Gabbi (center), with Atom Araullo and Joseph Morong
There are no ifs and buts about it: Gabbi Garcia is as whip-smart as she is pretty. Last time we touched base with the 19-year-old former “Encantadia” star during a GMA 7 sortie, we quickly realized she wasn’t just another pretty face with nothing much going for her in the talent department.
When we asked her where she wanted to go for the summer, she replied without skipping a beat: “I want to explore all of the world’s 197 countries, but I’d prioritize the Maldives because it’s said to be sinking!” (We later learned that the United Nations has 193 member states, excluding Palestine, Taiwan, the Cook Islands and the Vatican.)
Gabbi’s candor made her answers even more amusing, like when we asked her what it was like joining beauty pageants at a young age. (A fan page reveals that Gabbi won Miss Skin White at age 13 and Miss Solane at 15.)
“True, I was a kontesera as a kid,” she admitted with winking self-deprecation. “But, I joined singing contests and talent searches more than beauty competitions. I remember one question I was asked, even when I was still too young for it: What do you look for in a guy who wants to court you?’ I was only 13 years old then, but I answered with confidence, ‘I want a wise guy who’s God-fearing. He should love me more than I love my family (laughs)!’”
Gabbi, who was Julia Barretto’s classmate at St. Paul College-Pasig (“We met even before show biz beckoned”), said that while it’s true that singing was her first love, “I can’t say that my love for singing is greater than my love for acting.”
She further explained, “The fulfillment you get from one is different from the other. I’m with GMA as an actress, but I’m an indie artist as a singer-songwriter. I’ve been doing gigs with my sister and a band since high school.
“As we speak, I’m not in contract with any music label. I write and produce my songs (‘All I Need’). In music, being hands-on and having complete artistic control is fulfilling for me, because I’m currently taking a music course in college.”
The young actress also disclosed to us the advocacies she rallies behind: “Female empowerment is crucial and, regardless of gender, I support the campaign against bullying and body-shaming. You have to love yourself and your body.”
Gabbi Garcia
If she were allowed to talk to an actress she admires, whom would she choose?
“I’d love to meet Emma Watson,” she beamed. “She’s a beautiful person inside and out. It doesn’t hurt that she’s also a fine actress, who also happens to sing. She supports worthy causes and is well-rounded as a person. She’s a good influence to youngsters—and a perfect role model.”
Gabbi hosts “#Goals,” one of the GMA network’s online shows, which include Atom Araullo’s “Adulting” and Joseph Morong’s “Fact or Fake.”
The actress said she was thrilled to “go digital” because “there will come a time when everything we watch will migrate to the digital format, so it’s high time we tap into this,” she said.
But, while “#Goals” is a show that inherently caters to millennials (those who were born between 1981 to 1996, according to the Pew Research Center), Gabbi thinks it’s important for adults to watch it, too.
She explained, “I’m already part of Generation Z, but I think adults should watch it so that they know how a millennial or a Gen Z thinks. The show tackles personal issues, lifestyle, and what teenagers think about nowadays. Parents can get to know their children better through the program—what they like or dislike, their hobbies and interests, and what’s ‘in.’
“Understanding each other always leads to a give-and-take relationship. So, if a kid understands his or her parents, then the parents should also be aware of some trending issues that teenagers face on a daily basis. That way, they can relate to each other.”
Asked what her immediate goals in life and career are, Gabbi mused, “I want to make a mark in this industry by doing what I love, like music, modeling and, hopefully, films. In my personal life naman, my goal this year is get a house and travel more.”
Yes, and go to the Maldives and 196 other countries around the world.