Melissa on Traveling and Love

Melissa Avelino is like a stress ball. She is a ray of light, a burst of sunshine, a wave that ripples the sea. That is the overall effect of this girl’s personality on anyone who gets to chat with her—so we consider ourselves lucky that we had that chance! Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. One of the best interviews is when you don’t have an agenda, and that is exactly what we did with Melissa—just a free-flowing discussion about anything under the sun—literally. This girl loves the beach, and would like to live near one someday. This is just one of her goals, aside from backpacking in Europe and visiting Japan. “Kahit anong [beach naman],” she answers, when asked about her favorite spot. “I think it’s not even the place that matters, really—it’s the company. Plus siguro, I’m a beach lover, so any beach would be fine. Number one ko siguro is Boracay, kasi with friends ito. But if you have someone, maybe Amanpulo—or Bohol!” Aside from making beach hopping a sport, Melissa also indulges in badminton, although she doesn’t get to play that much anymore. “I’m the type of person na when I’m not taping, I hang out with my family and my friends. [The typical thing that] single ladies would do—spend time with their [pals]!” she imparts. She may be a “single lady,” but has someone caught her eye already? “I just said ‘single!’” she squeals, breaking into a wide grin. “Maybe I’m special to them! Haha! Joke lang! No, but I’m [really] single,” she clarifies. If she were to change her mind about that, what kind of guy would she fall for? “I would be a hypocrite if I don’t say ‘good looking,’” she starts off. “Actually it’s funny—tipo ko talaga is [the] mestizo type. But sometimes it doesn’t happen that way naman, eh. If you’re gonna ask me what type of guy I’d want to be with, gusto ko smart and witty—that’s important sa akin. Someone who’s educated, who has goals and aspirations in life.” She stresses that one of the main “requirements” is a sense of humor, because if a guy is lacking in that department, she doesn’t think it will work. “Kasi I love to laugh,” she explains. “Good hygiene [is also needed], but that’s a basic thing naman siguro. Basically, ‘yun. Kasi when you meet naman someone, if you guys have chemistry, it’s just there. But it would be a big plus if the person is working na rin as well. Someone who can fend for himself.” Would she prefer celebrities like herself, or those not from showbiz? “It doesn’t really matter,” she replies. “But if I were given a choice, syempre, I’m in the industry also. Based on the schedules and tsismis, I think most people would agree na it’s better yata, ha, na non-showbiz. Pero it’s something I wouldn’t be able to control naman, ‘di ba? If I meet someone here in the industry and it leads to that, then why not? Pero if you ask me, sana hindi showbiz.” How is Melissa like when she’s in love? “Aaaaah!!!” she giggles. “I spoil the guy—but let’s not get into the specifics! [Let’s just say] I’m the type of person who loves to take care of my other half, in whatever way.” She compares the older, more mature Melissa to her younger self: “When I was younger, parang you’d always want to be with the person, but now, I want my own time also. That’s why I said earlier, I want someone who’s stable and could fend for himself. Kasi with this kind of work in showbiz, hindi mo hawak oras mo. So you can’t actually assure your other half [of] your time. So sana, you end up din with someone who has his own thing also. Basta when I’m in love, obviously I’m happy!” For more on Melissa, tune in to Carlo J. Caparas’s Joaquin Bordado every weeknight after 24 Oras! Talk about Melissa in the iGMA Forums!