Pinoy Showbiz News, Celebrities, Movies, TV & TV Shows
Independent Filipina Woman: A New Journey of Anne Curtis
by Valerie Tort
Before judging her as shattering the one-woman-man phrase, Anne Curtis is a brave woman who fought for her own independence under harsh camera lights of Philippine showbiz.
The half-Filipina half-Australian ABSCBN talent showed who she is even off camera. “Basically, I am a ‘what you see is what you get’ woman. I don’t put up any front or act for other people to adore me. I do not believe in hiding or proving anything and that, I think, is what makes me somewhat controversial in the showbiz.”
“I can make mistakes. It’s all part of growing up,” Anne added. She is not bothered or afraid of having slip-ups once in a while. Being independent means learning from your own experiences.
Anne has been in the show biz industry for 10 years. She did numerous product endorsements from high-profile companies such as Ginebra San Miguel and Head and Shoulders shampoo commercials under Procter & Gamble Philippines, and other photo shoots for glossy magazine covers. She also appeared in numerous TV series, soap opera, and Philippine primetime shows including her ongoing project Maging Sino Ka Man with Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz, and Sam Milby. She also starred in several movies, with her latest movie under Star Cinema titled ‘Ang Cute ng Ina Mo.’
With all her hardships since she was 12, and her Australian upbringing somehow contributed to her modern outlook in life—a woman of strength, character, and personality.
The cultural differences between Australia and the Philippines are highlighted by Anne as ‘somewhat restricted in terms of the daughters of the family.’ In Australia, daughters can go to school using their bikes, without any worry for the parents. “We live on the outskirts of Melbourne, in the countryside, away from urbanized and contemporary living. I had a happy childhood. I rode my bike to school and I enjoyed doing the daily household chores. It was so much fun,” she said. In the Philippines, daughters are fetched or even rode in school buses for safety purposes.
In her long stay in the country, Anne has adapted certain Filipino characteristics and traditions, but not foregoing the independence a woman must possess. “Well, I have to say that I am more Filipino now. The only thing that’s Australian about me is my childhood and my accent. Since I live here now, I’m more Filipina. When I go back to Australia, it seems that I’m learning things all over again.”
The half-Aussie and half-Pinoy beauty resided in Australia with her father, James Curtis, and transferred residence here in the Philippines when she was in her teenage years. “I am so happy that I’m here. If I were in Australia I’d have been in a boarding school! My dad was strict when it came to education. He kept on dissuading me when I tried doing TV commercials, claiming that they are just swindling me to dodge school.”
She finished her seventh grade in the Philippines so her father was worried that she may dump school and do modeling full-time. The thought of ditching school never entered in her mind. She even planned to finish her tertiary year in Australia after graduating at College of Mount Carmel in Parañaque City and be a pre-school teacher afterwards.
It started her independence since she’s able to decide for herself even if her father was discouraging her to go into modeling or even showbiz. But she continued to shine in her own little way by participating in various teen roles in movies and TV series in her adolescent years.
And this independence was always translated as being a stubborn or even an image of a ‘playgirl.’ “Well, I guess that’s the remaining false impression about me for five years now. I’ve learned to live with it, but I want to demonstrate people incorrect who suppose that big lie. They declare that I have two boyfriends at one fell swoop but on no account that had happened, I swear. I go on dates, yes, but at the end of the day I’m just a normal teenager,” Anne explained.
People knew her as a party girl enjoying all night with her liberated friends at the trendiest and hippest bars in the metro, and someone who is not serious about life and takes all the challenge, even with hooking up with other men. “I’m not really super pa-sweet but I can be in certain aspects. Bit I’m not the super all-out bad girl rin naman.
“I guess everyone goes through that stage when finally you are free of your boyfriend and enjoying yourself. But not to a point that if ever I have feelings for someone else, I’ll date him. I’ll break up with my boyfriend first before entertaining a suitor. I never cheat because I believe in karma. My God! Even if I finished work at three in the morning, I’d still take time to go out with the friends. But not anymore, I’m too tired,” she confessed.
In her public life, there will always be a misconception especially the Filipinos who are not used to seeing and being with independent woman. The tradition and values of a historical age somehow remained in our minds. Gossips and canard stories will surely be around as a result of the Filipino way of thinking.
“I hate people who are liars and who are not true people. I hate that. I hate tsismis even though I know it is part of the job being an actress, but what I do not like is when it’s dirty tsismis. I don’t let it get to me. Just as long as the people who are really close to me know who I really am, that’s what matters.”
People vary in how they define and put the word independence into context. Anne made herself clear at what independence of a woman is: “I think kahit papaano you still have to be independent in your own way by still working to have her own money for herself, working to buy her personal needs, and toiling for other things just to spoil herself. That is how a girl should be independent.”
She enjoys her hard-earned Victorian-inspired mansion near Laguna de Bay as the fruit of her 10-year labor in the showbiz industry.
“I live alone in my house, which I just finished paying. I want to enjoy my house kasi pinaghirapan ko ‘yon. My savings from the 10 years I’ve been in showbiz went into that house so I really treasure it. Everytime I walk into that house, parang ayoko nang lumabas pa.”
That is how Anne Curtis treated her life for her personal and career growth—an independent Anne that still is shining on.
Tags: Anne Curtis, Philippine Celebrities, Philippine Entertainment News, Philippine Showbiz
26 Apr 2007 Valerie Tort 1 comment
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