HER divinely dusky complexion shone bright under the scorching heat of the afternoon sun. This is not even close to exaggeration, as the press who were present to launch Bianca Gonzalez’ newest ABS-CBN TV show, Blog, seemed just as enamored of her natural charms. Couple that with the levelheaded way she answered the reporters’ questions and it wasn’t hard to see what endears her to television viewers. In fact, FHM magazine was just as enamored, naming her among the Top 10 of world’s 100 sexiest women.

Bianca had already exhibited a keen passion for hosting way before she was officially partnered with Ryan Agoncillo in the youth talk show program, Y Speak. The original female Y-speaker was Karen Davila , but after Karen left, Bianca waltzed in to trade banter with Ryan as co-host. But according to Bianca, her hosting stint in Cinema One was her first break , the one that really honed her. Add to this her sterling academic pedigree from the Ateneo de Manila University where she completed her degree in Communications with a minor in Philosophy.

Since then, Bianca has made the hosting rounds of shows including Breakfast, MTV’s U-Break, Star Dance and Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.

So whom does she look up to when it comes to local hosts? “I like Pia Guanio and of course my manager Boy Abunda,” she admits. She wants to emulate Pia’s energetic style and hopes to imbibe a bit of her mass appeal. With Boy Abunda, no one would dare questions his creds as Boy is a master of wringing out drama and substance from an interview, whether he’s talking to a layman or a superstar.

SA BAHAY NI KUYA

But it was Bianca’s stay at the Pinoy Big Brother house that made everyone sit up and take extra notice. Thrown into a fishbowl life, she could not help but reveal some part her private life – her father’s problem with alcohol, her insecurities, particularly with the ex-girlfriend of her current partner Lino Cayetano. And how can we forget the sweet stares and embraces that she and hunk cover boy Zanjoe Marudo shared during their stay at Kuya’s house. After the Big Night, everyone waited for Bianca’s decision: will she dump Lino for a newfound love or will she say sorry to Lino and forget about the would-be relationship with Zanjoe. Apparently, her long relationship with Lino was weightier. In an interview with The Buzz, Bianca said that she and Lino are working things out. She and Zanjoe, meanwhile, remain friends but admits drawing a line that imposed limitations on how far they could be friendly with each other.

Right after she left the Big Brother house, she hosted PBB Update and was part of the Saturday night PBB eliminations with friend Mariel Rodriguez. Viewers could not help but compare her to Mariel and even to regular PBB host Toni Gonzaga (who took a leave from the show to do her upcoming movie with Sam Milby.) “I am the more sympathetic one, I think that’s how I am different from them, because I know how the housemates feel. I could relate to them,” Bianca mused.

BIANCA DOES E!

With her new show Blog or short for Barkada Log (which airs in Manila on ABS-CBN channel Studio 23), Bianca take us to Hollywood and reveals glimpses of the lives and controversies of international artists. She said, “The show is tied-up with E! Entertainment, so we are guaranteed the freshest and juiciest stories of our favorite celebrities.” Local celeb news is also part of the program so no need to wait for the weekend showbiz shows to know what’s new in local entertainment.

The show also gives out fab gifts to local fans who want to own some of their favorite celebrities’ personal belongings. Last June 26, the show gave lucky texter Kim Chui’s cute earrings and Piolo Pascual’s clothes.

Speaking the language of the younger generation is another asset Bianca makes good use of. Her expression, “Kumusta naman ‘yun” makes her get away with the occasional but inevitable booboos and she comes off easier to relate to.

The conscious and careful way she planned her career path is obviously working for her. But there’s more to her career planning than the glare of celebrityhood. Bianca is saving up so she can go abroad and study film. She, however, has no plans to date of being in front of the movie camera. Eventually, she intends to take up her masters in philosophy and teach. She thinks hosting and teaching are so alike that people who like communicating and are articulate should consider going to these fields.

In the meantime, her hosting gigs wait for her. So do commercial modeling stints that has her head-turning looks blown up in some of the most eye-catching billboards in the metropolis. Plus, a few provocative pictorials for FHM. She agreed to the pose for FHM because it was reputable and had a sizeable number of female readers. She swears she would never pose for a publication that catered only to male fans.

It’s clear that at 23, Bianca seems to know want she wants and needs. She is ambitious but grounded, pedigreed but down-to-earth. With her charm and good looks, it may take a long time for Bianca to consider a teaching career.