In fact, in the just concluded telenovela “Te Amo,” topbilled by Iza Calsado, Jomari Yllana and  Segundo Cernadas, Wilma’s character Undang was also well-loved and much enjoyed by televiewers.  She portrayed a  provincial lass who was a frustrated model. Her comic antics  in the soap opera provided the right amount of humor to complement the show’s dramatic moments. 
“Model na model ako rito who’s very ambitious. I live in the province but I wear super short shorts, loop earrings and hanging shirts,”Wilma laughed.  “I was also the friend of Lucena who usually protected her.”

It was actually  her innate free spirited persona that paved the way for her discovery as a promising comedian. She was filming a commercial for a Korean cellular phone company in Boracay when she was spotted by no other than ABS-CBN’s Talent Center big boss Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan.

“I was being my ‘loka-loka’ self during the shoot. Our director didn’t speak English so I had my earphones on and was just dancing.  Pwede raw ako.”

“After that,  I hosted Elite Model Look at napanuod niya. Nagustuhan niya at pinatawag niya ako. So I signed up a five-year contract with ABS-CBN. Ok naman but I didn’t renew my contract anymore.”
Since she joined ABS-CBN Wilma  made a name for herself starting with her first regular sitcom “Richard Loves Lucy.” Other regular shows she appeared in were “Da Pilya en Da Pilot,” “Cyberkada” and the movies “Isprikitik”and “Luv text.”

 Wilma Doesnt attempts to change the usual perception of people when it comes to dark colored comedians. Her background as a model was instrumental in negotiating the right image for her showbiz career.

“Luckily I was never discriminated. Maybe because everyone in the business knew I was a model before I entered showbiz. At the same time I told Mr. M that I won’t wear any duster, or allow na babatukan ako on stage or babastusin, or slapstick. I was still a model. If a designer would hire me at nakikita niya akong binabatuk-batukan sa TV paano ko pa mabibigyan ng justice yung damit,” she explained.

She finds relief in having gone beyond the stigma that goes with being dark colored. Whether in Manila or in the out-of-town shows, no one has called her names like “negra.” But she knows it’s hard for her to get product endorsing jobs because of her color.

“It’s funny that we live in a tropical country yet everyone wants a whitening product. I mean what’s wrong with being maitim? That’s our natural color. I’m brown and I’m happy. One of my dreams is to be a beauty queen before but I just know  na kahit anong gawin ko hindi ako mananalo kasi iba ang mentality natin,” she lamented.

Accomplishing a lot in her five years with ABS-CBN, Wilma’s career slowed down a little bit when she got pregnant. This made her a bit controversial because  she  didn’t want to divulge the identity of her baby’s father. Getting pregnant too didn’t translate into marriage for Wilma. But what was admirable with her was her candidness about her status then. When reports came out about her pregnancy, she never denied it but she kept quiet about the father.

Her rationale was simple: “I was already 27 years old then and I just knew what steps to take.
I didn’t think what else I wanted to reach in my career when I got pregnant to deny pa. I think that was the next level for me, motherhood. Let’s face it, I already made a name in modeling, I traveled a lot for shows, I had regular shows and I had roles that also made marks and they were not just cameos. Sabi siguro when I got pregnant, tama na muna ang work and that I should straighten my life first.”

Wilma never denied having a child because she never wanted to hurt her daughter’s feelings. She has never been prouder in her life and the joy her daughter brings to her life is unexplainable. She focused more in her career since everything would be for her daughter’s future!

You can still see Wilma in different TV shows — dramas, sitcoms or even talk shows as guest. She doesn’t mind not having contracts with networks like ABS-CBN or GMA because she has more freedom in landing TV gigs when she’s a freelancer. Aside from from showbiz work, she is handling an events and PR group called Rouge Event Management Corp. with her girlfriends. They create and implement events for corporations at the same time do public relations work with a number of clients. She has also sidelined in hosting corporate affairs.

“Right now I’m stable. I’m okay.  I’m happy because I have a baby. Kung may taping ok ako, kung wala  papasok ako ng office. I’m always preoccupied with something. But of course as an actress I’m looking for new roles to do because I don’t want to be typecast. I want to try being a kontrabida. I think that will be effortless for me! Of course I also want to win an award someday. That’s every actor’s dream!”

One thing Wilma won’t do is leave showbiz. She admits that compared to her office job, being an actress is more financially rewarding. Especially that she is raising her daughter, she needs show business more!

The secret to her success is being herself always even in the midst of her showbiz career. She isn’t pretentious, and this she attributes this to her provincial roots (she hails from Cavite).

She describes Cavite as her neutralizing ground. And that has always been the reason she never left the place. It’s a place away from the glitter of showbiz life. It is where she enjoys being called Jeng Jeng by her parents who still send her on errands to the wet market which according to her she always has enjoyed.

“I try to recharge in Cavite. There I try to live my life on a day to day basis. I make sure I’m happy. I make sure na hindi ako nakakasakit ng tao and when I do I make sure I say sorry. I don’t also have any  bitterness and hang-ups sa buhay ko which is very important. I’m happy.”

 Wilma’s attitude in life is “take me as I am or leave me.” Because she has always displayed her real self in public. And what has been painted of her in the minds of her fans is simply a mirror image of her. She is very fun to be with with her candidness and very easy to get along with. Of course part of being real is her professionalism  in her showbiz career.

 So does Wilma ever get mad?

 She replied yes,  if you don’t feed her when she is very hungry!