ancy Castiglione was just vacationing in the Philippines five years ago when she got discovered to model for a print ad. That led to TV commercials for a beer brand and then a yogurt brand, which in turn paved the way for a TV hosting job and eventually an acting career.

Half-Filipino (on her mom's side), half-Italian (on her dad's side), and totally independent and adventurous, the lovely bakasyonista from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, quickly established a name on the Philippine entertainment scene, becoming a regular in such GMA-7 shows as Hanggang Kailan; StarStruck 1; Lagot ka, Isusumbong Kita; and Encantadia.

Somewhere along the way, she fell in and out of love (first with Luis Manzano, then with Paolo Contis) and later found a new love (businessman Bullet Jalosjos).

These days. Nancy wants to concentrate on TV and event hosting, which she thinks is her forte. “Tsaka I want to take more modeling assignments,” she adds. “If not here, maybe in other Asian countries. Para kasing nabitin ako mag-model noong nag-showbiz na ako.”

If she had not been discovered by Tinseltown Philippines , Nancy might be a lawyer by now in Canada . “Or probably married,” says the pretty miss.

On the way up to her room on the second floor, Nancy tells us to “just follow the aircon”—meaning, the cool air coming from the room's air conditioner.

The room interior suggests Indian influence, with the bead curtains and sari fabrics decorating her wall. But Nancy is quick to point out: “Hindi ako nag-scotch-tape niyan diyan—sina yaya. They wanted to surprise me, so there.”

She says of the beads, “At night, pag may hangin minsan, gumaganyan ‘yan.” She proceeds to make the beads sway, adding, “It creates a sound that lulls me to sleep.”

Homebody Nancy can stay in her room for an entire nonworking day, listening to mellow music. “You play Norah Jones, grab a good book to read, get a bottle of wine. Okey na!”

Showing her comic side, Nancy kisses the photograph of her boyfriend Bullet Jalosjos, which appeared in the “Paparazzi” pages of the August 2005 issue of YES!, then laughingly pretends to chide us: “Kayo talaga. Ang dami-dami naman naming sweet moments doon, bakit ito ang pinili n'yo? I hate my back in that {insert} photo. Meron naman kaming naghahabulan on the beach.”

Her decision to quit her pre-law political-science studies in Canada in favor of a showbiz career dismayed her parents, Nancy says.

Nancy herself has not completely given up on the idea of lawyering. “Actually, gusto ko pa ding ituloy ang mag-lawyer-criminal lawyer, not corporate lawyer, ‘cause it's boring. But when I think about it, baka it's too late na.”

That's not all. She also wants to be an English teacher in a foreign country. “Like Japan or Jamaica ,” she says. “They need English teachers there. I have a friend na ganoon, and she became fluent na din in their language.”

Is it, we ask in jest, the teaching she likes of the travel?

“Both!” she laughs.

For someone who likes to travel, Nancy claims she's real homebody.

Yeah, talaga. If I go out, it's just to eat out, have dinners, with friends. Even in Canada , ganoon. I'm not much into clubbing—although I really love dancing. And I like doing stuff for the house. Like, in my former condo, I painted the whole place myself! Iba-ibang color every room. Gusto ko kasi homey.”

Nancy left the condominium unit she used to rent in Quezon City and rented this three-story, three-bedroom Pasig townhouse only last February. Now, she has discovered that she likes townhouse living better than he previous enclosed condo life.

“Kasi dito, somehow you know your neighbors,” she smiles. “Minsan I get to barrow the kids of my neighbors—kasi, I love kids. Parang family na rin.”

She doesn't know, though, whether she will go on renting or invest in a house- and-lot. “Bahala na kay Diyos. Siya na lang ang bahala.” She says. “I'm not so so sure what's happening. Showbiz is so Malabo minsan.”

What's not Malabo is her future life with boyfriend Bullet Jalosjos, the young businessman whose clan owns the world-famous Dakak Park and Beach Resort in Dapitan City , Zamboanga del Norte, and whose father is the controversial Romeo Jalosjos, former Zamboanga del Sur congressman.

Of her relationship with Bullet, Nancy says: “We get to talk about marriage, yes, but hindi pa ganoon ka-serious-talk. Kasi, like right now, he's so busy. Dine-develop kasi nila ang Dapitan right now. He just opened up a gym and an arcade na may sabungan sa gitna.”

Then, to our surprise, she declares: “Oh, I love sabong! Hindi ‘yong part na may dead rooster, ha! I just love the ingay!”

Sabungera ng Zamboanga? Hmmm, why not?

One panel of the built-in cabinet in Nancy 's room contains these belts and books. The other two panels are for bed-and-bath needs, casual shirts, and pambahay clothes. Nancy, by the way, is currently reading Joshua Harris's Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship. This is a couple's guide to a Christian relationship. “Giftsito sa akin ni Lana older sister ni Bullet,” she says. “I read the Bible a lot now, too,” she volunteers. “Kasi I've rediscovered my faith, and kami ni Bullet, we want to try to make this relationship work talaga.” - -