Long after PBB Celebrity Edition went off the air, Bianca still finds herself being judged by other people for what they saw on television.

“I’m still struggling,” says the 23-year-old Bianca. “As much as I’d like to think na people have accepted how things turned out for me paglabas ko, siyempre marami pa ding tao who have their own opinion, and I respect that. Except na, ’yon nga, mahirap. It’s not over yet. My struggle is not yet over. But my frame of mind is really, I’m just so young. I have so much to learn pa. And if I’m down now, like they say, parang gulong lang yan, e. Minsan nasa ’baba ka, minsan nasa taas ka. So it’s an emotional roller coaster talaga. I can say na I make the most out of everything that comes my way. Kahit papa’no, you have to be thankful na God cares a lot.

Pinapadalhan ka niya ng trials na no one doubts naman you’ll get through. Di ba?”

(YES! January 2007 issue)

The defunct ABS-CBN show At Home Ka Dito, hosted by Charlene Gonzalez, did a makeover of Bianca’s room, which she shares with her older sister, Aissa. The sisters couldn’t be happier with the results.

“My sister and I just said na gusto namin parang beach, earthy. Dahil mahilig kami sa beach talaga.”
Bianca then suggested that the scheme of the room be based on the maple leaf that she and Aissa had painted on the cabinet doors.

“My sister kasi is an interior designer, and ever since bata kami, we’ve been on the artistic side. I don’t really paint or draw, pero ’yang mga ganyan, mahilig ako. Nakikitulong ako pag nagdi-design ’yong ate ko sa room.”

(YES! January 2007 issue)

Now that she gets the chance to wear all kinds of clothes, from casual outfits to gowns, Bianca finds herself enjoying the experience of playing dress-up. “Para akong real-life doll. Binibihisan ako ng mga tao. Kumbaga, on my own free time, talagang I dress normal lang talaga. Unless there’s an event. Pero ang sarap din mabihisan. Ang sarap to play dress-up sometimes.”

(YES! January 2007 issue)

This corner of the room is where Bianca’s Ate Aissa has put her accessories and other kikay stuff. “Hindi ako mahilig bumili ng accessories,” Bianca says.

“That’s my least favorite. I am really basic. Unless the outfit calls for it, saka lang ako mag-accessorize.”

It’s a good thing that ate—who is more into these pretty necklaces, earrings, and bracelets—shares her stuff with her younger sister.

(YES! January 2007 issue)

With her extremely busy schedule, Bianca gets to use her room these days primarily as a sleeping area!

“Pag nandito ako, oh my God! Tulog, kain, TV talaga! Kasi it’s so rare that I’m here!”

On her days off, she tells YES!, she’d rather stay home and rest. “Before, I liked going out to the mall, I liked going out at night dati. Pero all in all, talagang enjoy ako sa bahay. Comfortable, e. I don’t feel the need to go out unless may kailangan akong bilhin.”

(YES! January 2007 issue)

Bianca is a self-confessed Converse addict. She explains her obsession with Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars shoes: “Kasi in Ateneo you have to walk from building to building. Kailangan talaga, comfortable ’yong shoes. So do’n ako na-addict sa Chucks na bagay kahit ano’ng porma. I started collecting different colors, different prints. I was modeling na rin no’n, and I remember, on my 15th or 16th pair, na-feature ako sa magazine. ’Yong shot ko, sinabit nila lahat sa katawan ko mga 15 pairs. Parang scarecrow ako of Chucks. Natuwa ’yong Converse when they saw that, so they sponsored me.” Lucky girl.

(YES! January 2007 issue)

Bianca poses with some of her favorite Converse designs.

(YES! January 2007 issue)

A girl-next-door type, Bianca is more comfortable wearing T-shirts, sandos, jeans, and shorts. That’s what her closet reveals. And this girl loves to window-shop! “Hindi talaga ako mahilig bumili. Mahilig akong tumingin! Kuripot kasi akong tao. It’s more parang I look at the new stuff in
the shop.”

(YES! January 2007 issue)

Whenever she’s in her room, Bianca uses these pretty scented candles to keep the area smelling nice the whole day.

(YES! January 2007 issue)

Bianca is an avid collector of unique necklaces.

(YES! January 2007 issue)

A kawayan frame displays a photo of a very tanned Bianca enjoying herself on the beach. Other decorative knickknacks brought by the At Home Ka Dito team adds to the laidback look of the room.

(YES! January 2007 issue)