not have any confrontation scene with her father in the past. "Kasi hindi naman namin siya sinisi ni Mama. Naging maganda naman ang samahan nila ni Mama [referring to Sharon]. More of, nami-miss ko siya.

"Nung nag-aral ako sa Catholic school noong elementary, bawal kasi mag-enroll ang bata na hiwalay ang magulang. Tanong ako ng tanong kung bakit yung iba, may daddy, yung iba, ganito...bakit hindi ako kasama pag Father's Day."

How did she cope with this situation? "Pinapanood niya sa akin yung mga pelikula niya," revealed KC with a laugh. "Nagpapa-kuwento siya sa mga kasama niya sa showbiz kung paano sila dati. Kinukwentuhan niya ako na ganito yung Papa mo. Hindi naman niya sinisiraan si Papa kaya wala akong naging sama ng loob."