FROM COVER TO CALENDAR GIRL

It looks like it’s going to be a very new sexy year for Ginebra San Miguel fans.

After being chosen as the team’s muse for this season of the Philippine Basketball Association, the host/model fulfills the wishes of her male fans as she poses for the liquor brand’s 2013 calendar.

Georgina was chosen after topping a poll conducted by Ginebra.

According to the brand, they chose Georgina because she exudes a universal appeal that transcends gender and class, much like Ginebra San Miguel, which appeals to a diverse and wide range of people.

The Filipino-British model was officially launched as Ginebra’s newest endorser at the Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City on Friday, following the footsteps of her celebrity best friends Anne Curtis and Solenn Heussaff who are also endorsers of the company.

Georgina said she considers her newest project as a milestone for her career, and a chance to reach out to her “masa” fans.

“I can’t believe I was no. 1 in the lineup to be selected especially because I don’t have movies out, unlike the previous calendar girls,” she gushed.

Previous Ginebra calendar girls include Angelica Panganiban (2007), Iwa Moto (2008), Marian Rivera (2009), Krista Ranillo (2010), Anne Curtis (2011) and Solenn Heussaff (2012).

“I am a certified ‘Lahing Ginebra Girl.’ I may have been born in the US, raised in Britain and studied in Australia, but my heart belongs to where my home is—here,” the stunning 26-year-old told the media.

“The fact that they feel that I can represent their brand, that the masa is aware of me and knows me, it’s really surreal and a huge honor.”

Although she has done several other sexy photo shoots and magazine covers, Georgina considers the calendar as one of her toughest and most daring yet.

“For me it was something that was a big project, both physically and mentally. It took several months [to prepare], as in wala nang sweets, walang rice, lahat-lahat na and I worked [out] every single day,” she told The Manila Times after the press conference.

Styled by Pam Quiñones and photographed by Marc Nicdao, the water sports-themed calendars (snorkeling, beach volleyball, kayaking, Frisbee and surfing) were shot at one of the beaches in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

“We went to a location up north which, as you can see, is not the usual terrain even if there are beaches and stuff. We wanted to shoot something different kasi usually down south yung mga shoots,” she remarked.

“I was also very hands-on in choosing the outfits para maging sexy, like yung mga bikinis that I like wearing, as well as the theme of water sports because I think that to have that fun spirit and a body that you can be happy with, you have to be active in sports, you it was something na talagang fit sa calendar.”

When asked why she agreed to do the calendar for a very “masa” brand, she replied; “I feel this is the right time to do this, while I’m still young. It’s something I’ll be proud of in the years to come.”

She said that her boyfriend of three years, Borgy Manotoc, had no objection, and had been very supportive of her projects.

“He’s going to be happy when he sees the rest of it. Even my family is proud of the outcome. This whole thing hasn’t sunk in but I’m enjoying it. I feel like I’ve found a new family.”

Piolo, Xian and her ex-boyfriend
With all her appearances as host of numerous shows both on cable and free TV, as well as her TV commercials, it’s quite surprising to note that Georgina has yet to formally make her acting debut.

Is she willing to venture into acting just like her best friends Anne and Solenn, and compete with them?

“I think the showbiz world is very receptive of me and parang feeling ko, I’m really in showbiz already. Hindi pa nga lang ako ‘actress.’

“If ever the right movie comes along or there’s a project or teleserye na bagay sa akin, I’ll be very much willing to take it,” she said. “But right now, I’m very happy with what I’m doing. I don’t think [we will] be competing naman, I really respect the careers of my friends, and they share their experiences with me and give me tips.”

Georgina was then asked who among today’s leading men she’d want to be paired with.

“I think Piolo [Pascual] is really cute . . . Well, Xian [Lim], I’m endorsing kasi with Xian. I’m thinking kasi kung sino ang ka-height ko, because I’m 5’10”. So, maybe Xian, Piolo, of course, in GMA, there’s Dingdong [Dantes], and Richard [Gutierrez].”

Richard, she says, continues to be her friend even after their relationship while she has worked with Dingdong as they both endorse Bench together.

“I think it’s important if I do get into showbiz, I’ll be very comfortable with the person I’m acting with, because I have to learn from them a lot.”

Georgina also considers John Lloyd Cruz as an inspiration and an amazing actor.

On having a drink with Nora Aunor
In September, Georgina received a lot of flak after posting a photo on Twitter, which superimposed Nora Aunor’s face on one of her sexy cover shots for a magazine.

She again apologized for the incident and said she didn’t mean to offend the Superstar. Georgina also clarified that she was not the one who created the photo, saying she has great respect for Nora.

“I have a lot of respect for Ms. Nora Aunor. Akala ko mga fans niya ang gumawa noon so I thought, how cute naman of them to think of me and put her picture. I posted it kasi parang I thought it was funny. Some people were offended so I took it down. I didn’t say anything,” she explained.

“I never intended to offend her, she’s our superstar and I was talking to Tita Gloria [Diaz] about it and she said that people just took it the wrong way.

“I apologize and I also feel that I really didn’t mean anything wrong. And if I offended her fans and her, I’m really sorry about that. But I really would never offend someone who’s already an institution in our showbiz world.”

A reporter then joked if she was willing to have a “drink” with the Superstar, and Georgina gamely said “Yes! Big fan naman ako ni Ate Guy.”

The Ginebra San Miguel calendars will be available in Mini Stop and 7 Eleven outlets starting November.