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Bianca Umali paid tribute to her grandmother, Vicky, describing her as the "real Sang'gre" for her strength and unwavering dedication in raising their family.

During a previous guest appearance on i-Listen with Kara David, Bianca opened up about growing up under her grandmother's care after losing both of her parents at a young age.

The actress shared that she was only five years old when her mother passed away due to illness. Years later, when she was 10, her father died from a heart attack, leaving her in the care of her grandmother.

Looking back, Bianca recalled feeling uncertain about what would happen next.

"When I was left in my grandmother's house, if I remember correctly, it was more being in shock of, okay, what's next?" she said.

"I didn't have people who were pillars of my life beside me at all. It was really, okay, dito ako kasama ng lola ko."

Bianca admitted that processing such a life-changing experience at a young age was difficult.

"The processing of it sa utak ko ng mga panahon na 'yun, it was very difficult to articulate and it was very difficult to figure out on your own," she said.

Aside from Bianca, Vicky also took care of many other grandchildren under the same roof.

"Umabot na 15 kaming mga apo na babae under her care," Bianca shared.

"We were all girls, Ma'am Kara. Kaya parang bahay ampunan ng mga babae ang setup namin."

Now 89 years old, Vicky continues to impress her family with her energy and resilience.

According to Bianca, her grandmother embodies the qualities of a true "Sang'gre, the powerful and courageous character featured in the GMA fantasy series of the same name.

"Palagi kong sinasabi, naniniwala ako na ang lola ko ang tunay na Sang'gre," Bianca said.

"Iba talaga siya. Iba 'yung lakas niya kapag nasa loob siya ng bahay niya, kapag nagtatanim siya, kapag siya ay nag-aasikaso sa amin."

The actress said her grandmother took it upon herself to care for all of her grandchildren despite the many challenges she faced.

"Imagine, iba-iba kaming personalities, iba-ibang generations, iba-ibang edad. And yet she was able to raise all of us," Bianca said.

She added that what makes her grandmother's story even more remarkable is that Vicky had already retired and was widowed while raising the family.

"My lola was retired. She already lost our lolo. So she did not have a stable source of income to raise all of us," Bianca said.

"Diyan din kami nahihiwagaan kung paano niya nagawa na pakainin kami, paaralin kami, and to raise us as the people we are now."

For Bianca, the values her grandmother instilled in her grandchildren remain one of her greatest legacies.

"She's our superhero," Bianca said.

"Kasi kung wala siya, puwede naman na hindi niya kami alagaan. But she still chose to take all of us in wholeheartedly without asking for anything in return. Kaya she's a true Wonder Woman."

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