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A basketball coach once saw Czarina sitting by the stands during her school’s female team try-outs. The coach approached her, and invited her to join the ongoing team auditions. Tall and fair, Czarina said yes. She's always been a big fan of the sport, anyway.

She shoots well—she reveals with humility—when asked what her best skill in basketball is.

That is but one of the things she’s good at. It hadn’t been more than half an hour, but in that span of time, we’ve discovered her other talents. She once won a bartending contest with her very own cocktail concoction; she does flair bartending (a fancy term for flipping bottles); and she loves photography, with her work getting props from her photography club peers. Her dream subjects: Solenn and Anne Curtis.

We just couldn’t resist asking her this question: “So sinong iki-kiss mo sa kanila kung isa lang ang puwede?” With much enthusiasm, she replies: “Si Anne! Ang ganda ng lips niya eh!”

Right now, she tells us that she’s starting to fall in love with cooking. Being a fast learner, and coming from Pampanga, we have great faith that soon she’ll whip up a mean sisig for us.

A Promil kid? Perhaps. But damn it, who ever knew that those types could be so stunningly beautiful, too?  

How was the shoot?
Kabado. They’ve been trying to convince me for a long time, pero nagdadalawang isip talaga ako. Eventually, nag test shoots kami. They explained na hindi masyado daring. And tama naman, kanina naka bikini lang naman. Kayang kaya!

Sabi nila sa FHM kasi, bonggang bonggang exposure na, pero hindi rin naman pala.

Most Pinays at the beach still don't wear bikinis. What do you wear?
Two-piece kasi may ipapakita naman.

Have someone ever pointed out how fair you are?
Ha ha. Sabi nga nila kapag nasa camera, umiilaw daw ako eh; puwede nang gawing reflector. Ha ha. Hindi kasi ako masyado palalabas eh. Bahay, school lang. Kahit pag wala nang araw, hindi rin ako masyado pala-gimik.

Most Filipinas would kill for your skin color. On the other hand, have you ever thought of getting a tan?
I’m fine with what I am, I think. Heto na ko eh, ayoko nang baguhin.

Fair-skinned models are always in demand, so that works for you.
To be honest, I never really dreamt to be a model. Actually, mas gusto ko sana maging photographer.

Really?
I got my first camera during first year college. Tapos ayun, kapag may events sa school, they give me the task of taking pictures. Nagugustuhan naman nila ‘yung mga shots ko. Part ako ng photography club.

Would you choose photography over modeling?
Yup.

And what kind of photography would you focus on?
Gusto ko glamour. O kaya food.

Why glamour?
I’m a fan of fashion. Idol ko si Anne Curtis, lalo na sa pananamit. Minsan, talagang nagpapagawa pa ako ng mga dress ko na inspired ng mga sinusuot ni Anne.

And why food?
Because recently, I’ve started to realize that I like cooking.

As any kapampangan should. What would you serve us?
Ha ha. Hmm, puwedeng cocktail na lang?

We’d love that. Game. What cocktail would you offer us?
I have my own creation. It’s quite mild pero ok na ok siya sa lasa. The ingredients are lambanog, amaretto, melon liquor, pineapple juice, Sprite, vodka, and tequila.

Said like an expert. You must love drinking. But you said you don’t go out a lot. If we asked you out on an inuman session, would you ever say yes?  
Oo naman, hindi naman ako mapili. As long as ‘yung mga kasama ko, hindi bastos. ‘Yung masaya lang kasama. Kahit anong alak, ok lang sa ‘kin.

What’s the strongest liquor have you experienced?
Johnny Walker, I think! Pinalo ako ng baston sa ulo. Ha ha.

What was the setting?
Bahay. Sa amin kasi, maraming alak na naka-stock talaga.

Your house is an alcohol factory?
Ha ha. Hindi! Mahilig lang talaga sila sa bahay. Kunwari ‘pag may bisita, ayun, para may pang shot na agad.

But I’m never drinking Johnny Walker again. The blue one. Ang nangyari kasi nun, nandun ‘yung barkada ko. Tapos gusto daw nila tikman. Eh di yun, yung tikim ko, nagtapos sa, umm, medyo wasak. Ang sakit ng ulo ko pagkagising.

Drinking is associated with clubbing. Can you explain why you don’t go out?
One time sinama ako ng mga friends ko sa club, pero ang ginawa ko natulog lang ako sa sasakyan hanggang umuwi sila ng 4 AM. Nagalit sila sakin.

Parang hindi ko talaga feel ‘eh. Ayoko ng maingay. Tawagin na nila akong K.J. pero gusto ko chill lang, and tahimik. Sa bahay lang talaga ako umiinom.

But are you K.J.?
Masaya naman kasi akong kasama. I’m a jolly person, and I’m the sort to joke around. Minsan naman, ‘yung mga pinsan ko sinasama ako sa labas, tapos gagamitin ako para pag selosin ‘yung ex nila. Ha ha. Mag panggap daw ako na girlfriend nila.

Sounds like a fun job. What other things would we find fun about you?
I can do flair bartending! ‘Yung iniitsa-itsa ‘yung bote. Actually, I joined a bartending contest once. Maraming participants, 22 all in all, tapos ‘yung iba. talagang may experience na working at real establishments and bars. Puro lalake pa ‘yung contestants; tatlo lang kaming babae. Plus, it was my first time. Pero ang ending ng story, I won!

Wow, that’s really amazing. How did you learn?  
May nagturo lang na friend eh. Ayun, nakuha ko naman agad. Ha ha. The boys like it. Hot daw ‘pag ganun ‘eh!

Isn’t it scary to flip bottles around? What are your fears?
Takot ako sa pusa. Pag nilapit mo sa ‘kin ang pusa, tatakbo at iiyak talaga ako. Nung bata kasi ako kinalmot ako. Simula nun, takot na takot na talaga ako.

Let’s talk about boys. Surely, you’re not scared of them. But do they have to be able to drink as strong as you can?  
It’s not a requirement. Basta ang gusto ko sa lalaki, hindi rin palalabas, kasi ako hindi ganun eh. Gusto ko shy type, tapos, nasa akin lang ‘yung attention niya. Pero gusto ko rin ‘yung makuwento and loyal. Halos lahat naman ng babae, ‘yun din yata ang gusto, di ba?

Gusto ko rin sa lalaki ‘yung magaling mag basketball. Favorite sport ko kasi ‘yun eh. Pero ayoko ng maskulado. Gusto ko medyo may nakukurot kurot pa.

Right now though, I’m not really looking. Studies ang focus ko ngayon and career.

Let's say you do become a professional photographer, which model would you want to work with?
Solenn. Super idol ko siya. She’s super sexy, and ang ganda ng ilong niya. I’d give her a kiss kung may chance. And super gusto ko ‘yung performance niya sa Temptation Island eh. She has one line there na favorite ko: “Bakit, naliliitan ka yata towering height ko?”

Ilang beses ko na yata na gamit ‘yung line na yan. Ha ha!