Chin Chin Gutierrez: Through the fire

In a fast-paced world of people in pursuit of evolving gadgets and ever-changing trends, there is a woman who brings us back to the essentials. Chin Chin Gutierrez is a woman of many talents, always in pursuit of preserving the environment, always chasing after elements that are inspiring, always evolving in her art. Chin Chin’s love for the arts, the environment and the world around her reminds us that it is not always the sleek, streamlined and ultra-sophisticated things of this world that define the word beautiful.

The stories she weaves in her songs and the many personas she portrays in her films, the way she uses different media uniquely in her art and the life that she has in her, add richness to beauty’s definition. Of course, the most striking thing of all is that she is, in fact, a beauty. Chin Chin simply exudes beauty. Her delicate features and almond-shaped eyes captivate her audiences, whether she be Maria Clara or a villainess.

What truly defines Chin Chin is the depth of her soul. She is as multifaceted as a diamond. She is as hardworking as the rest of us (although some may think that everything just falls perfectly into place for her), she is always passionate about the things that are important to her, and she continually perfects the talents that God has given her. For the many awards she has acquired through the years, Chin Chin remains grateful and humble. Her eyes light up with excitement as she talks about the things that she has been busy with. Aside from her long days that trickle to the morning-after when shooting, Chin Chin has also just completed another album — Mater Vitae — which boasts of songs in sacred traditions in the Philippines. Her previous album, Uyayi — a compilation of lullabies from across the country — won her praise and recognition both here and abroad. She says that when God wants you to be there, He will fix your schedule.

The truly amazing thing is that all the optimism and life that she had during the interview comes from someone who had just lost about everything. Many people watched and witnessed what Chin Chin went through during the fire last year, followed by the death of her mother shortly after. Chin Chin says she still gets startled by loud sounds (because of the exploding tanks that she heard during the fire). Her manager, Anjie Ureta, mentioned that despite all this, and the fact that she still has to bandage her hands for protection, Chin Chin still gives a hundred percent when in a shoot. She also shared about how God has replaced and doubled all that she has lost. Friends and well-wishers have constantly helped her so that now she has even more than enough to give.

For Chin Chin, everything in the past seems to be so distant and yet undeniably a big part of her. She has literally gone through the fire and still remains to be hopeful about what’s ahead of her.