Her Mother's Glory

Right from the start, Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz understood that when celebrity-hood and genes go together, public hype heightens, usually to the disadvantage of the kids. Questions like "What is it like to follow in the footsteps of your famous parents?" pop up everywhere they go. Unless it is a passion, the children usually get lost in the labyrinthine world of late-night tapings and pictorials.

When her daughter, Isabelle Diaz Daza, was still a baby, people already saw the star potential - Junior Miss Universe would sell, of course! There were temptations popping up every now and then, but Gloria said no and remained firm in teaching the importance of education to Isabelle and her two other siblings, Raf and Ava.

But some roads are meant to be taken. Gloria's friendship with Ben Chan sparked an interesting turn of events: Isabelle, now 17, is the newest endorser of Human. "Ben asked through other people. We didn't even talk about the money because there were better offers. I just want her to try, to see how hard it is, but I'm getting afraid because she seems to like it," Gloria coyly admits.

Even Gloria cannot stop Isabelle's fast-rising stature in the modeling industry. With fascination, people pinpoint the ways Isabelle has taken after her mother: elegance in her movement, royalty in her gait, defined Filipina features, slender body and soft bronzed skin. Despite the growing interest in this young lady whose bloodline has always been associated with fame and glamour, she still remains unruffled and humbled, sizing everything up with a child's eye.

Isabelle recalls the first time she saw her billboard. "It's weird. I remember the first time. I was with my cousin Georgina [Wilson]. She called me and said, 'Belle, we'll go billboard hopping!' and I was like 'What?' So we drove to Quirino near La Salle, then I saw it and I was 'Oh my God! It's me. . .' You know, it was such a huge photo of me and I was really thrilled to have it. And of course, scared of what people would say. Is that me? I stared at it for the longest time then Georgina said, `Let's take your picture.' So I had this picture of me pointing at me. Yeah it's me! It was cool.

"This is such a flattering offer for me," Isabelle quickly adds.

Her modeling stint is an exciting addition to her list of interests. Isabelle plays for the De La Salle varsity soccer team, which is busily clinching championships left and right. "After soccer, after I get home from school, I'll rest, then I'll always eat. That's my joy," she grins. She even stresses that she got her love for food from her dad, businessman Bong Daza, whose marriage to Gloria has been annulled. "My dad's great and hip. I remember before he bought an iPod when no one had it yet. He didn't know how to use it so he gave it to me," she beams. Lately she's been listening to classic songs by Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys and the Beatles. Her dad also bought her a drum set and taught her how to use it. She even makes music videos with her cousins.

She also paints, just like her famous auntie, Isabel Diaz, and uncle, Ramon Diaz. On top of these is her main priority: her studies. She is currently majoring in Early Childhood Education at De La Salle University.

"But my mom is persuading me to go into Child Psychology," she amusingly shares. "She thinks I'm a great psychologist because every time she has a problem, she'll ask me and I'll analyze and I'll give her advice. And she always tells me `You know, you'll be good as a psychologist.' For example, she'll have a problem and she'll ask me for advice. Even if she has to endorse something. She'll ask me about clothing, what's baduy. If she has problem with anything, she'll ask me."

Such is the closeness of the two. "My mom supports me. She always supports me in everything I do. Even soccer. She knows it's a tough sport - she wants me to move to tennis. Because she plays tennis. That's our bonding. If I don't have soccer; we play tennis."

But nothing can be more demonstrative of the mother-daughter's tight relationship than the time Gloria sat her daughter down for a talk days after graduation. "After all my hard work, preparing your baon, it paid off when I saw you march. It was all worth it," Gloria told Isabelle days after she graduated from high school at the Assumption Convent San Lorenzo. "I was like, `Wow.' I was inspired," Isabelle recounts with fondness.

Isabelle also takes care of the household, just like her mom. "I appointed myself as in charge of the house. So me, I'm always the one telling everyone to turn off the lights because growing up, it was always like that. My mom was like, 'Are you are all mad at Meralco? Ba't lahat ng ilaw bukas? [Why are all the lights on?]' So it was always drilled into me to turn off the lights. Turn off everything that's not moving. Clean up after yourself. When I'm at home I tell my siblings or cousins to turn off this or that and they're like, 'Okay, Gloria, calm down,' and I'm like, `I'm turning into my mom'!" she exclaims with a laugh.

Indeed, Isabelle and Gloria's personalities almost overlap, unveiling more endearing similarities and keeping them close together. Gloria sees herself in her daughter, especially every time the latter interacts with other people. "She can adjust to a lot of situations. She's comfortable with kids, gays, straight, poor or rich. She's also poised even when she's very excited."

While Isabelle got a kick out of being an extra in some of her mother's shows when she was a kid, she does not intend to go into showbiz. She has her eyes set on a college diploma, master's degree and a teaching job in the future. "That's why I'm taking up Early Childhood Education. I just want to teach what I have been taught. In Assumption, our teachers always talk about teaching and helping the country."

For the mother, everything boils down to Isabelle's happiness. "More than anything, I want her to be happy. I want her to know that she can make a big contribution to society, be a decent person and be happy. It's hard if a child is not happy with the work she does. Dapat enjoy siya [She should enjoy it]."

From the girl who was used to being introduced as "the daughter of Gloria Diaz," completely leaving out her name, Isabelle now emerges as her own person who takes her newfound fame in stride. "I don't feel it's all about me or something," she smiles. "I just try to work in everything I do." At such young age, she is already equipped with a discipline that sets her off to a good start. Imagine how far that discipline will take her a few years from now. Certainly, the name Isabelle Diaz Daza invites stellar imagery parading all the passions of her life - from modeling to teaching. No need for Gloria to wish for Isabelle to make a big contribution to society. She already has.