Not all who go through excruciating pain in their lives emerge wiser and learned. Some succumb to defeat and the trauma just couldn’t be shaken off lending the very person paralyzed and incapacitated.

But not Isabel Oli. The young, beautiful and vibrant lady that stole our hearts with her innocence and grace on television stands proud and declares she’s up for the challenge.

The young Cebuana had about with the all-too-familiar heartbreak just about a couple of months ago and she comes out now declaring victory over herself, over life. “I am so much better now,” she tells us. “I kept to myself during those times because I was still in too much pain. I couldn’t very well face inquiring glances and make a fool of myself in front of everybody. For sure I was going to wear my heart on my sleeve. I felt I owe people that, at least. I have learned how to deal with the pain. I recognized the purpose behind it and now I am good,” she said convincingly.

Isabel broke off her engagement with Paolo Contis one month after the actor proposed to her because she said she felt that something was not right between them. “Paolo proposed to me on my birthday last October and I was so happy to accept the proposal. One month after that, I gave him back that controversial engagement ring (a three-karat diamond) and told him that he could give it back to me just as soon as his heart is settled. I didn’t know what the problem was back then. That ring never found its way back to me as you all know,” she said.

Paolo is now proudly engaged to another girl and Isabel said she is over it already. “I’ll be a total hypocrite if I say I am not affected. But I am glad to say that I am well enough to move on and recognize the good that this circumstance brought into my life. God has other plans for me. I just have to discover what those are day after day. This journey is certainly something to be grateful for,” she said.

She takes everything in stride right now, including all those negative write-ups. “They are not true so I have it in my heart to believe that time will vindicate me. The disconcerting part is only that which involves my family but I know, too, that the truth will set us free. I am embarrassed, especially to them, because I have been living independently ever since coming here in Manila to work. Nakakahiya kapag nakakasama sila sa intriga, but it’s okay. It’s all part and parcel of this business that I chose to embrace,” she said.

Isabel values the lessons she has learned from the experiences in her young life. “I have been called materialistic because Paolo showered me with so much extravagance. It was his style. That’s his way of expressing how important a girl is to him. I know I was at fault because I only discovered all of those when we were together and I actually enjoyed it.  But let it be said that I never demanded for any of those lavishness. The good thing however, to come out of it is the knowledge that I remain to be a simple girl, with or without those expensive things,” she said wisely.

Right now, Isabel is busy preparing for a new phase in her career - something that will bring her to the next level in dramatic acting, a dream she pursued even as a young girl. “It really warms my heart whenever people compliment my acting. I am serious about this craft. I love being an actress and I take every challenge seriously. I want to learn more and be considered one of the best in the future,” she said with that beautiful, expectant smile.

She has been in the business for three years straight and Isabel is forever thankful for the wonderful opportunities this business continues to present to her beginning with her landing the Max’s commercial opposite Piolo Pascual.

“My first big break was in ‘Sugo’ and it truly was a learning experience for me not only in terms of acting, but also in terms of relating to my co-workers in the show. I am very conservative and I am basically a quiet person. But ‘Sugo’ was my baptism of fire and I have learned to improve since then.”

From “Sugo,” Isabel went on to tackle meatier roles in “Atlantika” being subjected to fight sequences and fantasy blastings. Then, she played a Mommy role in “Mga Mata ni Anghelita” which she considers much of a blessing. Isabel said this was the hardest she had to deal with in terms of relating to the role, but it was also her biggest blessing. She said that it was from here where she learned how to fully immerse herself in the role and character and feel the scene. “Before, I cry in a scene only when I start thinking of my family dying. It is from this role where I learned to really be in the moment. After this everything came easy already,” she said.

Isabel had a taste of the contravida role in “I Love New York” and went on to continue with “Maging Akin Ka Lamang” where she essayed the bida-contravida role. “It was also very challenging because my role here represented everything I am not in real life. After this, action naman in ‘Gagambino.’ The fight scenes here were really hard because we study and learn the techniques every taping. It was physically draining.”

All in all, Isabel said she is thankful for all of those roles because they only managed to take her acting to a higher level. “Anything that will keep me learning the ropes, I am happy to do,” she said.

Isabel has also managed to be the credible face to take us through some of the best product endorsements available. Soon, she will be launching wave after wave of promos for several firms to strengthen her position in this business. She remains a favorite among corporate events and with a talent like hers, it is sure that the best is yet to come for the beautiful Isabel.

But above all, Isabel remains steadfast in her faith and she doesn’t regret anything because she values every lesson, most of all from the hardest of her circumstances.