In just a period of two years, young Kapuso star Gabbi Garcia has really come a long way. From being launched in the teleserye “My Destiny” in July 2014 as one of the supporting actors to Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez, the GMA Artist Center talent captured the hearts of televiewers and got the attention of the Kapuso management because of her innate acting prowess.

Soon, her projects started pouring in like stints in an episode of “Maynila,” “Wagas” and “Magpakailanman,” a role in “InstaDad” and the mini-series “Seasons of Love” for the episode “Soulmate, Soulhate.” But it was in “Let the Love Begin” when Gabbi landed a lead role in a teleserye and it’s primetime show at that. Opposite Ruru Madrid, the show served as a turning point to Gabbi’s career for having conquered primetime in less than a year.

This month, Gabbi is celebrating her second year in showbiz. To mark this milestone, the young actress landed another primetime role. She is now playing one of the Sang’gres in the Kapuso Network’s requel of “Encantadia” as Alena, the caretaker of the magical water gem. And in order to not disappoint the people who entrusted her with the highly-coveted role, Gabbi prepared hard for it by watching about 40 episodes of the old Encantadia and took a crash course in arnis.

Last July 20, we got the chance to have a sit-in interview with Gabbi at the Manila Ocean Park in Manila. But before that, Gabbi tried the Aquanaut Voyage first with some bloggers.

Check it out:

After the Aquanaut experience, Gabbi spent some time with the bloggers for a quick chat. Here are excerpts of our interview with the “Encantadia” star:

On Ruru’s improving physique:

“Requirement kasi sa role kaya panay ang weights niya lately. At saka magta-topless siya [sa Encantadia] abangan. Next year kakalabanin na niya ang no. 1 [sexiest men in the Philippines], magkaka-abs na siya, malapit na. Yung first taping nga niya sa Enca medyo meron na pero pa-improve ng pa-improve. Sabi ko sa kanya huwag masyado yung malaking malaki, ‘yung katawan dapat ‘yung sakto lang.”

On Ruru gaining more female admirers:

“Oo nga e, pero ganda ko pa rin (laughs). Sige lang, okay lang.”

On the Impressive Pilot Performance of “Encantadia” in Urban Luzon TV Ratings:

“Nag-text si Ms. Lilibeth Resonable sa ‘min sabi niya in the longest time GMA primetime shows have not been in the Top 5 so parang ngayon na lang naulit. Sa lahat ng categories kasama kami sa Top 5, sa lahat. Sa Mega Manila Top 1 or Luzon yata so the hard work paid off talaga at hindi namin nabigo yung trust na binigay sa amin ng network. So ayun, sana mag-improve pa since wala pa naman ‘yung mga Sang’gres. Kapag nag-buildup na kapag nagkaroon na ng Ibarro ng Sang’gres eventually sana…fingers crossed.”

On the growing friendship of the whole cast of Encantadia:

“We went to Davao, Cebu, Vigan, Bulacan, next week Rosario then Gensan. Kaya sobrang close na ng buong cast from plane rides to car rides, long drives, close na. One time nagpunta kami ng Cabanatuan di ba long drive, mas pinili pa naming mag-service para sama-sama kami, ganun kami ka-close. Hindi ka mapapagod e, mage-enjoy ka.”

On the people’s response to their mall shows:

“Nakakatuwa, airport pa lang ine-escort na nila kami hanggang hotel, hindi namin alam kung paano nila nalalaman kung anong pupuntahan naming restaurant, andun sila. So nakakatuwa talaga at hindi lang bawat artista ang sinusuportahan nila talagang pati yung ‘Encantadia’ mismo, yung show ang talagang sinusuportahan nila kaya nakakatuwa.”

On the possible kissing scene in the show:

“Ako naman with regards to the kissing scene it’s up to the director e. Ako I’m only seventeen, I’m a minor, so it’s up to the director pa rin. I think they’re concerned with my age kasi I’m only seventeen so I still don’t know.”

On her two years in showbiz:

“Grabe ang bilis. Ang laki ng pasasalamat ko sa GMA dahil never nila akong pinabayaan. From the very start from ‘My Destiny’ up to ‘Seasons of Love’ up to ‘Let the Love (begin) hindi nila ako pinabayaan and I’m just blessed, I’m so blessed with GMA and thankful ako na pinagkakatiwalaan nila ako kasi anyone would tell me na grabe Gab ang bilis mo, they would tell me na ‘may kamag-anak ka ‘no, may banker ka may konekson ka’ so wala po talaga, as in wala po talaga. Maybe it’s just the right timing for me and ayun, hard work din.”

On her dream of becoming a beauty queen someday:

“My dream is still there pero right now I’m trying to focus on my career since blessings are coming. I don’t want to let go of that. Siyempre kung ano muna ‘yung nasa harapan ko iyon muna ang uunahin ko. We’ll see, we’ll see eventually. I’m just 17 pa lang naman e.”

On her next goal of becoming a recording artist:

“Gusto kong magka-album. Sana after Enca or during Enca since I’m singing naman for Enca. Eventually I hope GMA will cook something for me for my album kasi next to acting, music is really my passion. I do gigs before I entered showbiz, I do gigs and play the guitar so hindi mawawala sa akin ‘yun e.”

Catch Gabbi Garcia on “Encantadia” from Monday to Friday on GMA Network after “24 Oras.” For more updates on Gabbi and other Kapuso stars, like and follow GMA Artist Center on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ArtistCenter).

Check out the full video of our interview with Gabbi below: