Charlene Gonzalez: Proudly Filipina

MANILA, Philippines - Back in 1994, when Charlene Gonzalez represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant, the host asked her about the number of islands in the Philippines. She boldly asked back, “High tide or low tide?” The applause was thunderous. Her quip became a famous one-liner among Filipinos.

Since then, Charlene has all the more taken the Philippines by storm. At present, she endorses several brands along with her husband Aga Muhlach and their seven-year-old fraternal twins, Atasha and Andres. She hosted several shows, the latest of which was her one-year stint in Proudly Filipina on QTV 11. Charlene confides that Proudly Filipina has a very special place in her heart, “We see successful people but we don’t realize the hurdles they had to overcome and the steps they had to take in order to achieve that success. Every woman has her story; her own cross to carry; her own personal burden.”

She adds, “With every waking moment, we are given the chance to improve and become better persons. In life, we should not have the attitude of looking at the past with regret but rather look at the mistakes as lessons learned. Life is too short to dwell on fears and insecurities.”

And taking cue from this, she makes sure that she treasures every moment; be it enjoying a family vacation in Las Vegas or just retreating to their little sanctuary and playground called home in Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas. “It’s the only place where we are free to walk and play; where we get to be normal.”

She admits that being celebrity parents has an effect on their lifestyles and on their kids. “(Andres and Atasha) think it’s normal to see their mommy and daddy on billboards. They think that’s how other families are, too,” she laughs. The twins have grown quite comfortable with the camera as both have already taken part in Jollibee commercials with Aga.

Charlene says she and Aga won’t encourage their kids to go into showbiz. “(In this business,) one minute you’re on a pedestal; a split second later you’re on the floor. It’s a very finicky business.”

Having done everything from pageantry to hosting, what’s next for this great adventurer? “I’m open to anything and I will not say no to anything. I like change because I like challenges. I enjoy things I’ve never done before,” she says.

“Maybe I’ll write a book! I don’t know,” she chuckles, adding that dabbling in real estate is another challenge that she would like to do.

“Aga and I love developing and creating land, dealing with houses especially in Mataas na Kahoy.” To arm herself with this dream, she has taken a step forward by enrolling in a mentorship program at the Asian Institute of Management. Charlene continues to dream. After all, she says of one of the lessons she learned from Proudly Filipina, “Life is about the journey; so enjoy it!”