THEY say Pinoys have amnesia....I have to admit, I do, too! Years ago, Gabby Concepcion was a showbiz pariah. No one wanted to touch or be involved with him following the 1994 Manila Film Fest scandal when his manager Lolit Solis switched the votes to have Gabby declared as best actor. Remember “Take it! Take it!” After an act of contrition, Lolit went on to resume a flourishing career as a talent manager and TV host, while Gabby disappeared into oblivion....Or so we thought. Recently, Gabby triumphantly returned to Philippine shores looking as handsome as ever.

Welcome back, Gabby....How does it feel to be back?

It’s nice to be back after 13 years. It definitely feels good. 

What were your thoughts upon hitting Philippine soil?

Back when I was in the US, I didn’t want to go home anymore. A lot had happened, and I felt hurt and betrayed. But I’ve learned to forget all that and when I got back, I knew I wanted a fresh and clean start. 

Will you have a clean start with Lolit Solis?

Well, I would like to think our fight is over now.... 

What about with Sharon Cuneta? Is she mad at you?

Whatever I did and whatever faults I had with her or with anyone else, I already asked for forgiveness from the people concerned. 

You’re now a certified Kapamilya. What does this entail?

I’ll be doing a movie, as well as a soap opera. I saw a Maalaala Mo Kaya guesting on my schedule, too. I could only dream about this before and I told myself that if I were to do a movie again, I want to do it when I’m a Kapamilya. 

Pinoys have welcomed you again with open arms. How does it feel?

I’m really overwhelmed. I never expected it to be like this. I’m so thankful that people have welcomed me back. I’m just so grateful.... 

What about your wife and the baby you have in the States? How are they?

They will follow me here, eventually. I have a cute two-month-old baby and she’s very adorable. I have here with me something that would remind me of her wherever I go (shows a pair of mittens). I smell it and look at it and it instantly makes me think that she’s just nearby. 

Have you seen your daughter KC Concepcion?

I haven’t seen her yet. I’m so excited to meet up with her. 

What about Chloe, your daughter with Jenny Syquia?

Not yet, too. I just get pictures. Gabrielle, I met up with two days ago. 

Will you welcome doing a film with your ex-wife Sharon Cuneta and your daughter?

Of course. I hope I can do one soon with them.

Into the Dark

SURE, we’ve seen Keanu Reeves make like Superman and defy the laws of physics in the Matrix trilogy, but rest assured, you haven’t seen him bust heads like he does in the crime thriller Street Kings.

‘Shot rings out in the Imax sky’

THERE were rumors that U2 will perform somewhere in Subic late this year. Then again, they’re just rumors and the official web site of the band, www.U2.com, yields not even a whiff of confirmation or denial.

Gab Fab: The return of the pariah

THEY say Pinoys have amnesia....I have to admit, I do, too! Years ago, Gabby Concepcion was a showbiz pariah. No one wanted to touch or be involved with him following the 1994 Manila Film Fest scandal when his manager Lolit Solis switched the votes to have Gabby declared as best actor.

Shaken & Stirred: Yoo-hoo! Come out, come out wherever you are...

REALLY, sweetie, this is getting a bit much. I’ve been attending all sorts of so-called society events—even the ones I was warned never to get myself caught dead in—in the hopes of bumping into that darling little miss who lavishly proclaimed me to be her BFF, and never mind if this was mere hours after we were first introduced.

Cooks: ‘Lubi-lubi’

TWO major images have affected my regard for Bicol. Over land, it is the perfect cone of Mayon Volcano which, at one time, made me wonder how much atomic-bomb power was generated to get this perfect cone out of the ocean bed and onto Bicol ground. The second awesome wonder is underwater:

Island flavors

Part One 

WITH the summer vacation officially on, no doubt Boracay Island will be one of the favorite destinations.

Think safety first for children

WE worry so much about our children, regardless of their ages. I shake my head in disbelief after hearing about a two-year-old girl causing her own death last month when, reaching for a remote control, she pulled a 25-inch television down on herself.

Something Like Life: When your child is out of control

SOME friends and I were walking along Bonifacio High Street one evening, trying to exercise away the humongous shabu-shabu meal we had just ingested, when a group of young shrilly girls came toward us.

Experts divided over back’s core issue

YOU roll around on your Swiss ball like a grizzly with a back itch. You do crunches and work your obliques like a champ. So you must have good core stability, right? And core stability will reduce back pain and prevent injury, right?

Online, there’s no due process and no apologies

THROWING a puppy off a cliff? It would be difficult to invent a better metaphor for cruelty. Small wonder, then, that when a recent video began circulating that showed a US Marine apparently doing just that, online communities the Web over erupted in anger and disgust.