Mula sa pagkarera, paglalaro ng flag football hanggang sa pagiging isang certified plantita, isa na namang masayang kuwentuhan ang meron tayo this episode sa Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel kasama si Racing Icon Gaby Dela Merced!
Weight training bilang paghahanda sa pagmamaneho? Magpunta sa ibang bansa para bumili ng halaman? At ano nga ba ang naramdaman ni Gaby nang nagkaroon siya ng knee injury na puwersahan sa kaniyang magretiro sa racing? Lahat ng iyan at marami pa, makinig na!
Weight training bilang paghahanda sa pagmamaneho? Magpunta sa ibang bansa para bumili ng halaman? At ano nga ba ang naramdaman ni Gaby nang nagkaroon siya ng knee injury na puwersahan sa kaniyang magretiro sa racing? Lahat ng iyan at marami pa, makinig na!
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Surprise, everybody! And welcome to a new episode of Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel.
00:07I'm hoping for another unexpected conversation today which I'm sure we will have with our surprise guest.
00:13I'm also hoping that I'll be able to guess who our guest is because sometimes,
00:18let's admit it, the clues are really hard to guess.
00:21Okay, so I will be receiving a set of clues for today.
00:25As usual, the first clue is that he became a commercial model, an actress, a host, and a celebrity housemate in Pinoy Big Brother.
00:36And all this because he's one of the first and most famous Filipino race car drivers.
00:43Now, this is the clue that will tell us who this is.
00:46I'm guessing, because he's a Filipino race car driver, our surprise guest is Gabby De La Merced.
00:53Is that you, Gabby?
00:54Yes!
00:55Gabby De La Merced, of course!
00:57How are you?
00:58Thank you! Thank you for having me.
01:00I was a bit stressed at first. I was like, oh, I hope I get to meet him.
01:05Of course! Although, to be honest, the commercial model, actress, could be anybody.
01:12Even I was surprised there.
01:15I told you, sometimes, the clues are really hard to guess.
01:18Because if he's a Filipino race car driver, I'll be able to guess right away.
01:22Because, you know, Gabby, to be honest, you brought race car driving to mind for everyone.
01:29Not to sound like it's supposed to sound different, but because, of course, you're a female race car driver and that's not very common.
01:36How old were you when you started race car driving, Gabby?
01:39Actually, I started quite late. I started when I was 18.
01:43That's considered late?
01:45Yes, because, you know, if you really want to make this a career or that's your family's plan, you start as early as like 7, sometimes even younger.
01:57You start with go-karts, then you graduate on to cars or open wheels.
02:03So, at the age of 18, what was it that made you decide to give it a shot, race car driving?
02:08What was the first thing that struck you in race car driving?
02:12Well, now it's kind of common, but back then, it was really video games.
02:17I grew up with boys. They were big geeks. They loved video games.
02:21And when I got to try my first racing game, I was 16 years old. Something like that.
02:28And I wasn't really exposed to it.
02:30My father was into buying and selling cars.
02:35So, I was exposed to cars, but I wasn't really exposed to racing.
02:39As in, I've never seen a race. My first race was the first time I've ever seen a track, a race car, and racers in person.
02:47You mean, it was just that? Video games, and then you wanted to try it?
02:52Well, no. It was a long process.
02:55In a way, I love sports.
02:59Ever since I've been athletic, I've dabbled into multiple sports.
03:04When I grew up, I kept on doing one thing after the next.
03:11And I remember telling my parents, I think it was first year high school.
03:14I was still rebellious.
03:16I was like, as soon as I hit 18, you can't stop me. I'm going to race, mom.
03:21I had dreams like that.
03:23And then they were like, oh, okay, okay. One day, one day.
03:26Then, I think, I never stopped.
03:31One day, I really wanted to try it.
03:34Then, there was this event called the Porsche Roadshow Clinic.
03:38My dad was supposed to be there.
03:41He was invited by a friend last minute that couldn't go.
03:45And then he thought of me.
03:47So, it was just supposed to be a one-time thing.
03:49I got in, and then they gave me the Best Driving Style Award.
03:54It was just a fun award.
03:56The instructor thought that I was the only girl.
03:59I was still young.
04:00And I would literally do whatever he told me to do.
04:03Whatever he said, I would do it.
04:05So, that's it.
04:07And then they thought of it like, hey, you know what?
04:09There's potential.
04:10So, it started off on my 80th birthday.
04:12I was given a 1980s beatdown Toyota Starlet.
04:16There were no doors, no insulation.
04:21When my friends saw it, they got a little scared.
04:23They were like, huh?
04:24I might get in trouble.
04:25But me, I completely fell in love with it.
04:29It started off kind of like a family bonding thing.
04:34Father-daughter, we would fix the car and stuff like that.
04:38It was just a slalom.
04:39Then, I just took it a step further.
04:43Wow. So, maybe you were one of the few
04:46who got their hands on an old car when they were 18 years old.
04:49And they were so happy.
04:51Right?
04:52Because it really started from scratch.
04:54Yes, yes.
04:55When you start building a car,
04:56do you have a plan?
04:58Like, it should be able to go this fast.
05:00This is the engine that will be installed.
05:02How do you even build a race car?
05:04I think, especially with slalom,
05:07you had some aspects in mind already
05:11on what you wanted to do and everything.
05:14I was lucky.
05:16My father used to race,
05:19but I just wasn't there to see it.
05:22Back in the day, when he was single,
05:24before he even met my mother.
05:25So, when I got into it,
05:28it was feeding his interests.
05:32As someone who completely didn't know anything about racing,
05:36I always thought it was all about speed.
05:39I thought it was about the engine and everything.
05:43But it wasn't.
05:44For me, it's grip.
05:47The first thing I would change is the tires.
05:49Grip control, for me, is one of the most important things.
05:53I thought it was grip on the wheel.
05:56Yes, grip on the wheel.
05:58That's important.
05:59Oh, okay.
06:00So, there's so much more to it
06:02than what we see when we're watching.
06:04Because, as a spectator,
06:06you don't really know anything about the sport.
06:09You just think,
06:10whoever gets to the finish line first
06:12without getting hurt,
06:13that's the winner.
06:14It's just about speed.
06:15It's not like that.
06:16There's a lot of technique.
06:17Yes, there's a lot of technique.
06:19Not just that,
06:20I mean, there's a lot of things that happen
06:22behind the scenes.
06:24There's a cool theme to it.
06:25Because sometimes, people think,
06:27no, it's all about the driver.
06:29No, it starts off from practice
06:32and then talking to your engineers.
06:35It's a very big process, in a sense.
06:38The communication that you give,
06:40the output that you give,
06:41from how you understand your car
06:45to how you could relate it to your engineer
06:48and how he translates into setting that up.
06:51It's like a dance.
06:53So, it's very complicated.
06:56There's a lot of finesse, actually, in racing.
06:58Even in driving, in particular.
07:01Speaking of finesse,
07:04there's a lot of finesse in driving.
07:05Recently, I encountered this video,
07:07I think either on Facebook or Instagram.
07:10And in this video,
07:11I didn't see the finesse there.
07:13Because in the video,
07:14the practice,
07:16I actually forget who the race car driver was,
07:18but one of the more popular ones,
07:20his practice, they show,
07:21so he's holding this,
07:23he's gripping the wheel,
07:24and then all sorts of elements,
07:26like there's a fast one,
07:28then his face is shaking,
07:30then they practice the turns,
07:32the physics and all that,
07:34that they incorporate into his training.
07:36Is it really painful to your body
07:38when you do the driving?
07:39Because I've heard people say,
07:41when you're sitting,
07:42your body is shaking,
07:43but they don't realize
07:44how much your body is shaking.
07:46It's actually pretty intense.
07:49I get that,
07:50because you have to have a lot of finesse
07:52within harsh environments.
07:53Meaning,
07:54one of the things that tires you out the most
07:56is the G-force.
07:57And then,
07:58drivers experience around
08:00anywhere from up to 5 Gs.
08:02Wow.
08:03And,
08:04you know,
08:05the best comparison there are jet fighters,
08:08or like in a plane,
08:09when you land,
08:11or when you take off,
08:12you feel that impact.
08:14That's what you feel,
08:15but you feel it sideways.
08:16I remember at one point,
08:18I was lifting up to
08:2240 plus pounds on my neck,
08:24just so that I could take certain turns.
08:27Because I remember,
08:28I have a specific track in Korea.
08:31There was this turn that actually took 10 seconds.
08:34And I couldn't take it anymore
08:36because I was driving a Trans Am.
08:39I couldn't take it anymore
08:40that I would have to cross my arm
08:43between the window and my head,
08:47just so that I won't snap my neck at the turn.
08:51And it was frustrating because
08:53because of that,
08:54I couldn't floor the gas.
08:57Because my body couldn't take it.
08:59I think that's one of the most unique aspects
09:02of racing,
09:03the training on your neck.
09:06Another one I would say is the stamina.
09:10Because you're wearing a 3T suit.
09:12Imagine,
09:13you're wearing a sauna suit.
09:15And all the way,
09:17you're wearing gloves,
09:18you're wearing a balaclava.
09:19You know,
09:20your helmet's around 10 pounds.
09:22I think they added some myth busters
09:25that said
09:27you could lose up to 10 pounds
09:29or 10 kilos at a track.
09:31And then they did the test
09:33and it was plausible.
09:35Because the host actually lost
09:37a little more than that
09:39within, I think,
09:40two, two and a half hours or something.
09:42Wow,
09:43that's for losing weight.
09:46That's also possible.
09:47That's assuming you can drive on a track.
09:51So Gabby,
09:52you said,
09:53for example,
09:54you'll feel 40 pounds on your chest.
09:55So of course,
09:56you have to train also for every race.
09:59It's not just about driving a car.
10:01Because that's what some people think.
10:02Because you're just driving,
10:04they don't think you have to do weights,
10:05you don't have to go to the gym
10:07or anything like that.
10:08What kind of physical training
10:09do you actually have to do?
10:11You have to do a lot.
10:12It has a lot to do with upper body strength,
10:15especially the type of races you get into.
10:18And then,
10:19the higher you get up in the ladder,
10:22of course,
10:23the stronger the horsepower of the car is.
10:27So the more G-force
10:29you'll have to take in your body.
10:31A lot of core,
10:32a lot of stamina.
10:33I know it might sound funny,
10:35but everything,
10:36your most sensitive part
10:38is actually your butt.
10:42So your butt
10:43gives you all those signals
10:45that, okay,
10:46it's understeering here.
10:47It's oversteering here.
10:49You're putting too much pressure here.
10:54That's interesting.
10:55How often would you train before?
10:57Was it every day?
10:58Three to four times a week.
11:00No, actually more.
11:02So three to four times the gym,
11:05and then I would run.
11:07I would do cardio.
11:08The only thing that's hard with racing
11:09is especially with the track.
11:11One, it's a long track and stuff.
11:13So it's not something like,
11:14hey, I'm just going out of the house.
11:16I'm going to race.
11:17A lot of the times,
11:18especially when it's international,
11:20you go there,
11:21maybe Wednesday or Thursday,
11:23you have a day or two
11:24to understand the track.
11:25Then on the weekend,
11:26it's time to race.
11:27Okay.
11:28So if that's the case,
11:29of course,
11:30how many hours do you drive
11:31during your training session?
11:33If that's the case,
11:34will you get tired of driving
11:35to the training?
11:36I mean,
11:37do you still drive
11:39within the city?
11:40Do you still do leisurely driving?
11:42Yes, I still do.
11:43And the training that I'm talking about,
11:45it's more gym and cardio
11:47since I don't get to go to the track.
11:49Because usually,
11:51I don't drive the car.
11:52For the longest time,
11:54since 2007,
11:55I haven't had a race car.
11:57So I'm at the mercy of
11:59whoever's willing to
12:01let me drive their car.
12:04Other times,
12:05it's an international race.
12:07So what I do,
12:08I was taught,
12:09well,
12:10because one of the series
12:11that I joined
12:12was Formula BMW.
12:13And they had a mentorship program.
12:16And the first thing
12:17my coach taught me was,
12:19buy a PlayStation
12:20and get these games.
12:22Then since then,
12:23that's how I would train
12:25to learn a track abroad.
12:27Whatever track it may be.
12:28I'm gonna Google and stuff
12:30and look for,
12:31okay,
12:32this track is in this game.
12:35So,
12:36that's what I'm looking for.
12:37So they're simulating it.
12:38Yes.
12:40So that's where I learn it.
12:42That's fun.
12:43So the kids who are race car drivers,
12:46their parents can't scold them
12:47when they're playing PlayStation.
12:49Because that's also training.
12:51Yes.
12:52And it's so realistic now.
12:53It's surprising.
12:55What was the most recent race
12:56that you joined or competed in?
12:58I had the privilege of
13:00trying out the Mazda MSCC,
13:03the Mazda Spec Series Championship.
13:06They had me as a guest racer.
13:09This was two months ago.
13:11Oh, nice.
13:12But I remember there was a time
13:14that you had a knee condition
13:17that you had to deal with
13:19several years ago.
13:20Yes, it was a tricky
13:22and heartbreaking condition
13:24in a sense that I didn't know
13:25what happened.
13:26Suddenly,
13:27one day I was walking,
13:29I mean, I was running,
13:30then I just collapsed.
13:32And it took around
13:34more than five years
13:35to figure out what the problem was.
13:37But I had my surgery.
13:38I'm still doing rehab for it,
13:40but it's getting there.
13:41And you get to compete already.
13:43Yes, yes.
13:44At that time,
13:45because I was competing in the U.S.,
13:47I had to stop.
13:48I kind of went into depression.
13:51Now, I admit it.
13:53At that time,
13:54I didn't admit what happened.
13:56I stopped racing for a while.
13:58Good four years.
13:59And your first time
14:00back on the track after that,
14:02was it like going back to zero?
14:04Did you change again?
14:06It's more of
14:07it feels like riding a bike.
14:09It felt like riding a bike.
14:10I suppose, like you said,
14:12when we watch,
14:14it's just the race car driver,
14:15it's just you that we see,
14:16but it's really a team.
14:17It's like when you change wheels,
14:20when you pit stop,
14:22then they change everything.
14:23It's really a whole team.
14:24So for you,
14:25who makes up the team?
14:26I mean, who makes up team?
14:28Gabby de la Merced?
14:29It would be the team I'm with.
14:31Definitely,
14:32it's the race engineer.
14:34Then the other,
14:35his other engineers that's there.
14:37Then there's obviously a team manager
14:39that schedules everything.
14:41The best team managers,
14:43you don't really notice anything
14:45because they're just right there.
14:47They're just right there.
14:48But everything is flawless.
14:49They already know when to pit
14:52or when to get your bands
14:54and everything like that.
14:55Then you have your sponsors.
14:57Everything works together.
14:59Then if it's endurance,
15:00you'll have teammates.
15:01Ah, okay.
15:02It's like a relay.
15:03Yes, yes.
15:04And those are the exciting parts.
15:06Once you pit,
15:09you'll change the tires,
15:10you'll put gas.
15:11And those things,
15:13it's so crucial
15:15because if you think about it,
15:17in a track,
15:18especially if there's a race,
15:19it's like one tenth of a second
15:22or two tenths or one second.
15:24That's fast.
15:25And it takes you one whole lap,
15:27which is around two plus minutes
15:29to get faster
15:31or be faster than the person
15:33in case you're like a second faster
15:35than that guy.
15:36But if you park in the pit
15:38and then the bolt just went wrong
15:43when you entered the corner
15:45or they just went wrong,
15:47I mean, that would be like three seconds gone.
15:50And if you think about it,
15:51that's three laps you have to recover
15:54or they could be super fast
15:56and then you're already in front of the grid
16:00right after the pit.
16:01So pit stops are very important.
16:03Wow.
16:04Was it difficult to be a girl in this sport?
16:09Because, I mean,
16:11maybe when you started,
16:12it's probably different from how it is now?
16:14Would you say that there are more
16:15female race car drivers now
16:17than when you first started?
16:19Yes.
16:20Definitely a different scenario
16:23from when I started.
16:24It's fun.
16:25It's fun now that there are a lot of women
16:27and it is like out in the open
16:30or more ingrained into society
16:33that there are female racers.
16:35I remember when I started,
16:37it wasn't just even that.
16:39Street racing was quite popular
16:43when I first started.
16:45So calling yourself a racer
16:48didn't exactly have
16:49a positive connotation to it.
16:52So one, I had to defend that
16:54that this is not legal,
16:56this is what we do in our track.
16:58Then another side was telling them
17:01that you mean business.
17:03Because a lot of people didn't really,
17:05you know, consider the women
17:08who are racing taken seriously.
17:10Like, ah, yeah,
17:11maybe she's just a girlfriend of a car racer
17:14or something like that.
17:16I've had a few interesting comments
17:18back in the day trying to race.
17:20But now, I think it's a lot more open.
17:25So you would say that when you started,
17:27you were really working against a stereotype?
17:29Oh, yes, definitely.
17:31I remember there's one race,
17:33and I've mentioned this to a few people before.
17:37Slalom, I just started,
17:39I was having a bad day.
17:40And slalom, usually,
17:42it's in a mall.
17:44So there are a lot of people
17:45in the parking lot of malls.
17:47So after my stint,
17:50I was going back to the paddock,
17:52and I remember hearing
17:53these two random people outside.
17:55Because, you know, you don't have a window.
17:58They were saying,
17:59ah, her time is bad.
18:01Then the other guy goes,
18:02ah, no, it's okay.
18:04Because she's a girl.
18:05That's what a girl is.
18:07I was like, ah, right.
18:13And then?
18:15Plus, maybe that's why
18:18that comment came.
18:20Because they don't,
18:21there's no distinction.
18:22I'm not saying it's justified,
18:23but there's no distinction.
18:24You're all competing
18:25in the same category.
18:26There's no men's, no women's.
18:27You're all together.
18:29But wow, that's painful.
18:30How did you,
18:31did you react?
18:32Or did you just let it go?
18:33Of course,
18:34but it's what fueled me.
18:36It fueled me to show people
18:37that I meant business.
18:39I remember,
18:40you know, they're kind
18:41on the track and stuff.
18:43Thinking that, you know,
18:45you're not a threat.
18:46Then when you become a threat,
18:48it's a different story.
18:50Then eventually,
18:52you get the respect.
18:54Right now,
18:55I don't really think about,
18:56like, oh, I'm a female racer.
18:58For men,
18:59anything different.
19:01For me, it's just,
19:02I'm a racer.
19:03And regardless of gender,
19:05I will do my best to win.
19:07That's my mindset now.
19:10But in the beginning,
19:11it was really hard.
19:12It was really hard
19:13because it was like novelty.
19:15They were like,
19:16how do you take yourself
19:17out of that category?
19:19I can imagine.
19:20But I also assume
19:22that you have made
19:23some very good friends
19:24in the industry,
19:25in the sport.
19:26Oh, yes.
19:27And they're used to women
19:28because of you.
19:29They're used to women
19:30racing because of you.
19:32Because like I mentioned earlier,
19:33you were the first one.
19:35I mean, you paved the way
19:36for so many others.
19:37Oops.
19:40It was fun.
19:41Me, myself,
19:42I didn't expect to be here
19:43this long.
19:44I remember telling myself
19:45that my goal,
19:48my main goal was
19:49an international race.
19:51And then I could move on
19:52to my next dream.
19:54You know, when you start,
19:56you don't really...
19:58It just goes and goes.
20:00It's all about
20:01the little steps.
20:02And then I was surprised.
20:03I was like,
20:04hey, that's okay.
20:06But it's still there.
20:08I'm still chasing that dream.
20:12It's just different.
20:13It's just growing
20:14as years go by.
20:16Also being, you know,
20:18a Filipino race car driver,
20:20it also opened up
20:21several other opportunities
20:22for you.
20:23Like we mentioned
20:24in the intro
20:25with the clues that were given,
20:26you're a model,
20:27an actress.
20:28Did you expect that?
20:30Did you see that coming?
20:36Do you want to talk?
20:38Do you want to know?
20:40Do you need to talk?
20:42At some point,
20:43life has to go on.
20:44Or even gossip.
20:46Once you lose
20:47your respect for a person,
20:50love will never come back.
20:52If you measure 3.67 inches or less,
20:56then that's a micro-penis.
20:57Do you really have to go through
20:59all these rules
21:00before you focus on yourself?
21:02A heart,
21:03whatever it is,
21:04just share it.
21:06With Dr. Ana Tuazon.
21:08No matter where you are,
21:10we're here.
21:11We'll listen
21:12and we'll talk.
21:14Leave a comment.
21:15If you're a fan
21:16of Dr. Ana Tuazon,
21:17you can write her.
21:18You can contact her.
21:19She'll be happy.
21:20The more you love her,
21:21the more you'll love her.
21:22That's why
21:23we're going to be
21:24making a special episode
21:25for her.
21:26From this,
21:27we would like to invite
21:28you to join us
21:29on our first
21:30episode of
21:31ickenpot.com.
21:32Join us
21:33on our first episode
21:34of
21:35Happening
21:36Together.
21:37Join us
21:38on our first episode
21:39of
21:40Happening
21:41Together
21:42for a
21:43Did you expect that?
21:44Did you see that coming?
21:45No.
21:46No, not at all.
21:47The whole thing came first and then I did PBB for the primary reason of I needed sponsors
21:55because at that time I was racing internationally and it was really hard to get sponsors.
22:02So I used that as a platform to voice out like, hey, I need, you know, if, you know,
22:09people could support me.
22:11And then because of PBB, I ended up dabbling into acting a bit.
22:16Did you enjoy that as well?
22:18Yes.
22:19It's, wow, it's such an intense practice.
22:24Is it something that you would consider doing again?
22:27I mean, when was the last time you were on the set?
22:30Ay, tagal na, tagal na.
22:33By last was, I think, I did one teleserye lang naman.
22:38I cameoed in a couple of films, did one.
22:41Siguro 2014 pa ata yung huling eh.
22:45Oh, mga 10 years na rin ah.
22:47Oh nga no.
22:49But I enjoyed it and I really respect the craft.
22:52When I started doing workshops, dun ko nakita talaga, because you feel everything eh.
22:57It all comes from here and karami, karami, galing.
23:01So open ka naman to doing it again?
23:05Oh yes, yes, definitely.
23:08As in, like, any kind of role ha, hindi cameo?
23:11Any kind?
23:13Galing aswang ako dati, so.
23:16Aswang?
23:17Yes, I did one of the shake-rattle-and-rolls with Director Gerald.
23:24And it was an interesting experience.
23:27I love horror films.
23:28Being able to do that, I was like, oy, at nakakapagod pala mag-
23:33Well, kung naging aswang ka na sa isang pelikula before, I guess kahit anong role, kaya mo na.
23:42How has your family reacted to all the different endeavors you have chosen in your career or in your lifetime?
23:51Ay, I think sanay na sila.
23:54I remember goal ng parents ko na maging scientist ako.
24:00At na-realize nila, you know, as I grew older, kiti-kiti lang talaga akong bata.
24:06May science involved naman sa racing, di ba?
24:10May science involved naman sa racing.
24:12Yeah, they've been very supportive naman.
24:15It's important, I think, that you get a support group.
24:18And with whatever I get into.
24:20And I get into a lot of stuff.
24:22Especially with what I've been doing now, they've been very supportive with that also.
24:26Do you have kids already, Gabby?
24:29I don't know if yun marinig mo. Does that count?
24:32I could flip one out now.
24:34This is powder.
24:35Oh, cute!
24:36Because I was going to ask, if in the future, if you have kids and they say they want to be a race car driver, payag ka ba don?
24:44Yes, I would. Siyempre.
24:46Yun nga lang, masakit, madugo sa bulsa.
24:50Ah, sa bulsa. Oo nga. Actually, it's a very expensive sport, no?
24:54Yes.
24:55For me, it was tough because of the fact that I needed to look for sponsors.
24:59Like I'd say, it was 80% of the job for me.
25:04And yun, medyo stressful kasi you want to join certain series or na-invite ka, you qualify.
25:10But hindi ka makatuloy with that series.
25:14Because nga, kulang with funds.
25:16Walang budget.
25:18Yeah, the story of my life for a very long time.
25:21How much is a working budget for one competition?
25:24It really depends, eh.
25:25It really depends on the series you want to race in and especially the car that you want to race in.
25:32The local races, we have the Sparco Cup or the VS Cup or the Mazda Series.
25:39Siyempre, you have to buy the car.
25:41Then you have to think about paying for your mechanics.
25:45And then, let's just say it's a perfect world that nothing happens to the car.
25:51All the gas that's done would be the tires.
25:53Usually, at a race, you race with new tires every time.
25:56Then, the usual lang.
25:58The oil change, the gas.
26:00Depends on how many times you're going to go around the track.
26:04So, yun lang.
26:06More or less, it's like a liter per lap type of thing.
26:10Yun, then may lodging pa doon and everything.
26:13Everything like that.
26:15Then, when you hit international races, it gets exponentially much more expensive.
26:20Especially with open-wheel.
26:22Open-wheel is no joke.
26:23I remember when I was racing open-wheel abroad.
26:26Minsan, nagdaga sa law,
26:28Please, huwag nyo ang bangin kasi hindi ako makakauwi ng Pilipinas.
26:32Ganun yung dati.
26:33It really depends.
26:34It's really wide.
26:35Oo.
26:36Oo nga, I just realized, it's not like all you need is one car.
26:39Parang bawat race, kailangan bago yung kotse mo.
26:42Iba yung kotse.
26:43Kasi, syempre nabubug-bug agad yung kotse once you sit in a race, right?
26:48Yes, and it's not naman parating bago yung kotse.
26:53When you're here locally, you could have your car.
26:57Ako, I want a car also to race in.
27:00So, at least I have my own car.
27:02I could have my own team and everything.
27:04The thing is, when you want to reach certain levels,
27:07with me, my thing is lima.
27:11I like endurance.
27:13Every year, you kind of try to go up the ladder.
27:17And when you go up the ladder, syempre,
27:19ibang series sasalihan mo,
27:21or ibang specs sasalihan mo,
27:23or ibang teams sasalihan mo.
27:25So, yung ginagawa ko usually is,
27:29I get to talk to teams,
27:30or I get to talk to serieses na qualified yung license ko.
27:33And then, they'll invite you or they'll let you test.
27:38It's like a tryout.
27:40And then, when you qualify,
27:42that's the only time you get in.
27:44When you get in, you also have to pay, usually.
27:47It's very rare.
27:48I was only able to have a full ride
27:53in the international once,
27:55which was with a Korean team.
27:57My Formula BMW team introduced me to them.
28:01I tried out.
28:02And then, yun.
28:05They would just fly me to race in Korea.
28:08I was around Asia, yun,
28:10but most was in Korea.
28:12After that, you go back,
28:14and then, you try a new car
28:16with whatever car they have.
28:17So, it's kind of like arrive and drive.
28:20The car's never yours,
28:22unless you're that rich.
28:25Ang hirap pala noon.
28:27But you mentioned also, Gabby,
28:29that you've always been a very athletic person.
28:32What other sports do you do?
28:34Well, I'm back into flag football.
28:37I'd like to say that's what I'm really, really focused on now.
28:41I've been wearing our team shirt.
28:43Basically, flag football,
28:45I got into it years ago.
28:47Then, I stopped.
28:48Then, late last year,
28:49I was roped back in
28:51kasi flag football was introduced
28:54as one of the new sports for LA Olympics 2028.
28:58So, gumawa sila ng national team,
29:00and then, I was honored to be part of it.
29:04Pumunta kami sa Malaysia
29:06to compete in the Asia-Oceania IFAF Championships.
29:10Since then, we've been training heavily for that
29:15with the goal of, you know, 2028.
29:18Oh, so you're doing that now alongside racing?
29:21Yes.
29:22Oh, wow!
29:24Busy-busy ka pala, Gabby.
29:26But what is flag football?
29:28Para ba siyang American football?
29:29Or is it more like...
29:30Yes, yes.
29:31Okay.
29:32It's exactly like that
29:33with the difference that you use flags
29:36to pull instead of tack plate.
29:38So, in the team,
29:39is it mixed like both males and females in one team?
29:42Or you have a men's team and you have a women's team?
29:44You have a men's team and a women's team
29:47for the format of the Olympics, yes.
29:50Okay.
29:51And they chose the five format
29:53kasi merong sevens, merong eights,
29:55which technically has contact
29:58except wala kayong pads,
30:00which is a bit intense and fun.
30:03But they chose the five format
30:05kasi it's a very different format.
30:09It's very skill-based,
30:10heavy on the mechanics or the plays.
30:14So, technique is very important for fives.
30:18Gabby, it's like there's no stopping you.
30:22You're racing, you're playing flag football.
30:24Do you ever see yourself retiring
30:28from any of the things that keep you busy right now?
30:32Ako kasi clear focus lang talaga on hitting that goal.
30:37Sana maka-qualify for 2028.
30:40And after that, tingnan nalang natin.
30:45So, right now, the focus is more on flag football?
30:48Yes, yes.
30:49That's been the goal.
30:50We just came from a tournament.
30:53It was an amazing experience.
30:56So, this guy, Cameron Bynum,
30:59he's a Phil-Am based in the States.
31:03He's an NFL player from the Vikings.
31:05He loves his roots,
31:07has been coming here for the past three years.
31:09I think two or three years,
31:12and has been doing camps,
31:14teaching and providing for people over here.
31:17Then, for the first time,
31:18he watched a camping tournament
31:20kasi nagdala siya ng mga top-notch coaches from the States.
31:24And then a lot of teams flew in,
31:27a lot of countries.
31:28From all over Asia,
31:30came in for the tournament.
31:31And then, yun.
31:32We just had it around a couple of weeks ago.
31:35Oh, wow.
31:36Kailan lang pala?
31:38Yes, yeah.
31:39It was tough kasi parang especially,
31:41we've been wanting to compete against Japan
31:44because they're one of the best in the world.
31:46And the last IFA,
31:48wala sila sa division namin.
31:50So, we weren't able to compete with them.
31:52And, oh wow, it was an experience.
31:54But anyway, with a series of events,
31:57because we were playing under Manila,
31:58then we were on semis,
32:01naka-second kami.
32:02So, we played against Malaysia.
32:04Then, we were waiting for the championships.
32:06Japan was playing against Cebu,
32:08of Japan being the first.
32:10And then, nagkaroon ng upset.
32:12Like, Cebu won by one.
32:14Ang galing.
32:15So, pareho from the Philippines
32:17ended up on the finals at the Super Bowl.
32:21And then, yun.
32:22We won the championship.
32:24Congratulations!
32:27Gabby, with all the things that you're doing,
32:30when you're not out playing football
32:32or you're not on the track,
32:34what keeps you busy pa?
32:35I mean, do you have time for anything else?
32:38Meron ko pa bang mga hobbies?
32:39Meron ko bang time manood ng sine,
32:41pumunta ng mall, kumain sa nabas?
32:45Well, I actually,
32:47I have a gallery called Vinyl on Vinyl.
32:50I know it's totally left field na
32:53from sports to art.
32:55But that's my everyday thing.
32:57So, you sell records as well?
32:59Used to.
33:01And recently, Vinyl on Vinyl.
33:03At the beginning, we had records.
33:05And then, we had art.
33:09Vinyl as in vinyl on canvas? Ganyan?
33:13Wait, you have a gallery, an art gallery?
33:15I was thinking vinyl records.
33:17Yes, so it's an art gallery.
33:18And we used to sell records.
33:20Kaya may vinyl.
33:21Oh, I'm sorry.
33:22Nalito ko.
33:24Ooy na eh.
33:25Because a lot of people don't pick up,
33:28not a lot of people pick up on the fact that,
33:30you know, their music is heavily ingrained in our roots.
33:34Wala ka lang records.
33:36Kasi ngayon, this was around 14 years ago,
33:39we would sell records for around P50.
33:41Wala pa masyadong gumibili.
33:43Wow. E ngayon na mahal na.
33:45Grabe. Yeah.
33:47Now, we do ano na now.
33:50We really try to support sound art in our program.
33:54Where's that located?
33:56Along Chino Roses.
33:57It's inside La Fuerza.
33:59It's a compound.
34:00Yeah, please visit.
34:02Anybody can just go?
34:04I mean, you're open every day.
34:06We're open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11 to 6 p.m.
34:10Anyone can go.
34:12There's no admission.
34:14It's free.
34:15Just come over.
34:17We change our exhibitions per month.
34:19That still kind of sounds like work.
34:21Because you're involved in the operations.
34:24Yes.
34:25How about for leisure?
34:26What do you do for leisure?
34:28Leisure. I bike.
34:30I have a bicycle.
34:31That still sounds like work.
34:33I have plants.
34:37I'm a crazy plantita in a very weird way.
34:43I would show you the plants because it's very exotic.
34:46I would love to see the plants, yes.
34:48Here is an example.
34:50I collect caudex plants.
34:52There.
34:53Wow.
34:55They all look like aliens.
34:58I know.
35:00I thought you were going to say super leafy plants.
35:03No, I'm very much into this.
35:06The whole thing is a plant?
35:08Yes.
35:09They're caudex plants.
35:11They're desert plants usually.
35:14The one thing that strings them all together is the big bulb that you see over there.
35:20Oh, that's right.
35:22It's a big bulb.
35:23Is that on soil?
35:25I see pebbles.
35:27Yes, that's foam.
35:29Okay.
35:30Yes, it's foam.
35:31That's why the water has to go down immediately.
35:35For those who are listening to the audio,
35:38you have to catch the video version on Spotify
35:41just so you can see what this plant looks like.
35:43It doesn't look like a plant.
35:47It looks like a vegetable that you can eat.
35:50Yes, I have a pottery.
35:52It doesn't look like a potted plant.
35:57That's great.
35:58So you take care of those yourself?
36:00Yes.
36:01They're my babies.
36:02That's so cute.
36:04Wait, do you name them?
36:05Because I know some people who name their plants.
36:07I do.
36:08What's their name?
36:09This one?
36:11No, it's Winner.
36:15I had such a hard time.
36:18I had such a hard time.
36:20Oh, wow.
36:21They have different names.
36:23Okay.
36:26So, Winner.
36:27Do you have any other friends named Winner?
36:29Because Winner looks like...
36:31I don't even know how to describe it for those who are listening to us.
36:34It looks like a big potato that's made of stone.
36:37Yes.
36:38It looks like it's made of stone.
36:43Actually, in the video, it looks hard.
36:46It really looks more like a stone than a potato.
36:51Am I right?
36:52Is it shiny?
36:53Let's say satin finish.
36:57That's why.
36:59It looks like it's hit by light.
37:01It's a satin finish.
37:03Yes.
37:04So, I have...
37:05Yeah.
37:06The other ones...
37:07I have a few bigger, crazier ones.
37:10The pachypus ones.
37:12But it's a bit heavy.
37:14Okay.
37:15Just send me the picture.
37:17Okay.
37:19We might not be able to see you in the video.
37:22They said the plant looks like a Pokemon.
37:25Oh, yeah.
37:26That's true.
37:27I didn't think of that.
37:28It can be a Pokemon.
37:30Wow.
37:31So, where do you even find those plants?
37:33You can find them in Quezon Circle.
37:35They sell a lot of plants there, right?
37:37Oh, yes.
37:39Not exactly.
37:41I would get them in different trips.
37:45Like this one, I was able to get in Hong Kong.
37:48But the origin is in Madagascar.
37:51So, it's really in Africa.
37:53Isn't it hard to bring it in?
37:56For example, you bought it in Hong Kong.
37:58How do you bring it in here?
38:00I just...
38:01You can ship it.
38:02You can just ship it.
38:03It doesn't have a soil.
38:04Okay.
38:05So, it's not hard to bring it in.
38:06Hence, the reason why I tried buying it online.
38:09Directly from the source.
38:11Like in Cameroon and stuff.
38:12Let's just say...
38:13Take care.
38:16Oh, did you get scammed?
38:17Yeah.
38:18Shocks.
38:20That's how it is.
38:21But that's how it is.
38:22That's why now, I try going to...
38:26You know, seeing it in person.
38:28Before buying it.
38:29So, at least...
38:30Then, you'll just ship it.
38:31Yeah.
38:32Yes.
38:33Have you ever tried to bring it with you on a flight?
38:36I mean, you're the one who'll bring it.
38:38Is that allowed?
38:39I've tried it too.
38:40As long as there's no soil.
38:42I think it's okay.
38:44It's allowed?
38:45I think so.
38:46I think so.
38:47I've done it once.
38:49I think it's okay.
38:50Yes.
38:51Have you been a plantita for a long time?
38:53Or it started during the pandemic?
38:54Because that's the time when there are more plantitas in the world.
38:58Oh, yes.
38:59That's the time.
39:00I started a little bit before.
39:03Then, during the pandemic, it's a bit...
39:06It's gone.
39:08It intensified.
39:09Yes, it intensified.
39:11Because, of course, you're there.
39:13You're just like, what to do?
39:16Oh, wow.
39:17So, let's say if you had to spend...
39:19Let's say you had...
39:20I don't know.
39:21A certain amount.
39:22Let's say you had a hundred thousand pesos to spend.
39:25Whether on an accessory for your car or a plant.
39:29What would you choose?
39:31A plant.
39:32Shocks!
39:33That's how much you spent?
39:34You know, I just gave you a random figure.
39:36And that's how much you spent?
39:38It's not like that.
39:39Plants are not crazy expensive.
39:43But there are those.
39:44But it can get there if you want to.
39:46Yeah, it can get there.
39:47It's more on the plants that I like are difficult.
39:51I like them looking a little different.
39:54See, Winner is very different.
39:56But actually, if you're just looking at the leaves,
40:00it's a normal plant.
40:01But when you see the bulb...
40:07It's like a surprise.
40:09Yes.
40:11Winner is so cute.
40:15Gabby, you're the true winner.
40:17Because you've been through a lot.
40:19You know, you have your race car driving.
40:21And you do your flag football.
40:23You have your gallery.
40:24And then you have your hobbies like your plants.
40:28And you're still going at all these things simultaneously.
40:31Plus, of course, you've experienced modeling, acting.
40:34So busy.
40:35And you really do excel in everything that you do.
40:38So, I want to say thank you so much for sharing your stories with us today.
40:42It's really such an eye-opener.
40:44And so inspiring.
40:45I mean, when people ask you what are the things that inspire you,
40:50do you choose just one of the different things that you do?
40:54Or is it an overall thing?
40:56I think it's an overall thing.
40:58In a sense that, at times, yes, you feel the sectors.
41:04But, I mean, for me, it's just my life.
41:08In a sense that, you know, it's my everyday thing.
41:11It's what I think about.
41:12It's what I breathe.
41:15Especially like with flag, I mean, we train hard.
41:19We train twice a week.
41:21And then, with my niece that you brought up, I do rehab also twice a week.
41:28Then, there's gym and conditioning, everything like that.
41:33So, it's really mind and body.
41:36I'm there most of the time.
41:38Well, Gabby, thank you so much for sharing your stories and spending time with us today.
41:44We do have a game planned for you.
41:47Of course, because you're an athlete, you're very competitive.
41:50I'm sure you'll want to play a game.
41:51I'll just read our game.
41:54Our game is called, Sportify This.
41:57Okay, let's read.
42:00Make something into a sport based on your preference or favorite.
42:05And you feel like you'll win here.
42:07What's your favorite thing about something and how would you turn it into an active or competitive activity or sport?
42:13So, Gabby, let us sportify this.
42:16First, what hobby do you want to use?
42:18Do you want to use collecting plants, taking care of plants?
42:21Yes, I can.
42:23What kind of sport is that?
42:25It can be figure skating, the most unusual design.
42:31Or we can…
42:32Well, with the plants that I like, because it's interesting to spin them.
42:37There are bonsai fields.
42:39I mean, it depends on how they grow and everything.
42:43And with that, you could manipulate that with the lights.
42:48If you have it on top, they stay on top.
42:50If you have it over here, they kind of grow a certain way.
42:54So, we can do racing to hit a certain design or a certain route.
43:03That's great.
43:04I can't think of that.
43:07That means you have intensive knowledge about caring for your plants.
43:12Do you cook, Gabby?
43:14Yes.
43:15Okay. So, how would you sportify cooking?
43:18Okay.
43:20Okay, sportify cooking.
43:23There are a lot of shows, but I guess,
43:26very specific ingredients that you need to invent,
43:31with whatever's inside the fridge at a certain allotted time.
43:36Or even someone from the audience saying a super random ingredient
43:43that you need to put in a dish that shouldn't be put there.
43:47There's a time pressure.
43:48Yes.
43:50I don't know about the edibility, the fact that it's edible.
43:56It'll be an interesting experience.
44:00How about eating?
44:01How would you sportify eating?
44:03Eating the most, whatever you can eat at a certain amount of time.
44:08It's like a hotdog eating contest, right?
44:11Yes.
44:12This is what I want.
44:13Maybe I can join this.
44:15How would you sportify shopping?
44:17Shopping?
44:19What I want, as long as I'm used to it,
44:22they're the organizers who'll give the money.
44:26I'm also used to that.
44:30I actually joined an adventure race once.
44:34We literally had to go through all the malls.
44:38We went through, I think, eight different malls within the metro.
44:42Not necessarily shopping, but we had to do certain things.
44:47We had to climb certain areas.
44:50It felt like a sport.
44:52Wow!
44:53How about sleeping?
44:56Do you sleep a lot?
44:57Yes.
44:59In a way, I love sleeping.
45:01If I could just sleep.
45:04The sport will make you sleep a lot.
45:06It'll make you sleep a lot.
45:09And a lot of people will get a funny face while sleeping.
45:14There should be a CCTV.
45:16Yes.
45:17How about karaoke?
45:19Do you do that?
45:21Karaoke?
45:22Not really.
45:23Because my neighbors might get scared.
45:27But, yeah.
45:28Probably, I'll sing for a long time.
45:31That's possible.
45:32Or sing for a long time before the neighbors get mad.
45:35Yes, that's possible.
45:36Or raise the volume.
45:38That's also possible.
45:40How about dancing?
45:41Oh, wow!
45:42I have two left feet.
45:43I love dancing.
45:44But dancing doesn't exactly love me.
45:48I like dancing.
45:49It makes me happy.
45:50It's different.
45:51It's interesting.
45:52It speeds you up.
45:53And traveling?
45:54I thought you do this a lot for work.
45:55Oh, yes.
45:56Traveling.
45:57I guess, amazing race.
46:01Find certain monuments.
46:03Certain iconic stuff.
46:05And then, get the most out of a certain number.
46:09You know, you have a map.
46:10Oh, nice.
46:11And finally, acting?
46:13How would you sportify acting?
46:15How do you sportify acting?
46:17Oh, okay.
46:19Go through a series of emotions that you like.
46:22But with dumbbells.
46:24Is that possible?
46:25Because I have a sprinting belt.
46:30Oh, wow!
46:31That's possible.
46:33You're so creative, Gaby.
46:36Gaby, thank you so much again for spending time with us today.
46:41Maybe you can invite your fans, our listeners, your supporters
46:46to find you on social media or wherever to catch your races
46:50and to visit your gallery.
46:52Go ahead.
46:53Yes.
46:54Well, first of all, thank you for having me.
46:57Hi, everyone.
46:59Please check out my socials.
47:02It's at Gabydeliversed with one B.
47:04If you want to check out more art, please look at Vinyl on Vinyl.
47:09And if you want to follow us with flag, please look at Kane's Flag Football.
47:18So, yeah.
47:20My Instagram pretty much has my racing and my flag there and everything else.
47:29Wow.
47:30Well, thank you so much, Gaby.
47:31Soon to be Olympian for 2028.
47:34Thank you.
47:35Thank you.
47:38Fingers crossed.
47:40Thank you, Gaby.
47:41Thank you so much.
47:44This surprise was planned by the team of Alan Ebora and Orby De Los Reyes.
47:48Edited by Shirley Pagiligan with the amazing people of GMA Integrated News.
47:52Don't forget to like and subscribe.
47:54Till the next surprise!