Erich doesnt stop learning

While waiting for Erich Gonzales Gancayco (yup, she is also a Gancayco like me) at the Celebrity Club, I felt so edgy I was reminded of the days when I was waiting for my bar exams to begin. I again put on layers and layers of makeup to deal with my stress. You may be wondering why meeting Erich would cause so much anxiety to a seemingly cool person like me. Well, Erich is one personality I had long wanted to meet. As she is related to my husband, I wanted so much for us to hit it off right away.

And so it was that I was all powder and mascara when the stunning Erich came walking down the lobby of Celebrity Club. Her long black and shiny hair was shampoo commercial material. Her face was what the Internet correctly said, one of the most beautiful in this country. She was so slim I suddenly thought of all the bulges I was trying to hide through my Chocolate Clothing dress. Being only 17 with flawless skin, she was as fresh as the morning dew. Her bearing was so regal. Hence, when her yaya Emmie shared that Erich hadn’t had any sleep for more than 30 hours, Celebrity Sports manager Bernie Peralta and Banquet sales manager Marenette del Carmen  were incredulous.

I will not go into the hardships  Erich went through in her younger years. As a child, she only craved for one thing: To be an actress; a very good actress. When the Star Circle National Quest called for auditions, Erich  was one of the seven chosen from about 5,000 applicants in Davao alone.  Numerous elimination rounds after, Erich  emerged as the Star Circle Grand Questor. I am quite sure that the jurors, aside from judging her on the basis of her good looks and outstanding talent in acting, also saw the star quality in her,  i.e., what others call the “X factor.”

And time has proven them right. After she won, Erich became an artist of the ABS-CBN Talent Center which has developed her into a dramatic actress. Erich Gancayco became Erich Gonzales. She is presently included in the cast of ABS-CBN’s Kung Fu Kids.

It was not so easy at the beginning. She started at 14, still very immature, and intrigues were thrown at her left and right. She was said to have an attitude problem in that she was tactless and would say whatever was in her mind. This, she readily admits to be her fault. But there were things written about her that were baseless and intentionally meant to hurt her. Over time, she has learned not to be affected by intrigues and has come to accept these are a part of showbiz life. What keeps her going is her love for acting and the people who have faith in her. “I always think positive nowadays; I believe that what you think about is what you bring about,” a more mature Erich declares.

Aside from acting, Erich craves for other fulfilling endeavors. Currently in fourth year high school at the Distance Learning Center and getting the highest grades (she was also a consistent honor student way back in Davao), she wants to go to college to take up either Mass Communications, Major in Film, or Tourism. She wants to do a lot of traveling, and would rather travel than have a grand party on her debut. She loves to read and prefers books of Paulo Cuelho, Mitch Albom, Nicholas Sparks and Rhonda Bynes. She loves to write short stories and poems especially when she is inspired. Boyfriends? None yet but somebody special makes her smile — Matteo Guidicelli, her closest guy friend, with whom she co-stars in Kung Fu Kids. But, she insists, it is purely friendship, however special the friendship may be.  Her career and studies are still her priority.

As to the advancement of her showbiz career, Erich plans to join acting workshops and even take singing lessons. “One should never stop learning,” Erich says. She does not mind the crazy schedule, the lack of sleep. Acting has been her lifetime dream. She idolizes Vilma Santos whom she was able to work with on Maalaala Mo Kaya.  She says of Vilma, “She is super nice, super grounded. Sobrang bait talaga niya. Kahit sino pa man ang kausap niya.  At talagang napakagaling po niyang artista. I really want to be like her someday.”

(For those who want to help build houses for the poor through the  Gawad Kalinga call 718-1738 to 41 or text 0917-5239777. E-mail writer at [email protected] or text 0927-5000833.)