PJ on daughter Carla: No conflict, no gap!

“No conflict, no gap!”

Reacting to persistent suspicion that he and his daughter Carla Abellana are not in good terms, Rey “PJ” Abellana assured the Doubting Thomases that everything’s all right between them.

“The only problem is that we seldom see each other,” added PJ in an exclusive Funfare interview as he answered the same set of questions that Leni Santos did a few issues ago.

One of the most popular love teams in the ‘80s because of their hit TV show Anna Liza, PJ and Leni are being brought together again by GMA in the forthcoming soap More Than Words (with Elmo Magalona and Janine Gutierrez among their co-stars). It’s the soap that lured Leni back from the States where she raised a family (two children by her husband, who’s the son of an actor-director-producer, from whom Leni is separated), while PJ has been living his own life away from Carla’s mother.

How do you feel about your comeback team-up?

“Leni and my separation as a love team was very abrupt at alam ko na nabitin ‘yung mga followers namin. And I’m sure that up to now, they want the Leni-PJ team-up to be back. That’s why I’m very happy, I’m excited, and I’m thankful to GMA for making it possible.”

What fond memories does it bring back?

“Naku, napakarami. Hindi mabilang because very memorable ang team-up ng Leni-PJ not only to ourselves but also to our co-stars in Anna Liza, and most especially, to the viewers na tumangkilik sa amin. We have chemistry not only as love team but also off the camera. We worked together very well and that helped create the magic of our team-up. Meron kaming spark na naiiba.”

Describe your role in the GMA soap and how you relate to your character.

“At this point, I can’t say much about it because the flow of the story is somewhat complicated. We play a couple, mag-asawa kami. ‘Yung character ni Elmo mapupunta sa bahay namin, sa bahay namin, at abangan n’yo na lang what’s going to happen. My role as Leni’s husband is, I would say, sober. That’s the word that best describes my family life now. Sober.”

What would you consider your most memorable movie or TV show?

“Of course, Anna Liza. It ran for more than six years; it could have run longer. Leni and I became so close to our co-workers that we became like a family. Masarap at masaya ang samahan namin. Well, one thing na hindi ko makakalimutan ay ‘yung samahan namin sa Anna Liza. I’ve never experienced a company happier than that. Naging barkada namin from the producers to the utility. We would go out every now and then. It was the most memorable experience in the 32 years that I’ve been in showbiz.”

How long have you and Leni been separated as a love team and what happened between then and now?

“Twelve years, I suppose. I would say we are closer now compared to before kasi, as I’ve said, we have matured.”

You also appear on TV every now and then. What have you been doing in-between those appearances?

“Most of the time I’m just home, attending to my children. I do all the errands. Very clannish ‘yung family namin, we are very close, so if I’m not home, I’m with either my parents, siblings and other relatives.”

How is your relationship with your daughter Carla?

“It’s well and normal. There’s nothing wrong, walang conflict, walang gap, except that I seldom see her because of her hectic schedule. ‘Yan ang kalaban ko lang ngayon.”

Niligawan mo ba noon si Leni? Bakit hindi kayo nagkatuluyan?

“Never, hahahaha! If I’m not mistaken, I’m the record-holder kasi I could be the only actor who did not court his love teammate. Mention a love team na hindi nagkaligawan at wala kang maiisip. Besides, iba ang type ko noon, hahahaha!”

How do you think are love teams today different from that of you and Leni?

“I would say na mas maugong ang mga love teams way back compared to now. Mas maraming fans clubs noon compared to now; the members, medyo limited na compared before. ‘Yung participation ng fans, very visible as well. Ipinapakita sa TV na they were given a chance to go up on stage sa mga live shows, na nag-aabot sila ng flowers. Unlike now, parang hindi na pinapakita na may inaabot ng flowers sa mga idol nila. Kung ilan sila, kung marami sila, kung andun sila o wala sila dyan.”

Which of today’s love teams do you identify with?

“The Elmo-Janine team-up because of their great on-screen chemistry, just like what Leni and I had during our time.”

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