2013 Miss Silliman U titleholder advocates suicide prevention

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - A mix of nervousness and joy filled 19-year-old Greenette Gael Tuazon, a Mass Communication senior, after she was proclaimed and crowned the 67th Miss Silliman University during the beauty pageant held Friday night at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex in this city.

"I was shaking the whole time, and because I was so nervous I didn't even manage to cry," she told The Freeman, adding that the proclamation took her to Cloud Nine and her prayers were heard.

Being this year's campus beauty and goodwill ambassador, Tuazon said that during her reign she will focus on suicide prevention, an advocacy she considered very much close to her heart.

"I once experienced depression and became suicidal myself before," Tuazon said. "That's why I want to help those who think life is hopeless, and I want to start (the advocacy) in the campus, with the help of the student government, the psychology department and my own College of Mass Communication," she said.

Tuazon pointed out that part of her action plan would be to build a website where depressed individuals can express themselves and in turn they will be responded with a letter or an inspirational video.

"It's pretty ironic to note that although we're considered as one of the happiest countries in the world, the Philippines is considered the country in Southeast Asia with the most cases of depression," she said, adding that 4.5 million Filipinos, according to her research, are depressed.

Prior to becoming Miss Silliman, Tuazon was also Miss Bayawan City in 2011.

Miss Silliman has been the country's most prestigious campus pageant, which started in 1946, and a staple activity in celebration of Silliman University's Founders Day. — (FREEMAN)