But who’d blame them? Mariel is indeed pretty. She has chinita, mestiza features that go with a voluptuous and sexy bod. But their admiration for Mariel is beyond her physical beauty. The men, and women I talk to about her always say that her appeal emanates from her being funny. She’s hilarious on PBB Uplate as she repeats the latest happenings inside the Big Brother house in the company of her Tropang Gising. One mom of five kids even attested that ever since she saw the Kapitbahay ni Kuya doing Big Brother Uplate, she got hooked. Now she jokingly blames Mariel for changing her sleeping habits since she has to sleep early to prepare baon for her kids the next day.
Starting this week, Mariel is pinch-hitting for Toni Gonzaga for Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition. Toni accepted singing stints in the United States and has to leave the hit reality show for awhile and Mariel has been tasked to take her place temporarily.
"It’s such an honor that they have faith in me to do primetime," says Mariel. "It’s a daunting task and I know there is so much expectation. I feel nervous and pressured but I don’t want to let it get to me. I’ll just have fun and learn more at the same time, while doing primetime Big Brother."
Little do people know that beyond the goofiness of Mariel that people see in Big Brother Uplate, the Kapitbahay ni Kuya can actually do some serious hosting as seen in her three times a day Pinoy Big Brother Update and her current stint as a VJ on MTV Asia. "My hosting styles vary," says Mariel. "I can be serious or wacky. Like Big Brother Update is serious, because you’re explaining to viewers the latest news about the Big Brother house. While on MTV, I have to exude credibility about music and pop culture. Young people are so bright, they’d see right through you."
"A lot of times, people would request for different styles of hosting," continues Mariel. "Like when I do corporate shows, they’d ask me to do it ala `MTV na may halong Uplate.’ Meaning, it’s serious but it can also be light so as not to bore the audience."
Now that Mariel is doing primetime during the remaining days of Pinoy Big Brother, what would the girl behind the word "connivance" miss most about Uplate? "Oh, besides the nice production people who work hard behind the scenes, I’d miss the Tropang Gising. I love my viewers. Besides texting for their favorite housemates, which is either Bianca Gonzalez or Keanna Reeves, they send messages for me, too. And they tell me, whether it’s good or bad and I appreciate them. Nakakataba ng puso yung mga good while the negative ones, make me strive to do better. The Tropang Gising has become family to me."
Besides hosting, Mariel is also into acting. She is shooting a movie under Star Cinema and is currently part of the top-rating sitcom OK Fine, ‘To Ang Gusto Nyo aired every Monday night on ABS-CBN. "My character here is my namesake. As in Mariel din yun name!" she says. "But the real Mariel and the sitcom character Mariel are different. The one in the sitcom is very simple, mahinhin. Not like me at all! Ha ha ha! Minsan nga I’m wishing an evil spirit would possess the character so that she’d be more noisy, more kikay!"
In the sitcom, Mariel plays Aga Muhlach’s leading lady. How is it working with one of the most brilliant actors in the country? "Aga is very nice and very supportive," says Mariel. "It’s no surprise that he is still one of the most successful actors in the industry today. And what I love most about our tapings is that I can get to interact and learn from the Aga Muhlach. And not only Aga, Tito Edu (Manzano), Tita Glo (Gloria Romero), Bayani (Agbayani). They’re really so nice and helpful to a newcomer like me. Sina Rica and Nikki, naging mga kaibigan ko na din sila and I enjoy hanging out with them. Plus the production people, they’re the best. They’re so nice and they really take care of me. I really have fun when I’m on the set."
"I guess that’s an important factor when it comes to your work," enthuses Mariel. "You should have fun. And despite the hectic schedule, I am having fun. I never felt tired at all. I don’t complain! I’m having the time of my life!"
Is she committed? Is there a special boy in her life? "No. But I know he’s out there and I’ll meet him at the right time," she quips.