Cherub-faced Filipino-Korean Sandara Park has hurdled ABS-CBN's Star Circle Quest, one of local reality TV's most hotly contested talent searches, and now teeters on the edge of. . . stardom.

SWEET SANDARA Written By Jennifer R. Casipit Womans Journal, July 24, 2004

STAR QUALITY

Sandara Park pops in for her cover shoot in a daze. We later realize that her "little lost girl" aura is simply a result of sleep deprivation - no thanks to a late night of taping - so we allow her a few minutes to shake out of her stupor before starting the interview.

After freshening up in the rest room, she obligingly sits before the vanity table and allows the makeup artist to do his work. Not that she needs much by way of cosmetic enhancement. Sandara's skin is without flaw, smooth as a baby's. The petite Filipino-Korean looks so young, in fact, that it's hard to believe she's all of 19 years. "No, she's 12 years old, " quips the makeup artist, and Sandara only chuckles, accustomed as she is to such remarks about her age.

The showbiz newbie's recent win in ABS-CBN's reality TV Series Star Circle Quest, placing second after "grand questor" Hero Angeles, has brought plum TV projects at her doorstep.

And the fact that Sandara was proclaimed "Texter's Choice Favorite" is definitely a major feat for someone who expected to get booted out early in the competition.

When asked what made her stand out among other SCQ contenders, Sandara shrugs her shoulders and says, not without humor, "Maybe it's because of my Korean features. With the F4 fever and all of the chinovelas showing on TV, my face must be the 'in' thing."

CLAIM TO FAME

Before SCQ, Sandara lived a routine life as a teenage student. "My family moved to the Philippines in 1995 but I was born and raised in Busan, Korea," she reveals. "Since we got here, my life has been home-school-home-school."

Fortunately, Sandara easily fell in with the warm and hospitable Pinoys. Soon the shy teener began emerging from her shell, even as she exhibited a fondness for showbiz. She would watch TV to see her idols, Regine Velasquez and Vina Morales, imagining that one day she might follow in their footsteps.

And she didn't stop there. Sandara asked around, hoping that one of her friends might give her tips on how to break into showiz.

Then SCQ came along. Though her parents protested at first - "It will be too embarrassing. You'll only get eliminated," they warned - Sandara stubbornly headed for the auditions.

MOMENT OF GLORY

The SCQ, as it turned out, proved rather daunting for Sandara. "I didn't realize it would be such a big contest!," she claims. But big it was, and she found herself facing off with some 200 applicants, who each wanted to be a star via the reality TV route.

Seeing how tight the competition was, Sandara decided to just hang on for the ride. From 200, the number of star wannabes was slashed to 25, then on to the Magic Circle of 10.

The most difficult challenge for Sandara was speaking in Filipino. "I can converse in it, but if I have to adlib, I start groping for words, she admits. Another test that proved overwhelming was the heavy drama scenes Sandara ws required to act out.

Yet she pulled if off. Being proclaimed as first runner-up to Hero Angeles during finals night was truly a lucky turn for this aspiring performer.

HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

Quite expectedly, gripes marked the contest outcome. Some televiewers pitted contestant Neri Naig against Sandara, claiming that the former was more talented and deserving of a slot in the Magic Circle of Five. It didn't help that it was a tight race between the two, with Sandara winning by a mere two points in the text voting.

The magnanimous Sandara has only good words to say about Neri. In fact, she admits to feeling a little guilty that she won while Neri got eliminated. But that's the nature of the contest, and Sandara can only assume that her triumph was meant to be.

"I feel sad because some people say I didn't deserve to win," she says. "But at the same time, it makes me want to prove to them that I can be a good artista."

This early, Sandara is having a "sneak preview" of how celebrity can be an intrigue magnet. She's now being linked to three boys in the biz - Hero Angeles, newcomer John Wayne Sace and showbiz heartrob Patrick Garcia.

Sandara laughs off these rumors, effectively dousing any romantic notion about her relationship with the three young men. "Hero is actually my love team partner, Patrick is my crush, and John says he likes me. But that's all there is to it. We're all friends," she stresses.

HERE AND NOW

After her big win, the over 1,400,000 people who voted for Sandara will be seeing a lot of her on ABS-CBN 2. There's SCQ Reload, a youth-oriented show developed for the Magic Circle of Ten.

She also has her very own show now titled Sandara's Romance, aired Mondays throught Fridays at 4 p.m., after the ABS-CBN Dramathon sa Hapon. It is a collection of chinovelas, and Sandara has been assigned to host the program.

Star Records has likewise seen Sandara's potential in the singing arena. Thus, her fans will soon be listening to her first album titled In or Out, which will have some five songs.

FUTURE PERFECT

It is just the beginning, and so Sandara is bracing herself for the days ahead. Hogging this girl's agenda is her desire to improve her language skills so she can better communicate with her Filipino fans and be more effective as a TV host and actress.

"I don't want to be just a flash-in-the-pan celebrity," she avers. "I want to hone my talents so I can give back to all the people who voted for me. That's my only way of showing how grateful I am for the happiness they've given me."

How did you spend your last birthday? (November 12) I joined the SCQ contest on November 6. But on the 12th, I went to ABS-CBN to meet with my schoolmate because she said we could be part of a movie. It turned out to be Volta. So I just followed her, but I didn't know we would only be one of hunderds of "talents". I didn't have any lines. So I spent my birthday hanging around the set of the film shoot. But it was okay because I got to meet some celebrities.
Who were you named after? A famous and intelligent military general in Korea. My parents said his nickname is Sandara.
What's the worst thing your mother ever made you do? Well, small things like when she asks me to take those bitter medicines.
What's your worst vice? I used to be a text addict, but now I don't have time. So my worst vice now would probably be crying. In the past, whenever they said, "You're ugly," I just cried. That's why during SCQ, many people misunderstood me. They said I was crying to get symphathy votes.
"Love means never having to say you're sorry." Do you believe in that? No. You have to say sorry if you did something wrong. It's that simple.
Would you share with us some details of a romantic fantasy? I like rainy days, so I want to have a date when it's raining. We'll go without an umbrella. We can just share one jacket. Then we'll go to the carnival or the park.
Which part of the male anatomy turns you on? I like guys who are baby-faced and fair complexioned. Yet there are also times when I fall for very "ugly" men. As long as a guy is a very good dancer or singer, I admire him - no matter how bad he might look physically.
What is it about men you'll never understand? How they can be such playboys. They can't settle for just one girl.
The reverse now - what is it about women you will never understand? A lot of girls are plastik and maarte.
Be honest now, a sense of humor or dashing good looks? Sense of humor. If a guy has nothing but good looks, nakakasawa.
If you were given 10 million pesos to spend in 24 hours, what would you do with the money? I'd travel around the world! But that can't be done in just 24 hours, can it? So maybe I'd go shopping, buy gifts for my friends. and I'd set aside cash for street children.
How do you see the women of your generation? Women now are more fashionable. And they're not that shy anymore because now, they can court a guy!
What is your most prized material possession? All my photos.
What is the worst part of the business? Intriga.
The perks? Of course, the fame. During one taping we had in Pampanga, we went to this restaurant for lunch. Then the owners said, "Lunch is free. Just take a picture with us." I was really surprised. They didn't even mind the fact that there were a lot of us - the crew, the staff.
How do you feel when meeting other celebrities? I still get very excited. During the SCQ, I liked the activities where we had to meet up with the celebrities. And to this day, whenever I go to tapings, I look at these people and I'm happy. I'm a big fan.
Can you cook? What's your culinary specialty then? Just instant noodles.
Food you are most likely to eat at 2 a.m.? Instant pancit canton.
Music that you listen to when in the car? Regine Velasquez's songs. When I listen to her voice, I lip-sync along with her. I do that a lot in front of the mirror when I'm at home (laughs).
What's your personal fashion style? Very simple. Maong pants and T-shirt.
What's the last movie you saw and enjoyed? The Day After Tomorrow. After the SCQ grand finals at the Araneta Coliseum, I wanted to sleep, but the other questors - Joross, Roxanne and Melissa - brought me to the mall where we watched the last full show. We went all the way to Robinsons Galleria for that.
What's your favorite haunt in the city? The malls. I usually go to Glorietta or to Robinsons Ermita, which is near my house in Pasay City.
How do you see yourself five years from now? I hope I will have more albums - not a novelty song but a real song this time, like Regine's songs. And I want to become a TV host and, maybe a heavy drama actress too.

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