Long before she became an actress and joined Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition this year, Bianca De Vera first stepped into the limelight as a contestant in ABS-CBN’s Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition which first aired in 2011 when she was just nine years old. The It’s Okay To Not Be Okay actress recalled her experience during an exclusive interview with PUSH BETS.
“Sobrang thankful din ako sa Junior Master Chef because dahil doon, it’s okay for me to work under pressure. If not, I’m better when I work under pressure, sa work man ‘yan or sa set or anything else. Malaki ang utang ko sa Junior MasterChef and it was a good experience. It was a very, very fun experience. Sabi ko nga, sana magkaroon ulit ng Junior Master Chef ulit tapos maging judge naman ako this time (laughs),” she told PUSH BETS host Gary Lastrilla.
Even though she did immediately embark on an acting career after the show, Bianca said she was happy to sign with Rise Artists Studio in 2021. “I started showbiz actually when I was 18. And then, when I was doing showbiz, I went to college. Pinagsabay ko ‘yung dalawa. And then it was okay naman. It was a bit hard pero nakayanan,” she recalled.
Her first ever acting project was her role as Kathryn Bernardo’s younger sister Pat in the series 2 Good 2 Be True.
Effectively juggling her studies in college with her career in showbiz hints at at future she envisions for herself, where she also plans to continue the legacy that her parents have begun in the business world while still pursing her other interests.
Bianca explained why she chose to get a business degree. “Yung parents ko kasi, business talaga ‘yung buhay nila. So as an only child, ‘yun talaga ‘yung pathway ko. Hindi ko rin naman pinapakawalan ‘yun just because nag-showbiz ako. Actually, they’re also training me for the future kasi ako lang naman ‘yung makakapagmana ng lahat ng pinaghirapan nila. So ‘yun ‘yung plan. That’s why I took it up. Na-enjoy ko rin naman siya, aside from cooking and acting. Isa ‘yun sa mga gusto ko talagang ma-explore and gusto ko talaga lumawak ‘yung buhay ko sa world na ‘yun,” she explained.
Despite being busy with her career, Bianca admitted that she misses spending time in the kitchen at home. “Na-e-enjoy ko talaga magluto for the people that I love. Pero ngayon, if I’m being honest, hinahanapan ko ‘yun ng time ulit. Hopefully, makapagluto ulit ako sa house,” she said.
Cooking is one way for Bianca and her mom to bond. It also became one of the many ways that made her closer to her PBB family. “But when I usually enjoy cooking, I really like cooking with my mom. We cook European comfort food, pasta or kung ano man. We like to explore also. Sa PBB, na-enjoy rin namin magluto. We enjoyed helping ate Kla (de Guzman). Isa ‘yun sa pinagbondingan namin — ang magluto ng munggo, sisig, kung anu-ano (laughs),” she shared.
READ: Bianca De Vera reveals her favorite moments with Dustin Yu and Will Ashley inside PBB house
The 23-year-old Star Magic artist also revealed her goal of owning her own restaurant someday. “I think cooking talaga kasi is my first love. So in the near future, siyempre gusto ko rin makapagtayo ng sarili kong restaurant. Hopefully, we’ll see. Mahirap kasi ‘yung industriyang ‘yun. Sobrang hirap niya. So we’ll see what the future holds.”
Part of her dream is to delve into the culinary arts by studying abroad. “Gusto ko rin makapagaral sa ibang bansa and re-live my passion for cooking. Siguro I’d stick to European comfort food talaga. Kasi ‘yun talaga ‘yung kinalakihan namin ng nanay ko lutuin. That’s what we enjoy cooking bilang mag-ina. Tingnan natin. Marami pa naman puwedeng i-explore,” she added.
When asked what she loves eating, Bianca admitted she likes really flavorful food. “Well, I really enjoy eating sinigang. ‘Yan ang favorite FIlipino comfort food ko. Actually, kahit ano — salmon, baboy. Gusto ko maasim na maasim. Asim kilig!”
WATCH: Bianca De Vera’s full interview with PUSH ABS-CBN here:
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