Actor Enrique Gil admitted he seriously considered leaving show business at the height of the pandemic—a time when he rediscovered life beyond the spotlight and realized how much he had missed with his family.
In an interview on OneNews PH’s ‘Long Conversation’, Gil shared that the thought of quitting came during the long pause in his career, when work stopped and he finally experienced staying home after more than a decade of nonstop projects.
“For 12 to 13 years I was working, sa van lang ako natutulog,” Gil said. “Noong nag-stop lahat, wow ang sarap pala ng feeling nasa bahay lang ako.”
It was then he realized how much time had slipped away.
“I just lost so much time with them,” he admitted, recalling the moment he asked his sister what grade she was in—only to be shocked that she was already in college.
Noticing that his mother was getting older, he told her he no longer wanted to return to the exhausting work schedule he once had.
“Things were starting to slowly go back to normal, pero ako, ayoko pa. I was enjoying it too much,” he said.
The extended period at home became a blessing, Gil added, as it gave him rare, uninterrupted time with his family and then-girlfriend Liza Soberano. The opportunity became even more meaningful after his sister migrated, his brother got married and moved out, and Soberano later flew to the United States.
Gil revealed he even thought of leaving showbiz completely and focusing on business instead—but his mother didn’t exactly welcome the idea.
Despite initially considering returning to school, he said he ultimately realized his strengths lay elsewhere.
“I don’t know. I just don’t see myself in… parang mas creative po talaga ako. Parang I was meant to entertain people,” he said.
Still, he is happy to have helped his siblings finish their studies.
This is not the first time the actor opened up about nearly walking away from the entertainment industry. In 2023, after spending three years largely away from the spotlight, Gil admitted he had seriously contemplated leaving showbiz for good.
“For a time, [I thought about it]. I really enjoyed the three years out,” he told ABS-CBN News’ MJ Felipe at the time. “I need to leave a legacy so I [started] my own production company… I want our Filipino content to make it out globally.”
But ultimately, he realized his true calling.
“I was thinking what other businesses can I do? What am I really good at? It’s pleasing people and making people happy. So sabi ko I can’t just let that go,” he said.
He also explained that returning to acting now comes with a renewed sense of purpose—both in front of and behind the camera.
“I want to do it for a purpose… to evolve, more on behind the scenes, concepts, and I just really want the Philippines to do well globally.”
Gil never regretted the years he spent away.
“I just needed time with my family,” he said. “The whole pandemic… made me realize na life is short.”
In March 2025, Gil and his production outfit Slingshot Studios signed a multi-film partnership with MQuest Ventures, signaling a new era for the actor as both star and producer.
This Christmas season, he returns to the big screen as part of the ensemble cast of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry Manila’s Finest, alongside Piolo Pascual, Ashtine Olviga, and others.
