Mark Anthony Fernandez and Eric Fructuoso look back on their Gwapings day
For Filipinos of a certain age, Mark Anthony Fernandez and Eric Fructuoso were the heartthrobs of their childhood. As part of the Gwapings, Mark Anthony, Eric, and Jomari Yllana made hearts of Filipinas all over the country flutter.
Their career has now spanned decades, taking part in projects from both the Kapuso and Kapamilya channels. Mark Anthony is best known to Kapuso viewers as Jacob Montereal on the show Munting Heredera, while Eric was a fixture on the comedy anthology show Dear Uge.
During their time on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, the duo reminisced about their time as the Gwapings, lessons they've learned from their life in show business, and what kind of fathers they are now.
Check out the gallery below to see highlights from Mark Anthony Fernandez and Eric Fructuoso's time with the King of Talk.
Back to the 90s
King of Talk Boy Abunda welcomed to the show two of the Gwapings, Mark Anthony Fernandez and Eric Fructuoso. As described by Boy Abunda himself, there can be no discussion of the Philippine entertainment scene in the '90s without the Gwapings.
Teen kings
At the height of their fame, the Gwapings were the premier boy group and heartthrobs of their time. As both Mark Anthony Fernandez and Eric Fructuoso recalled, the hysteria they encountered really drove home how famous they were.
“Siguro noong hinahabol kami ng mga tao at sinisigawan. 'Yung part ng feeling ko, 'yung hinahabol kami, feeling ko Beatles kami,” Mark Anthony shared.
“Nung marami at nagsho-show out of town, pakiramadam mo talaga parang Beatles. Ini-enjoy namin dahil gusto namin i-entertain ang mga tao,” Eric added.
Security risk
Of course, Beatlemania-like fame has its own downsides. The trio had been advised not to go out and visit malls at the time or go to bars, advice which they did not listen to as they were just teenagers. They soon found out that there was a reason for this restriction.
“Bawal kami lumabas at pumunta ng mall pero hindi namin sinunod at nalaman namin kung bakit bawal. Pumunta kami sa Bench at ayun sinara hindi kami makalabas,” EricFructuoso recalled.
“One time, naalala ko si Carmina nahipuan noon ng isang fan. Ini-apprehend namin 'yung isang fan,” Mark AnthonyFernandez shared.
Father figure
Boy Abunda also took the opportunity to ask both Mark Anthony Fernandez and Eric Fructuoso about their manager at the time, Douglas Quijano, and any memorable advice he gave them.
For his part, Mark Anthony said that Douglas would always tell him to be a good boy because “madali kang mapapalitan”.
“Sabi ni Tito Douglas, huwag kang papatol sa fans in any way, sa away o sa relationship,” Eric recalled. “Nung time na 'yun, teenagers kami at hindi pa namin naiintindihan.”
Sons of their own
Now far from being the heartthrobs that they were in the '90s, both Mark Anthony Fernandez and Eric Fructuoso now have sons of their own. Mark Anthony's son, Grae Fernandez, is studying film in New York. According to Mark Anthony, he and his son are friends with each other.
“Hindi maluwag, mas cool na tatay. I feel like I'm his most favorite person in the world,” Mark Anthony said.
End with laughter
Boy Abunda ended the interview by asking the pair what they would tell their younger selves now. While Mark Anthony Fernandez said he would tell his younger self to grow up to be like him now, Eric Fructuoso was ready with a memorable statement.
“Landi lang 'yan, hindi mo talaga mahal 'yan,” he quipped.
