Originally dreamt
of becoming a professional basketball player back in her younger days, never
did 23-year old Gretchen Ho imagine that she’d become one of country’s young
female volleyball superstars. Everything started out for Gretchen when she took
up Management Engineering and Communication as an athlete scholar for Ateneo de
Manila University. Because of Gretchen’s drive to prove herself to her
parents that she could juggle studies and sports, volleyball even pushed
Gretchen to be more passionate in achieving her adamant goals and dreams. When
Gretchen fell in love with the sport, the sport started loving her back with
overflowing and huge achievements that marked not just her success but also the
unexpected rebirth of Philippine Volleyball.
As one of Ateneo
Women’s Volleyball Team’s front-runners from 2008 to 2013 together with
her teammates, Gretchen bagged the following achievements just to name a few;
Champion, Shakey’s V-League (2012), 2nd place, UAAP (2011-2012),
Champion, Shakey’s V-League (Summer 2011), 4th place, UAAP (2010-2011),
Champion, Ateneo Volleyball Cup (2010-2011), 3rd place, UAAP (2009-2010),
Champion, Intercollegiate Tournament (2009-2010). She has also received
international training under RBAC University in Thailand from 2009 to 2010.
Gretchen was Ateneo’s Team Captain from 2012 to 2013 to top her volleyball
career. Having represented the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team, Gretchen and the
whole team got Filipino sports fanatics back in their volleyball game
faces.
She is the present
team captain of Petron Women’s Volleyball Team a.k.a. Petron Blaze Spikers in
the Philippine Super Liga.
MULTIMEDIA
Gretchen is not
just recognized by her popularity in her sport but also by her undeniable
chinita-beauty, charm and eloquence. All of these factors together, Gretchen
was able to capture the multi-media scene. Gretchen is now also known as
ambassador for major brands such as Milo, Smart, Under Armour, Vitress, Holcim
Brands, Power Mac Center, Kleenex, Jack n Jill Calbee, Petron Super Value Card,
Dailies Aqua Comfort Plus Contact Lens, Listerine, Personal Collection Apparel,
Mazda and counting. Her past endorsements like Jollibee, Chevrolet Sonic (TV
segment on Studio 23), Shell (Tweets), Smart/iPhone 4s (TVC),GetBlued (clothing
and merchandise), BrandX (clothing and merchandise) Amazing Playground
(jackets), Shakey’s (restaurant, v-league, summer camp) No Speed Limit (charity
race), Ateneo Placement Office (magazine, job fair) have squeezed her
potentials not just as an endorser but also as a social media arsenal, budding
host and a very active participant in all of the brands’ activities that she’s
engaged with.
Gretchen also
graced the print world via her numerous shoots for Adidas (under University
Athletics Office), Sandugo (under University Athletics Office), Giordano (Magazine
Feature), Bench Pedro Shoes (Press Release), Chalk Magazine (Feature), Asian
Dragon Magazine Feature, MEG Magazine (feature) Cosmo PH Website (March 2013 Feature),
People Asia Magazine (April 2013 Feature), Candy Magazine (May 2013 Feature),
Women’s Health (2014)
It seems like
Gretchen is well embraced by everyone, by never ending support and following
from the youth that she has charmed and influenced, she’s also getting
invitations for TV appearances and guestings that continuously inspire those
who look up to her. Her appearances on US Girls, Campus Hottie, Campus MVP,
Sports 37, Off The Court - Samsung UAAP Sports Center, Gandang Gabi Vice, Minute
to Win It, Celebrity Bluff, Kris TV, MARS, Hardball and Ryzza Mae Show gauged
her popularity and how influential she is now.
PRESENT &
FUTURE
Now that Gretchen
already graduated and finished playing for her team, she is keeping her options
open to a lot of possible opportunities. Hosting is definitely one of those.
Gretchen already had hosting gigs before that made her more interested in
trying it as her next career. University events such as Ateneo Open 2011 and
2012, Jesuit Ignatian Festival “Alamat”, Ateneo Benefit Concert, Ateneo Bonfire
2012, Career Talk on Media and the Arts, Athlete’s Night 2013 are Gretchen’s
hosting experiences that lead her to the hosting avenue.
As her first major
hosting gig, Gretchen hosted Mr. and Ms. Chinatown 2013 together with Alex
Gonzaga, Xian Lim & Enchong Dee which aired on ABS-CBN. She returned as host
of Mr. and Ms Chinatown in 2014 with Kim Chiu, Xian Lim & Enchong
Dee.
For early 2015, she
hosted “The Score,” sports news show with Tj Manotoc & Tina Marasigan,
“Team You” with Gerald Anderson & Piolo Pascual, “Gameday Weekend,” until
its 3rd season with Mia Cabalfin & Boom Gonzales, all shown on Balls
Channel & ABS-CBN Sports+Action channel. Chinoy TV also signed her as a
regular and main host of their major shows for 2015.
In October 2015 up
to present, she officially became part of the ANC News crew specifically in
“Mornings @ ANC” and her solo show “The Daily Serve” every weekday.