Bianca: Is she ready or not?

MANILA, Philippines - Bianca Gonzalez just turned 30 and the question on when she’s settling down will likely hound her more than ever. 

On the sidelines of the launch of the TV host-writer’s newest endorsement, it was the first question that cropped up. “I don’t know when,” a smiling Bianca, who is in a relationship with cager JC Intal, said. “I’m not pressured. More than anything, I think it’s the guy who is pressured. If you’re the girl, you’re just sitting pretty and waiting. If he doesn’t want to, eh di ’wag. Kung gusto niya, pag-isipan.”

But because she’s of age, it won’t be a shocker if she’ll take the plunge soon. At the same time, she can’t say it outright that she’s ready. “I think no girl can really say, ‘I’m ready to get married.’ Maybe, it’s leap of faith as well if a girl says yes. But I’ll be lucky if ever because he’s a very good man.”

Marriage, for her, is “definitely before I get pregnant or have kids. (I believe in) the traditional Filipino concept of marriage.”

She added, “I’m 30 and I want to have a child no later than 35. So, (the ideal marrying age) is somewhere in between.”

Is there anything she still wants to accomplish before that happens? “There are so many things (I still want to do). But then, I have so many married friends saying that marriage is not a hindrance to doing things you want to do. So, we’ll see.”

In an industry packed with multi-hyphenates and artists resorting to reinvention to spice up their career, how does she see her own career evolve? “I do a little (reinvention) here and there like I posed for Rogue and Esquire… FHM? No, not to put their magazine down, pero parang di ako na-aayon sa (content) na ’yon.”

“I don’t know,” she further reflected on her career trajectory, “to be honest, when I started in Y Speak, I thought I’ll give myself three years. Then Pinoy Big Brother came, so maybe another three years. I’ve been hosting since 2005, so it’s been eight years, and thankfully, I still have work. I don’t know where it’s taking me. I’m very open. I enjoy what I do and ABS-CBN has been taking care of me.”

Meanwhile, Bianca is very grateful for being signed up to endorse Betadine Feminine Wash. According to Lito Ardeta, GM of Mundipharma Philippines, makers of Betadine products, Bianca was chosen for advocating women-empowerment issues.

During the launch, there was a forum ala Boy Abunda’s The Bottomline, wherein insightful stuff about feminine hygiene and well-being got discussed. “Women should be proactive when it comes to feminine hygiene. They should seek out information and get educated so they know what they actually need,” Bianca said.

According to Abunda, Bianca’s manager, there were endorsement offers that she had to decline because they didn’t reflect things she’s passionate about. These included a skin-whitening brand. “I don’t believe in that,” the morena beauty said. 

With the succession of endorsement deals this year, Bianca shared that “everything (earnings) goes straight to the bank, to my investments. It’s so hard! (But) I have to concretely think about the future.”

This mindset also comes with turning 30. Bianca said, “It’s great! When I was in my 20s, ang tingin ko sa 30 ang tanda! And then, I knew people who were 30, na sinasabi ang fabulous maging 30 because you know yourself better. Now, nararamdaman ko yun. Of course, you still have insecurities and issues, but you’re now more comfortable with yourself.”