A door opens for Bernadette

When a door closes, God opens another.

This is especially true for Bernadette Sembrano, who has gotten over the "tumultuous" months in her life and is facing up to new challenges in her new "home" at ABS-CBN.

Last month, Bernadette signed a contract with ABS-CBN, where she now hosts the daily morning show, Magandang Umaga Bayan, and the reality-based docu-drama, Lukso ng Dugo, which premieres today, 3 to 4 p.m.

"I consider everything in my life as a blessing, from childhood up to the present," Bernadette asserts. "Even in the future, I know God has plans for me. That I find myself in media, I know He has a purpose for me."

A Business Administration graduate of the University of the Philippines, Bernadette worked in a bank for a few months after getting her diploma, then auditioned for IBC 13, where she became a news reader. When an opportunity came for her to join GMA 7, Bernadette switched networks and worked for GMA for five years.

"I will always be grateful for the break that I got with Probe where I learned to do investigative journalism, and the publicity I got for Wish Ko Lang," Bernadette says.

For someone who never imagined herself being on TV, Bernadette has come a long way and has made a big leap from her simple childhood dreams. "I only wanted to write when I was younger," Bernadette shares. "Before in class, I would opt to work behind the scenes. I was not confident about myself. But I guess your personality really changes as you get older.

"I still want to write a column about something positive, about blessings. There are so many things to be thankful for. I’ve been blessed with good shows. Wish Ko Lang was monumental and now, I believe that Lukso ng Dugo is a trend-setter. I want everyone to strive to be a blessing to others."

Contrary to what she had been hearing prior to moving to ABS-CBN, Bernadette has proven that all the talk is unfounded when she joined the daily morning show, Magandang Umaga Bayan, two weeks ago. She is now one of the hosts of MUB with Tintin Bersola, Niña Corpuz, Erwin Tulfo, Julius Babao and Winnie Cordero.

"People were warning me before that ABS-CBN is a snake pit," Bernadette grants. "But fortunately for me, there was no negative sentiment when I transferred. I was not alienated, especially on MUB. It helped a lot that Tintin was very warm. She welcomed me right away and that made me instantly at home in the network. I guess Tintin and I are both team players, so magkasundo kami. We’re working to give viewers a good show every morning."

Bernadette clarifies she was not pirated by ABS-CBN. She was offered to join the network after she resigned from GMA 7, following her suspension. "The months after I resigned were really tumultuous," Bernadette says. "I faced so many trials. I would understand why they’re saying I was pirated, but the truth is I was offered to join ABS-CBN when I didn’t have a job. I don’t like lies being said about me. I can live with it, but I will appreciate it if the truth will be told."

She admits it was tough leaving GMA 7. But Bernadette cannot be thankful enough now that she has been given another chance to be in front of the cameras on ABS-CBN. The only adjustment she had to make was to wake up early for MUB.

"Now, I wake up at 3:45, so I can be in the studio before 5 a.m.," Bernadette says. "I sleep early now, unlike before when I got so used to sleeping at 2 a.m. At least now I have a reason to wake up early because I have a show. I still have to settle my schedule and when it normalizes, then I can do other things in my spare time, like going to the bookstore.

"Aside from waking up early, there was really no need for me to adjust in the program. The hosts of MUB made me feel that I really belong in the group. I gelled with them instantly and I get along well with them. Tintin and Niña have been my friends even before I joined ABS-CBN."

In MUB, Bernadette gets to do the morning newscast as well as her own segments – Hulog ng Langit and Ooops, Teka Lang. "Aside from reading the news, I also help conceptualize segments for the show," she offers. "I sit down and brainstorm with production and I make suggestions."

Meanwhile, she is also delighted to do Lukso ng Dugo which, she explains, has a different format than her previous show in her erstwhile network. Lukso ng Dugo follows people in their quest to find their long-lost family members. Whether one is searching for a parent, relative, friend or a sibling, the program is out to help someone find a missing loved one.

"It’s a wonderful show," says Bernadette of Lukso ng Dugo. "I know I can’t do anything to ease the plight of those we are helping, but I can empathize with them more than anything. In any program, even in a newscast, you should have a micro attack to the story. In Lukso ng Dugo, I see the struggles of the people. The show is factual. It’s reality-based and has suspense and drama in it. It was given a Sunday time slot because ABS-CBN wants to make Sunday a family day."

She believes that being true is her best asset, something that fits a host of a show like Lukso ng Dugo which basically deals with emotions. "What you see is what you get," Bernadette says. "I’m not someone who will hold on to fame or other material things. I know everything I have right now is temporary. If I have to let go of this and God says ‘It’s enough,’ then I will do it. You can only be thankful for what you have now and for what God will give you next."