Joyce Jimenez's biggest role

MANILA, Philippines - Long removed from her days as the local entertainment industry’s Pantasya ng Bayan, Joyce Jimenez plans of one day returning to what she calls her first love.

“I would love to act and do a movie again,” Joyce shares.

But for now, all her showbiz plans take a backseat to her forthcoming role as a mother. Jimenez is currently pregnant with her first child, and will leave for the US this month to be with husband, Paul Ely Egbalic.

Meantime, she would also have to contend with managing her local lingerie direct-selling business from abroad. So her being the advocate of the PLDT-SME Nation Negosyo Boost couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Even when I’m abroad, I’d still like to stay on top of my lingerie business partnership with Ever Bilena Cosmetics,” Joyce says. “And Negosyo Boost offers small businesses like mine to do that in an effective yet affordable way.”

With PLDT-SME Nation Negosyo Boost, start-up and medium businesses like Joyce’s can enjoy the competitive advantages of having both broadband connectivity and business-enabling hardware devices like netbooks and printers in one convenient package.

Meanwhile, Joyce says her top priority is her pregnancy. “I passed up so many showbiz offers and opportunities so I can concentrate on my pregnancy and then being a mom,” she shares.

Joyce is due to give birth in October.

Joyce adds that she wants to fully enjoy her pregnancy, more so because it’s her first.

Fortunately for fans, her absence from showbiz is only temporary. She promises to go back to acting when her mommy duties ease off.

“Acting is what I love to do. It’s a big part of my life,” Joyce says. “Showbiz made me who I am now. I’ll be back, definitely.”

Joyce says her dream role is to be in an action movie, “like the characters played by (Hollywood actress) Michelle Rodriguez. That would be fun.”