“I believe that I have stood up for the rest of the women
who have fallen whether on or off the stage.
I believe that through this example of mine,
I have shown courage and strength of being a woman, of being who I am,
and I hope to be a good example to the rest of the women in the world.”
That was Miriam Quiamb ao talking about her fall during the preliminary round of the evening gown competition of the 1999 Miss Universe contest. As she walked, the heel of one of her shoes got caught in the trail of her evening gown and she slipped on the floor. Despite this incident she collected herself, regained composure, walked graciously, finished her number and drew applause from the audience.
She may not have won the crown that day and ended as first runner-up, but her smart and calm handling of otherwise a very embarrassing situation made the country – and every woman - proud of her. Still, Miriam’s accomplishment remains the highest since Margarita Moran won the Miss Universe title in 1973.
This incident has since then inspired her to brave the odds as she moves on to fulfill many other dreams and roles.
Different hats, different persona
She acknowledges that the challenges that went with her beauty title helped her prepare for her career shifts. Being a beauty queen makes her feel good as a role model for the youth and for women. Many may not know it, but she has several advocacies for the youth and women.
An avid book reader, Miriam endorses the “Tulaan sa Tren” Program of National Book Developers Board which promotes Philippine books and literature. With World Vision, she shares the campaign against child labor and the mission to help children who are victims of natural disasters to overcome their trauma.
Meanwhile, being an actress allows her to express herself in ways she otherwise would not be able do. She finds it interesting to try out different characters that are a far cry from who she really is. Now, adding on her realtor hat, she finds herself finally addressing a personal problem about property management and investment, even as she has already built a business out of it. Starting with providing homes or realty services to her friends and clients, her industry interests has already evolved from brokerage to becoming a developer.
Her journey
Born to Magdalena Redito of Oas Albay and Medgardo Quiambao in Quezon City on May 20, 1975, she is the first of two children. She attended the School of the Holy Spirit during her elementary and high school years and went for her collegiate studies at the University of Santo Tomas where she obtained her degree in physical therapy. She is also a licensed Physical Therapist for the state of Indiana in the United States. Before her Binibining Pilipinas stint, Miriam had a thriving career as a therapist for St. Luke’s Hospital in Manila. She also worked as an instructor for a local gym.
After her triumphant stint at the pageant, Miriam began a new career working as a TV Host/ Correspondent for a major TV network until 2004 when she got married to Italian businessman Claudio Rondinelli. The couple moved to Hong Kong, China where her husband ran several restaurant businesses. While in Hong Kong, Miriam worked part-time as a yoga instructor for two and a half years.
The marriage eventually fell apart and Quiambao went back to the Philippines in 2006. She resumed her television career as a broadcast journalist with a growing number of movies and television programs too.
Industry break
Inspired by Robert Kiyosahi’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” best selling book and her desire to learn how to manage her properties and put this knowledge to good use, she found herself attending several real estate technical courses and passing the professional brokers’ examinations. Today, she is the Managing Director of 3Win Realty and Development Corporation, a property company
formed with her friends.
As Miriam puts it, she juggles her time between showbiz and the real estate industry. “Once my properties are tenanted, I already leave all the work to the admin and property managers,” she explains.
A member of Real Estate Brokers Association of the Philippines (REBAP) Greenhills chapter, she hopes that in the very near future, she will be able to develop townhouses and multi-use buildings that she can lease out.
When asked how she can contribute to the industry and how her other “hats” help her in developing an alternative career, she says: “Perhaps if I decide to go full blast in this industry, the name recall can help. In the end, names are just names. I still have to develop trust from clients in terms of service and the kind of homes our company can provide.”
Three to five years from now, she sees herself having a family: a husband, two kids and a dog.
“I feel happy when I’m hanging out with friends/family, I’m traveling or playing with kids. But you would not like me when someone intentionally cheats or puts one over another person.” – GTM
Personal trivia
Favorite food: Italian, Japanese & thai
Music: worship, ballads, pop
Sports: gym, yoga, running
Tourist Destination: boracay, bali, anywhere in Europe
Designer: Alberta Ferreti, MaxMara, SportMax Book/literary piece, etc. reading One Life to Live by kerry & Chris Schook
One-Word to Describe Herself: nice J
