Reinventing Phoemela Baranda
By Valerie Tort
Phoemela Baranda’s world took a 360-degree rotation as she strutted down the runway for several years and took a quick turn as “Phoem” stood in front of the camera while delivering hot showbiz news items everyday.
Another phenomenon struck Phoemela Baranda’s career as the busy supermodel turned to be a television host. She’s getting warmed up for another career peak soon.
Her booming career on the runway led her to make a name for herself. “I began modeling when I was 13 years old. I joined the Pink Soda Club search and I was chosen,” she reminisced her simple beginnings. Her first commercial is for Extraderm and did continuous modeling stints afterwards.
Several years ago, she did Nizoral television ads wherein she danced Tango and seemed to be a passionate young lady waiting for something unexpected; then she turned into a fit and healthy endorser of Century Tuna as it promoted the goodness of eating right and being healthy. “I always wanted to be a model, so when my chance came, I took it,” the supermodel turned TV host said.
“I felt that I had done my part in modeling,” the former officer of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP) shared as she looked back towards her glorious years in the modeling industry. She sensed that it was time to recompose herself and build an image suited for her career advancement as a host.
The tall and model thin beauty bagged the job to be the host of Extra Challenge in 2004. She auditioned to be the host who would replace Miriam Quiambao in the last quarter of 2003. She knew that this audition would be her break to bring her career to the next level. Who knew that Phoemela Baranda would get the hosting project with these established finalists such as Joanna Peñalosa, a former beauty queen; Josephine Canonizado, a host and also a former beauty queen; and Ethel Booba, a comedienne.
Possessing a good attitude and a cheerful disposition turned into success. After a grueling incident that led her to be terminated in Extra Challenge, she signed up to be a part of ABSCBN’s The Buzz. “In anything that I do, I make it a point that I will do my best and succeed,” she said.
True to her word, after a satisfactory performance in The Buzz, she was given another project by ABSCBN to be an entertainment anchor woman for TV Patrol World. Though stardom is only part of the success, she never let it hinder her way towards her booming career as a TV anchor woman for the entertainment news in TV Patrol World and the Sunday showbiz talkshow The Buzz.
She maintained being professional in her call time even though she knew that people would arrive late in the set. “I had to be professional because I knew the people around me were watching every move I make,” she explained. She also became more responsible of her actions since she is a part of the news and current affairs of ABSCBN.
She was not used to working everyday since during her modeling days, work schedule has been erratic. It was one of the changes she faced together with her career shift. Another change is the intrigues and gossips circling the showbiz industry.
Phoem said that intrigues and gossips are more magnified in the showbiz industry as compared to that of the modeling industry. She still do some photo shoots and fashion shows during her free time as more recently, modeling became her part time job. Her passion for fashion will never grow old and will never be out of picture, even if she accepted her hosting career as a full time job.
The constant pressure from her predecessors and the people around her in the showbiz limelight directed her to study the Tagalog vocabulary because it was the medium used to communicate better with the people from all walks of life she interviewed.
“I’m not really used to speaking in modeling, but I know I can keep up with the pros in my new career,” she said. She assumed that a wide Tagalog vocabulary could make her a better host since it was widely used in Philippine television. She also felt that she must be in touch with the audiences, so using the right Tagalog words was very important.
Phoemela Baranda took up Interdisciplinary Studies at De La Salle University College of Saint Benilde. She did her modeling stints such as ramp modeling, commercial and print ads, and fashion spreads while studying. It was not easy for her since she also travels both in the provinces and across the globe. Yet, she managed to finish her course in 2001.
The 27-year-old Filipina beauty was up to every challenge in her life. Boredom is replaced by another career opportunity she never missed. Her first peek in the showbiz world happened in 2001 when she played as a friend of Kristine Hermosa in the soap opera Pangako Sa Yo.
She also tried her luck in movies. In November of last year, she became a movie actress and worked together the stars Jacklyn Jose, Tirso Cruz III, and Victor Neri as she hit the big screen for the international independent movie Ang Pamana. Another movie titled Tatlong Baraha became an entry in the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival, starring Lito Lapid and his son Mark Lapid.
She also tried her fate in a television series in 2003 titled Narito Ang Puso Ko. She stopped for a while and went back to modeling then returned to the centerstage in 2004.
As Phoemela Baranda learned how life could be so giving at one point and be cruel in a flash, Phoem believed that fear must overcome yourself, because when there is fear, you will lose your confidence and your state of mind. Her emotional maturity helped her to stay in the bizarre world of television and movies. This time, Phoem will not give up because she worked hard for everything so she will pick up the pieces, stand up, and fight once more.
Tags: Phoemela Baranda, Philippine Showbis Celebrities, Philippine Showbiz news, Philippine Entertainment,
27 Feb 2007 Valerie Tort 3 comments
Gerald Anderson first caught the eye of the Philippine entertainment audience with that mestizo look and that boyish charm on Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Teen Edition a couple of months ago. Although he didn’t turn up to be the voting public’s sole winner, seventeen-year old Gerald’s future was already laid out for him.
No. I love every part of my life and I don’t regret doing anything. Even my bad experiences make me who I am now.
Philippine television is littered with a lot of stars that will do anything to gain the glitz and glamour of showbiz. Count in Toni Gonzaga, who not only has the guts but the natural talents to attain total stardom.
Being the multi-talented lady that she is, Toni is also an in-demand dramatic and comedy actress both in the big and small screens.
Beauty and brains plus hard work sum up Pia Guanio, one of local TV’s favorite hosts. No wonder she’s part of the A-list of successful celebrities in Philippine entertainment.
Vhong Navarro’s claim to stardom is really unstoppable. From being an original member of all-male dance group Street boys, he successfully shifted to being a movie and TV star and in a short period of time. Not contented, he also set off to conquer the Philippine music industry.
This 2007 Vhong’s movie career had a boost when he wa stapped to play lead in the comedy, “Agent X44”. His wackiness and witty character was a perfect match with movie’s main lead, which was originally played by veteran actor Tony Ferrer. As expected, Vhong recorded the movie theme as well, entitled “Chick Boy.”