Racing Queen Gaby dela Merced enjoys showbiz

July 8, 2008

GABY DELA Merced was the third big winner in the last PBB Celebrity Edition. Does she still get in touch with her batchmates? “Oh yes, just the other day, I was with Victor Basa,” she says. “I also still communicate with the other housemates, like our big winner, Ruben from Davao who now owns a Goodah branch sa corner ng Ortigas and Santolan. He also lives there now.”

What’s her most memorable experience in PBB? “I learned a lot in my stay there. I used to take a lot of things for granted, but in my conversations with Mommy Yayo Aguila, I realized I’m just too busy with a lot of stuff so I learned that it’s not nice to grab everything but be more focused on your own direction in life.”

The fourth of six kids of a family that owns the Guadalupe Commercial Center and the Delta Bldg., she can just take it easy in her chosen sport, racing.

After all, she’s one of the few Pinays who dominate the Asian Formula 3 circuit and was also 1st runner-up in the Philippine National Formula championship. Now, she’s also determined to pursue her showbiz career. She won as one of the best lifestyle show hosts in 2007 for co-hosting “Living It Up” on Q 11 with Raymond Gutierrez. After PBB, ABS-CBN made her the host of “Gaby’s Xtraordinary Files” for one season.

“I really enjoyed hosting so I hope ABS will give me another hosting job.”

Is she open to doing other things like dancing or acting? “I’m scheduled to do a dance number in ASAP soon. That I can do as I’m now into capoeira, Brazilian martial arts na parang dancing din. As for acting, before I venture into that I want to take a lot of acting workshops muna to prepare me. Ayokong basta sumalang nang wala akong alam.”

Will she still go on racing? “Of course, it’s my other passion. I grew up with cars as my dad is in the car business also. I started driving at 16 and racing gives me a sense of freedom. Parang the world is yours at kaya mo lahat-lahat.”

Isn’t it too risky? “Lahat naman ng sports, may risk. You can just play basketball at pag layup mo, puwede kang maaksidente. And I love to take risks. I love adventure and my stay now in media and showbiz is the latest risky adventure for me.”

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