She is a radio and video jock, he is a sports jock. She is a commercial model, he made it big on the ramp. She is 100 percent Pinay, he is only 50 percent.

They may be different in so many ways, but Andi (Manzano) and Andy (Smith) are both tech-savvy and both carry their unique insights into the world of cyberspace. Andi and Andy host Qtube, a 30-minute magazine show on Q Channel 11 (airing Thursdays at 10:15 p.m.) that caters to young Pinoy techies.

“It’s nice because I’m a very techie person. If you let me choose between gadgets and jewelry, I go gadgets,” says Andi, who keeps her SLR camera and Macbook handy at all times because she always surfs the net to keep tabs with world events. “I need the internet because everyday I need to be informed about everything that’s happening. And oh, it also makes me smart,” she laughs.

Andy, on the other hand owns a DJ kit and a home theater system on top of his iPod and computer. “I mostly have sound systems. I’m pretty techie when it comes to stuff like that,” he says.

It is the first time that the two are working together but they definitely get along very well. “It’s fun working with him because he’s funny. It’s his first hosting job and it’s nice because at the same time, we kinda teach each other. Although I’m not really a fan of his Australian accent. But I’m kinda getting used to it,” says Andi of his co-host.

“The first taping day I was so nervous,” Andy recalls. “I had to memorize lines, we were outdoors and I was sweating. I couldn’t remember any of my lines. The first line was like 10 takes. I couldn’t get it because I was so nervous. I’ve never done hosting before.

The only hosting experience I had was hosting parties back in Australia. But Andi helps me a lot. I’m getting the hang of it,” adds Andy.

And since he has never really been around the country, Andy says that their recent trip to Subic with a travel blogger is his most memorable experience yet in the show, aside from the segments wherein he’s asked to speak a few lines in Tagalog.

ANDI MANZANO

Pretty and perky, Andi (or Andi 9 to her listeners in Magic 89.9) never seems to run out of energy. Aside from her TV and radio stints, she also goes to school, engages in sports like boxing and badminton, photography, manages an online jewelry business, and helps her mom with her soap business called Bath Origins.

“There are times that I don’t sleep anymore! But I like it even if it is difficult. Like today I only slept for two hours because I have to do homework. I don’t go out. I’m fine with my two best friends. Throughout the week I’m in school, do research and work,” says the 22-year old Communications Arts student from Miriam College.

Andi started out as a child star. “I did Ang TV. I was 13 and I was very, very shy. I also did two episodes for a teen-oriented series but they had to pull me out because they were cost-cutting,” she giggles.

With all that behind her now, Andi is bent on getting that college diploma. “It may be hard because of my hectic schedule but I want my diploma. I don’t wanna quit school even if it takes me years to finish it. I’d rather quit showbiz than my studies.”

Andi is putting herself through school since she started working at 15. “I’m very much kuripot. When you know you’re spending for your tuition fee or your gas, that’s why I don’t just splurge. I told my parents, I earn this amount so I guess it’s ok for me to pay for my own tuition. It’s my way of helping them because we’re five in the family,” she shares.

She says her drive and determination to excel stem from her childhood. “I was always looked down by people and I was bullied. When I started working that’s when I started feeling confident and I became outspoken. I did it somehow without anybody’s help. So no matter what people tell you, whatever people think you are, it’s just really how you see yourself.”

There may be so much going on in her life, but Andi says she finds fulfillment in them, in her achievements, no matter how big or small they are. “But showbiz is not forever. When I graduate and have my diploma, I really wanna be in production, not in front of the camera. I have to be always busy. I have my business, so at least I already created something. I just find fulfillment in everything.”

ANDY SMITH

Aside from hosting and modelling, the 24-year old former tennis pro is looking at making a comeback, this time as part of the Philippine team.

Andy Smith started as a professional tennis player in Adelaide, Australia. He took up tennis full-time when he was 14 years old, and turned professional at 16.

“When I started traveling when I was 16 I had to quit school. But I did homeschooling for a while. It’s tough to balance school and tennis. It is a 24-hour day sport. There’s so much that goes behind it that people don’t realize. You’ve got to train right, eat right, sleep right, etc.,” he says.

Andy has traveled around the world competing in juniors tournaments.

He has taken home at least 150 trophies and is ranked no. 68 in Australia before he decided to quit because of a back injury.

“I played with some of the top 60 in the world now. When I see them on TV, I don’t know if I should have quit. I don’t know if what my potential could have been if I kept going. But it’s a new journey now. I’m gonna put that behind me. Unless I get in the National Team,” he says.

After recovering from the injury, he decided to take things slow and started teaching and coaching tennis for kids.

“People knew how I played and where I was at that time so I kinda got a lot of students because of my name. And of course, being a young coach, it is appealing to young kids. So when you get someone at my age at that time, I come out with my big Sunnys, my big watch, I’m wearing like a pink shirt, all done up, I almost look like an idiot,” he laughs.

“But you’ve got to be patient. I was kinda lucky with the kids that I had because they’re well-behaved. It was hard at one time I took over like 20 kids. It’s hard to keep them in control. You just have to find a way to balance between seriousness and fun,” he continues.

Andy taught tennis for a year. Then he decided to take a break and came to the Philippines for a vacation. “When I came here I was culture shocked with everything, even with mannerisms. The way people live, attitudes are different. But when I started living here, it was a totally different world.”

He was spotted in the GMA noontime show “Eat Bulaga” while he was watching with his relatives, and was quickly signed on by a casting agency as model.

“Allan K pulled me out from the crowd and made me do the ‘TakTak Mo’ on stage and they made me sing,” he recalls.

Since then, he has been modelling, even bagging a bikini summit title. Now he has his own TV show. “It’s a surprise I got it to begin with. I guess because I was a fresh face, I’m from Australia, they gave me a chance. So far it’s keeping me busy. The thing about modelling, it’s so inconsistent, sometimes you have a job, sometimes you don’t. I host every week, so every week I got some sort of money coming in. And of course the exposure. It bounces me off to other work. I get more shows to guest on. The show has done a lot for me,” he says.

Whatever he decides to do in life, Andy says he is thankful to have very supportive and understanding parents. “My mom and my dad just let me do what I want and learn my life lessons. And I was always taught, if you want something, you’ve got to go get it, you’ve got to go do it, to be a success in anything. Anything that you have to do in life, you need to be a go-getter.”