Why Nikki sings a happy tune

Nikki Gil is glowing. This is because she is fulfilling a life-long dream of making it in the mainstream entertainment.

The lady with a bagful of Coke bottles humming a tune of camaraderie and unity is literally and figuratively everywhere.

Monica Pauline Gil in real life, Nikki is a mainstay of ABS-CBN’s ASAP 06. She is one of the (lady-)VJs of Myx along with Heart Evangelista, Karel Marquez, Iya Villania, Luis Manzano and Geoff Eigenmann. Nikki presents requested and chart-topping songs and videos in the show. She also goes down memory lane with the televiewers in Versions, and interviews disc jockeys.

When not hosting on the small screen, Nikki also does commercial modeling and records songs.

Before she entered showbiz, Nikki and co-VJ Karel appeared on this paper as STAR Dream Girl. At that time, she had print ads and did TV commercials for beauty products and organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

As if returning to where the public learned to love her, Nikki hits the TV Ad block again, where she sings the jingle, Glowing Inside, for the latest Vaseline commercial.

Composed by Louie Ocampo and written by Edith Gallardo, the song is heartfelt, says Nikki. It fetes and appreciates the unconditional love and efforts of mothers in bringing up their children.

It recalls the many sacrifices of a mom who has been involved in every phase of her kids’ life. The noble profession is captured on the Vaseline commercial which aims to show Filipinos’ endearing traits like close-knit family ties.

Company executives say the commercial got positive response from televiewers, especially women the first week it was aired. The TVC celebrates motherhood and is in time for March as the month for women and graduation.

Nikki, a valedictorian of Shekinah Christian Training Center and a student of the Ateneo de Manila University, dedicates Glowing Inside to her mom Julie. It reminds Nikki of her first day in school, her school bus and activities like Vegetable Day and prom, and how her mom made things easier for her. Mommy Julie is always there in all of her "firsts."

Nikki treats her mom like a sister, someone who is fair in giving attention. Apart from her dad and herself, Nikki says she owes her success to her mom. No, she has never felt pressured in achieving her dreams.

Her mom, Nikki explains, gives her options, guides her and allows her to make mistakes and correct them.

Nikki’s mom is an inspiration to her and has a say in most – if not all – aspects of her life including love.

Asked what’s the real score between her and rumored boyfriend Gabriel "Gab" Valenciano, Nikki pauses and says they are just close friends and have known each other long before she entered showbiz. Their relationship goes beyond showbiz. They go to the same church. Their families know each other. It’s out in the open that they go out.

Nikki finds Gab gentleman. He comes from a good and old-fashioned family. So he respects and treats women well.

Aside from her regular shows, Nikki will be seen on another TV project ABS-CBN is cooking up for her.

Whether the glow comes from a fulfilled, blossoming career or a happy personal life, Nikki can’t help but glow inside – and out.