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Kapamilya Tree: The Gil Family

EJ Salut

<div class="MsoNormal"><br/></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><img src="" alt="120515-KTGI1.jpg" width="392" height="261" border="0"/><br/></div><p class="MsoNormal">Showbiz families aren&#x27;t rare in the industry. Children whogrew up with parents under the limelight often end up following the samefootsteps. An example of this is the Eigenmann-Gil genealogy, a royalty in the entertainmentindustry.</p><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal">The lineage starts with husband-and-wife Eduardo de MesaEigenmann (b. 1940) and Maria Rosa Francisca Catalina Gil y Castellvi (b.1942). The family patriarch is better known in the industry as Eddie Mesa. Anactor and a singer, he was once regarded as the &#x27;Elvis Presley of thePhilippines&#x27; for having impersonated the King of Rock and Roll. He actedin Eddie Romero&#x27;s Hollywood film &#x27;The Raiders of Leyte Gulf&#x27; (1963)and has appeared in several movies alongside Fernando Poe Jr. He had his firstchild with Rosemarie Gil in 1960 and they got married a year later. An actressherself, Rosemarie is known for her roles in &#x27;Sta. Rita De Casia&#x27;(1958), &#x27;Night of the Cobra Woman&#x27; (1972), and &#x27;NakedVengeance&#x27; (1985). She appeared in more than 185 movies. All the couples&#x27;three children--Michael de Mesa, Mark Gil, and Cherie Gil--became showbizpersonalities themselves.</p><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal">The oldest of the Eigenmann-Gil brood used the de Mesasurname onstage and became known as Michael De Mesa (b. 1960). Born MichaelEdward, he began acting at the age of 15 and hasn&#x27;t stopped appearing in moviesand teleseryes. Some of his awards include Urian Best Actor Award for &#x27;TheUnfaithful Wife&#x27; (1986) and Urian Best Supporting Actor Award for&#x27;Ikasa Mo, Ipuputok Ko&#x27; (1990). He married multi-awarded actress andtelevision director Gina Alajar in 1978. They had three kids, all of whom arelikewise in showbiz: Ryan, Geoff, and AJ. Unlike their father, the three usedthe family surname Eigenmann onscreen. The De Mesa-Alajar marriage was annulledin 2006.</p><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal">Belonging to the third generation of their clan of actors,Ryan entered the industry in 1989. He is known for his portrayals in thefantaserye &#x27;Lobo&#x27; (2008) and other television series. Geoff, hisyounger brother, started in 1992 as a member of the youth-oriented gag show&#x27;Ang TV.&#x27; His first movie was &#x27;Batang X&#x27; in 1995. Theyoungest of the three, AJ, is known for &#x27;Pinakamamahal&#x27; (2006),&#x27;Click&#x27; (1999), and &#x27;Most Wanted&#x27; (2000).</p><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal">Cherie Gil (b. 1963) is the youngest and only daughter ofEddie and Rosemarie. Her birthname is Evangeline Rose Eigenmann y Gil. She ismost known for her antagonist roles and confrontation scenes, including thenow-classic &#x27;You&#x27;re nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copy cat!&#x27;</p><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal">The middle child of the Eigenmann-Gil couple, Mark Gil(1961-2014), has the most number of &#x27;contributions&#x27; to the growingshowbiz clan. Born Raphael John, he was often casted as main villain oppositeBong Revilla, Jr., Robin Padilla, Cesar Montano, and other action stars. He diedof cirrhosis of the liver and was survived by his six kids.</p><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal">His children--&#x27;Selda&#x27; actor Timothy (aka SidLucero) and Maxine--with his first wife, Bing Pimentel, became actorsthemselves. He is also the father of &#x27;Prinsesa ng Banyera&#x27; castmember Ira Eigenmann and singer-actor Gabby by actress Irene Celebre.&#x27;Agua Bendita&#x27; lead actress Andi (real name: Andrea Nicole) is Mark&#x27;sdaughter with actress Jaclyn Jose. Andi&#x27;s daughter, Adrianna Gabrielle or&#x27;Ellie,&#x27; is fast becoming a public persona herself. Mark marriedequestrienne and pre-school Maricar Jacinto in 1996 and had one child theyfondly call Stevie.</p><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal">The De Mesa-Eigenmann-Gil lineage is definitely a force toreckon with when it comes to acting and performing.</p>