SWISS-Filipina singer-actress and former MTV ASIA VJ G Toengi was in Manila for a ten-day visit at kasama na rito ang kanyang pagbisita sa kanyang 84-year-old mom na nakatira sa Lobo, Batangas.

Much as she wanted to stay longer, hindi niya ito magawa dahil sa kanyang busy schedule sa Amerika.

Bukod sa pagiging wife to her American husband (of 17 years) na si Tim Walters at ina sa kanilang dalawang anak na sina Sakura Anne Marie (17)at Kenabi Benjamin (15) who are both in their teens now, siya ang tumatayong Communications and Community Partnership Director ng Island Pacific, a chain of Filipino supermarkets (with 18 branches in California and Nevada) owned by Nino Jefferson Lim, mister ng (dating) aktres na si Krista Ranillo.

Ang kapwa MTV Asia VJ na si Donita Rose ay kasamahan din sa trabaho ni Giselle (G) bilang corporate chef with head office in Los Angeles, California.

Sa kabila ng regular job ni Giselle, she is involved sa marami pang non-profit organizations tulad ng FILAMARTS for the Fil-Am artists in America where she serves as executive director. She’s also one of the board of directors of Likhaan Center for Women’s Health, Inc. who champion sexual reproductive health and rights in the Philippines, isa sa mga rason kung bakit siya dumating ng Pilipinas.

She’s also an active host ng iba’t ibang Filipino community events not only in L.A. kundi maging sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng California. She’s also an occasional actress in L.A. whenever there are shoots in America. Katunayan, kasama siya sa cast ng “Labyu with An Accent,” ang pang Metro Manila Film Festival movie ng unang tambalan sa pelikula nina Coco Martin at Jodi Sta. Maria na si Coco rin mismo ang magdidirek. The scenes with Giselle ay sa US mismo kukunan at itataon sa US tour ng “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” ngayong October kung saan kasama si Julia Montes at special guest naman si Jodi Sta. Maria.

It was in early 2000 nang mag-move back sa US si Giselle . Namasukan siya bilang bartender in New York for two years habang nag-aaral siya ng acting classes sa isang leading acting school in New York City. After two years, nag-relocate siya ng Los Angeles, California where she met her husband now na si Tim Walters na isa ring bartender in another resto-bar na hindi kalayuan sa kanyang pinapasukan.

Nang bumalik siya ng Pilipinas, sinundan siya ni Tim at kasunod na rito ang kanyang proposal. They got married on February 19, 2005 sa isang beach wedding in Boracay.

Nagpabalik-balik sila ng Pilipinas at Amerika until they finally decided to settle in L.A. where they raised their two beautiful kids.

In June 2011, tinapos ni Giselle ang kanyang college degree in Communications sa University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) with high honors and ten years later in June 2021 ay nagtapos naman siya sa kanyang master’s degree in Non-Profit Management sa Antioch University also in L.A.

Ayon kay Giselle, hindi magiging possible ang lahat kung hindi dahil sa pagiging supportive ng kanyang pamilya laluna ang kanyang napakabait na husband.

“My family is my strength and inspiration,” pahayag niya.

Hindi ba pinagsisisihan ni Giselle na tinalikuran niya ang showbiz career sa Pilipinas at the peak of her popularity?

“No regrets,” diin niya.

“I’m happy with where I am now, with my family, work, great opportunities, friends and my advocacies,” pagbabahagi pa ni Giselle.

“Of course, na-miss ko rin naman ang trabaho ko rito, my friends and colleagues in the industry,” pag-amin niya.

Si Giselle ay isinilang sa France to her Swiss father and Filipina mother.

She has four elder siblings. She was only 11 months old when her father passed away kaya wala siyang good memories with her dad.

She was brought by her mother sa New York but when she was 15 ay bumalik sila ng Pilipinas.

Hinding-hindi umano niya makakalimutan ang kaibigan niyang si Eric Quizon dahil ito umano ang nag-convince sa kanya na pumasok ng showbiz nang ma-discover siya sa Faces Disco bilang isa sa mga models and brought her to Regal Entertainment where she was immediately signed-up to a 16-picture contract.

“If it was not for Eric, maybe I won’t be in showbiz,” aniya.

In her ten-day visit in the Philippines, she also had a chance to meet-up with Eric (Quizon) and her former bachmates in the youth-oriented program, “Gimik” na sina Judy Ann Santos at Mylene Dizon. Nagkita rin sila ng iba niyang mga kaibigan including Joey Mead and Claudine Trillo among others.

“It was a fun-filled ten-day visit,” deklara niya.

“Whenever there’s a chance, I will keep on coming back especially for my mom.”

Ang nakakatuwa pa kay Giselle, nananatili itong warm, friendly and grounded. Napakaganda pa rin at age 44.

Huli siyang napanood sa pelikulang “First Love” na pinagbidahan nina Aga Muhlach at Bea Alonzo in 2018 which was shot in Canada at dinirek ni Paul Soriano under his own Ten17P production in cooperation with Star Cinema and Viva Films.

Dimples at anak na si Callie memorable ang muling pagkikita

DREAM come true para sa Kapamilya actress-entrepreneur at vlogger na si Dimples Romana na makasama ang kanyang panganay na anak na si Callie na dumating sa Pilipinas for a week’s break sa kanyang pag-aaral ng aviation management sa Australia. Ito kasi ang unang pagkakataon na nakita niya ang kanyang youngest brother, ang three-month old na si Elio Juan Manolo na isinilang last June. Ito rin ang pagkakataon na nagkaroon sila ng family pictorial na kumpleto silang lima.

During the first day ng pagpapalipad ni Callie in Australia ay sinorpresa siya ng kanyang mommy (Dimples) na kahit bagong panganak ay lumipad ito patungong Australia para lamang ma-witness ang kanyang unang journey bilang piloto. Hindi maipaliwanag ang saya sa mukha ni Callie nang makita ang kanyang ina on her first day of flying.

Sobra ring na-miss ni Alonzo ang kanyang ate kaya umiyak ito nang dumating at umalis after one week.

Si Alonzo na super close sa kanyang ate ang second child ng mag-asawang Dimples at Boyet. After seven years ay nasundan ito ni Baby Elio.

Kobe at Erika nag-unfollow na sa isa’t isa

ALTHOUGH walang direktang pag-amin sa kanilang relasyon o naging relasyon, may lumalabas namang balita na tila wala na umano sina Kobe Paras at napapabalita nitong girlfriend na si Erika Poturnak matapos mag-un follow sa isa’t isa ang dalawa.

Si Kobe ay second son ng basketball icon-turned actor-comedian na si Benjie Para sa dati nitong misis na si Jackie Forster habang si Erika ay panganay na anak ng actress na si Ina Raymundo at Canadian husband nitong si Brian Poturnak.

Erika is trying it out as model at sa showbiz sa tulong ng kanyang management company, ang Cornerstone Entertainment habang si Kobe ay focused sa kanyang pagiging isang basketball player.

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