To be the one chosen as the calendar girl for 2024 of Ginebra San Miguel is a dream fulfilled for Heaven Peralejo.
Heaven expressed her pride in representing the liquor company at the 2024 GSMI Calendar Girl Launch in The Westin Manila, Pasig City, on November 30, 2023.
She said, "Their values, their missions, sabi ko, 'Wow, I wanna represent this brand kasi I do believe in this brand.'
"And also kasi, ever since bata pa lang ako, I've been drinking Gin Bilog, so, you know, it's a dream come true."
Talking to the press, Heaven said this project has given her an opportunity to convey a message to women about empowerment through their fashion choices.
She told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "Even though you're wearing bikinis and everything like that, you are still empowering... to have jobs, like serious jobs.
"Like hindi naman pag naka-bikini ka, 'O my god, you cannot be a lawyer or anything like that,' it's more than that. It's also, parang, it's all about... making yourself feel good.
"So kahit ano pang isuot mo as long as you're confident and as long as you know that you are comfortable with what you wear, yeah, that's it."
HEAVEN ON BEING CALLED A "SEX SYMBOL"
For Heaven, being a calendar girl is not synonymous to being a sex symbol, but even then, what could be wrong about that?
She clarified, "It doesn't necessarily mean na pag nag-calendar girl ako, kailangan ko na maghubad or what…
"Being a calendar girl, it's about representing the brand, not just about being sexy but also representing Filipinas.
"I don't even think my calendars are too sexy.
"I think, like, it's just about empowering women and what it stands for,... yun naman yung nagustuhan ko sa Ginebra kasi they never made me do that.”
In fact, "they took care of me and what I stand for also, yung pagiging like fun, I can also represent festivals."
From the standpoint of Heaven, "sexy" is “more about how you present yourself, how you feel about yourself.
"If you are confident enough na hindi mo ginugutom yung sarili mo, you're putting the right food... in your body, and that is sexy.”
She laughingly continued, "There are so many forms of being sexy pero hindi ko na yun malilista kasi last question na lang tayo."
Indeed, Heaven has come a long way since she started her showbiz career through Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7 in 2016.
"Yung PBB, paglabas ko ng PBB, so many things were happening...
"I didn't know kung itutuloy ko pa ba yung showbiz? I guess, I was 16 at that time.
"And then mama said, 'No, you're... gonna fight. You're meant for this.'
"And I was like, 'Okay. You know what, I'm meant for this.'”
Heaven chose to stay, and has been steadily establishing herself as a leading lady.
"I really do love my job, so kahit ano pang sabihin ng iba, kahit anong itapon nila sa akin, ilalaban ko ito cause I do believe in myself. That is one.
"The second was, I think, before Nanahimik Ang Gabi.
"I was thinking of, 'Ano kayang next na job ko? Baka hindi na ko gustong makita ng mga tao.'
"Pero I was given that project, and then dun ko na-realize na, 'No, I am not gonna quit. I am gonna fight for my job.
"Look at us now—we're here right now, and I'm grateful na hindi ako nag-give up."
Nanahimik Ang Gabi is a Metro Manila Film Festival 2022 entry, where Heaven was paired with Ian Veneracion, and earned praises for her acting.
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