She's small but strong. This Formula 3 race-car goddess has truly captured our hearts. Behind her good-looks and oomph personality is a sweet and good-natured attitude worthy of more respect.

Smart but sweet. Her stint in the Pinoy Big Brother House (2007) has just showed us who Gaby dela Merced really is...

Gaby dela Merced is an Asian Formula 3 driver, a model, and a true elite of the Philippine society - a celebrity. These factors made her a sure choice to become one of Pinoy Big Brother's housemates in the PBB Celebrity Edition 2. But what made her deserving of the position is her life's drama amidst all the glamour.

Gaby came from a broken family. (She has two half-sisters.) And her family just won't let her race. As a child, Gaby dreamt of being in the Olympics. She boyishly tried almost all competitive sports including her favorites flag football and ultimate frisbee. Then, she discovered motor sports. It was her ‘calling.' Racing heroesKimi Raikonen, Fernando Alonzo, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jojo Silverio, and Kookie Ramirez encouraged her. The sports-enthusiast Gaby eventually became a family scapegoat, but she was happy.

"Racing gives me a big sense of freedom, the world is yours, (you can do everything)." ~ Gaby dela Merced (Wikipedia)

She became Ladies' Champion in the 2001 Phil. Slalom (Class Wins) Championship, a Formula BMW Asia Scholarship Driver, and a 2^nd placer in the 2006 National Asian Formula 3 among others.

Gaby dela Merced stood out and received a lot of sponsors and endorsements including Tag Hauer, Concept 1, A-Toy, Bilstein, Club Morocco, Oakley, Goodyear, Standard Insurance, and Puma.

Gabz also became a choice model for Carefree and of course the "Power, Brain, and Beauty" commercial - Creamsilk. After that was the most anticipated FHM magazine's cover girl of February 2007.

PBB Celebrity Edition 2 marked Gaby dela Merced as ‘pasaway' - defiant of Big Brother's disputed rules and orders. But that is just because it was in Gaby's nature to stand by her principles. Big Brother even loved her more for this.

When Gaby faced the tough decision of voluntarily exiting the House to be able attend a driver's development program in the United States, she stepped out gracefully with the attitude of ‘chasing her dreams.' Big Brother gave her another chance and invited her back to his House. Gaby of course granted the request but the issue also caused much controversy. But what can we do? - Big Brother loved her that much, and we too.

Gaby never failed to show how deserving she is to be inside the Big Brother House. She was a good friend to everybody, even to those not in her social level. She was advising and tolerant of their naughty notorious alcoholic housemate. She was the choice winner of the eventual PBB Big Winner Ruben Gonzaga. (Gaby finished 3^rd.) And Gaby would even jump in the pool to save a pig.

But the highlight in Gabz's stay in the Big Brother House was when she volunteered to exit the House as compromise to giving another chance for an evicted housemate wanting to re-enter the House. It then resulted to an audience voting between Gaby and the needy mom. In the end, Gaby dela Merced was preferred to stay in the House. (The Big 4, including Gaby gave some portion of their winnings to help their losing ‘mommie'.)

Gaby dela Merced followed her dreams and worked her (cute) ass off. She didn't rely on her fame, family's support nor her sponsors' gifts. Aside from driving, Gaby also worked as TV host and a stock exchange portfolio manager. She even sidelined as a coach for the Flag Football Club of the Merriam College grade school, her alma mater.

So was Gaby ever deserving of all the good things in her life? - Yes indeed.

~Ae Dechavez

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