Snooky Serna admits Gabby Concepcion was her most special leading man

(From left) Snooky Serna and Gabby Concepcion. Images: Screengrab from GMA, GMA Corporate Communications

Snooky Serna admitted that among her most notable onscreen partners, it was Gabby Concepcion whom she considers her most special leading man.

While paying tribute to the late Regal Entertainment founder Mother Lily Monteverde in an “Updated with Nelson Canlas” podcast on Sunday, August 18, Serna was asked to choose among her former leading men — Concepcion, Richard Gomez, and Albert Martinez — she considered the most special to her.

The majority of Serna’s films in the 1980s and 1990s, which were produced by Regal, featured her sharing the spotlight with the three male actors, where they had the chance to show their acting prowess with her.

“Ako, [para] sa‘kin, Gabby,” she said. “Richard was part of ‘Blusang Itim,’ Albert was my first love. Pero si Gabby kasi parang may special chemistry kami. Ako, I felt the chemistry. ‘Yung sa pag-arte namin, parang we would read each other’s minds, tapos ‘yung pati sa itsura namin.”

(For me, it’s Gabby. Richard was part of “Blusang Itim.” Albert was my first love. But I feel like Gabby and I had a special chemistry. I felt the chemistry. When we act, we would read each other’s minds and facial expressions.)

Snooky Serna. Image from Alex Brosas

Serna then noted that Monteverde might’ve noticed the chemistry between Serna and Concepcion, as she shared that the Regal matriarch would take note of how their faces would match onscreen.

“Ewan ko ha, kasi ito ‘yung sabi sa akin ni Mother Lily palagi. Na parang, ‘Hay naku, Snooky-Gabby, gusto ko ‘yan. Kasi parehong mestizo, mestiza, maganda, gwapo, bagay na bagay (I’m not sure but Mother Lily would always say, I like Snooky and Gabby. They both have fair skin. She’s pretty and he’s handsome. They match),’” she recalled.

“Parang na-brainwash ako. Baka batukan ako ni Mother (It’s like I was brainwashed. Mother might hit me)!” she added in jest.

Their onscreen chemistry would inevitably bring Serna to have giddy feelings for Concepcion, but she insisted that their relationship was nothing short of professional.

“Kilala ko mga niligawan niya (I knew all the women that he courted),” added Serna while laughing. She also shared that while she was initially hurt when Concepcion chose to court someone, she said it’s nothing more than just “puppy love.”

“[Medyo] nahurt ako kasi in a way, parang first puppy love ko yata talaga si Gabby. I can now openly say it dahil matanda na kami,” she said. “Ewan ko ba kung ano ang secret niya… pero ang gwapo talaga ni Gabby. Talagang ang linis-linis ng aura niya, mabango [siya] tingnan, napaka-neat ni Gabby.”

(I was somewhat hurt because I consider Gabby as puppy love. I can now openly say it because we’re older. I don’t know what’s his secret, but he’s really handsome. He has such a clean aura. He looks fresh. Gabby is very neat-looking.)

Gabby Concepcion

Serna and Concepcion were both part of the original “Regal Babies,” whose entertainment careers were honed under Mother Lily’s tutelage.

Other screen veterans who share the title are Martinez, Maricel Soriano, Lani Mercado, Janice de Belen, Alma Moreno, Dina Bonnevie, William Martinez, Nadia Montenegro, Jimmy Melendez, as well as the late actors Julie Vega and Alfie Anido.