MANILA, Philippines - She’s tween chic and a tough chick. Thirteen-year-old Bea Binene is a self-confessed fashion follower, who devours magazines and books relating to all things trendy and stylish. In fact, she’s now reading the Sophie Kinsella international bestseller, Confessions of a Shopaholic.
“I am not into toys since birth. I’m into books talaga and magazines. I’m not into Harry Potter or Twilight book series though, but I like reading the likes of Confessions of a Shopaholic, (something) related to fashion,” the sweet-faced Kapuso teen star, who surprisingly thinks and talks mature for her age, tells The STAR.
And when it comes to personal style, she already knows what she wants. She likes her style goth-chic, because “that is really me, I’m not girly-girly.” This, perhaps, also explains why Bea is the sporty kind. She is into badminton, swimming and wall-climbing. She has also tried capoiera and fencing. But topmost on her sport list is wushu, a form of Chinese martial arts.
Bea has been at it for two years now after her encounter with a wushu master in her former show Lovely Day inspired her to get into the sport. She competed under the team Wushu Discovery at the 2010 nationals and won the bronze medal. “Right now, I’ve taken a three-month break from the training, but I plan to compete more and internationally,” Bea says.
She enumerates the benefits of wushu: “It gives you flexibility, strength, stamina, focus and it keeps you fit talaga. I lost 10 pounds already. Dati po waistline ko 31 inches, ngayon 24 nalang. My teacher is (Filipino wushu world champion) Coach Michael Co. I’m taking up the sport at Wushu Discovery in Mindanao Ave.”
Bea has had also utilized her wushu skills in her TV projects like the adventure-fantasy series Captain Barbell and Tween Hearts, her ongoing tween series which airs on Sundays. “I really want to do more action, tough chick roles,” she adds.
Meanwhile, Bea is part of the weekday afternoon soap Pahiram Ng Isang Ina with Carmina Villarroel and constant screen partner Jake Vargas.
“Masaya sa set. It’s really an honor to be part of Pahiram and ang bait ni Ate Mina, ang galing talaga. I’m happy that the show is performing well based on the ratings. Tinitingnan ko yung ratings lagi at nakakakaba talaga. I post it on Facebook.”
Bea will also have a cameo appearance in Panday 2, topbilled by Sen. Bong Revilla and Marian Rivera.
Is she happy at the progress of her career? “Sakto lang, di ko ‘yan iniisip…. As long as I have a show, I have something to do, I’m happy. I believe all artists have their time (to shine). When that time comes for me, siyempre gagawin ko pa rin yung best ko, pagbubutihin ko pa...”
But Bea, whose showbiz journey started via StarStruck Kids in 2004, has an ultimate dream.
“My ultimate dream is to become a broadcast journalist. I’m part of GMA News TV’s (weekly news broadcast) Good News Kasama Si Vicky Morales. I host the youth segment Happy News. I hope to become a journalist in the future.”