STAR DREAM GIRL: Christel Marie Boncan

"I cannot leave the house without a bottle of lotion," exclaims 19-year-old Christel Marie Boncan, an incoming AB Communication Arts, major in Advertising and Public Relations, junior at the Ateneo de Manila University. "I bring it everywhere because I hate that dry feeling when I don’t put on lotion."

Christel is the youngest daughter of Marcelo and Jacqueline (née Dayrit) Boncan, both businessmen. Christel cherishes the annual trip with the entire Dayrit clan at the end of the year. "We’re a crazy bunch," she gushes. Her list of favorite destinations includes Palawan, Boracay and romantic Paris. "Oh, I also have this strange longing to live in New York." When she was 11, this jetsetter went to an international summer village in Norway where she made friends with other kids from the US, Japan, Germany and Denmark. "We made a side trip to Paris and visited the Louvre," she recalls.

This charming lass believes that the most powerful weapon on earth is the "human soul on fire." "I’ve always believed that I can do anything I want and be anyone I want to be as long as I have that fiery desire, the passion and the reason to reach for my big dreams," furthers Christel, adding that her big dreams include becoming an MTV VJ on TRL or an ad agency bigwig.

"I wish I could be Captain Planet to help save the environment," Christel muses. "I hate the way people take for granted our biodiversity. Only few Filipinos are actually advocates of environmental preservation. If they only knew how beautiful crystal clear ocean waters are or how cool mountainsides are because of the trees. And the poor animals and marine life suffer because of our irresponsibility and lack of awareness." While most people visit the beach to get a tan, Christel enjoys snorkeling and scuba diving because she is in awe of marine life.

This natural conversationalist is also fascinated by castles, royal families and European history. "If there was another time in history I could go back to, I’d choose the Medieval period." She is also into music and sports. "I have this fascination for Afro-Americans. They’re just so artistic and talented," she explains. She loved the adrenaline rush she got while performing as captain of the Assumption College-San Lorenzo pep squad back in high school.

To Christel, a STAR Dream Girl is "someone who pursues her dreams and if in the process she fails, she can dust herself off and try again."– Jerni May Camposano