The journey that fulfilled my dream

I still feel the warmth of excitement every time I look back to the journey that made me fulfill my dream as a beauty queen. It was a life-changing experience that was guided by challenging circumstances, physical transformation, right attitude and Divine will.

Right after I graduated from college, I wanted to find a job to earn and to help my family, especially my mother. I worked as an information assistant for DENR in Bicol. I eventually resigned from that post and went to Manila to apply as a flight attendant. The night before the job interview, I met with some friends who encouraged and convinced me to join Binibining Pilipinas 2010.

I lived a simple life in Bicol. I didn’t have much to buy expensive stuff for myself or to visit the salon often. I also didn’t look the way I do now. But since I would be going into a war field where beauty is the essential weapon, I underwent physical transformations with the help of the people who believed in me from the start. I had facial treatment because like most Filipinas my age, I had pimples. My skin was dark, so I needed to smoothen and even out my color. I also had to put on dental braces because some of my teeth were crooked. My hair was very curly, which became Cream Silk straight before the pageant selection.

That’s me with Diane Necio, Rachel and Patricia during a pre-pageant activity

These physical enhancements strengthened my determination and boosted my self-confidence during the screening. I felt good. That was the point when I realized that I can compete with the beauties from Metro Manila, and that I am also beautiful. I still got intimidated when I saw how fair and well-off the other applicants were; they would get out of their cars, and I would just stare at them as I thought how lucky they were already. I did not let negative thoughts pull me down. I took them as a challenge to do the best I could throughout the pageant.

The competition was stiff, but after I became close and found friendship with my co-candidates, I did not think of the competition so much anymore. At that point I began to enjoy the pre-pageant activities. And that was the most important part — when I got to know people, whom I would still be friends with even after the pageant.

As the Binibining Pilipinas 2011 comes closer and closer, more and more young Filipinas aspire to join the pageant. Whoever will get each of the most coveted crowns, are for sure women with international appeal; women who can mingle and stand out among people of different nationalities. They will not only have physical beauty and intelligence, but strong determination and the will to win against the odds.

I hope they will see my fourth runner-up finish in Miss Universe not as a pressure but as an inspiration to those who also dream of becoming a beauty queen; they should aim higher than what I have achieved so that our country will be able to take home the crown come the next international pageants.

With my closest friends Rose Ann, Gwen and Nicolette Henson

I was given the chance to see some of the beautiful ladies who wish to get one of the titles for this year. I can say that they are doing the right thing which is really preparing for the upcoming pageant. The search for the next Binibining Pilipinas is still ongoing. If you want to join and you believe that you can bring home the crown, visit www.bbpilipinas.com for more information.

 Although the competition may be stiffer, and the candidates may have different reasons for joining, I hope they will not forget to make friends and enjoy for the duration of the pageant. Even if they do not win, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience; having friends that we can carry on through the years is more valuable than any crown or bouquet of flowers that we can hold.