Enrique Gil is wearing a new hat these days—as a film producer. During his guesting on the Bisaya talk show “Kuan on One” hosted by Melai Cantiveros, he showcased his ‘producer skills’ when they took on a hilarious ‘audition’ challenge. Melai acted like she was auditioning for a role, throwing out famous lines from iconic movies, while producer Enrique gauged if she was worthy of the part.
First up, she dramatically delivered the infamous “Lock the door!” line from “A Very Special Love.” Next, they reenacted the heated confrontation from “One More Try”, one line of which says, “Ang pera natin hindi mauubos pero ang pasensya ko, konting-konti na lang!” Melai’s exaggerated acting got a loud laugh from Enrique, who enthusiastically exclaimed, “You got it!”
They moved on to the family drama “Seven Sundays” before tackling horror with a reenactment of a scene from “Feng Shui,” which starred Kris Aquino. “Beautiful!” He couldn’t help but jestingly exclaim at the sight of Kuantie Melai’s over-the-top performance.
From horror, the conversation shifted to real-life fears—a topic Enrique spoke about with heartfelt sincerity. He admitted that fears are something he grapples with, but he firmly believes that prayer and faith in God are the ultimate remedies. For Enrique, God’s presence is constant, whether in moments of joy or during the lowest points of his life, like when he lost his father to cancer in 2008.
It left such a big scar in his heart that losing a loved one has now become his greatest fear, as he doesn’t want to go through that kind of pain again. However, he added that he draws comfort from trusting in God’s plan.
“I believe na nand’yan lagi si Lord, always watching, always there for you, as long as you’re always praying and always calling Him, and inaalay mo ‘yung work mo in the name of Jesus Christ,” he said with conviction.
This deep spiritual mindset, Enrique credits to his mom, whose unwavering faith has been a great influence in his life. She instilled in him the power of prayer and the importance of surrendering everything to God. Thus, he believes his mother’s prayers have protected him through the years.
When asked if he ever feared losing his place in showbiz, Enrique candidly admitted, “No,” and even confessed that he entertained the thought of fading naturally from the public’s memory during the pandemic.
“Gusto ko kasi ng tahimik at simpleng buhay. Gusto ko nang lumipat sa Tagaytay, sa property ko na nasa tapat ng bundok. Gusto ko ng tahimik lang, magsasaka na lang ako,” he revealed. He even had a heart-to-heart talk with his mom during that time, and told her he was ready to leave the industry.
However, leaving showbiz wasn’t as simple as it sounded. The idea of parting from the industry he loved—and considering how it might affect his supporters—changed his mind. “Siyempre, malulungkot ang fans,” he said.
“Sabi ko, parang may kulang kung iiwan ko lang ang entertainment industry,” he confessed. This realization led him to return—not just as an actor but as a producer. And now, Enrique has found that missing piece by putting up his own production company, as he aims to create quality content for his audience.
This Christmas, Enrique’s production outfit will have an entry at the Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 with the horror flick “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital.” The concept, he shared, stemmed from his fascination with online horror content.
For Enrique, happiness is about finding where you truly feel at peace. He admits, however, that there are moments, especially in work, where it’s easy to feel unsatisfied or unfulfilled. But for him, the key lies in how you find something positive or joyful in what you already have.
"I mean, feeling ko maikli lang 'yung oras natin dito sa mundo, so at least, make the most out of your time here. Make sure that you're always happy sa lahat ng ginagawa mo," he shared, responding to questions sent in by KUANiezens.
He further encouraged, "Kung hindi ka happy, maghanap ka ng magpapasaya sa'yo at 'yun ang gagawin mo. Find your happiness in everything you do. ‘Pag wala doon, lumipat ka."
For Enrique, life’s too short not to prioritize your own joy.