NEWSFLASH

Special to the Philippine Headline News Online
by Alex Jimenez
Newsflash Entertainment Columnist

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VANESSA DEL BIANCO, TORONTO'S GIFT TO RP FILMS

Vanessa del Bianco was just another pretty face among the Filipino community of Toronto, until she won an Asian beauty pageant. Her prize included a trip to Manila and a movie contract with ABS-CBN's Star Cinema.

These days, the half-Italian beauty is promoting her first movie, "LABS KITA, OKEY KA LANG?" starring the Jolina Magdangal-Marvin Agustin love team. Vanessa is featured as the second female lead character.

Because of a whirlwind of press conferences, fans' days, TV promos and magazine press releases, the sweet face of Vanessa is suddenly everywhere, becoming familiar to Filipino movie fans who are eagerly awaiting the Aug 26 opening of the film.

Naturally, the main thrust of the film and all its promotions is the juvenile Jolina-Marvin love angle, a very public romance meant for starry- eyed, simple-minded fanatics.

In the midst of silly pretend-romance and cutesy we're-very- close-to-being-lovers gimmicks, Vanessa's mature aplomb and classy poise could not help but stick out and be noticed. . By all indications, Vanessa is enjoying the carnival. "When the opportunity came up to visit and work in Manila, I saw it as more than a mere opportunity to discover my roots, my home and its people."

"At first, my work largely centered on modelling, then came the break to be in the movies. This is actually among the prizes I received for winning the pageant: a one-year contract with the ABS-CBN talent center that included movie and television appearances," Vanessa narrates.

Her beauty is refreshing in a season of ordinary faces. With Sophia Loren's lips, Gina Lolobrigida's eyes, and a smile that seems to say she's way above the inanities and antics of local film gimmicks, Vanessa's presence on and off screen could easily catapult her to stardom.

Said a bitchy showbiz columnist, "Her beauty and personality do not need any prop or love team. She could very easily steal any scene or movie if the lead stars don't watch out. And she can do it 'without even trying. Her mere presence is all it would take."

Notwithstanding these positive comments, Vanessa was still ribbed and intrigued by tabloid reporters who told her pointblank, cruelly : "Why not go back to Canada and become famous there instead? Don't you see that the peso is at an all time low these days? You don't stand to make a mint here."

Yet, instead of being rattled, Vanessa, with a big wide smile on her face, retorted, "I am enjoying my time here. It's not necessarily all about money being made, it's all about having fun and enjoying my work here. I will stay as long as I am having fun."

Still, the entertainment press wouldn't let up; they criticize her twang and wondered out loud how she can expect to make it in local movies unless she brushes up on her Tagalog.

A realist, she worked hard learned the language fast.

"It's true, I did have some difficulty with Tagalog. In fact, when I first arrived, I didn't know anything, and I couldn't speak the language at all. Pero ngayon, I am picking more and understanding more of what's being said. I think that's part of being a newcomer to this business. I can now memorize my lines and that got me through the shoot."

Vanessa is proving to be a dedicated artist and a fast learner, the reporters found out the hard way. She actually knew what was being said for or against her, even when the wags spoke in Tagalog!

By all indications, Toronto's young beauty Vanessa del Bianco is having the time of her life, be it on the fashion ramp, on television or in the movies.

Not a bad deal for pretty girl-next-door type, who accidentally walked into the fantasy land of Filipino movies.

Toronto's loss could be Manila's big gain. Who knows?