Bianca reinvents herself

Manila, Philippines -  What are the chances of having two beauty queens in one family? Few and far between, yet in Bianca Manalo’s family this phenomenon has happened.

The self-confessed Daddy’s girl I met at The Fort last July 27 at Bubble Tea Café is the third in a brood of four girls. Bianca describes herself as the flexible one; Kate, the eldest, the strong one; Karla, conservative; and the youngest, Nicole is sweet. Her impressive height of 5’9” comes from her 6 ft. tall father and 5’7” mother while her looks, she claims, are from her aunt. She relates that her parents were very strict. Rules like not being allowed to go out were imposed and expected to be strictly obeyed by the girls. Matching outfits and hand-me-down clothes were normal and nothing new to them.

As active members of CFC (Couples for Christ), Bianca’s parents exposed their daughters to their strong faith. Something Bianca has embraced to this day by going to the church on Sundays, visiting Baclaran Church every Wednesday and Lipa Church every first Saturday of the month.

When asked about her childhood, she eagerly shares fond memories like volunteering to attend CFC meetings with her parents, playing parlor with her mom and cutting her dad’s toe nails. She adds, “I was always demonstrative and showy of my affections for my parents that’s why I’m a Daddy’s girl!”

Bianca spent elementary and high school at Manresa School in Alabang Hills and took up Mass Communication at Assumption College in San Lorenzo Makati. Growing up, her role models were older sisters Kate and Karla. Tagging along with them to VTRs quickly exposed her to commercials such as YSA Botanica, her first project, and Close-Up, her favorite, which she did when she was 16. She admits to being closest to Kate whose strength she admires.

In 2002, her sister Kate won the Bb. Pilipinas-World, inspiring Bianca to want a crown for herself. So it wasn’t a surprise when in 2009 while working for Philippine Airlines, she joined the Bb. Pilipinas pageant without her parents’ knowledge. However, they soon found out when the finalists were announced. She recounts how her family rallied behind her, preparing her for the pageant as the pressure was on for her to win a crown just like her sister.

In 2009, Bianca made her parents proud by winning the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe.  When asked, “If you would have a son in the future, what would you teach him about women?,” she replied, “He should respect every woman like he respects his mother because every woman will become a mother and if you know how to show respect to every woman, then you will know how to respect yourself.” Her winning answer clearly showed the great job her parents did in raising their girls.

She became an Ambassadress of Goodwill, meeting wounded soldiers and veterans who touched her heart. The entire pageant experience taught her diplomacy, compassion and the importance of being strong and firm in her principles, helping her grow stronger as an individual.

Fearless and romantic at heart, Bianca enjoys Italian and Japanese cuisine. She is broadminded and can’t live without her cellphone.  Her best asset is her height and her worst is her size 11 feet making it necessary for her to buy shoes abroad or online.

She loves the movie Bicentennial Man and her favorite book Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten teaches one to go back to basics like the rules she grew up with that kept her grounded. She loves her dogs Pillow, a shitzhu, Tiara, a toy poodle and Pearl, a maltese.

Now a familiar face in showbiz, Bianca’s star continues to rise. A believer in standing firm on her principles, “Don’t rush. Be firm!” is her best advice. This is echoed by her manager, Jojie Dingcong, “Bianca is focused and very determined. In my book, that makes a winner!”

The quote she shares with sister Kate best describes Bianca, “Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make their dreams come true.” Yes, Bianca is still weaving her showbiz dream.