Bianca open to projects without Miguel

Bianca Umali in “Sahaya”

Bianca Umali could pass for the younger sister of Pia Wurtzbach. Both of them are prettier sans maquillage (without makeup). Bianca ought to join the Binibining Pilipinas pageant someday.

The Kapuso stunner has been tapped to be the endorser of Xcess Salon (owned by the son of Kuya Germs, Federico Moreno).

She is mesmerizing as Sahaya (weeknights on GMA 7, after “Kara Mia”), a role that seems tailor-made for her. Viva la ganda Filipina de Bianca!

Here’s my chat with Bianca:

What are your beauty rituals? Honestly, I have none. Just the usual skin care: I drink a lot of water, and I stay happy. Happiness gives you a glow that no makeup can.

Are you open to the idea of you and Miguel Tanfelix being paired with other stars? Yes. We don’t close our doors to other opportunities. We support each other’s growth as artists.

If your parents were still around, what would you want to ask them about love? Is love really this painful, or is it really this happy?

Love or career? I wish that I would never have to make that choice because I know that I can balance both.

What do you find hard to understand about guys? How they can be insensitive at times.

Do you check out the rival show of “Sahaya”? I do not watch TV because I don’t have time. I just do my own thing and make each portrayal of mine better than my previous ones.

Bittersweet final scene

Julia Barretto and Gerald Anderson’s team-up in “Between Maybes” works. We, at the Cinema Evaluation Board, gave their charming film a grade of A. It was shot in Saga, a laid-back, postcard-pretty city in Japan.

The movie shows us that some fleeting encounters leave a lasting impact. Its bittersweet final scene pierced my heart. What a painfully beautiful ending!

Bizarre ending

The final scene of Gabby Concepcion and Jodi Sta. Maria’s movie, “Man and Wife,” is quite bizarre. Perhaps, it was meant to lighten the mood after all the heavy drama. What an anticlimactic ending.

No drama for Pri, please

Speaking of drama, I found it so cute when the wife of John Estrada, Pri (Priscilla Meirelles), said, “Sometimes, after filming all day, John comes home still in character. So I rib him, Please spare me the ‘emo lines.’ Leave the drama in the studio (laughs).”

The Brazilian beauty is allergic to “dramatiques.”