By: Tinna S. Bonifacio

http://www.journal.com.ph/photos/1223189...carmen.jpg

She’s spent so much time in the Philippines lately, she’s begun to feel like she’s Filipino.

On her last trip home to Malaysia—just before she returned to the Philippines to shoot a few more scenes and help in the promo blitz for her ABS-CBN teleserye Kahit Isang Saglit—Carmen Soo found herself in the odd position of having to re-adjust to life in her native country. “Now, going home seems surreal,” laughs the Malaysian actress-model.

People are amazed by how quickly she adapted to life in the Philippines, to the extent of learning how to sing in Tagalog. Sometimes it even amazes Carmen herself. But while that may be so, there are still a few things about the Philippines and local show business that she needs to get used to, like the long working hours, and how easily gossip can turn into fact. It was a big shock for Carmen to find herself tagged as the third party that broke up Jericho Rosales’ relationship with Heart Evangelista. In an interview, she expressed how upset she was over the controversy, saying no one liked being tagged a “boyfriend stealer”.

“The hours are different, but I’m getting toughened up. I’ve been absorbing and learning. It was just kind of a culture shock, the kind of news we generated,” says Carmen, referring to the Jericho-Heart breakup.

HERE AND NOW

Her relationship with Jericho is, believe it or not, purely professional, at least at this point.

When Carmen says that they’re just getting to know each other, it’s true. Before they got together to work on Kahit Isang Saglit, she didn’t even know that much about him. “I’d heard about it (Pangako Sa ‘Yo), but I never really watched it, because I was traveling in and out of Malaysia for work. I didn’t even remember that he was the lead actor.”

When she learned that she was going to be doing Kahit Isang Saglit opposite Echo, she went to the Internet to find out more about him. “I Googled him,” she says. “I thought he was a very good-looking man with a strong Asian, if not international, appeal.”

Their first meeting did nothing to change her opinion. “It was nice. I knew he was a big star, but I was surprised to find that he was very nice, open and warm. Attitude, he doesn’t have that. When we got to work together, I thought how nice it was to have a partner who’s willing to do a good project together.”

During a recent guesting on Boy and Kris to celebrate Echo’s birthday, Boy asked Carmen what Echo’s chances were if he were to seriously court her. Carmen replied: “I don’t know—let him ask first, then I’ll tell him.”

But at a press conference, she was asked to describe Echo, and she used the following words: “He’s a great actor, very supportive, a great guy, very sweet, a great friend.”

Echo returned the favor. Of Carmen, he said, “She’s great. She’s just new to this, but she’s great. She’s a very intelligent actor.”

CLAIM TO FAME

Carmen began her career as a model. Initially, she wanted to study business management, but when opportunities to model started coming her way at 17, she was pulled into what would become a very rewarding career.

In her second year of college, she went to Hong Kong to model and spent four years there. Carmen, who had to sacrifice her studies and her dream of tucking up a degree in Business Management, had no regrets. She describes her time in Hong Kong as an education in itself. She might not have completed her education in school, but got one just the same. Working in Hong Kong in her teens taught her independence and a lot of things she wouldn’t have learned the traditional way.

Then an acting career opened up. It was something she wasn’t expecting, but which she’s learned to embrace wholeheartedly. Even her family—Carmen, who speaks Cantonese as her first language, but who learned English in school and from her half-Chinese, half-English mother—has accepted her career. One sister is a flight attendant; her brother is a computer programmer, while another sister is still in school, studying accounting. Carmen is the only one in her family to pursue a career in show business. Despite this, all of them have been very supportive. “They’ve gotten used to it,” she laughs.

Carmen describes herself as a relatively new actress. She’s done two TV series and two stage productions in Malaysia. Kahit Isang Saglit marks the first acting project she’s had outside her country.

But because she knew she was going to be away for some time, Carmen made sure to bring a little bit of home—in a jar. The tasty treat helps cure her homesickness. “I brought 10 jars of chili paste when I came here. I bring some of it to work sometimes, and everyone on the set enjoys it. I’m down to the last one now.”

THE TRADE-OFFS

Of course, the excitement of a showbiz career has its trade-offs. One thing Carmen has been complaining about is that her living space back home has been suffering from neglect. “It’s a mess, because I haven’t been around to clean it!” exclaims Carmen, who recently moved out of her family home and into a condo unit of her own. But because she’s been traveling so much, she’s hardly ever home.

The constant traveling has its ups and downs. Because of Kahit Isang Saglit, she has seen a lot of the Philippines, probably more than a lot of Filipinos. She’s been to and seen Tagaytay, Intramuros, Rizal Park and the Rizal monument, and the Banaue Rice Terraces. She dreams of going to Boracay once taping for Kahit Isang Saglit wraps up.

One skill that Carmen has learned is how to catnap to preserve her energy. She also makes sure to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to keep up her energy. Trying to stay awake is an ongoing struggle, but she’s been trying.

The people she works with are all praises for Carmen’s professionalism. The day of our shoot, she and the rest of the Kahit Isang Saglit cast had been up all night taping in Tagaytay. They packed up the shoot early that morning and headed back to Manila for this early afternoon pictorial. After we wrapped up, she would have two hours of rest before going to a guesting on Kapamilya Deal or No Deal. Carmen went from one commitment to the other without grumbling. “Hindi talaga siya nag-ko-complain, kahit halos walang tulog,” says a Star Cinema insider.

Carmen has enjoyed her time in the Philippines so far. But eventually, she will have to head back to Malaysia, because they still have a few days’ worth of scenes to tape there.

When she does go back, Carmen will bring with her fond memories of her work and the people she worked with in the Philippines, although there is one person she wishes she could see again—the late director Manong Gilbert Perez, original director of Kahit Isang Saglit. “I’d like to be able to speak to Manong again,” she says in her slightly-accented English. “It would be nice if I could say a proper goodbye, and tell him, ‘Thank you for being you.’”

Here’s more of Carmen, in her own words:

When I was a child I wanted to be a nurse.

When I look in the mirror, I see normally, my mother’s daughter, nowadays, a very tired girl.

If I were super-rich, I’d jumpstart a save the environment, save the world campaign, actually do something about it, and make a difference.

If I could travel anywhere, I’d go to Prague.

If I could dine with someone, I’d choose my family.

If I could interview someone, I’d want to interview George Bush!

My house is in a mess, and very dirty now, since I’ve been away and can’t clean it.

My favorite place to be is my bed, in the arms of the person I love.

My favorite way of relaxing is spending the whole day in my pajamas, alternating between my bed and the couch, where my favorite activities are eating, sleeping, watching TV and reading.

My favorite thing to eat is fried rice, prawn noodle, nasilemak . . . ha ha!

My style icon is Audrey Hepburn.

My favorite item of clothing is a tank top, always works.

My biggest obsession is food.

My biggest dream is a holiday—hopefully all year round.

My role model is Oprah Winfrey.

My greatest inspiration is Halle Berry.

The happiest time of my life was when I was in love.

The proudest moment of my career was winning the Most Promising Actress Award at the Malaysian Film Festival two years ago.

The person/s who inspires me is/are people who surround themselves with positive energy, love and go through life with faith in God and a pure clean heart.

The best advice anyone ever gave me was what doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger.

The person/s I can always depend on is/are my parents.

The people who make me laugh can be anyone, anywhere, at any given time.

The thing I wish I could change about myself is my regular bouts of indecisiveness.

The thing I don’t want to change about myself is my ability to eat anything and everything that I want.

I never leave home without my mobile phones.

I get mad when I don’t get a break from work.

I love it when I get a day-off, I get to see my friends and family!

I can’t stand hypocrites, and pretentious, competitive people.

I envy people who get to travel a lot.

I get excited by any man with a great smile, a good set of teeth, a sincere look in his eyes, Michael Buble’s voice, who laughs a lot, has crew cut hair, and a great shoe collection.

I want to say More Power to Women!