ur search for one of 2006's breakout stars has led us to Vanna Garcia. Actress on a mission. Fab gal. Hottie by nature. Now we can chill…

This is a country where citizens do the oddest things to greet the coming year. What things, you ask? It's here where people start jumping at the strike of midnight to get taller, wear polka dots or eat 12 round fruits to gain more financial rewards, even shoot bullets through thin air to send evil spirits back to the core of the earth. Ah, the peculiar ways we Pinoys do during New Year's Day.

But here at FHM, we're setting the year off with a boom, thanks to lovely FHM debutante Vanna Garcia. Call it perfect timing on our part. This 18-year-old hottie, you see, also thinks it's just the proper time to fire things up. She has decisively dropped the cutesy skirt and blouse tandem, and traded them off for string bikinis. Who are we to stop her?

“I'm already bored with the teenybopper stuff,” Vanna explains. “Ang dami na kasing wholesome image, so I want to take my career to the next level. I want to do more daring and mature roles. No more of the boyfriend-girlfriend stuff, love teams, cheesy, and mushy things. I'm getting older and ang corny na kasi, eh.”

Thank heavens for New Year's resolutions!

From tweetums to tease—we're definitely not complaining, but why the change?

I want to prove that I can do something new. I want to be known as an actress who can handle bigatin roles.

You've been seen sporting skimpy wear in shoots. Any bad raps so far?

Wala pa naman akong naririnig. They all say na itinago ko ito for so long. I think a time really comes when a woman should sow what she has. What kind of woman doesn't want to be fantasized by men, di ba? A girl would be plastic to say that she doesn't want that.

How's your mom putting up with all this?

My mom knows naman that I can handle and take care of myself and that I know my limitations. I'm not really going into the bold thing. I just don't need that right now, but I'm not closing my doors kasi baka mamaya gawin ko nga tapos other people might think na binawi ko.

What's the hardest thing you've had to do for a role so far?

The one in Tuli was the most difficult for me. Medyo may pagka-vain kasi ako, especially when it comes to my hair. The role required that I have cropped hair. My hair was really long then and they had to cut it near my ears. I was supposed to decline the role because I'm so afraid of scissors! It took me three years to overcome the trauma of having my hair cut and to have to do it again was difficult.

For your consolation, it won the Best Picture title.

It's my first starring role and it also won the Cinemanila best director award. I'm proud of it because I sacrificed a lot and it's the first sexy role I ever had.

And you got to kiss a lady in Tuli.

Yeah, we kissed. Smack lang, actually. But it's just work. I think it's better to see two girls kiss than two guys, di ba? But let me point out that I'm just so into guys.

So do women kiss better than men?

Oh my goodness! I'm really a guy person talaga. Ha ha ha!

Say you're given the choice to pick the next lass to kiss. Mind giving us a name?

Hmm… Let me think. Sino bang puwede? Yung nagagandahan talaga akong girl? Amanda Griffin is very pretty. Also, Angel Aquino.

You think girls are part of your hidden fantasies?

I admire really pretty girls, but not to the point na I want one for a girlfriend. Hindi pa naman ako sobrang traumatized sa mga lalaki. Ha ha ha! I'm just not into girls, okay?

All right, we're dropping it. What makes a good kisser good then?

A good kisser kisses very softly. May passion and intimacy dapat. I don't want a guy kissing me hanggang sa nose ko until he ends up eating my face. Kadiri! Yung smooth and romantic ang gusto ko. Yung slobbering and slimy, that's gross.

So if you weren't in the limelight, what would you be busy with?

I want to be an interior designer. I like to see nice things and I always think of what I will put in my house and what kind of motif I'll be using.

Right now, FHM's office is a white cube with white light, and mocha-colored dividers. Nothing spectacular really. What would you do to improve on our bland taste?

I'm going to put the Kama Sutra-inspired stuff. I'm thinking of a dimmer feel and some kind of red light. Comfy couches with lamps. Basta wild. Basta mas sexy feel. Makakatrabaho pa kayo niya, promise!

So how's your heart nowadays?

My heart is doing very well, thank you.

Dating now?

Yeah, I am. It's good to have someone you really get along with. Somebody thoughtful and understanding. I'm in a very ideal place right now.

What should admirers who consider dropping by bring you?

What can they actually give? It's the thought that really counts. It's reminding me that he's actually thinking of me. Isn't it sweet if someone gives you a watch and he says, “This is something to remind you that I always have time for you.”

Major cheese!

Ha ha ha! For me, it's not material, eh. Thoughtful dapat ang guy and honest. In a relationship, it won't happen without honesty, trust, and loyalty. Once a woman finds a man who has all these qualities, she shouldn't let that guy go kasi it's so hard to find a guy who will be really honest nowadays. They just put their best foot forward tapos after a while, iba na ang ugali.

Are we sensing a rise in the bitter meter?

Men shouldn't make their women cry. Period. Women are priceless and should always be treated like princesses.

How should we approach you?

Guys are intimidated by me because I'm mataray. I don't usually talk to anyone I don't know, especially in clubs. I don't smile raw at all kaya they feel na I will reject them. Probably the best way to get to know me is to get one of my friends and let my friend introduce you to me…

And the qualifications are…

He has to be good looking, tall, and knows how to carry himself and his clothes. I'm pretty particular with clothes. I want kasi guys who are not naman the fashionista type pero mabangong tingnan. And I don't like guys who wear Technicolor stuff.

Like a green top and orange shoes?

Yikes! Yung mga dancer look-alike porma, I don't like that. And the guy has to talk really well because I want to talk to a guy who's an intellectual. I want a deep conversation. And I want somebody who cares about what I'm saying kasi there are some guys na who like to talk about themselves all the time. I want someone who listen and who really wants to get to know me.

What part of a gent's body do you find most attractive?

The eyes and the lips. Yung eyes, I want the smiling eyes. Yung lips, red tapos with a nice, welcoming smile. Basta everything is smiling.

And what makes you hot?

Oh my goodness! The scent of a guy makes me hot. I don't like the smell of cigarettes. Yung perfume, I go for Hugo Boss and Aqua de Gio. Those are my favorites and they sure catch my attention. I always sniff around kung who's wearing the perfume.

How do you spend your downtime?

I hang around with my friends, go out of town, party, we drink, talk. Just having fun. Oh, and shop. But I don't really splurge. If I have extra money lang.

On top of the shop list is?

Shoes! I love stilettos.

What's the most athletic thing you can do with a pair of heels?

I can balance. Oh my goodness, nothing! But I can run with my heels on.

So can we call you athletic?

Well, I got to the gym a lot. Like two to three times a week. I want to get the Jessica Alba abs. Ha ha ha! I want to have a good body and I want to be healthy.

You must catch a lot of guys looking your way while doing the crunches.

Wala namang nanggugulo but yes, I see guys checking me out. Ha ha! I guess so.

You just mentioned you drink. What's the worst you've ever downed?

Sinusumpa ko na talaga ang tequila. If I done nine shots, I could already see double and I could get obnoxious! If I'm with people I'm comfortable with, I can be rowdy, but my friends can handle me.

Ever had a bad experience with firecrackers?

I'm scared of them. Yung lusis na malaki, I think Roman Candle yung tawag dun. Nag-back fire sa chest ko so sinumpa ko talaga yun. It's traumatizing pero at least walang nangyari sa akin.

Finally, you're kick-starting the year for FHM, what's the feeling like?

It's really exciting because it's the start of the year so it's a new me. It's flattering, the best experience ever!

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