MANILA, Philippines?Answering a random question, Gabby Concepcion sounded like he was imploring an unseen audience.

?I didn?t come back to stir up old controversies or fight with anyone,? he said in a phone interview with Inquirer Entertainment on Monday. ?I have priorities.?

His top priority is to care for his ailing father Rolly Concepcion, Gabby insisted.

The US-based actor, staging a show biz comeback after a 13-year absence, reiterated this several times during the conversation.

?I?m seeing him for the first time in 13 years,? he explained. ?My dad has a heart condition. Most of the time, he needs an oxygen tank to breathe.?

Upon his arrival on Sunday morning, Gabby was met by Rolly in a motorized wheel chair.

The actor said, ?I want to spend quality time with him, talk to him, share meals with him.?

He said he had a chat with KC Concepcion, his daughter with Sharon Cuneta.

?KC surprised me with a phone call,? Gabby related. ?We?re both busy with previous commitments now, but we plan to meet soon. If not tomorrow, then the day after.?

Already there is talk of a movie with Sharon and KC. (The Inquirer tried to reach Cuneta, but she was preparing to leave for London, to shoot Star Cinema?s ?Caregiver.?)

?That?s possible,? Gabby said. ?That?s my dream ? but not my priority.? He said he was keenly aware that such a project would be a magnet for intrigues.

He remarried in the US and has a newborn baby.

?I?m also here to apologize,? he added, though he refrained from naming the people that he felt he had wronged. Except for two: Sharon and his former manager Lolit Solis.

?While I was in the US, I had the chance to reflect on my old life in the Philippines. Nagpapakumbaba ako (I am humbling myself), asking for their forgiveness.?

But it seems he can?t help being an intrigue magnet.

Rose Flaminiano, Gabby?s? manager, said he has three projects with ABS-CBN: A drama episode in ?Maalaala Mo Kaya? in May; a yet-untitled movie with Claudine Barretto for Star Cinema that will start shooting this month; and a regular soap in June.

GMA Films president Annette Gozon-Abrogar told the Inquirer earlier, however, ?He has a live contract for a movie with us.?

Gabby said he?s willing to finish that GMA flick, but that he thinks the Star Cinema film may start earlier.

Abrogar pointed out: ?Our contract has a clause saying he cannot work on any other film until ? three months after the theatrical exhibition of his movie with us.?

Flaminiano protested that Gabby?s deal with GMA Films is ?only for abroad.? Abrogar countered, ?Our contract did not require him to [come] to Manila, but it is for a movie. Since he suddenly withdrew from the cruise project [?Italy?I Love and Trust You?], we are currently developing story lines for him.?

Jolina Magdangal, Gabby?s intended co-star in ?Italy,? admitted that she was initially disappointed. ?But now I?m happy that I got the cruise movie and he got the kind of comeback that he wants.?

Joey Abacan, GMA Films project director, said: ?I believe he?s an honorable man and that he will fulfill his commitment with us.?

Abrogar noted that the only way Star Cinema could push through with the Gabby-Claudine movie was if ?GMA Films decides to retrieve the down payment we have already paid him, plus interest.?

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