MANILA, Philippines?Storage space was the biggest consideration for teen actress Kim Chiu when she transferred from her two-bedroom apartment to a two-story, three-bedroom townhouse in August last year.

The Cebu-raised teener first came to Manila in 2006 to join the reality program ?Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 1,? where she eventually emerged as the ?Big Winner.?

?My family and I had to look for a house in a hurry. We had no place to stay here in Manila. The apartment we eventually rented was so small. Nakatambak kung saan saan ang mga gamit ko,? the chinky-eyed beauty said of her former residence in Cubao.

In her new crib, Kim had one room converted into what she called her ?ukay-ukay room? and filled it with all her clothes, shoes and bags.

Kim said she was thankful to her eldest sister, Lakambini or Lakam, for filling up the rest of the house with appliances, pieces of furniture and other décor.

?I was really busy so she took it upon herself to furnish the house. It turned out great,? said the lead star of the Pinoy adaptation of the Koreanovela ?My Girl? on ABS-CBN.

Kim was especially proud of how Lakam turned an otherwise uninteresting and boring wall on the second floor into a storage space for the actress? bags and other knickknacks. Lakam did the same to the area where Kim now keeps her shoes and flip-flops on the ground floor.

?All my things are organized now. Ate Lakam even bought plastic transparent boxes for all my accessories,? Kim said. Lakam also had shelves built especially for all the stuffed toys her little sister got as presents from fans.

The actress made the biggest room on the second floor her sleeping area. It has the biggest television set and a personal refrigerator, plus an adjoining small bathroom. ?I stay here all day when I have no work. I enjoy watching TV and doing DVD marathons,? said the Filipino-Chinese actress.

In one corner of the room is a mini-altar that features Kim?s ?guardian angel,? a figurine that she got from a fan as a gift. ?Who your guardian angel is depends on what month you were born. Mine is the guardian angel of those born in April,? Kim explained.

In the dining area is an eight-seat wooden table, which Kim said she got from her landlord as a bonus. ?It?s already there when we got here. I like it because it can accommodate my entire family,? she said. Apart from Lakam, Kim has her sister Wendolyn and brothers William Jr. and John Paul as constant visitors. Her dad, William, is a permanent housemate.

Email mcruz@inquirer.com.ph