Grasya, by golly, wow!

Now it can be told. They’re actually correct – those eagle-eyed televiewers who insist that the Grasya who arrived at the NAIA with boyfriend Billy is not the same girl in the earlier commercials.

Say what? Grasya? Billy?

Sorry ’bout that. You see, it’s hard to keep getting ahead of ourselves here – especially since we are blessed with a rare opportunity to sit down and chat with the gal who has captured the imagination of an avid TV audience. We’re just plain giddy with delight. We’re talking fireworks, cotton candy, and Osama Bin Laden pulverized into tiny little pieces.

Billy and Grasya are the main protagonists in PLDT’s commercial series (before that whole suportahan taka biz) and make up yet another loveteam to root for and cheer on – testament to the fact that Filipinos are such hopeless romantics. We are ever sighing for fairytale unions – sadly in short supply.

While batting for the International Direct Dialing product, New York-based Billy and Grasya (along with Billy’s mommy) hold a mirror to our faces and make us laugh.

After all, Billy’s mom is the epitome of the average nanay who endlessly worries about her child, regardless of how old her "baby" already is. And Billy, instead of being irritated by the endless quasi-interrogation, merely humors his beloved mom. After all, Pinoys put a premium on family.

And Grasya?

She is not just Billy’s girlfriend (fiancee?), but our muse as well. Thus, the flame of Grasya celebrity was stoked by our growing anticipation. Previously, we had been allowed mere glimpses of her – and always with her face turned away. The mounting anticipation (and frustration) culminated in that eager wait at the airport with Mommy.

Was she worth all that anguish and anxiety? You bet.

So who cares that she isn’t the "original" Grasya? We thought so. When we hunker down for a chat with 23-year-old Gina Celso, it’s immediately evident that she commands attention.

Gina is everything we expected of Grasya – and more. The radiant beauty also exudes a confidence that is sure to keep us guessing, and interested.

Understandably, ad agency Ace Saatchi & Saatchi zealously guards secrets about the Billy-Grasya storyline. "We like to keep her mysterious as it is part of the ‘magic that is Grasya.’ We would like to focus on her as a character in the campaign and skirt any issues on her identity or specific personality traits," a Grasya "primer" goes.

Yes, the original Grasya was actually a "body talent," while agents searched and scoured for the real deal. Gina was on vacation here when she was spotted, and eventually filled the role.

Like the cast of The Matrix (we can expect a trilogy, by the way) sworn to secrecy, the PLDT talents look to their handlers when a question seems too prying. They’re careful not to give anything away.

So what we hoped to be a one-on-one with Billy’s Grasya was like a panel interview under watchful eyes.

Forbidden fruit? More of dangling a fruit in front of the horse, if you ask us. So will it be an eternal chase of Grasya? A most thrilling chase it would make.

"I feel Norwegian but half of my heart is Filipino. I can feel that part when I go to the Philippines," Gina begins in her halting English. We try in vain to figure out the accent, and we learn it’s Norwegian.

Gina was born and raised in Norway by Filipino dad Eddie and Norwegian mom Ingvild. Eddie had worked on an oil platform in the North Sea, and met Ingvild in Oslo. Gina has two younger brothers, Rudy and Ruben.

Gina is having a bit of trouble and is grappling with the Filipino language. She maintains she understands more than she speaks. Back in Norway, the Celsos speak Norwegian, though Eddie enrolled his children in Tagalog courses in Oslo when they were younger.

Gina says she finds it easier to speak German — which is a little nearer her Norwegian tongue.

Happily, the same is not the case for Filipino food. Dad Eddie had weaned his family on very Pinoy offerings back in Oslo. "I love Filipino food," Gina exclaims. "Pancit, rice, adobo – my father always makes this stuff."

While other Norwegian households would be feasting on regulation boiled potatoes, bread, meat and lots of veggies and fruits, the Celsos of Oslo were being true-blue rice lovers.

While Filipino flavors are not alien to the looker, don’t think you can feed her balut – not yet, anyway.

"My father and brothers eat it, but I love birds," she says. Nope, she doesn’t love them enough to eat them, smartypants.

She first set her feet on Philippine soil only five years ago, and Gina remembers it to be quite an experience. "There is so much to see here – such a big difference from Norway like," she hesitates, "pollution. And there are so many malls — our malls in Norway are not as big."

And because it was her first time in the tropics, Gina delighted in the sight of coconut trees. Nature tripping was the way to go. She has also been to Boracay’s pristine beaches and even to pre-Sayyaf Palawan.

"I’d like to do that again," she says wistfully. But her mom would hear nothing of it. "She’s quite nervous," Gina explains. So for now, north is the way to go.

Gina observes that Filipinos actually have a lot more in common with Norwegians than they would think. For instance, she finds both nationalities to be hardworking and down-to-earth. "But Norwegians are more stressed," she grins.

Hmm. That’s something to sink our teeth into.

"I’ve always kept in touch with relatives in the Philippines, and when I come to visit, they are always smiling. Filipinos are so warm!"

Gina admires the close family ties of Filipinos. No wonder she comes to visit Manila a lot more these days.

If the young lady seems at ease with her growing celebrity, it’s because she’s had more than her fair share of the limelight.

Did you know that Gina appeared in a Norwegian soap opera for a couple of years? Yep, she’s made quite a name for herself playing Alba, a computer hacker who takes on the bad guys.

Understandably, her character then was more Lara Croft than Grasya. "She was very tough," says Gina.

Though Gina herself enjoys "extreme" sports like scuba diving and rock climbing, it would be much easier to relate with her current alter-ego, who’s both sweet and a little liberated.

Now for the guys who have read this far, it’s payback time. Of course, we asked Gina what she looks for in a man.

"Kind eyes. I also go for the shy type." But aren’t all Filipinos the shy type?

"I know," she smiles. "I don’t go for the aggressive type."

Gina admits to being a little impulsive, so she’d prefer her significant other to be similarly inclined. "We only live once," she shrugs.

Liberated or conservative?

"Open-minded, and down to earth. I’m not too particular about looks."

Is anyone in Norway pining for her right now?

"My mom," again the smile.

You know what we mean, Gina. Any boyfriend?

"Billy," she laughs.

And in a heartbeat, the interview is over. The film is waiting to be exposed as lensman Robert Altamirano finishes the setup for People Asia at Dish in Rockwell.

Also included in today’s shoot is Billy’s "mommy," Aurora B. Uding. It’s funny how everyone addresses her "mommy," as if she had given birth to a barangay. Uding laughs. The veteran TV mom is already used to it. Uding has become a recognized face herself.

She narrates that in Laoag, while filming an episode of television series Love Story, a busload of fans ran onto the set. "I thought they were going for Rustom Padilla and Bobby Andrews," she narrates.

But lo and behold, the clamor was: "Can we have a shot with Mommy Grasya?"

People even come up to her in the malls and ask her when the wedding will be. But despite the loquaciousness of her TV character, Mommy is keeping, well, mum about the subject.

We see the makeup artist puts the finishing touches on Grasya (a.k.a. Gina Celso), and we think that this looker would make a great bride for Billy. Yep, a good catch indeed. Never mind that it’s but a TV commercial. We do not care about such trifling matters.

What we do know is that we doubtless will be watching and waiting for Billy and Grasya’s continuing story.

Abangan.