Wishfully yours, Bernadette

14.03.03 by SSD

This fair lady of broadcasting, 27, goes beyond the bad news)

 Who needs flowing lace and fairy petticoats? Not Bernadette Sembrano, casting a spell even in the most mundane of wardrobes- jeans and white shirts.

And as long as she has a camera-cum-microphone in hand, why bother clutching a magic wand?

She spreads stardust, just the same, as host of GMA 7's "Wish Ko Lang", an emotional public service- human interest program, where she reigns as the new millennium's fairy godmother, granting wishes on a weekly basis.

SSW's Jude A. Bacalso caught up with her in the middle of a reconnaissance mission for another program she hosts for, the critically-acclaimed "The Probe Team". The mike's on her, this time around.

In Cebu, I'm doing a story on drug trafficking involving children for Probe team. We just came from Pasil where our hidden cameras caught children doing shabu. Part of my work now.

When I was younger, I dreamed of being a flight attendant. But my first taste of "broadcasting" was in elementary school at Holy Spirit in Quezon City. I had to do a voiceover to a story; we had the class of 50 students to listen to that. It was about Mr. Book.

I graduated with a degree in business administration from UP Diliman. It was a practical course, mahilig ako magbenta since I was a little girl.

I auditioned for my first TV exposure. My kuya Junjun (she is the youngest of three and the only girl) saw I wasn't happy with my work at that time. Right after graduation I worked five months in a bank. Kuya told me to audition at IBC-13; they were looking for a news reader. After five months, I accompanied my old college boyfriend to a guesting at "Mel and Jay" and I was informed by Jay Sonza that there was a vacancy, they needed a news reader for news live.

I was given the chance to produce segments for Extra Extra, then Brigada Siete. Then Karen Davila left The Probe Team, and they asked me if I wanted to join. I was also anchoring network news.

I sleep on the road. (Laughs) They call me masamasandal tulog. Our schedule can be very hectic.

The Samal adventure was the most difficult assignment I had to do, physically, that is. Lahat ng personality namin came out in that episode. Ako yung pinakaiyakin sa group.

But there is no story that I wouldn't want to do. I have many ideas that fill my small notebook.

Pinaka-proud ako sa PAGCOR story. It was on the proliferation of slot machines nationwide -near schools, LRT terminals. After it came out in Probe, it was in the headlines of national dailies; in less than two weeks, the president ordered the suspension of operations.

My biggest fulfillment, you ask? My mom (who lives in Baguio) has this collection of articles about me. Even if I don't read the newspapers or magazines, andun na lahat. But I tell her that my service on television and the difference I make on lives is more important. Sometimes the magazine profiles can be racked to vanity.

I'd really like to come out with more exclusive stories. Anomalies are the hardest to prove but when you have a good lead and when people trust you, then everything's OK, that's when you're fulfilled. Dati they didn't take me seriously kasi tawa ako ng tawa.

I don't want to be just a host. Anyone can host a show, but it takes more to be a good journalist.

My main project is to de-clutter my apartment. I have no sofa, I just have a banig. I want to get rid of excesses! At the roof of my building I built myself a small nipa hut. My dream is to have a bahay kubo, really.

I'm writing a chapter for a book on gambling and the church. The church is saying gambling is bad and immoral but accept donations from gambling institutions like PAGCOR. There is this lack of consistency somewhere.

God gives us glasses of different sizes. It's not how big or small it is, basta puno siya. I have a small glass and now it's overflowing. I am very blessed.