Epy Quizon, Gabby Eigenmann: In their father's shadow
Being a son of a celebrity has its share of pros and cons.
Epy Quizon and Gabby Eigenmann discussed these recently on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.”
Epy shared how hard it was for him to be measured in terms of his dad, the late King of Comedy Dolphy Quizon's, success.
He said, “‘Yun ang pinakamahirap. Ang hirap, Dolphy agad? How can you fill a shoe that big?”
“Akala nila madali para sa amin," he added. "Pero actually mas mahirap kasi madali ka (man) makapasok (sa showbiz) pero pag pagpasok mo dun, ikukumpara ka agad sa mga kapatid mo, sa tatay mo. ‘Yun ‘yung maling expectations ng tao.”
Gabby couldn't agree more noting how he was constantly being compared to his dad, the late awarded actor Mark Gil.
He said, “It is an advantage na anak ka ng artista or galing ka sa angkan ng mga artista. It was an... easier way to (enter) show business. Pero ang problema lang is they expect you to be as good as your dad.”
He admitted feeling distressed about it.
“It was a pressure, pressure para sa amin ‘yon,” was how he put it.
“Akala nila it was easier for us. Mahirap kasi they tend to compare nga eh. I-e-expect nila na kasing galing mo, pero iko-compare nila na ‘parang: 'Mas magaling pa rin ang daddy mo, mas gwapo ang daddy mo, mas...’”
Asked if he shares any similarities with his dad, Gabby said they're very much alike only that he's more patient.
As for Epy, he noted: “My father was the better person, for sure; better actor, hands down, siya talaga.”
If anything, Epy admitted they're alike in terms of knowing the "lingo of the streets."
"I mean, ibato mo ko sa Tondo, kahit saan, alam ko makisama sa mga tao," he explained. “Alam ko ‘yung lingguwahe ng kalsada, and my father knew that.”