Venus Raj says she will never let go of her 'probinsyana' side

Rhea Manila Santos

<div><img src='' alt='110812-venus_main.jpg' align='left' border='0' height='290' width='305'>Growing up in a small town in the Bicol province, Umagang Kay Ganda host and beauty queen Venus Raj admitted that even after competing in the Miss Universe Pageant in 2010, there’s a part of her that will always remain a “probinsyana.”</div><div> </div><div>“Siguro yung values talaga na natutunan ko from my family, from the environment na kinalakihan ko. Like yung pag-galang at respeto sa mga taong nakakasama mo. Kahit waiter yan or sales lady yan or janitor yan, pakikisamahan mo ng maayos kasi galing din naman ako dun eh. Eto rin naman yung mga taong nakaksalamuha ko dati. Bakit ngayon porke’t nandito na ako, hindi ko sila itatrato ng maayos? Maganda isipin na kahit sino yan, kahit ano trabaho niyan, pakikisamahan mo ng maayos kasi pare-parehas kayong taga-doon,” she explained. Venus said she is lucky to have a supportive family who always keeps her grounded.</div><div> </div><div>The morena beauty from Camarines Sur shared that she enjoyed doing the Maalaala Mo Kaya episode featuring her life story and also her first horror movie project. “Ginawa namin ito a few months ago, sobrang nagustuhan ko siya. Siguro life story ko naman, para sa akin alam ko na yung flow ng story kahit yung script alam ko na yung kalalabasan. It was my story kasi. Siguro ngayon na may nagawa na rin ako na horror movie with JM De Guzman and Andi Eigenmann sa Pridyider pero very light lang yung role ko dun, parang kikay na kaibigan ni Andi. Na-enjoy ko yun kasi parang naglalaro lang ako eh. Hindi mabigat yung scenes, hindi mo kailangan maglabas ng luha. Sa MMK grabe yun kaya yung director namin napaka-galing, talagang grabe ang pag-i-internalize ako doon,” she recalled.</div><div> </div><div>The 24-year-old aspiring actress said that she hopes to get the chance to do more meaty roles in the future. “Ever since gusto ko ng inspirational talaga na role. Siguro puwedeng may light side. Of course kailangan may something naman na seryoso na part pero it should be inspirational kasi ewan ko, even before nung puma-pageant pageant lang ako—local and then national and then after that Miss Universe—alam mo yung feeling na ang dami-daming mga batang gustong maging kagaya mo. Yung ganun. Siguro kung isang pelikula lang ang gagawin ko na hindi kaaya-aya sa mukha ng kabataan, sasabihin nila na ayoko na sa kanya, naghuhubad siya (laughs), yung ganun. Hindi lang siguro sa mga kabataan na hindi mo kakilala. Pero if you have your own family, mas maganda na ganun na yung mga anak mo mismo they look up to you, they idolize you kasi maganda kang ehemplo sa kanila. Habang buhay yung ganito,” she said.</div><div> </div><div>Venus said that growing up in the province instilled in her the values that make her strive to be a positive role model for the youth in the country. “Siguro yung values din kasi na kinalakihan ko, mas nangingibabaw yun and siyempre yung kagustuhan ko na to inspire other people dahil yun ang talagang role mo sa buhay. Hindi naman ako ginawa lang ni Lord para lang maging wala lang mundo niya. Meron at meron kang role na ipi-play. Kahit sa anong ginagawa ko, with anything kailangan kapupulutan ka ng aral ng ibang tao, kahit sa ordinaryong pamumuhay lang,” she said.</div><div> </div><div>Aside from hosting and acting, Venus said she also has another talent she wants to focus on. “I want to sing but I think my talent is not enough (laughs) para makapasok sa music industry. Seriously gusto ko talaga, sometimes may mga events kami na I get to do two songs or one song, dun ako na-pa-practice. I love Adele. I’m a super fan, as in talaga. Pero hindi kasi ako laking music talaga na tipong naririnig mo bata ka pa. So ngayon hirap ako sa timing, ganun. So kailangan ko talaga ng formal training para magawa ko siya ng maayos. Pero pag matagal ko ng pina-practice ang song, mga one month one song, perfect yun (laughs). Kahit nakapikit ako alam ko yan,” she said.</div><div> </div><div>For more updates on Venus Raj, log on daily to <a href=''>Push.com.ph</a> and follow <a href='https://twitter.com/Push_Mina'>@Push_Mina</a> on Twitter.</div>

Venus Raj says she considers herself a good role model.

Venus Raj says she will never let go of her 'probinsyana' side | PUSH.COM.PH