SHEENA says she feels like a princess on the terrace of the “White House” (left) that she shares with mom Yolly, dad Roden and grandmom Regina (above). The rooftop (below) is party central for Sheena and pals.
With a view. On the rooftop of the White House-inspired family home in Pampanga, overlooking Mt. Arayat, Sheena Halili often entertains friends. The young actress made waves as Katrina Halili’s best gal pal on “Marimar.” Here she stands in front of rows of Euphorbias, her mom’s favorite.
HOME BODY Pretty in pink & ivory By Bayani San Diego Jr. Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 21:52:00 05/15/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Sheena Halili describes her dream home as “something fit for a princess.” However, her current address in San Fernando, Pampanga—the family home—was envisioned as a mini-White House by her dad Roden Halili, who built it.
A civil engineer by profession, Roden teamed up with wife Yolly Beth, who dabbles in interior design.
Mom filled the house with pieces from the famous town Betis, Pampanga, as well as crystals and décor from Europe. The tapestry in the living room, she explains, was from Italy.
Roden, who constructed TV host Boy Abunda’s rest house in Lipa, Batangas, also oversaw the landscaping.
His latest project is the music room/office that stands on an adjacent lot.
But if Sheena had her way, her dad would soon be working on her bachelorette’s pad.
“I like my father’s classic designs,” the young actress notes. “My younger brother Mark is also a civil engineer. I’ll ask them to build my dream house.”
Although she’s not finicky about her future home’s style, she has one requirement: “A big bathroom. That’s because I can spend two hours in there!”
While saving up for her dream home, she has invested her show biz earnings in a townhouse, also in Pampanga.
“I bought two units,” she relates. “I plan to tear down the wall between them, to make one big unit. My dad says I can sell that someday.”
A self-confessed homebody, this “Starstruck” alumna spends a lot of time in her bedroom whenever she’s free from work, which is all too rare these days.
Quick on the heels of the Mexican import “Marimar,” Sheena joined the cast of “My Name is Kim Sam Soon,” GMA 7’s version of a Koreanovela that’s top-billed by her idol, Regine Velasquez.
Sheena is also co-starring with Yasmien Kurdi, JC de Vera, Jean Garcia, Polo Ravales, Kris Bernal and Aljur Abrenica in the Regal drama flick “Love is All that Matters.”
When she was taping “Marimar” in nearby Zambales, Sheena used to hang out with co-star Katrina Halili in the Pampanga house while awaiting their turn in front of the camera.
“Kat and I would eat barbecue, pancit palabok and sisig on the rooftop,” she recalls.
The rooftop terrace, which offers a panoramic view of Mount Arayat, is a frequent party venue for Sheena and friends—mostly schoolmates from grade school.
“Once, my friends and I camped out up there, using bed sheets for tents,” she remembers. “I don’t like going out at night. I’d rather stay home, watch TV, listen to music, surf the Net.”
There’s a laptop in her all-pink bedroom, but she earlier decided against having a TV set there.
“I won’t be able to sleep with a TV in my room,” she confesses. “I almost gave in when I found a pink TV set, though. Pink is my favorite color.”
Since she spends a lot of time in her bedroom, she has filled it with her favorite things—including an extensive collection of Tweety Bird stuff.
“I started collecting in elementary school … pencils, T-shirts, earrings,” she recalls. “I got the Tweety lamps and cookie jars abroad.”
Her most recent acquisition for the bedroom is a rattan chair. “It was a gift for myself. I’ve always wanted an egg-shaped chair.”
Another memento she’s proud of is the furry pink mirror on the study table.
Speaking of which, she also installed a huge wall mirror in the room.
“I often rehearse in front of it,” she admits. “I practice my lines. I dance and cry in front of the mirror.”
There she would stand, “emoting like crazy,” with only her stuffed toys and ceramic Tweety Birds as audience.
Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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