Showbiz is in Lara’s near future

It’s not a question of "if" but "when" – that is, 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman’s final entry into showbiz.

When she joined Eat, Bulaga!’s search for Tee Vee Babe, Lara did a drama scene, complete with tears, in the talent portion. While studying at Filton College in UK, she appeared in the BBC TV drama Casualty (Britain’s version of America’s ER).

If and when Lara is ready (maybe after her reign as Miss International), GMA Films will have priority over her because it is GMA 7 which holds the exclusive rights to the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant TV coverage and one of the winners’ prizes is an appearance in a GMA Films project – or a GMA TV show (like what 1999 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Miriam Quiambao did).

Meanwhile, here’s a brief chat with Lara yesterday afternoon at Gateway (Cubao, Quezon City) while being made up for a pictorial with People Asia magazine:

When did the reality that you are Miss International sink into your head?

"The day I got on the PAL plane at Narita for the flight to Manila. Wow, VIP treatment! My first time to travel ‘business class.’ (She traveled "economy" when she went to Tokyo for the Miss International contest. – RFL) It’s also my first time to have P1 million, among my prizes as Miss International. Part of it I’m donating to charity, some I’ll give to my aunt for the repair of her house and the rest, well, I don’t know what to do with it yet."

When was the first time you imagined yourself as a beauty queen?

"I was a kid then and I was watching the Miss Universe Pageant on TV."

How was your childhood?

"It was my grandmother who brought me up until I was 12. My mom and dad were always abroad working (Her mom, Princesita Agustin, is a nurse; and her late father, Nelson Quigaman, was a driver in UK. – RFL). My grandma, like my parents, always reminded me to keep my feet on the ground."

What values did you learn from growing up in Bahrain and in UK (where her parents worked and where Lara had her schooling)?

"To stay humble at huwag magyayabang. Always keep God in my heart."

What have been the changes in your life this past week?

"Major changes. I can’t be alone anymore. Mayroon na akong security. No more peace and quiet. Kulang sa tulog. My whole life has been thrown open, including my lovelife (Referring to her boyfriend, Michael Dulay Catacutan, a nurse. – RFL)."

Who did you think was likely to win?

"Miss Venezuela. She was the crowd favorite. She’s very pretty; she looks like Britney Spears."

And how did you gauge your own chances?

"I believed that I could make it but I tried not to dwell on it too much. I just looked at the other girls and found out kung ano ang advantage ko sa kanila. I was confident, to be honest, even if I knew that Miss Venezuela was the crowd favorite."

What’s your beauty regimen?

"Nothing. Only recently before I went to Tokyo did I start going to the gym more to lose weight. Mrs. (Stella Marquez-)Araneta wanted me to have a smaller waistline. I just clean my face before I go to sleep."

In the Miss Universe Pageant, 12 semi-finalists are chosen and then the Top Five from which the winner is chosen. In the Miss International contest, the winner (and runners-up) are chosen from the 12 semi-finalists. How did you feel when the names of the second runner-up (Miss Finland) and the first runner-up (Miss Dominican Republic) were called?

"I was waiting for the winner to be called. I was expecting to be a runner-up. I thought that if Miss Venezuela was called as a runner-up I would have a chance. After that, everything was a blur. I just waited for the whole thing to be over. And then, my name was called..."

Who was your roommate?

"Miss Singapore."

You’re very religious, prayerful. Very positive.

"And very optimistic. Walang mangyayari if you’re negative, di ba?"

Between now and the next 11 months, how would the crown on your head change your outlook in life?

"Not so much, I hope. But definitely, I don’t expect to have a quiet life for at least a year. I have to be good and nice, if not perfect, in every way because people will watch everything that I do or say and if I commit anything wrong, no matter how small, I would be criticized."

Will it change your outlook in life (especially now that your social status has been elevated overnight)?

"I hope not. I’m trying to stay as I have always been."

So, showbiz is really in your immediate future.

"Right."

And what role would you like to play?

"Any role, so they will see how flexible I am, na kahit anong role ang ipagawa nila sa akin ay kaya ko."

And who do you prefer as leading man?

"Anybody." (In one interview, she mentioned Dennis Trillo, boyfriend of 2005 Bb. Pilipinas-World Carlene Ang Aguilar. – RFL)

You’re now a role model. It’s a big responsibility, isn’t it?

"Of course! As I told you, you can’t afford to make a mistake. Kasi isang mistake lang, parang mabubura na lahat ng magandang nagawa mo. Yes, it’s a big responsibility."

What’s the best thing about Precious Lara Quigaman?

"The best thing about me? I can adjust, I can adapt to anything. I am easy to get along with."

And the worst, if any?

"I can be gullible. I easily trust and believe people."

The 183 Club arriving Monday

The 183 Club, the newest hit boy group in Southeast Asia, will be here on Monday, Oct. 10, to boost the viewership of the new Chinovela, The Frog Prince, which premieres on GMA 7 that same day, the same show surpassed the rating of Meteor Garden (another Chinovela) by more than nine points in Taiwan.

All the five members are six-footers, thus the group was called 183 (centimeters).

One of them, Sang Wang, came from the group 5566.

The other member, Ming Dao, is the hottest male star in Taipei. Before The Frog Prince, he starred in Le-Robe which made him a big star.

Johnny, who has visited Manila, appeared MVP Valentine and Snow Angel. He is a member of the Taiwan National Basketball Team.

Jacky, the newest member, sings and dances. Born and raised in Canada, he speaks fluent English. He is the group’s hunk.

Ehlo, also a new member, is a TV host. He has appeared in the tele-series Seniorita Mei Mei. He also sings and dances.

Also starring in The Frog Prince are Joe Chen who starred in Twin Sisters and Seniorita Mei Mei, both shown on GMA. She did a "guest" role in the early episodes of the GMA fantaserye Sugo. The most well-known Taiwanese TV actress in Manila, Joe Chen plays a poor girl in The Frog Prince, who wishes to marry a rich prince.

The other female star in The Frog Prince is Joyce Chao who competes with but loses to Joe Chen in affairs of the heart.

While here, the 183 boys, along with Joe Chen and Joyce Chao, will guest in GMA shows and go on a mall tour at Robinsons Pioneer sign autographs on Wednesday, Oct. 12, starting at 6 p.m.

All of them are flying via Philippine Airlines (PAL) and billetted at the Dusit Nikko Hotel in Makati City.

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