Currently, I am a 3rd-year undergraduate student at De La Salle University Manila taking up Behavioral Sciences Major in Organizational and Social Systems Development and also pursuing a minor degree in European Studies

What Is Your Idea Of Happiness And Success?

Happiness and success are intertwined with each other. We should not measure success based on other people’s perceptions and happiness cannot be found anywhere outside oneself. It starts within you, it’s a choice. Success is yours to define based on your goals, character, and outlook on the world. If you love what you do and you enjoy the outcome of it, then you are already living a fulfilled life.

Imagine That You Have Been Selected As An Influential Person In Your Country For A Week. What Do You Plan To Do For The Country In Just A Week?

If I were to be selected as an influential person in my country for a week, I would utilize my platform to promote relevant social causes such as climate action and sustainable development. I will collaborate with NGOs, groups, and individuals to further raise public awareness of these matters through campaigns and educational programs. I believe that influence has no time frame and even if the week has passed, I will continue with this initiative because it is my dream to keep on inspiring other people to look after our environment and encourage all walks of life to care for each other. For anything is possible with commitment, consistency, and dedication to your cause.

Brief Story – What Got You Where You Are Today?

Beneath the scope of the limelight, triumphs, and smiles, is a story filled with risks, downfalls, sacrifices, and transformation. Several years ago, I was always the shy little girl you would often hear stutter in class because I was too afraid of the idea to speak in front of a crowd. My greatest fear back then was to recite and be called to report simply because of thinking that I was not good enough for the task. I may have enjoyed being into music and the creative arts, but I lacked the confidence to improve my communication skills. 

Back when I was in 7th and 8th grade, I experienced bullying and it negatively affected my confidence and how I perceived myself. It has led me to believe other people’s opinions more than to listen to my own. This chapter was challenging and I lost count of the number of times I cried in front of a mirror. It is, without a doubt, one of the most difficult chapters of my life. 

On the other side of it, I still find ways to feel better through recreational activities and media entertainment. After getting home from school, I would watch Asia’s Next Top Model and America’s Next Top Model on television. I admired the level of confidence and aura the contestants would showcase in the competition and I sometimes mimicked their poses for fun. The show revived an old interest of mine in modeling and fashion shows. Those who looked down upon me said I couldn’t do it and it’s impossible. Nonetheless, I persisted and proved to everyone and myself that it is possible. 

In December 2013, I walked my very first fashion show under FAD Events Management. A month later after the event, I did my second fashion show for a couture designer named Nikki Veneracion. This was it. I finally took the first step to getting out of my comfort zone without thinking of what other people might think. It didn’t matter anymore. From that day on, I swore to myself that I will dedicate each day to self-love, self-care, and self-growth. This marked the beginning of a new chapter that will soon be filled with breakthroughs. After a while, everything got better and I slowly regained my strength and confidence. But I know there’s still more to improve and many more aspects to discover.

In the summer of 2016, I joined my very first national pageant entitled Mister and Miss Teen Ambassadors of the Earth Philippines 2016. I was one of the youngest to join out of 45 candidates, at only  15 years old. This is a new avenue to explore but I am motivated and driven to do my best because of my passion for looking after the environment. I may have started as a shy little girl but beneath that persona was someone who dreamed of speaking up one day for the Earth and being the voice of a cause. 

Pageantry is a great platform for letting one’s voice be heard and it provides an opportunity to reach out to a wide range of people. It was a risk and it was a huge step to submit my application for Teen Earth. Still, if it is for a purpose that will someday benefit the world for the better, then it is a risk worth taking. In the end, I finished as a Top 10 Grand Finalist but I felt grateful to have had the chance to represent my hometown and advocacy in front of my countrymen. What was once my most revered fear, became my biggest goal to pursue to be a spokesperson.

For the next 3 years, I took a break from modeling and pageantry. I focused my attention on building my knowledge, experience, and awareness of the different environmental issues occurring worldwide. I joined various non-profit organizations such as the Young Earth Scientists’ Society, Greenpeace Philippines, and the Bedan Environmental Philosophers Organization. This also marked the beginning of my involvement with volunteer activities like clean-up events. This moment widened my perspective on life and how relevant it is to know who you are as a person and what you are standing for. In 2019 after my senior high graduation, I returned to the pageant scene and joined Little and Teen Glam Philippines. From then, the rest was history. 

After winning the title of Miss Teen Glam Philippines 2019, I had the opportunity to represent my country in Little and Teen Glam International 2020. I then became the 2nd title holder of Miss Teen Glam International and the first Filipina to attain the role. This was a proving milestone that taught me a very valuable lesson to never let your past and other people define your future and who you could be. It is you who gets to decide your fate. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. Always hold on to your values and morals because they will always remind you of who you are. What got me to where I am today is the consistent drive to grow as a person and to follow my dreams in life while holding on to a purpose bigger than myself.

Any Title (Pageant System / Year)

● Flame International Top Model Of The Season 2021 Winner (Adult Category)
● Miss Teen Glam International 2020
● Miss Teen Glam Philippines 2019
● Miss Teen Ambassadors Of The Earth Philippines 2016 – Top 10 Finalist

Teen Ambassadors Of The Earth Philippines
Teen Ambassadors of the Earth is a national pageant for teens based in the Philippines that started in the year 2009. It advocates for environmental awareness, protection, and conservation through the efforts and examples of the youth. I joined last 2016 to represent my hometown, Taytay, Rizal and it was my very first national pageant at the age of 15 years old. In the end, I placed as a Top 10 Finalist out of 45 candidates nationwide. Even if I lacked the needed training at that time to acquire the title, it was through that experience that I had a realization of what my calling was in life. And that is to be the voice of our environment through my words and deeds.

Glam Pageant Organization
The Glam Pageant Organization (GPO) is an international organization based in the Philippines, Germany, and Australia. Its main headquarters is located in Manila, Philippines, handled by Direk Primo Gusi, Miya Gusi, and Elle Carr. GPO is primarily centered on events management, and fashion shows, and it handles a total of 4 pageants, namely, Miss Glamour Look International, Mister Glam International, Mrs. Glamour Look of the Year International, and Little and Teen Glam International. Each pageant has its own cause to promote. Miss Glamour Look advocates for women empowerment and beauty in diversity, Mister Glam stands for eco-tourism, Mrs. Glamour Look is dedicated to women empowerment, and Little and Teen Glam (LTGI) supports youth empowerment and the promotion of culture and the arts. LTGI is the biggest festival pageant in the world for kids and teens that has 4 title categories: Mini Miss & Mini Mister Glam, Little Miss & Little Mister Glam, Miss Pre-Teen & Mister Pre-Teen Glam, and Miss Teen & Mister Teen Glam.

In May 2019, I joined the Little and Teen Glam Philippines pageant at the age of 18 years old and represented my mother’s hometown, Albay, in the Bicol Region. This time, I won the title of Miss Teen Glam Philippines 2019 and was allowed to represent my country in the 2nd edition of Little and Teen Glam International. It was an honor to do so which is why my team and I prepared for the upcoming competition to raise the flag of the Philippines. In the next months that passed after being crowned, we thoroughly planned for my entire wardrobe and all possible outcomes that may happen during the international pageant. I allocated at least 5 hours a day just to study and do research in preparation for the Question and Answer portion. Every weekend I would have my catwalk and Passarella training under the guidance of my former pageant coach, the late Sir Rocky Solero. With the support of my family, friends, and peers, we were able to stay inspired and motivated throughout the planning and execution phase. 

In January 2020, the Little and Glam International pageant was held. It was one of the best and most unforgettable milestones of my life. I had the chance to meet and build lasting relationships with my co-candidates. It was also a once-in-a-lifetime experience to meet people from all over the world and celebrate each other’s uniqueness and character. Ultimately, I’ll never forget the night I was crowned as the first Filipina Miss Teen Glam International 2020 title holder.

Right now, I hope to continue my part-time career in hosting and modeling. A lifetime goal that I will always pursue is to consistently be active with non-profit organizations, volunteering, and charity work. After I graduate from college, I plan to move out of my hometown and transfer to the outskirts of Metro Manila where I’ll be staying in a condominium to get used to the realities of life independently. Then, I intend on taking a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management in Spain. Although, I am open to other options and opportunities anywhere in Europe. 

After attending the European Higher Education Fair last year, I kept in touch with some universities in Spain, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Finland, and the Netherlands. Concerning that, I would love to learn more languages in the future after taking Spanish such as French, Italian, German, and Dutch. These languages are widely spoken in Central and Southern Europe where I intend to study for a postgraduate degree. The task can be a bit overwhelming at first but it would be nice to be able to effectively communicate with the locals and establish strong communication and friendships with them.

As for my professional goals, after acquiring my master’s degree, I hope to look for a job in the field of Human Resources or Corporate Social Responsibility. On a personal level, I would like to someday be financially independent and secure, have my place to call home abroad or local, do solo travels around the world, discover more heritage sites, and do humanitarian work on an international level.