Patty Betita: Discovering the meaning of life anew

MANILA, Philippines - It is not hard to make supermodel Patty Betita happy. Talk about her son, 10-year-old Emilio Ejercito, and for sure, her eyes light up in excitement. “I’m pretty much cool with my son. We are the best of friends,” gushes Patty, who adds mothering is a role she gladly embraces. “Emilio has taught me the real meaning of how it is to love unconditionally.”

Patty furthers that she is happy to be surrounded by positive and productive people. “I am happiest when I am a blessing to others,” says Patty, who probably values generosity more than anything. “I like being generous with what I have and share them with people, especially our household help because they don’t have much and I am happy when I make their life comfortable.”

Patty surely knows how important it is to make the most out of life. “Live in the present and do not take anything for granted,” philosophizes Patty, who was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer two years ago. She narrates, “Suddenly, I was face-to-face with my own mortality and I knew that I wanted to live longer. So I fought hard with so much faith and I won the battle!” Now, life has a new meaning for this strong woman. “I try to lead a simple, healthy and less stressful life. I now really take good care of myself because I know my son needs me. And I want to live long enough to bond with my apo!”

Of course, Patty already experienced the good life when she was younger. With her statuesque and lithe frame plus a winning personality to back her good looks, she won Bb. Pilipinas-International title in 1991. She was also an in-demand model and was able to visit exciting places around the world. “I knew that was the beginning of many good and challenging things for me as far as my career was concerned. Being a beauty queen and a professional model paved the way for me to travel the world. I owe these all to my mentor Renee Salud. Back then, Mama Renee was the favorite designer of the Department of Tourism and we would always have cultural fashion shows abroad.” She also mentions Tina Ocampo and Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez as two women she looks up to because they are “both good friends who have inner and outer beauty.”

Patty, a product of St. Paul’s College Manila (high school) and St. Scholastica’s College, originally wanted to become an interior designer but ended up as a model after a friend introduced her to Renee Salud in 1988. She never looked back.

The beauty queen-model believes that a woman who knows how to take good care of herself draws the admiration of the people around her. She maintains her tip-top form by eating healthy, exercising, having a good facial and massage at least once a week and knowing the importance of proper hydration. In fact, aside from her cellphone, a water bottle is always a must when Patty goes out of the house.

“Makeup enhances one’s features. It should enhance and not cover a woman’s special features,” she furthers. Among her favorite Ever Bilena products are bronze blush-on, cream stick foundation, golden beige powder foundation, mousse cheek blush in cinnamon, bronze shimmer (which she uses on her cheeks, shoulders and back), earth tone lipsticks and body spray.

“A woman who is confident and in charge is worthy of emulation,” concludes model and survivor Patty Betita. Because life has a new meaning for her after battling with cancer, she is definitely more focused and in charge of her life now.

Photography by JOHN DARILAG • Hair and makeup by ANA ABAINZA for Ever Bilena • Cosmetics by EVER BILENA • Styling by ARIEL AGASANG