Enrique And I

Enrique and I during "Princess And I"'s promo shoot

During “Princess And I”’s promo shoot, Khalil Ramos and I were talking about his character Kiko in the series, and how close it was to my life then. That I fell in love with my best friend, unrequitedly. In the middle of our conversation, Enrique Gil would suddenly sit in and start sharing his own experiences. I was shocked, but I found myself just listening to how Enrique talked smartly. He was giving unsolicited yet on point and sincere advices about what I was going through. From then on, Enrique has become my love adviser – and a really good friend.

PAI taping at St. James in Novaliches. The
series' setting then was in Manila already.

Hindi ako nagkamali sa hunch ko na magiging smooth at masaya ang makatrabaho si Quen, as we fondly call Enrique, sa “Princess And I”. He was really the coolest and kindest. Yung walang reklamo kahit anong ipagawa naming sa kanya, from speaking kilometric Dzongkha lines to wearing those heavy and hot when worn Bhutanese costumes. Jao, especially during the first weeks of the serye, was the most complex character to portray. And he delivered, and more. Inaral niya talaga ang character. The first time I saw the trailer and rushes, nasabi ko sa sarili ko, Quen was Jao. He was meant for Jao. The audience, and the people behind PAI, couldn’t agree more. People everywhere he went to were calling him “Jao” or “Dasho” already.

Weeks before PAI ended, we knew in our hearts na hindi talaga si Jao ang makakatuluyan ni Mikay (Kathryn Bernardo) sa  PAI, as KathNiel’s teamup was becoming a phenomenon. But objectively speaking, Jao was a central character who deserved a happily ever after of his own. And undoubtedly, the Jao-Mikay-Gino was the most talked about love triangle in a long time. We wanted it fair pa rin. Thus, the decision na gawin siyang “I” sa “Princess And I”. Hindi naman kami worried kasi alam naming lalabas si Quen sa seryeng ito na isa nang leading man, ano pa man ang maging ending nito. And being the sport and considerate person Enrique is, he was prepared, and he took it in wholeheartedly. I remembered him saying, “being Jao was more than a privilege for me.”

I actually wore his costume for my graduation pictorial!
He was laughing at me when he saw me wearing it.

During my set visits, I would see a very energetic and hyper Enrique. Minsan pa nga, parang disco sa tent nila dahil may mini-sound system siyang dala. He got along so well with the entire cast and staff – wala akong narinig ni isang reklamo about how he worked. He was a friend to everyone. And he really made time for his dakilang fans na dumadalaw at nagpapaumaga. At di lang basta made time – bonding talaga. He treated his fans his friends, barkada.

During one of my set visits in our "palace" in San Juan
when Quen and I talked for two hours about love. 

Sa tuwing magkikita kami ni Quen, ang una niyang tanong ay, “kumusta kayo ni _______”, referring to my best friend. Magpapakwento siya, kahit 1am na at alam mong pwede niya ipahinga na lang. Yung sa Enchanted Kingdom set nga namin, 2 hours ang inabot namin sa pag-uusap. Then he would give comments and advices, na kailangan ko from a guy’s POV. He made sense. Ramdam ko yung concern at pagiging kaibigan. Imagine, an Enrique Gil for a love guru. But at the end of each conversation, he would remind me na wag kalimutan ang worth ko as a person.

Sa mga panahong I needed a friend who’d listen and guide me, he was there. Unexpectedly. Kaya alam ko na, even if mag-end ang “Princess And I”, at hindi man na kami magkatrabaho, he would still be there for me. Hindi niya ako binigo. 

During PAI's promo in ASAP. 

At the dugout of the first "Princess And I" Royal Fair.

At his brother Javy's birthday celebration

Backstage of ASAP

With a "darker" Quen during the last month of PAI.