Enrique Gil with manager Ranvel Rufino. Image from Instagram / @ranvelrufino
Rebranding has been in vogue—from companies, brands, logos, tourism campaigns to show biz careers that it was just a matter of time before actor Enrique Gil, also known as Quen, unveiled his own rebrand. Or not.
“With Quen, what I planned was not really to rebrand but for him to take on something new, new stuff that was not in the tradition of what he was doing,” Ranvel Rufino, Gil’s manager, told Inquirer.net. “So meaning, we try to get out already from romance, romance-comedy because it’s something that he has done for quite some time now. So I want him to do new challenges and it’s the same with him.”
Rufino said he has received eight movie offers so far for Gil, with genres ranging from romance, rom-com, to drama, and including one to be filmed overseas as well. For now, Gil has committed to three movies—two will be filmed this year including his recently announced comeback film “I Am Not Big Bird,” and the third is scheduled for the first quarter of next year. He is also set to do a series with ABS-CBN next year. “I tell you, sobrang exciting ng gagawin, hindi siya yung normal na series,” Rufino said.
He added that the projects Gil will be doing are planned over a two-year period. Last April, Gil signed up for a new two-year exclusive contract with ABS-CBN. Back then, Rufino did not go into details about their plans but cryptically told the press: “Once we announce his comeback project, you’d see the difference.”
Gil’s dual role in “I Am Not Big Bird,” a male adventure comedy set in the 2000s in Thailand, is indeed a refreshing change for the 31-year-old actor.
He plays Luis Carpio, a 30-year-old inexperienced man that may remind fans of his previous roles in the romantic comedies he had headlined. But many probably did not see the other role coming: Big Bird, a famous Thai porn star—a role that is new for the versatile actor who has done 15 films since he joined the entertainment industry in 2008. He has played the neglected son, a young professional, a kidnap victim, a doctor to the barrios, knight in shining armor, etc.—but never as unconventional a role as an adult film star, a big leap considering his image as a wholesome, romantic leading man, and the other half of LizQuen, his onscreen partnership with real-life girlfriend Liza Soberano. The closest he probably got was in the 2016 teleserye “Dolce Amore,” where his character attempted to moonlight as a male escort.
Gil was previously under Star Magic, ABS-CBN’s talent management arm but decided not to renew his contract when it ended during the pandemic. He was in fact planning to quit the entertainment industry altogether in exchange for a quieter life away from the spotlight. It was his realization that he needs to leave a legacy that made him decide to come back. Besides being an actor, Gil has earned the “King of the Gil” title as a dancer and singer who sold out Araneta Coliseum for his solo dance concert in 2013.
Rufino, son of June Rufino, a stalwart in talent management herself, formally took over as Gil’s manager in January though they have been friends and business partners for several years. Rufino’s experience as an entrepreneur and former private banker came in handy in his business partnership with Gil which started with an HKT perfume line in 2019 and then pivoted to HKT Alcohol during the pandemic. They also recently put up Make-a-Break Productions whose first project, “I Am Not Big Bird,” is a collaboration with three other production groups.
Their production company has come up with “wild and crazy” content, Rufino shared, and they are open to collaborations not only for Make-A-Break but with Ticket2Me, which recently appointed Gil as its chief marketing officer. Both are equity partners and their first projects under the digital ticketing and video platform are “Manila Madness,” a celebrity basketball tournament, and “Madness Manila,” an EDM festival.
Rufino assured that Gil will continue working in the entertainment industry: “As long as he can, he will. But again, it has to be challenging and fun.”
“We want to work with the best, it doesn’t matter who they are,” he added. “So I wouldn’t say it’s a rebranding but just embracing and accepting new projects. Crazier projects!” EDV