MANILA, Philippines — Her name is spelled with only one L. That is one of the many unique features that beauty queen (Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2018) and volleyball smasher Michele Gumabao will readily correct anyone who tends to write her name incorrectly.
Although she initially made a name for herself in sports, Michele, who stands 5’10,” has showbiz blood, undoubtedly. Dad is veteran actor Dennis Roldan, while brother is Marco Gumabao.
Ever since she was in school at De La Salle University (DLSU), Michele played collegiate volleyball for De La Salle Lady Spikers, ending up as finals MVP in her last season. She became a Dean’s Lister and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree, major in marketing management in 2013.
Michele entered “Pinoy Big Brother” 11th season in 2014 as one of the celebrity housemates, with Alex Gonzaga, Jane Oineza and Daniel Matsunaga, but was not convinced to venture into showbiz after she ended her stint.
Michele returned to volleyball. In 2016, she joined ABS-CBN’s Sports+Action as a game analyst for NCAA Season 91.
Pageantry beckoned in 2018 and Michele was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe. She represented the Philippines in the Miss Globe 2018 and landed in the Top 15, winning special awards.
In 2020, Michele represented Quezon City in the first edition of Miss Universe Philippines and finished second runner-up behind Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo City and first runner-up of Ysabela Ysmael of Parañaque.
“My world was opened up into many opportunities like charity, giving back to the community, representing your country,” Michele said. “To be close to a lot of people, like the LGBT community, as well as industries. It was an enjoyable experience for me.
“This is not goodbye to volleyball,” Michele clarified. “When I joined Binibining Pilipinas, my professional volleyball career just started. At that time, I felt that I really had to prioritize volleyball. I wanted to see how far will I go in volleyball.
“Now that I’ve been playing in the professional league for 10 years already, so maybe, towards the end of my volleyball career, I will not leave yet, but of course, as you grow older and you have a lot of different priorities. I want to try out different areas.”
Michele is ready to try showbiz this time. “I want to learn more things and new things,” she said. “I want to seriously try it out. My dad is an actor, my brother is an actor. I want to experience showbiz, too. But I will not leave volleyball completely.”
Michele expresses her desire to try acting and experience it. “I tried hosting for TV and events,” she said. “I’m comfortable doing that as of now. My expectations are only for myself. Whatever is my work ethic in sports, you’re patient and you try to work with your teammates, I will adopt that and bring that into show business.”
Michele could have pursued showbiz right after she joined “PBB.” However, schedule became her concern if ever she decided to juggle sports and showbiz then.
“I don’t think I will be known in showbiz if not for sports that also gave me many opportunities,” said Michele. “At that time, volleyball was still very new. We were all very excited with volleyball.
“We were all excited to see how everything would unfold, knowing the professional league was still very new. Until today, volleyball is still growing and gaining so much popularity and attention locally and internationally.
“For me at that time, I really chose to focus on one thing and do good, so my attention will not be divided. At that time, I wanted my mind to be a hundred percent focus. Iba ang puhuhan mo, pagod, dugo at pawis sa sports. I wanted to see up to where I could contribute in sports. I wanted to give back to the sports that gave me many opportunities.”
Michele is aware showbiz is very unpredictable. “You cannot guarantee your success. You need to work for it. I know I need to undergo everything. Coming from sports, I want to know and learn what needs to be known now that I’m starting in showbiz.
“I’m very coachable and I want to learn more in showbiz. My background in sports started from zero, but I worked to learn everything. I worked hard for 10 years in sports. That is what I also want to bring when I enter showbiz. I’ll see if showbiz will be hard and I also need to learn.”
Her brother Marco has been repeatedly asking her before if she wanted to try showbiz. “It’s hard to do both simultaneously, especially if you’re full-time in sports,” Michele said. “Now that I’m giving showbiz a shot, Marco is happy for me.
“I’m sure, whatever happens, in our family, we are very supportive of one another. I’ve seen how showbiz has given Marco big opportunities since he was in high school when he started at 15. I hope I can try new things also and become a part of showbiz soon, acting if I find out I have the talent.”
Michele is ready even for the intrigues and criticism. “Nakita niyo naman, there are also intrigues in sports and even in pageants,” she said. “I’m very confident that I have a very good support system and I’m very grounded with my values.
“Whatever the test maybe, I think I can go way past that. Even Marco, there are no major intrigues in his career. I hope I will also experience that in my showbiz career.”
She supports Marco even in the latter’s present romantic relationship with actress Christine Reyes, with whom he recently celebrated his first anniversary.
“Marco and I are really very close,” Michele said. “He is my younger brother. He is two years younger. As long as my brother is happy with his love life, I will support him. He and Christine recently celebrated their first anniversary.”
Michele expresses her desire to be paired with Piolo Pascual, her showbiz crush. “I think everybody wants to be part of the show Piolo is on,” Michele said. “I am not particularly eyeing anyone.
“I was just saying, I hope the one who will be paired with me is someone I’m already familiar with, kilala ko na at nakasama ko na rin before if ever I will start something. John Lloyd is also someone I want to work with. Maybe he can play my brother.”
Meanwhile, Michele is with her boyfriend of eight years now, Aldo Panlilio. “He’s very supportive,” Michele says. “His pictures are on my social media, but I try to treat our relationship very private.”
Michele never hides the fact that they visit her dad, Dennis, who is in the slammer, at least once a month. Her mom visits more often.
“Our prayers for our dad are constant, that he will be granted parole after 10 years,” said Michele. “We will see because there are so many processes to go through. We’ll see if it’s God’s will that my dad will be granted parole. We are always hoping. He’s 66 now but very healthy and gwapo pa din.”
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