Enrique talks about life inside and outside of showbiz

Oftentimes, a ring that is worn on the right ring finger is associated with ideas of love and relationships. Seeing Enrique Gil wearing one would definitely lead to the question regarding his relationship status with reel- and real-life sweetheart Liza Soberano.

During my one-on-one with the Kapamilya actor on The Interviewer Presents a few days ago, I asked pointblank if they were already engaged. He responded, “Oh, the ring (showing it to the camera)? No, not yet, Tito Boy.”

Enrique and Liza know marriage is a life-long commitment. He revealed that they are seriously talking about settling down. But they are taking things step by step. The two are getting into business first. “We’re thinking about the future but we have to concentrate on (the) now.”

Yes, Enrique, or Quen, shared that the topic of settling down would just pop up every now and then in their conversations. “We talk about it sometimes; out of nowhere like, ‘What do you think about getting married or stuff like this?’ But it’s so hard because right now, there’s so much on our plate. You know, we want to build our alcohol business, and we’re getting into three more businesses that are from totally different fields.”

Quen and Liza ventured into ethyl alcohol and sanitizer business. The latter also owns a wellness center while the former partners with his mom Bambi Gil in the construction business.

Unlike other couples who have joint accounts, Quen and Liza are trying to create their own holding company. “So sa lahat ng businesses na papasukin namin, we’ll have our own holding company so doon na lahat and for our taxes and everything.”

While he agreed to what Daniel Padilla recently articulated that the right age to get married is somewhere around 30 years old, Quen also does not think that there’s a right time to exchange I do’s.

Quen added that they want to make sure that when they start building a family, “We’re well-off; not super well-off, but we’re comfortable. As long as we can live comfortably, we’re fine.”

As for their dream wedding, Quen has a romantic seaside setting in mind. “I mean, paradise is where the beach is. But I remember a fan telling us, we were doing a show in Texas (that time), I think or somewhere, ang sinabi n’ya, ‘Please, talaga pag ikakasal kayo, dapat talaga sa church kasi kung hindi, magagalit talaga si Lord.’ I said, ‘Okay, sige I’ll remember that.’ So, I guess we need to do two weddings now, hahahaha.”

Apart from his love life, Quen also talked about life inside and outside showbiz. Below are excerpts from the interview. Read on.

How are you?

“We’re good. Business has been a little tough on us because construction is going on and due to ECQs (Enhanced Community Quarantine) and all these limitations, but thanks to the Lord, tuloy-tuloy naman.”

So, are you building a building? Are you building houses?

“We’re building houses right now and we’ve got a lot more to go (laughs).”

Kapag pinag-uusapan ang childhood, what initially comes to your mind?

“For me, the beach and traveling. Both my parents were in the airline so as long as I can remember since I was a kid, we’d been going sa mga flights nila Mama and Papa. (His parents used to work as crew for Philippine Airlines.) We’d go to Paris, you know different areas like in the States, all around.”

I wanna talk about your childhood because I got a lot of funny stories. Madalas ka kurutin ng mga tao ‘pag nakikita ka?

“Yes, growing up because they would say that I looked like a doll or Home Alone. During that time ‘90s, Home Alone was popular then and they would always call me Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone.”

How were you in school?

“Oh my gosh, super mahiyain. I remember I just moved in to Manresa School during elementary, Grade Six, I think. I was a new student there and every recess, every lunch break, whenever I’d be down in the cafeteria, I just couldn’t take it parang feeling ko, maybe because I was the new guy there, everybody was staring at me. Wala, after one week, doon na ko sa classroom kumakain.”

Where was it coming from? You’re shy because you look different — your hair color; maputi ka?

“Yeah, maybe because I had this sense of being an outsider or, I don’t know because I was the only Caucasian-looking boy out there.”

How were you reacting to the young girls having a crush on you?

“I’ll just not pay attention to them. My mom and dad, whenever they would send us to school, from the windows, the lower batches and even the higher batches would wave (at me) and I was so embarrassed. My mom and dad were just laughing.”

But did you know that you’re handsome?

“I wouldn’t say that because in school parang ang dami kasing may mga jowa-jowa. I wasn’t part of the group. I felt like I was a nerd in a way.”

Three siblings, you are the middle child and you have a brother but you are almost of the same age.

“Yes, Javy. I’m a year younger.”

Then, your younger sister.

“Andie.”

Did you go through middle child syndrome?

“Actually, no. We’re really lucky growing up that my mom and my dad really made sure that whatever one has, meron din ako to the point that sometimes Javy and I would wear the same top or pants as if we’re twins.”

Do you remember a dog in your childhood named Dino?

“Yeah, it was a notorious dog in the village. When we were kids, there were no gadgets yet — so you know every afternoon, we’d be out playing with sticks, playing with insects and we’d always come across this dog named Dino. He was a menace to all the kids in bicycles in the whole village for how many years he’d be chasing us (laughs).”

Do you still enjoy that kind of a thrill? Do you still enjoy danger?

“Of course, I mean kami ni Liza whenever we’re out, we’re scuba diving, we’re on the beach, doing water sports or when we’re in the States, we’d be going to the theme parks, all the rides will be finished in one day. We’re just really adventurous. We just want to have fun.”

What is your process as an actor?

“Most of the time, I study the character but more than that, it comes with you know, how do I feel because I’m the actor, I’m gonna be the one portraying this character. How would I deliver this line? How would I look at this person as the character? It’s totally different and you can’t put yourself in that character. Sometimes as much as you want to, most of the time, you’re just praying that I hope this is what the character is. It’s more of a feeling for me.”

When did you know that you were a huge star?

“When I was in the gas station and tuwing magpapa-gas kami after taping, madaling araw. And then they (people) would call me by my character’s name na, ah si BJ, ‘yan, si Jao ‘yan. And then one time, they called me by my name, ‘yun na alam ko na, hahahaha.”

Share with us the most important lesson you learned in the celebrity business.

“Working with the crew. Working with everybody — from highest to smallest people — to know how hard it is, you know, to instill in other people’s mind that it’s not just all glam. It’s a very hard job and it demands a lot. And you just have to be prepared because it’s not all glam, lights and diamonds. It can change you as a person. It can change you as a human being. It can change you as a friend, as a co-worker. It’ll teach you a lot of lessons and it’ll start from the smallest people out there.”

What is your fundamental attitude toward social media?

“It’s good. With social media, you get to meet other people, keep tabs on your friends, your family. You get to know what everybody is doing in the world. I think it’s a great thing and it can also be destructive in a lot of ways but I believe social media is not for everyone.”

What is it to you?

“I’m just right there in the middle. Social media is there for me to reach out to people that I want to reach out to.”

Are there days when you think you want to have a break on social media?

“Well, I think I’m always on a break on social media (laughs).”