At a time when beauty could be had by just a quick visit to a cosmetic surgeon, and at a period when almost everything aesthetic could be faked, it is refreshing to hear from an individual who is not only well-regarded for her genuine good looks but is also esteemed for giving honor to her country.
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) was lucky enough to get in touch with former beauty queen and actress, Gloria "Bong" Dimayacyac who is now based in Los Angeles, California, USA.
The 1983 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia and Miss Asia Pacific Quest beauty was gracious enough to entertain PEP despite being away from the limelight for quite awhile.
It would be remembered that Bong was one of the beautiful faces that graced the boob tube and the big screen during the ‘80s.
She was one of the sexy model-housemates that made the wacky TV comedy Chicks to Chicks so popular, together with still-very-active Carmi Martin, Lorraine Schuck, and the late Maria Theresa Carlson.
Ms. Bong was also cast in movies opposite big stars like Fernando Poe, Jr. (1987's No Retreat, No Surrender...Si Kumander), Ramon Revilla, Sr. (1987's Hitman), Dolphy and Panchito (1985's Kalabog en Bosyo Strike Again), and Lito Lapid (1986's Kamagong).
"I was barely 18 when I won both Mutya [May 1983] and Miss Asia [July 1983]," related Bong. "In 1984, I was asked to join Chanel 13's Chicks to Chicks, which eventually became Chicka Chicka Chicks when we moved to ABS-CBN, and I stayed until I left in September 1988."
"Chicks to Chicks was the number 1 show at that time," she stressed, adding that it also raked in a lot of money. But more than that, it was the cast and crew that made the experience unforgettable.
"The late Ading Fernando was the director then," she informed. "He was such a wonderful, funny and warm person. Of course, Direk [Johnny] Manahan was just as awesome. The casts were wonderful, too. We all got very close and it was more like a weekly family reunion than it was a job. It was a lot of fun. I loved every minute of it. We all shared laughter and tears. If there is anything I miss to this day...it is the filming/taping of Chicka Chicka Chicks."
"I have been in touch with them [Chicks to Chicks cast] since I left the show. [In fact] Carmi, Nova [Villa], Lorraine, and myself had a reunion when [my family] came to visit the Philippines last June [2008]," she shared, adding that she also kept in touch with other colleagues. "I was able to get ahold of some beauty queens and models and kept in touch with them since June, including Joyce Ann Burton and Jane Brummitt."
It is smart to note that some of her contemporaries are still, in one way or the other, involved in the industry which she decided to leave in 1988. And this prompted PEP to ask if she harbored regrets for her decision to leave.
"None at all!" she denied. "Sure I miss showbiz, but would I like to return? Perhaps... especially if I would have the opportunity to work with the people I worked with in the past."
But there is no question that Bong had made the right decision when she left the limelight in 1988. "I left because I knew I was ready to move on to a more stable life, something more fulfilling!"
The former actress recalled, "The last movie I did was the Italian production film, Indio," she informed. "[It starred] Francesco Quinn, Marvin Hagler, and Brian Dennehy, and Leopoldo Salcedo, I think. They did a sequel to this film in 1990 and they called me here in LA to do it, but I had to decline as I was already pregnant with my second child that time. They asked Tetchie Agbayani instead [I think]."
At that point, there were more pressing roles for Bong to
play.
From beauty queen to queen of the house. "I did not work full-time until about six years ago," Bong confessed, relating that she concentrated on being mom and wife previous to said six years. Of course it could be pointed out that being mom and wife are full-time jobs as well—if more demanding but gratifying nonetheless.
"I doubt that my heart can be in two places at the same time," she reflected. "I cannot be a mother and give my 100 percent and be a career woman and give another 100 percent. I don't have 200 percent to give!"
"But for those who can, I salute them...really. Hats off to them! As far as finances with one-income family, well...you'll just have to learn to live with what you have."
She further explained: "Both my husband and I are very much hands-on when it comes to our children. We spend a lot of time at their schools to volunteer our services wherever and whenever needed.
"We don't believe that you can raise your children well—without help or yaya—unless you spend every minute of your time with them, to take care of them, to keep up with their hectic schedules between school and sports and other extra curricular activities, homework, and other things."
Obviously very happy and pleased about her family, Bong related, "My husband, Victor [Nuguid] is one incredible guy... a loving and dedicated husband and father. I'm so fortunate to have him in my life. He is so perfect...for me anyway! He was born and raised here but [like me] is from Batangas. He works for the family business—Real Estate Property Management."
"I have three great boys! My oldest son is Timothy, a second year college taking up Film. Next is Matthew, first year college, Chemistry—he wants to be a pharmacist. And my bunso, Peter is in first year high school (9th grade)."
"[They are] good and smart kids," she enthused. "Students in their school are not allowed in sports if they cannot maintain a certain GPA. [And] my two boys were recipients of Academic Hall of Fame Awards, which means they could maintain a GPA of 4.0 or higher while playing sports."
"Too much bragging ba? Sorry," Bong noted in mid-sentence. Then again, what mom wouldn't be proud especially when her kids are doing very well? "They have been playing basketball and volleyball practically since they started to walk. Our family is very much into sports. That's my husband's influence. My husband had coached them in basketball since the boys could start playing. He still coaches the high school varsity team in my youngest boy's school."
She added: "Other than coaching the varsity team, he also officiates [a referee of] local high school and division 3 college basketball games. He plays too as a hobby."
As such, it's not surprising that her family's enthusiasm for sports has rubbed on to her. "Having three boys in sports and a sports fanatic husband had forced me to learn and appreciate basketball, football, and volleyball. I learned the mechanics of the sports—both football and basketball—and the rules and, therefore, I sometimes fight with those who officiate my boys' games.
"If I weren't too old to join the cheerleaders, I'd probably be there too," Bong quipped.
But the mom may very well pass as a cheerleader, given she is very fit and active. "I try to exercise whenever I can. I jog, do sit ups, push-ups every so often. But [then], just between work and school to watch my youngest boy's games, is an exercise by itself."
"My goal in life at this point is to see my kids through college, finish their education and, hopefully, be successful in their chosen career. If they still need us by then, we will still be here for them," she stressed.
The queen of her fate. Dedicating her life on raising three boys was quite an experience for the former model. Now that they are grown-ups, "I suppose I should have a lot of free time, now that the two boys are in college. [But] I am still trying to reprogram myself."
"You see, I lived my 18 or 19 years of my life taking care of my boys and not having enough ‘me' time," she confessed. " I used to complain, ‘Geesh, I wish I have time to do this and that!' Now that I have the time, I don't know what to do with it, though I have [my] jobs. That's cool, too."
"Right now, I can focus on my career. I have been working for a Financial Services Company as an assistant to Registered Investment Representative. We broker real estate financing for both commercial and residential, and all sorts of investments, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, retirements," she informed.
Addressing the present goings-on in the industry she is now in, Bong related: "Luckily I am still employed despite the recent event in the Stock market [Wall Street]. I am a licensed Real Estate Sales Person and Registered Investment Representative. I'm also currently getting my license in Life and Health Insurance.
"[I also have] two other jobs: doing payroll for a pharmacy company, working from home, and an on-call merchandise buyer for a Hotel Gift Shop. I go to conventions, gift Shows, meet with vendors to buy merchandise for the Shop."
A long list, one might think, for just one person. But she stressed that she is enjoying what she does as she also finds outlets for her creativity. "I like designing flyers, invitations, postcards, brochures and things like that. Although that's not really what I do at work, I am often asked to do them anyway, even by different divisions in our company. I find myself doing things like this at home from time to time. I'd do it for my boys' school too. I design their programs and yearbooks. I really, really enjoy doing them."
Bong has not also forgotten her roots. "Every once in a blue moon, I would model for designer friends who would showcase their collections here in L.A. and San Francisco. Also, every once in a while, local beauty pageant coordinators will send me candidates to coach or prep for pageants. That, I very much enjoy doing. So far, the ones I had coached entered the top 5."
"I wish I can do more of these but time doesn't allow me to do this on a regular basis. I do get invited to judge pageants, too, but only if I don't have candidates [I trained] in the pageant."
She added that her "last [big] gig was three years ago, when I was invited to crown the Miss Asia Pacific Quest International in Guangzhou, China."
And let's not be mistaken, the former beauty queen is still in tip-top form. Her secret? She revealed that she does not encumber herself with too much beauty rituals. "I don't wear make-up everyday, therefore, I don't have to clean my face with a whole lot of make-up remover, cream, etc. If I have business meetings, I wear lipstick and eyeliner...that's it! I only use warm water to wash my face at night and then soap and water in the shower everyday."
Life couldn't be lovelier for Bong Dimayacyac-Nuguid, no doubt.
But she admits missing the Philippines. "[The] chilling, partying, drinking, and just spending time with good, good friends—I really miss them so badly. The all-day eating, and of course, the helpers..." she said longingly.
Her one regret, if you can call it that, is her kids not knowing how to speak the Filipino language. "Unfortunately my children never learned Tagalog either, we all wish they did! But it is hard to teach it when one parent speaks it and the other doesn't."
Bong confessed that their house does not have a Filipino Channel as well,
as "my husband, though Filipino, was raised here [U.S.] and therefore can't
really understand a lot of Tagalog, which is why we don't subscribe to Filipino
channels."
But Bong has not forgotten her being a true Pinay, a Batanguena at that. She is very proud of her origins. Looking back, she related: "I loved every minute of my past and am proud of my accomplishments. I am the person that I am now because of what I learned from my past.
"I have always felt that the Lord was there with me and never left me, not even for one second. Even in the crazy world of showbiz and modeling, limelight and so on... I always felt guided and if I somehow managed to stumble, it was because I needed to, to learn a good lesson. That worked for me," she ended.