The Miriam Quiambao Story: A series of rise and falls

Miriam Quiambao shocked the entertainment industry when, while at the top of her game, she suddenly left her hosting and acting gigs. In her “Powerhouse” interview with Kara David, the former beauty queen finally shed light on her sudden disappearance. “During that time, I was burnt out with all the work,” she said.

Halting the momentum of her rise in showbiz, Quiambao married Italian businessman Claudio Rondinelli in 2004. “I wasn’t satisfied with showbiz. I just wanted to start my own family. But the man I was dating was in Hong Kong. The only way we could be together is if one of us moves,” she said.

In what she thought was her chance to happiness, Quiambao packed her bags and moved to Hong Kong to be with Rondinelli. Her decision, however, was proven wrong when she realized that the man she married wasn’t for her. From fairytale to heartbreak, Quiambao divorced Rondinelli in 2006 and marked a dark chapter in her life that has been, interestingly, a series of rise and falls.

The fall in 1999

Quiambao was catapulted to stardom when one of her heels got entangled in the trail of her evening gown, making her slip on one of the world’s biggest stage, the Miss Universe competition back in 1999. The beauty queen, however, picked herself up like nothing happened and continued walking.

"Noong nadapa ako sa stage, nagpapalakpakan pa rin 'yung mga tao. Naisip ko, dapat bigyan ko sila ng drama kaya bumangon ako," she recalled of the incident.

The slip proved to be a blessing in disguise for Quiambao. It wasn’t the fall that was immortalized in the memory of viewers, but her rise and the grace she carried herself with as she finished her walk.

Rise in showbiz

Quiambao went on to finish as first runner-up in Miss Universe. Despite failing to clinch the crown, it was still a win-win situation for her, as hosting and acting projects lined up when she came back in the Philippines.

She became a co-host in GMA’s morning show “Unang Hirit” and also co-hosted the reality shows “Extra Challenge” and “Extra-Extra” with Paolo Bediones. On top of her slew of hosting gigs, Quiambao also had acting stints in “Magpakailanman”.

Indeed, Quiambao had everything going for her, which made her decision to leave showbiz all the more surprising to everyone. But it was exactly the fame and fortune that prompted her to leave.

“Noong nagsimula ako sa Binibining Pilipinas, nagdadasal pa ako noon. At some point, na-distract ako sa limelight at sa fortune. Nakalimutan ko si Lord,” she said.

"I was focused in showbiz but I wasn’t happy. I wanted to start my family. Akala ko pagmamahal ang magpapasaya sa akin,” she added.

Divorce and depression

Quiambao’s marriage to Rondinelli fell apart. After two and a half years, the couple divorced in 2006.

“Unfortunately, ‘yung pinili kong lalaki ay ‘yung hindi pala dapat na makasama ko,” she said. “I guess I wasn’t very mature then and hindi rin siya ready. Nagkulang kami sa communication and emotional intimacy kaya ‘yung mga problema sa isang regular marriage, hindi namin napag-isipan at napag-usapan.”

Realizing that she sacrificed her career for a doomed marriage, Quiambao fell into depression. She admitted to host Kara David that at some point, she wanted to jump off a building.

“May boses na nagsasabi sa akin na tumalon ako pero may isang boses mula sa puso ko na nagsabi, ‘If you kill yourself, it’s not love.’ At pagmamahal ang hinahanap ko,” she said.

Quiambao went back to the Philippines in the hopes of picking up the pieces only to come home to more bad news. Her life savings, which she invested in businesses, was mishandled by people whom she thought were her friends.

“Feeling ko noon parang nasa putikan ako,” she said.

Finding the Lord

With her failed marriage and life savings scammed by people she once trusted, Miriam felt this fall was one she could not rise up from. But a conversation over coffee with a friend, Anthony Pangilinan, helped her pick herself up once again. 

“[Anthony] shared ‘yung pagmamahal ng panginoon sa pamamagitan ng isang verse sa Bible: ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life,’” she recalled.

After that encounter, Miriam started going back to the god she once abandoned because of fame and fortune. She joined the religious organization Victory and started a new career as an inspiration speaker.

When asked if she is now truly happy, she said, "Hindi lang ako happy. I feel joy – joy na nanggagaling sa kalooban at nanggagaling sa Panginoon.”

Another chance at love

On October 6, Quiambao got another chance at love when her boyfriend, businessman-author and inspirational speaker Ardy Roberto, proposed to her while they were out jogging.

She admitted that Roberto was not actually her type, even jokingly telling Kara: “Hindi talaga ako nagaguwapuhan [sa kaniya.] Pero hindi naman siya pangit. Hindi lang talaga siya ‘yung type ko.”

But she found qualities in her fiance that made her say “yes”.

“Ang importante, compatible kami sa mga bagay: spiritual, intellectual… at saka ‘yung emotional. ‘Yung gusto ko talaga ‘yung taong magmamahal sa akin nang totoo at magche-cherish sa akin,” she said.

In the end, Miriam Quiambao conquered the odds just like her iconic moment in the Miss Universe competition. This time, however, life was her stage and a series of unfortunate events was what sent her crashing. This time, too, it was not only mere gutsiness that got her through, but also finding her God that made her able to rise from her fall.

“Ang pera at kasikatan, na-realize ko hindi iyon importante. Ang importante, ang puso at pananampalataya.”

– Bernice Sibucao/CM, GMA News