PHOTO taken at the Cinema One awards night on Nov. 18, 2013, shows Gil with wife Maricar Eigenmann (left) and ex-wife Bing Pimentel. ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — It was a star studded family reunion to say the least with a powerhouse cast that paid tribute to a loved one and respected fellow actor.
Singer-actor Eddie Mesa (Eduardo Eigenmann in real life and who was known as the local Elvis Presley) and wife and actress Rosemarie Gil, children and actors Michael de Mesa and Cherie Gil all came for Raphael Joseph Eigenmann, popularly known as Mark Gil, who died Monday and whose wake was open to the public Wednesday at the La Salle Greenhills in San Juan.
Gil, 52, who succumbed to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer, was cremated at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City Monday. He was diagnosed with the illness two years ago but decided not to make his condition public and continued his acting career.
The Eigenmanns were joined by Gil’s wife of 18 years, Maricar Jacinto-Eigenmann, and her stepsons and actors Gabby Eigenmann and Sid Lucero and stepdaughter Maxene Eigenmann.
With Lucero was rumored girlfriend, actress Alessandra da Rossi.
Michael de Mesa’s son, actor Geoff Eigenmann was also present.
Gil’s loved ones wept as his wife, wearing sunglasses and a black dress, walked up to his urn surrounded with orchids and family pictures and kissed it.
Light music helped to soften the somber mood.
Before settling down with Jacinto, Gil was romantically involved with several actresses: Irene Celebre, mother of Gabby Eigenmann and Ira Celebre; Bing Pimentel, mother of Sid Lucero and Maxene Eigenmann; and Jacklyn Jose, mother of Andi Eigenmann.
Aside from family, friends of the actor from show business came: Gretchen Barretto, Gary Lising, Jose Mari Chan, Lolit Solis, Maria Isabel Lopez, Melissa Mendez, and Tirso Cruz III.
Gil, whose wake will be until Thursday, is an alumnus of La Salle.
Legacy
Gil got his big break in show business in the early ‘80s through Mike de Leon’s now-classic opus, “Batch ‘81”, playing a young man caught in the whirlwind of fraternity rites. His character’s name was Sid Lucero. “Batch 81” was shown in the Cannes International Film Festival in 1982.
Among the more than 100 films he starred were “Magnifico,” “Pasan Ko ang Daigdig” and “Eskapo”.
In the indie film circuit, Gil’s collaboration with young director Ron Bryant earned him awards. In the 2006 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, Gil played a tabloid photojournalist trying to make sense of the chaos around him in Bryant’s entry titled “Rotonda”. Gil won the Best Actor Award in Gawad Urian.
In Bryant’s entry for Cinema One Originals in 2008 titled “Alon (Wave)”, Gil was co-winner of the Best Actor award, a tie with Ronnie Lazaro for his role in “Yanggaw”.
In recent years, Gil appeared in popular TV series “The Legal Wife,” “Magkaribal,” “100 Days to Heaven” and “My Husband’s Lover.”
In a written statement read by De Mesa on television, Gil’s legacy in the history of Philippine cinema or Philippine entertainment in general could be summed up with the thought that “…as long as Filipino films are being watched and appreciated, there will always be Mark Gil.”
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