Bing Pimentel set to graduate from UP

MANILA, Philippines - Bing Pimentel will be one of the thousands of college students who are graduating this school year. The model-turned-actress decided to go back to school six years ago, in the midst of a flourishing television career.

The decision to finally obtain a college degree was inspired by the growing demand for her image enhancement workshops. Prior to her teleserye stint, Bing was actually giving lectures on personality development. She regularly holds workshops for company employees, medical practitioners, sales executives and other professionals who wish to improve their self-confidence and interpersonal skills. And while business has been brisk, she often found herself quite uneasy when she had to indicate her educational attainment. Bing said, “I would always write ‘Fine Arts, University of the Philippines’ because that was my course, but I didn’t finish college.”

Bing was a college freshman when she joined the movies 25 years ago. Her first movie was Batch 81 where she played the girlfriend of Mark Gil. The two fell in love, got married and had two children Timothy Mark (Sid Lucero) and Maxene Eve. With her new role as wife and mother Bing decided to leave school so she can focus on her family.

The marriage ended after several years. On her own, Bing shied away from the movies, and quietly focused on building her own life. She started several businesses, for a time she was running a boutique in Shoppesville, Greenhills because she liked designing clothes. She even opened a flower shop in Katipunan. Bing has been drawn to anything creative. “I like to sketch, and I like designing clothes, I would even fix my friends’ houses. I guess I have the ‘eye’ for design, which is why I also fixing houses and arranging flowers,” she said.

With a natural talent for the arts, she was often invited to deliver lectures on design-related topics. In the beginning the discussions were very informal. Bing would speak from experience, sharing design tips and entertaining inquiries from the audience. In one of her lectures on “window dressing,” someone in the audience asked a question that was completely beyond the topic being discussed.

Bing with schoolmate Cynthia Bernabe, owner of Wishworks

The workshop participant asked how she managed to look good, after what she has gone through in life. “I look younger and prettier daw, what is my secret? I was surprised that she knew who I was, and what happened to me.”

She talked about her personal challenges and how she managed to stay strong. She even gave advice on how to feel good about one’s self, something she mastered back during her modeling days.

The success of the lecture encouraged her to embark on a new project. “It gave me an idea, I can actually help others empower themselves,” she said. “At that time there weren’t too many motivational speakers yet. You have to go to train in institutions like Karilagan or John Robert Powers. When I was modeling, we were sent to Karilagan for training.”

She developed modules on different topics that were often required by HR departments. Companies often look for programs that can help them improve the services they offer. In time, the Bing Pimentel personality enhancement clinic conducts workshops on image building, effective communication, power dressing, social and business etiquette, protocol and ethics. “I can deliver an extensive three-day workshop, or a basic session, that can run from one to two hours, it all depends on the client.”

Now on her 10th year, she is currently affiliated with Wishworks, an event firm owned by her schoolmate Cynthia Bernabe, a graduate of the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management of Temple University in Philadelphia. Wishworks organizes social events, corporate meetings, conferences, fund-raising, homecoming, launches, concerts and sporting events.

“That’s one of the reasons why I decided to go back to school. Most of the time, clients would ask for the credentials of the speakers. I am also invited to speak in different school activities. At least now, I can say that I am a college graduate.”

Now counting the days till her graduation, Bing still cannot imagine how she was able to juggle her schoolwork and her taping schedule. Her television comeback was through the prodding of Ricky Gallardo, the talent manager of her son Sid. Ricky convinced Bing to audition for Maging Sino Ka Man, where she ended up playing the role of Christopher de Leon’s wife.

Bing was overly thrilled with the opportunity. “Even as a kid, I’ve always wanted to be an actress, and then suddenly, I am in a series starring John Lloyd Cruz, and I am playing the wife of Christopher de Leon. What more can I ask for?” she said. 

Maging Sino Ka Man was followed by several projects, namely Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?, Maging Sino ka Man Book 2, Only You, Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan and many others. She was also in the movie A Very Special Love, starring John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo.

In the beginning, she was able to balance her taping schedule with her classes in University of the Philippines - Diliman. But when it was time to focus on her thesis, she decided to take a break from television work. 

“UP has an open university program, where everything is done online. It would have been easier if I took that program but I want the real student life, even if my classmates are old enough to be my children,” she said.

For her thesis, she produced and directed a short film titled Aki Ning Maisog. The film tackles the environmental degradation at Barangay Maisog in Camarines Norte. It tells the story of a child who learns to care for her environment.

“I grew up in Barangay Maisog, and I remember playing by the river all the time,” she said. Bing worked closely with the Maisog Watershed Initiative, Inc. a non-government organization headed by her sister Yoying Pimentel. Bing believes that the environmental destruction in Maisog stems from the lack of awareness among community members.

Incidentally, her sister is one of the recipients of the Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards of 2012. Aside from her actual thesis presentation, the film Aki Ning Maisog was also screened during the Cinemalaya film festival.

Bing is looking forward to marching together with her fellow graduates at the UP Diliman General Commencement Exercises. “My goal was to get my college degree before I turn 50. I am graduating in April and I am not yet 50.”