Body Talk with Bianca Manalo

Just because the 2010 Miss Universe pageant is over and done with (with the much-ballyhooed Maria Venus Raj not disappointing her countrymen by placing fourth runner-up to Miss Mexico) doesn’t mean that “beauty season” is over. Last Saturday, the new Mutya ng Pilipinas was chosen and, before the year is over, two more contests will be held, Miss International (with Krista Mae Arrieta as our bet) and Miss World (Czarina Catherine Gatbonton as our bet).

Bianca Manalo has, so to speak, been there, done that. She could represent the country in another beauty contest abroad and bring home a crown but Bianca has instead succumbed to the call of the klieg lights. Now a Kapamilya, Bianca is slowly but surely showing her thespic potential (in last Saturday’s edition of Charo Santos-Concio’s Maalaala Mo Kaya?). Following in the footsteps of 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz who started as an “ornamental” actress and blossomed into a serious, award-winning actress.

Is taking care of a beauty queen’s body any different from taking care of an ordinary girl’s body?

“It’s the same. Just have a balance of everything. Drink eight glasses of water every day, sleep at least six hours per night and exercise regularly. I go to the gym when I have the time and work out for three hours because when I eat something that’s not part of my diet, I feel guilty.”

Don’t you have a hard time falling asleep?

“Honestly, I’m having a hard time maybe because my body clock changes due to my work. What I do is drink iron (minerals) and steamed milk. It works all the time.”

What kind of diet do you have?

“I don’t eat meat. I eat brown rice, wheat bread, wheat pasta for my carbs, fish and chicken for protein, and frozen yogurt for my dessert (all the time).”

Drinking a lot of water is good for the skin, they say.

“It’s true. Before I go to sleep, I drink two glasses of water para hindi ako magka-pimples.”

Do you take hard drinks?

“Socially. I prefer champagne, red wine and white wine. I don’t really drink but when I’m with my close friends, I do. I enjoy spending time with them especially when we reminisce about the past.”

Do you smoke?

“No, I don’t because I think it will damage my skin and I don’t like the smell.”

What vitamins do you take?

“2,000 mg. vitamin C and iron. When I feel that I am about to catch a cold or having flu symptoms, I overdose myself with vitamin C. No harm naman daw because they said that you’ll just flush out the excess. It works for me.”

What part of your body do you think needs improvement?

“I’m satisfied with what I have. But sometimes, I get conscious of my “kunot sa noo. I don’t feel na nakakunot ako. It has been a mannerism ever since I was a kid. Because of that, people think I’m a snob because I look naka-simangot.”

What part of your body is most vulnerable?

“My tagiliran is my most vulnerable spot. I easily get tickled.”

 And what part is your favorite?

“My legs because every time I wear something short, people would always say, ‘Sana ganyan din legs ko.’ When I was a kid kasi, my mom would always put lotion on my legs before I’d go to sleep. Maybe that’s why my skin is soft.”

What part of a guy’s body do you notice first?

“His face. Hindi naman dapat super guapo pero dapat malakas ang appeal. And I always look a guy straight in the eye because I feel that I would know if he is sincere through his eyes.”

What other qualities do you like in a guy?

“Loyal, faithful, God-fearing, responsible and dapat matangkad. I think these are the basic qualities that a girl is looking in a guy. Is there such an animal as a ‘perfect guy’?”

And what turns you off?

“Bad breath. It’s important to me that the guy is clean because I don’t want people to be thinking, ‘Paano n’ya natitiis ang lalakeng yan’?”

How’s your love life?

“I am enjoying my single life. Now that I am starting my showbiz career, I don’t want any distractions. And also, it would be easier to get a love team. Besides my manager, Jojie Dingcong, keeps reminding me to focus on my career. Baguhan lang ako sa showbiz so I have a lot of things to learn pa.”

Nightlife?

“On weekends, I go out with my close friends. We talk about what happened in the workplace and in the house, etc. My friends and I make sure that we see one another once a week.”

Sex life?

“Hahahaha! Wala!”

What’s your favorite sleep wear?

“Any lingerie from La Senza. I love La Senza because when I’m wearing one, I feel like I’m a part of Pussycat Dolls or a Victoria Secret angel. Sometimes I do pasarella in the mirror while wearing one.”

Never in the nude?

“Never! My dad always goes to my room that’s why I can’t sleep that way. I don’t like him to see me nude. Nakakahiya!”

Do you snore?

“No. I think it’s super walang poise ang dating if a girl snores lalo na kapag beauty queen. Just an opinion. My Tita Nini (Ramos-Licaros, 1968 Bb. Pilipinas-International) and I talked about it once. Hahahaha!”

Do you sleepwalk?

“No I don’t. My sister does when she was a kid and I would always laugh at her.”

Do you talk in your sleep?

“Sometimes. My sister would always say that I mumble when I sleep. Sometimes she understands what I am saying, sometimes she doesn’t.”

What was the most beautiful dream that you ever had?

“That I live in a castle. Maybe because before I go to sleep, I daydream of being a princess who lives in a castle, like the castle in Beauty and the Beast. I would always imagine myself coming down the grand staircase.”

Any bad dream?

“That my dad is being killed. I remember that at that time I woke up, I was screaming and crying. My yaya even panicked, ‘Anong nangyari?’ I just asked her, ‘Si Daddy?’ She said, ‘Nagsimba.’ And then I went back to sleep. When I woke up, I hugged my dad and cried. And he laughed at my dream. He said mas hahaba daw ang buhay n’ya.”

What’s your favorite fantasy?

“Being one of Victoria’s Secret Angels. I would always imagine myself coming down from the plane, you know, ‘Here comes the angels.’ And up to now, I would imagine myself strutting my stuff on the runway.”

How do you cope with stress?

“I talk to a friend because if you have someone to talk to, you can get the stress easily out of your system. I also believe that if you cry aloud, you will be relieved.”

Name three men you think have nice body.

“David Beckham. Hugh Jackman. Derek Ramsay. Grabe!”

And three women…

“Jennifer Lopez. Nicole Scherzinger (of Pussycat Dolls). Bianca Manalo. Hahahaha!”

Using only body language, how would you make a man know that you admire him?

“Smile while looking at him, sabay tayo ng nakalagay ang lahat ng weight sa isang hip. Pa-gets? Hahahahaha!”

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