To Binibini Or Not To Binibini - Part One
“Iha, pwede ka sa Binibini.”
That line was one of the first comments that I heard at my very first press conference. I was only 14 then and people still tell me that to this day. To give you a back story, I did join a pageant. I was merely a kid at 12 who didn’t know what to do! Everything from walking, to to right posture, even from getting the right smile was taught to me by a friend, Mama AR. It wasn’t easy! Doing the Miss Teen SBMA (Subic) was tough since I was in my first year of high school. I have to admit, I was the lankiest kid ever! I could not walk straight. I did not have a clue what talent I would do. I literally had no idea what I was getting into. All I knew was that I was having FUN. All of the girls became really close and it felt like I belonged to a whole new family.
Every Saturday of the month would be a preliminary pageant for us. The first one would be the Talent Portion. I hated that they had this! HAHA! At that age I was thinking, can’t I just do some really cool math problem?! Hahahaha! But of course that was out of the question. Mama AR taught me an ethnic dance. It was a really nice one. But come talent night, I failed to deliver. I thought I sucked so bad. In the end though, I thought: eff it! I’m having fun! Let’s do this!
And I went on with the competition. Studying my walk everyday, going to rehearsals after class in my school uniform while in heels, selling tickets at school, padding my bra (oh yeah, pre-teen boobies AKA waley! haha). Walking the ramp was the best part for me especially in my long gown. I was so glad the talent part was over. But what I dreaded most was the Q&A portion. And in this pageant, there was a part where EVERYONE got a Q&A. I can’t remember if it was on a separate night or on the finals. I will never forget this night because it was one of my most EMBARASSING nights EVER!!! Everyone was being asked in English so I thought, “Psh, easy peasy.”
Ang tanong: Kung ikaw ay ipagkalaloob ng Panginoong Diyos na may mabago sa iyo, ano iyon at bakit?
Uhm, SAY WHAT?!
I had been in the Philippines for 2 years at that time but I had absolutely no idea what that judge said. The only thing I understood were Ikaw and bakit. Oh no. Oh no no no. The sad part was even though he Had already translated it in English, my mind was already at a blank. People were shouting answers. Some said “more wisdom” while someone in the crowd shouted “boobs” (confidence level goes down to below zero). In the end, probably after a minute of fumbling, I gave the generic answer that I wouldn’t change anything about myself. Instead of going back to my place in stage, I went straight for the back. I was so embarassed! I felt like I made a complete fool of myself. Thoughts like letting my school down were also considered because since I went to a science high school, people would have expected more of me. As soon as I left the stage, tears just started pouring. I was crying like anything. It felt like someone had sucker punched me.
At this point on, I wasn’t expecting anything. I knew that screwing up my talent portion and Q&A would really mess up my scores. But then I made it to the top 10. I scored my Q&A this time. Then I made it to the top 5. What happens next??? ;) Find out in Part 2. Coming soon :)
