MANILA, Philippines – Bianca Manalo has nothing but fond memories with her dad, which is why she was in tears when she recalled these memories.
On Tuesday, the press conference of ABS-CBN’s upcoming show “Super D” was held, and the photo of the cast’s dads were projected. The guests were asked how their dads are "super."
Upon seeing her dad’s picture, Bianca immediately got emotional.
“Kung andito daddy ko sabihin no’n, ‘why are you crying?’ Bawal kami umiyak,” she told the members of the press.
Her dad passed away April 29 last year, and she went to his crypt last Monday to remember him on his birthday.
When she was able to compose herself, recalled that up to the very end, her dad didn’t want to burden their family.
“Hindi niya sinabing may nararamdaman na pala siya. Pina-autopsy pa naming katawan niya para lang malaman bakit, paano siya namatay,” she said. “Ginawa niya lahat para sa pamilya naming. Ayaw niya siguro niya kaming makitang malungkot or nagsa-suffer, masayahin siya, e.”
Bianca also revealed that it was her dad who trained her to become a beauty queen.
“‘Yong daddy ko ‘yong nag-train sa akin sumagot ng question and answer,” she said, smiling despite her tears.
“Hindi ko alam kung bakit kapag nanonood siya ng Miss Universe tatawagin niya ako, ‘dito ka, you watch it.’ ‘Tas kapag Q&A na, sumasagot na ‘yong kandidata hinihinaan niya ‘yong volume tapos sabihin niya, ‘how do you answer that?’ So nagtataka ako, bakit kaya? ‘Yon pala, gusto niya rin ako,” she added.
When she was able to win the crown in 2009 as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, the Kapamilya actress remembered her dad telling her: “Hindi raw niya alam ano nagawa niya dati bakit nagkaro’n siya ng mga anak na tulad namin.”
Now that her dad is gone and her younger sister is one of the candidates at Bb. Pilipinas 2016, Bianca takes over in training her and passing on the lessons her dad has taught her before.