Peeking into Pia’s world

Pia Guanio admits to having a live-in partner - her three-year old dog, Snoop. How’s that for a revelation? After exposing the titillating secrets behind the glamour of showbiz, it is about time that the tables are turned on the reigning “Reyna ng Chikahan.” Text by KC M. Abalos. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Pia minute! A regular day for Pia starts with everyone’s favorite Eat Bulaga. She shares her busy work day, “Right after, I go to the gym because I have a couple of hours sandwiched between my two shows. So I try not to waste gas and go home. I try to use it more wisely. I go to the gym then I go here (GMA Network).” With four successful shows, namely, Eat Bulaga, 24 Oras, Ang Pinaka, and S-Files, she is onscreen almost everyday of the week. Notice that all these shows are live, except for Ang Pinaka which means that she has to be strict in keeping her schedule. And, if that is not enough, “Some days there are hosting jobs that I need to attend to,” she says with a wide smile. People can’t get enough of her. Proof is her numerous endorsements. Pictorials and shootings will have to be squeezed in between her shows. It cannot be denied that this self-confessed nerd from of St. Scholastica and UP Diliman is a go-getter. The Pia-files It is no surprise then that her personal mantra is, Go for the Gold! She relays with complete conviction, “Don’t let anything stop you. I always go for it even if it’s a little daunting at first. Or it’s got a lot of difficulties. Nothing has ever fazed me.” She further reveals her own weakness at the onset of her career, “Once upon a time I couldn’t put two sentences in Filipino. On TV. Live. Like under pressure. But now…. you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.” However, she also maintains that she is not a competitive person just for the sake of being competitive. She is in a constant contest with herself. “I can’t stand it when I think I have not prepared properly for something. I’ve always been somewhat of an achiever because I had pretty big footsteps to follow, big shoes to fill. My parents always had high expectations from me. I hated disappointing them. I had to make sure I’ve something to show in anything I do. Their approval, their acknowledgment always matter.” Her popularity is such that even those who are not into showbiz know…. when a chika needs to be confirmed, Pia is the right authority. Not too sensational, with just a touch of gossip. But this lady’s interests reach far and beyond the glitzy world of artistas and tidbits. She shares, “I’m a very athletic person. I’m interested in a lot of things. I also like Hollywood news. I’m very much into animals. I’m a volunteer for PAWS. I like knowing about the environment. I care a lot about it.” This passion and energy describe who the real Pia is. “I’m such a happy person. My general disposition is positive and happy,” she says. This is the reason why when she enters our homes, she brings with her an optimism that can only be called infectious. It is generally considered as her signature aura. Pia’s Pinaka Despite her success, Pia remains grounded because of the people whom she values the most. “Number one is my faith. I’m a very spiritual person. I may not look it. But I am. And then, my family, of course. I’m very close to my one brother, his wife, his kids and my mom & dad,” she states. She further explains that she can live without most things. Case in point, she would rather leave her cell phone at home but then her parents and manager would get mad at her. Her life being full and busy as it is, she craves those moments when she can just chill and de-stress. She wistfully says, “Every other Saturday, I get a day off. So I go to Tagaytay after Chika Minute. We have a house there and I spend the whole day reading a book. I’m having so much fun not doing anything, for a change. Spending time with the family that is always a big deal for me.” Bulagaan with Pia If there is one question that she is a little ambiguous when answering, it is the question that is directly related to her love life. Not because she has anything to hide but because in general, she is not the sentimental, mushy type of person. Even when it comes to movies, she admits that she does not like romantic ones. Is Pia Guanio-in-love different from the usual pragmatic Pia? She answers, “They say. But I think it’s pretty much the same. They say I’m a lot happier. I’m more inspired to do things. But I say I’m always inspired to do the things that I do because I enjoy doing all of them. Maybe I’m more talkative, who wants that?” More talk means more of Pia Guanio revealed; for a lot of people that is not a bad thing at all.