If Miriam Quiambaois greeting 2010 with a big smile, it's only because things are coming up roses for her when it comes to matters of the heart. "I'm dating someone," she confirms with Women's Health-Philippines in their January-February issue, "We met through friends. But we got super serious only recently."
"Super serious" for Miriam means she has taken that step to getting to know the guy better. Coming from a failed marriage, she says, "I'm not in a rush. A relationship is about companionship and friendship. I'm taking the time to get to know him better. I'm asking a lot of questions and communicating with him. I am really checking to see if we share the same values."
Her divorce just got finalized late last year, and annulment proceedings in the country are currently underway. "I'm satisfied," is her brief statement about the divorce.
"When I was married, I was so dependent on my husband. He gave me an allowance. I didn't feel I was of any use," she recalls as she also talks to Women's Health about why it's important for women to handle their own finances. But now she and ex-husband Claudio Rondinelli are civil to each other. "I called to wish him a happy birthday last September," she says.
The former beauty queen adds, "2009 was like a roller coaster, going through the divorce. But now that it's over, there's so much more I'm hoping for—in showbiz, in my business, in my personal life."
Miriam is presently busy running a real estate company, and also advocating the climate change awareness campaign of Oxfam.
(Oxfam, according to its website, is a confederation of 14 like-minded organizations working together and with partners and allies around the world to bring about lasting change." Here in the Philippines, it focuses on sustainable livelihoods, education, conflict resolution, and disaster preparedness.)
During typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, Miriam made full use of her social networking sites to spread the word on how to help flood victims, where to donate, and whom to contact. Women's Health reports that a day after Ondoy hit, Miriam flew to Bangkok on behalf of Oxfam to give a talk about climate change.
"Climate change is so compelling that we need to do something about it," she asserts.
Keeping her hands full with her projects in and out of showbiz has given Miriam the force to keep on going. Of course, her newfound faith in God also came in handy, "Knowing God has changed me. I hope it inspires others rather than turns them off."