AT THE terrace of her new condo unit in Quezon City
These days, it’s not uncommon for young GMA 7 star Sarah Lahbati to burn the candle at both ends, since tapings for her daily soap opera “Kokak” and rehearsals for the Sunday variety show “Party Pilipinas” eat up much of her time.
It’s hardly surprising that when she’s free from work, she spends the entire day holed up in the condo unit she shares with mom Esther and two pets, Charlie and Efie.
“I sleep and eat on my days off,” she told Living Stars. “Sometimes I bond with my neighbor, Bela.” That’s fellow Kapuso star Bela Padilla, who lives in the same condominium building. “I’m a laid-back person; I’d rather relax in my room.”
Sarah said Bela had recommended the place to her and her mom. The Lahbatis used to live in Dasmariñas, Cavite, but mom decided to rent a condo in Quezon City, near the GMA 7 studio. “I feel secure and comfortable here,” Sarah said of the new pad.
In her bright and breezy room, Sarah, 18, reads books, watches DVDs, strums her Washburn bass guitar or surfs the Net. “I go on DVD marathons, watching old Audrey Hepburn movies. Or I study the script of ‘Kokak.’”
The bookshelf is lined with all sorts of books—in English and French. She read the “Twilight” series in French. Apart from Filipino, English and yes, French, Sarah speaks a bit of Arabic, German and Italian.
BEATLES fan is now studying guitar-playing
She has grown up multilingual because her dad Abdel, originally from Morocco, works as translator in the United Nations headquarters in Geneva.
Sarah also enjoys watching DVDs of the movies of French comedians Patrick Timsit and Omar & Fred.
Her bed’s headboard is gaily decorated with a dozen stuffed toy frogs—gifts from family and friends, as a tribute to her “Kokak” character, who becomes an amphibian because of some childhood curse.
“I used to be scared of frogs,” she admitted. “I’m used to them now, but I haven’t gotten over my fear of cockroaches.”
All-time idol
She has displayed vintage portraits of Marilyn Monroe and The Beatles in her room as well. “I love the icons,” she said.
Audrey Hepburn is her all-time idol, though. While watching “Roman Holiday,” she said, she couldn’t help reminiscing about her own vacation in Rome, where she visited, among other famous spots, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain.
While growing up in Geneva, she traveled all over Europe. “France is just a few minutes away from where we lived; Italy, three hours away,” she said.
She experienced living la dolce vita in Italy, of course. “We spent summers in Italy. I was very happy because I love the sun, swimming… and gelato.”
Needless to say, she had a blast in Paris. “Once, my family welcomed the New Year at the Eiffel Tower. We had dinner with uncles and aunts from my dad’s side of the family.”
Naturally, Sarah, the art lover, toured the Louvre. Plus, she said, “Paris is the ultimate shopping place. When I’m there, though, I don’t go to designer shops. I frequent flea markets and look for vintage clothes. I am into wearing jackets and boots.”
Among her favorite Beatles tunes are “Here Comes the Sun,” “Hey Jude” and “Blackbird.” Her Filipino cousin Tony Pesito introduced her to the music of the Fab Four.
She’s currently trying to master guitar-playing. “I also want to learn how to play the piano,” she said.
Her favorite nooks in the condo are her bedroom and—surprise, surprise—the kitchen. “I eat a lot,” she confessed. “I love fruits, especially strawberries.”
The girl knows her way around the stove. “I can cook pasta dishes, like pesto. I’ve perfected chicken curry. I also bake chocolate chip cookies.”
As a high school junior, she joined classmates in making and selling chocolate truffles on Valentine’s Day.
Sarah, who grew up in Switzerland, shared a favorite pasta recipe that she describes as “the French-Swiss way.” She explained: “It’s very simple. I just add salt, butter and steamed broccoli to the noodles. It’s very healthy.”
Needless to say, the veggie pasta is a nutritious break from the sinfully delectable holiday dishes that her mom served this Christmas and New Year.
Sarah related that they celebrate the holidays the same way every year: “We go to church (at Manila Victory) and then have a family get-together at home.”
Mom put up the Christmas tree in the living room, while aunt Marie made the white abaca parol that was hung at the balcony.
Sarah volunteered that her aunt had won an award for lantern-making in Barcelona, Spain, and whipped up the red abaca bags that Sarah used for her gifts this year.
Apart from the red abaca bags, a miniature camel stood at the foot of the Christmas tree. The mini-camel is made from the animal’s hide, mom Esther said. “It’s a souvenir from Morocco.”
Mom also put a Moroccan leather pouf, a round cushion-seat made from camel skin, in the sala.
Aunt Marie made the curtains, seat and sofa covers, along with the bed covers, Sarah said.
Displayed in the sala, near the television, are Sarah’s various awards from school (Immaculate Conception Academy) and the reality show “StarStruck,” which she topped with Steven Silva.
In school she was often picked as muse. But she herself got into
sports, winning medals in basketball, swimming and taekwondo.
At age 10 she played a basketball jock in a Purefoods hotdog commercial with cager Alvin Patrimonio. “That was my first TV ad,” Sarah said. The Purefoods poster is displayed in her room.
When she was 8, during summer break, she appeared in the GMA 7 sitcom “Hokus Pokus,” top-billed by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Rufa Mae Quinto.
Two years ago, she bumped into Sen. Bong in Boracay. “He was surprised and said I had grown so tall na raw,” she recalled.
Sarah didn’t get to spend the last holiday season with her father because he had visited Manila earlier. “I miss my dad. I miss my friends. I miss Europe,” she sighed.
But she’ll get to see her dad soon. Next month, she is having her first “homecoming” concert in Geneva, where she may get to enjoy a white Christmas in February. “I haven’t been back since joining ‘StarStruck’ two years ago.”
“Christmases in Geneva are very traditional,” Sarah said. “The Swiss are friendly; they greet everyone, even strangers, on the streets.”
For the coming concert, she will share the stage with Enzo Pineda, Derrick Monasterio and Mico Aseron.
“I’ll be their tour guide. I will introduce them to my girl friends and teach them how to snowboard,” said Sarah.
E-mail the author at bayanisandiego@hotmail.com