Gabbi Garcia on return as Alena for ‘Sang’gre’: ‘The love is still the same’

Gabbi Garcia shared how stepping once again into the role of Alena for “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre” feels both nostalgic and renewed, saying it’s like coming home to a family.

On Friday’s “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” the actress said that reprising her role has been a surreal experience.

“It's been crazy because, of course, 2016, ginawa namin ‘yung first part, and then ngayon, pinapalabas na ulit, and then I'm back to taping again for Sang’gre. So, niloloko ko na nga, ‘Diyos ko, baka mag-trenta na ako, nandito pa din ako!’” Gabbi said.

The Sparkle star described the reunion as heartwarming.

“It's been fun, Tito Boy. You know, ‘yung mga tao sa ‘Encantadia,’ may it be cast or production, they're family. It's just like going back to your OG show. Parang gano'n na siya. So, I can't say it's the same, but a lot of things have changed, pero the love is still the same,” she said.

Gabbi also acknowledged fans’ mixed reactions to Alena’s storyline in the new series.

“Sa first part ng 2025, a lot of people, I've been reading kasi comments on social media about my character specifically, a lot of people were agreeing to it, a lot of people were kinda disappointed how my character turned out to be. Ang masasabi ko lang, itong pagbabalik-taping ko, you guys won't be disappointed,” she said.

She also addressed the “missing in action” comments about Alena.

“[Noong] 2016 kasi, they were telling me na bakit daw may mga episodes na wala ako. We all know that the story changed, the storyline changed. It was a bit, not actually a bit, it was really different from the 2005 version and the 2016 just because things changed. And that was out of my control,” she explained.

For Gabbi, respecting and being able to fulfill her job are what's important.

“And I was a minor back then. So there were also times na iba ‘yung working hours because of DOLE and everything. And then I had this parang commercial abroad, pero that was just six days. People were telling me kasi daw, raket ako nang raket sa labas. Pero guys, six days lang ‘yun. It was out of my control on what's happening in the story. So, I cleared that out.”

Gabbi admitted that she actually felt FOMO (fear of missing out) during 2016 when she was absent from taping because the story had changed.

“So fast forward to 2025, some people were still saying na parang kaya daw nagkagano’n ‘yung character kasi I wasn’t present. Ngayong 2025, I also had—wala, I had no control over the story. And also may bago na ring generation ng Sang’gres. But ayon na nga, this coming weeks sa 'Sang’gre,' medyo maiiba. And you guys won’t be disappointed. To the Alena fans,” she said.

Aside from Gabbi, Glaiza De Castro, Kylie Padilla, and Sanya Lopez also reprised their roles as Pirena, Amihan, and Danaya.

“Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre" airs on GMA Network from Mondays to Fridays at 8 p.m. after "24 Oras." You can also watch it online via the Kapuso Stream on YouTube. 

—Carby Rose Basina/CDC, GMA Integrated News