Isabel Oli: Prayer opened the doors for me

03/17/2008 | 04:21 PM C/O gmanews.tv
When she was 15 years old, Isabel got her first job. She remembers it clearly. She had to model a brand of soap for a print ad. She was able to work with Patrick Garcia for that endorsement. Back then, she was still a high school student in Cebu.

It was fun and extra special for her because it had been her dream to pose and primp in front of the camera since she was ten.

However--

�Pina-stop ako ng daddy ko kasi feeling niya masyado ako amazed sa commercial. I don�t wanna go to school. Wow, I can earn this much money pala! Tapos wala akong ginawa, nag-smile lang ako. Ahhh, I love it!"

But being the obedient and smart daughter that she is, she took her dad�s advice. His condition was fair enough, for her to finish her studies and only then can she dabble in modeling.

On Cartoons and Challenges

After college, she was supposed to go to Singapore to visit her brother but the SARS scare that was then all over Asia, stopped her. She was stuck in Manila. And, what did she do for the two weeks that she had to stay in the city?

�Sabi nila mag-VTR ka. Lahat ako, as in �di ako nang-hingi sa daddy ko ng pera. He respects my decisions when it comes to ganyan. [Sabi niya] Sige, hindi kita tutulungan pero sasamahan kita sa lahat. So,�yun sinamahan niya ako."

Isabel says that her path towards the glittery world of modeling and fashion was not easy. She gets the odd gigs here and there but she was never the lead.

She was always the supporting role. This then became her goal�a lead in a commercial. That was it. Once she got that, she would go back to school and get a second degree. Her first one was Information Technology.

�Gusto ko mag-multimedia arts, major sa animation sa Singapore. Sabi ng daddy ko, feeling niya mas gusto ko animation, cartoons, actually. Hanggang ngayon gusto ko pa rin mag-aral, sarap kasi mag-aral eh" she says with the sweet smile she is known for.

Daddy and Divine Intervention

Though she saw the trials she faced as a challenge, after six months of waiting for her big break, even the sunny, cheery Isabel was ready to call it quits. It seemed that it was fortunate she had a Plan B. �I was so sad. I was so depressed. Why am I here in the first place?" she asked herself.

On the last Sunday of her stay in Manila, Isabel went to church and she prayed like she never prayed before. She said, �Lord, guide me." Suddenly, a basket for offerings was placed before her.

She reveals to iGMA, �Kuripot ako! Tinignan ko �yung wallet ko, 250 [pesos] na lang �yung laman. Kasi nga ayaw ko mang-hingi. Pero alam mo yun, deep inside may feeling na talaga ako. The right thing to do is to give my money. May urge ako. [Pero] Hindi eh, hindi puwede kasi wala na �ko pera!"

But, of course, Isabel being Isabel, she gave it all, even though she didn�t have enough money to get home. The next day, a Monday, she dropped by her agency to say goodbye. She was already on her way out when her agent caught up with her and told her that somebody called and asked if she would like to do one last VTR.

She vehemently replied with, �No! I don�t wanna do that, tapos ano, �di na naman ako makukuha? Ayaw ko na! Insecure na insecure na �ko."

But it was her dad who pushed her and told her that she should at least try. That same day, she went. She came to the audition with no make-up, clad in her casual jeans and rubber shoes.

�They asked me to cry sa eksena. Tapos kunwari daw nakita ko �yung boyfriend ko may kasama iba. Sobra depressed ko siguro, dami ko iniisip, ayun!"

And she cried out all her frustrations and fears. Little did she know that within that week, she will do the same scene with �the" Piolo Pascual in the ad that made everyone fall in love with this young lady from Cebu.

�Grabe hanep, galing ni God! Buti na lang, hindi pa ako, nag-why God, why!! Bakit nangyayari sa akin ito?" She says with a laugh and continues, �In the end, ni-reveal niya, na ito perfect timing for you. And yun, sunod-sunod na, you can�t call it coincidence eh, or accident. Kasi nasa bible �yun eh, kung ano �yung ibibigay mo sa kanya, wholeheartedly, babalik �yun sa iyo."

We can�t very well argue with such wise words from a beautiful young woman. - iGMA.t