Andi Eigenmann opened up about the pain of knowing that her late parents, veteran actors Mark Gil and Jaclyn Jose, never had the chance to see the life she built in Siargao.
Mark passed away at the age of 52 in 2014, while Jaclyn died at 60 in 2024.
"It's been a struggle, of course. I feel like I am always able to talk about my life here or my island life as though it's such a perfect and happy life. It is, I am happy, I am content but there's now that big hole that can never be patched up because of the fact that my mom and my dad never got to see this life, and it's been really hard for me," she shared in an interview with Karen Davila in her latest YouTube vlog.
Although Andi has stepped away from the entertainment industry, she admitted that she sometimes wonders whether she should continue pursuing showbiz to preserve her parents' legacy.
"I feel like my connection to showbiz as someone who is not in it anymore, it's always going to be them and agreeing to interviews like this will always for me get there at some point because you know I'm supposed to be their legacy," she said.
She went on: "And sometimes I question myself, should I keep going so that I could uphold their name? Give it life even long after they're gone, but at the same time I tell myself that's not the only way for me to give their names justice."
Despite choosing a life away from the spotlight, Andi hopes that embracing an authentic and fulfilling life in Siargao would make her parents proud.
"My mindset is just I hope that they can see me flourishing in this life and that it's who they are as authentic as strong people that inspired me to do the same and somehow it gets easier," she said.
"But I miss them and I feel like me living here on an island, being who I am, finally finding myself and being secure in this, I hope that I am making my dad happy. I can't help but imagine him coming here, wanting to go fishing with [Philmar Alipayo] (her partner) and trying out surfing. And my mom, you know, staying here in Maison Bukana (a luxury resort) 'cause she's glamorous," she added.
READ: Andi Eigenmann reflects on embracing another year and living a simple life as she turns 36
While it saddens her that they were never able to visit her in Siargao, Andi remains hopeful that they would be proud of the life she has created.
"I'm sad they never got to this point, that they never got to vist me here or see this life that I've built for myself, but I sure hope they're proud," she remarked.