The things we do for love! More than just the surf and sun, Andi Eigenmann has fully embraced the Bisdak life, all because she fell in love with a Siargaonon. In a rare and refreshing moment, the island-living showbiz royalty spoke Bisaya for an entire hour, sharing her love story with Philmar Alipayo and the simple joys of living in Siargao.
The quiet island life may seem worlds away from the glitz and chaos of the showbiz limelight she grew up in, but for Andi, Siargao is where her heart has found its true home—in the warmth of its people, the beauty of its shores, and the embrace of her champion surfer partner, Philmar. During her guest appearance on the Bisaya talk show “Kuan On One” hosted by Melai Cantiveros, Andi radiated pure happiness as she shared her love story, one that began with her passion for surfing.
Andi loved surfing with friends, at first, in La Union, which is closer to Manila, but it wasn’t long before Siargao’s charm drew her in. The island’s close-knit surfing community gave her the feeling of living out her childhood dream alongside the right people. She became a frequent visitor and forged deep friendships within the surfing crowd of Siargao—where she also met Philmar. A fan of his sport, she started following him on Instagram. What began as casual exchanges in DMs soon blossomed into friendship and real-life hangouts with their circle of friends. They just clicked, and Andi felt the sincerity of every moment they spent together.
"Ang mga probinsyano, mas simple, mas old school. At mas gusto ko ng ganu'n, mas mafe-feel mo na special," she tells Melai, speaking like a true Siargaonon. She laughed as she remembered Philmar’s sweet gestures during their courtship phase, like climbing coconut trees just to get fresh buko for her because he knew how much she loved it. Their dates weren’t extravagant—surfing in secret spots, fishing, and exploring hidden beaches and rock formations. Simple joys, but for Andi, they were everything.
It might seem surprising for someone who hails from a family of actors, but Andi explains that even her parents, acclaimed thespians Jaclyn Jose and Mark Gil, taught her how to live modestly. It’s no wonder the grounded simplicity of Siargao—and Philmar’s old-fashioned charm—felt like the perfect match for her heart.
Andi felt Philmar’s authenticity even more because he had no clue about her life in Manila. While he knew of her parents, Jaclyn and Mark, he didn’t realize she's their daughter—or that she's a well-known actress at the time.
“'Yung tingin niya sa akin ay isang normal na tao lang. So, kung sino ako, ganu’n lang din siya. Hindi ko kailangang mag-pretend. Binigyan niya ako ng chance na ipakita sa kanya kung sino talaga ako,” shared Andi, who is best known for her iconic roles in Kapamilya teleseryes like "Agua Bendita" and "Galema: Anak ni Zuma."
When asked what she loved most about Philmar, she answered with a smile, "Ang iya kasing-kasing," meaning "his heart." No matter how long they’ve been together, Andi says Philmar’s love and treatment of her hasn’t changed—nor has his affection for their kids, Lilo and Koa, and even Ellie, her daughter with Jake Ejercito. She admires his kindness, his quiet nature, and how he always tries to avoid conflict. In fact, Philmar often reminds her to be mindful of her words so she doesn’t accidentally hurt others. He values peace and calm in their world, a trait that Andi deeply appreciates.
Tired of the competitive world of showbiz, she was drawn to his slow-paced island life and quickly realized she wanted that kind of life for herself. And part of loving Philmar is embracing his roots—becoming Bisdak at heart. Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing at first. Andi shared hilarious stories of her early days learning the Siargaonon dialect while Philmar, in turn, struggled with her straight Tagalog. "Bulok," for example, means "rotten" in Tagalog, but in Bisaya, it refers to someone being unintelligent.
Despite their language barrier, love found a way. Love, however, came with its challenges. Andi admitted feeling sorry for Philmar when he faced backlash early in their relationship, as he was belittled for being a probinsyano. But their happiness together taught them to tune out the negativity. Their love is far stronger than the noise and intrigue around them.
"Ngayon, sanay na siya. Alam na niya na laging sinasabi ng mga tao ang mga hindi magagandang kwento. Okay lang 'yun. Ang importante, masaya siya sa buhay niya, at alam niya na hindi totoo ang mga kwento na nababasa namin," Andi shared, hinting that Philmar had to adjust to her life as a celebrity too. In relationship terms, we call that compromise.
While others may look down on Philmar for being a probinsyano, for Andi, they are the richest people in the world, as they live together in paradise. However, she does confess to missing some of her favorite things in Manila, like the restaurants that can only be found in the city. But hey, Siargao offers something no big city can—fresh seafood lovingly prepared by Philmar himself.
Another thing Andi admires among Bisdaks living on the island is their contentment. These people, she says, find joy in the simplest things, with hearts, minds, and souls so strong and fulfilled they don’t bother meddling in others' lives. They never treated her like a star, just as Philmar didn’t. Instead, they made her feel like she belonged in their island world.