Parol Workshop

A paról is an ornamental, star-shaped Christmas lantern from the Philippines. It is traditionally made out of bamboo and paper and comes in various sizes and shapes, but generally the basic star pattern remains dominant.

The Philippine Generation teamed up with the Museum of London Docklands this weekend to host their annual parol-making event. I found out about the event through Facebook and since I had never seen (or heard of) a parol before, I really wanted to attend and see what they were all about. There were two types of parols on offer that you could make, one with a bamboo frame or a paper one and of course, we had to try both ways!

When we arrived, we were given the bamboo frames and lots of different coloured tissue paper to choose from for the decorations. Even though the bamboo ones looked so pretty once they were done, they are actually super fiddly to make (especially when you have to cut the paper to the right size and stick them on!) So we decided to try the simpler version: the paper parol! We were also allowed to take these homes with us – mine is now beautifully set on my door. They were much easier to make but they still look really fancy and festive.

On display, they also had more professional looking ones that looked spectacular (only if I was that good!) I cannot wait to do it again next year!

Philippine Generations
Museum of London Docklands

Christa’s MPUK Experience | Part 2

The Night

This was it. All the hard work counts down to one night. The pressure was kicking in. I remember not getting enough sleep with all the anxiety I was feeling the night before. My mum and my sister kept insisting that all I needed to do was to ‘enjoy’ the moment but it was impossible! I knew I had all these expectations to live up to and I didn’t want to disappoint. I kept reminding myself: ‘Eyes on the prize, you always wanted to be a great role model? This is your chance’. Luckily my very close friend, Tosca Cabatana, was there to support me backstage. She gave me pep talks, helped me out with my hair and coordinated my outfits. She even brought a box of Lola’s cupcakes, which cheered me up instantly.

I was a complete nervous wreck at the dressing room. I was anxious that I might trip, say the wrong words or embarrass myself. But surprisingly, as soon as I got on stage, another persona takes over – a cool, calm and collected Christa. Of course my confidence also came from the loud cheering of my friends and family. Pictures of myself and banners were being waved around. Loud screams of: ‘We love you Christa!’ or ‘Namber Pibe!’ whilst I strut along the stage made me feel so reassured and blessed. Knowing that I had that much support, it was impossible not to smile naturally.

More Than a Beauty Pageant

The experience has taught me more than just holding a smile on stage, walking on heels, fixing my hair & make-up. Through the pageant, I also had the pleasure of meeting a lot of talented individuals. From the singers & dancers; the event organisers; alumni beauty queens and of course the gorgeous/handsome candidates. Furthermore, having spent countless hours of learning the dance routine; I re-discovered my passion for dancing again.

This journey has also been an eye-opening experience. For me, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a positive difference. It helped me discover so many things about myself that I didn’t even knew existed. I learned to be more disciplined and ambitious towards my goals. I realised my self-value and purpose. I learned the importance of taking risks and being able to demonstrate confidence despite of what others may say. I learned that reaching your dreams are always possible especially when you’ve got great support from your family and friends.

Christa’s MPUK Experience | Part 1

Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Christa Borja, and I have been given the privilege to be crowned as Miss Philippines UK 2015. For the last couple of months, it has been one of the most unforgettable and truly humbling experience that I will forever cherish. Who knew what I initially thought was a ‘silly’ idea turned out to be one of the greatest journey of my life.

Unexpected Entry

It was my older sister, Chriszelle who pushed me to join the competition. In fact, I actually missed the audition and few scheduled rehearsals that made me believe I’ve dodged the pressure bullet. But thanks to sister’s persistence, she was able to get in touch with Yulee Foster, last year’s Miss Philippines UK Winner, and persuade the event organisers to take me in last minute – then boom. Out of nowhere, I received a random text message from sissy confirming: ‘Yahoo! Pasok ka na! Rehearsals starts this Saturday’.

First Day

My first day is a summary of sweaty palms and pits (yes I said it), Not only I made bad impression to Yulee for being 1 hour and 30 minutes late (which btw, I had a valid reason for), but I also sucked at following all choreos for Latin, Hip-Hop and Ethnic. It was interesting to say the least. I’ve always loved dancing since I was a kid, however, the problem lies to the fact that I haven’t danced in a very long time. I haven’t moved a single (dancing) muscle since my cheering days at university. And 2 years worth of unmoved body, I felt stiff, rusty and awkward throughout the practice.

After my torturous first day, I went straight home and asked myself whether I was wasting my time. Contemplations re-occurred and I started to have second thoughts. My schedule was already swamped with 9-5 working hours on weekdays and if I was to join the competition it would mean that my weekends would be filled with rehearsals too, therefore, leaving me no time to rest. I felt stuck so I began to seek advice from other people. While many of my friends/family supported the harmless idea of joining, one opinion struck me the most: ‘Pano kung di ka naman manalo? Edi nasayang lang yung oras mo?’ The doubtful remark fuelled more fire in me. From that moment, I decided to use the negative judgment to pursue the crown and show everyone that I was worthy to be called Miss Philippines UK.

The Journey

One word: Exhausting! I believe most of the candidates (even the previous ones) can agree with me on this. Rehearsals can be draining whether it might be the length of travel that some candidates have to go through; balancing either part-time/full-time work with weekend practices or the endless hours of catwalks and dance routines. Indeed it was exhausting however, the experience was also fun. Never in my life I imagined that pageants could be this tough! And it didn’t take too long until I started to rely on energy drinks and skinny latte’s as if I was back at uni on my last year preparing for exams.

Knowing that I had quite a lot to catch up on, I started my weekend routine strictly at 6:00 am. No excuses. Tired or not, I knew I had to push myself. I practiced the choreos early before the actual rehearsal at 12:30 pm. I even practised the Hip Hop on my head whilst on the way to work and on the way back home.

For a first timer like me, I had no clue on what to wear, how to prepare for Q&As or how to walk on pageant shows. I realised that if I wanted to win this competition, it requires more than just memorising the dance steps. It also involves embodying a mind-set of what a true beauty queen should be. So I researched some of the most iconic Filipino Beauty Queens from the past. From Melanie Marquez, Gloria Diaz, Shamcey Supsup to Megan Young. Believe it or not, I sat in front of my computer for hours! I studied different commentaries about how each stood out from the competition, how they presented themselves and how they delivered their answers effectively. I also took inspiration from MPUK’s beautiful winners: Jacqueline Llaneza (2012), Kallula Dixon (2013) and of course, Yulee Foster (2014). I took notes of what they wore, how they walked, smile and pose. It was all about preparations! As soon as I finished work, I’d go straight home and practice my walk on heels, smiling and posing in front of the mirror while my cat watched me with embarrassment.

The most fun part of this journey (apart from winning the title) was shopping for my outfits and deciding my hair & make-up, after all, it is called a ‘beauty’ pageant for a reason. Luckily, I had great tips from my best friend, Crescent Samaco, who btw has the fiercest catwalk ever. She gave me advice that if you want to stand out, you’ve got to sparkle like a diamond on stage. Not only she taught me how to walk with attitude but she also gave me insights of the ‘pageant must-haves’. For instance, nails must only be red or french tips; dresses has to be sparkly –gold, silver or nude; and accessories have to be bold – the bigger it is, the better. It was like entering a new world and oddly enough, I enjoyed learning these things.

Miss & Mr Philippines UK 2015

Prior to the big night, I was able to meet all of the candidates during rehearsals. I helped out with their pageant walks and tried to calm their nerves down. Since I knew how they must be feeling during this time, I really wanted them to relax and have a great night, just like I had!

The Miss and Mr Philippines UK 2015 competition was held at the same location as last year, Camden Centre on Saturday the 12th of September. I was lucky enough to have a spot on the VIP table with my mum and dad, which meant amazing Filipino food and a front row seat. Before the competition started, I went backstage to check up on the candidates and give them my last pieces of advice. Everyone seemed quite relaxed (unlike last year!) so I had a lot of faith in them for an amazing show.

The first time you are on stage is always the most difficult. You are trying to remember all of your steps to the dance and trying to look out for your supporters at the same time, but all of the contestants kept their focus and started the night off with a bang. They also had a casual, swim and formal wear and everyone’s style and confidence was shining throughout.

Since I was the Miss Philippines UK 2014, I was able to do my last walk with the title and also give a little speech towards the end of the night (Charlene, I am sorry I missed your shoutout!) I hope that my words were felt amongst the audience and that some of them are here reading my blog.

At the end of the night, John Paulo Bendana was crowned Mr Philippines UK 2015 and I had the honour of crowning Christa Borja as Miss Philippines UK 2015. I am sure that all of the contestants had a great time on the night and it is an event that will stay with them forever. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the amazing team behind Miss and Mr Philippines UK every year. It continues to get better and better every time, I cannot wait until next year!

OOTN

12th of September
Miss Philippines UK 2015

Dress – ASOS – Not available anymore
Shoulders – Kultura – Bought in the Philippines
Makeup by Chloe

Sept. 29 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Tuesday, Sept. 29: Write your own list of 10 blog topics to inspire us next month.

1. Events
Try and go to different events in your area and write about your experiences. It could be anything from a food pop up to a pottery class.

2. Story
Tell us a story either from your own past experiences or write one just for your followers (it can be about anything!)

3. Review
With so many new things to try out these days from apps to makeup, let us know what you have been trying out and whether you love it or hate it.

4. Characters
Who is your favourite Disney (or anything else you like) character? If you were a 90’s cartoon character, who would it be?

5. Fear
What is the one thing you are really afraid to do? Why are you so afraid of it? What could you do to get over this fear?

6. Letter
Write a letter to yourself that you can read a year from now. (I did something similar during the Blog-Tember challenge and it was really fun!)

7. Advice
Give one piece of advice that you wish someone had given you five years ago.

8. Earth
Where is your favourite place on Earth? Snuggled up in your bed? Exploring ancient Egypt? Tell us why this place is so special to you.

9. Hidden Gems
Name five hidden gems in the town that you live in. Maybe it is the perfect place to take a scenic view picture or the best place to get a burger.

10. Language
Can you speak a second language? What inspired you to learn? Any advice for people wanting to learn another language?

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 25 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Friday, Sept. 25: Three songs you are connecting with right now.

Alessia Cara – Here (Vincent Remix)

I have decided to only mention one because I have never found a song I so deeply connect with. The first time I heard this song was on SoundCloud, so hence why I have the remixed version up. My favourite part of the song is right at the beginning where the lyrics go:

“Truly I ain’t got no business here
But since my friends are here, I just came to kick it
But really I would rather be at home all by myself
Not in this room with people who don’t even care about my well being…”

I have an introverted personality so whenever I go to a big party with tonnes of people that I do not know I can find it difficult to enjoy myself. I much prefer more intimate settings or as it says in the song, I would rather be at home. Since I have never heard lyrics of a song like this (talking about being by yourself at a party), I love its different angle and I am really connecting with this song right now. Please let me know if there is a whole collection of music like this that I am missing out on!

#blogtemberchallenge

Sept. 12 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Saturday, Sept. 12: What are you up to currently? I have examples here and here. (ADD THE LINKS)

Reading… ‘The Martian’ by Andy Weir, well technically listening to it on an audiobook
Playing… ‘SimCity: Build It’ on my iPad 24/7
Watching… ‘The Great British Bake Off’ every Wednesday. My week does not countdown to Friday, it counts down to Wednesday!
Trying… to learn Tagalog using Memrise
Cooking… nothing, but I really want to learn how to bake
Eating… the leftover toothpaste feeling in my mouth
Drinking… nothing at the moment
Calling… no one, it is currently 9:30AM, there is no one to talk to!
Texting… my boyfriend, who has not replied
Pinning… photos of the Philippines, already planning what I want to do the next time I am there
Tweeting… blog and instagram posts
Going… to the gym, wish me luck!
Loving… how tidy my room is now that I have cleaned it!
Hating… the colder temperature, can it be summer again?
Discovering… that I could get a job as a professional organiser
Thinking… about whether or not I should become a professional organiser
Feeling… excited for tonight, Miss and Mr Philippines UK 2015!
Hoping (for)… a good gym workout
Listening (to)… the ‘Design Details’ podcast
Celebrating… my last few hours being the current Miss Philippines UK
Smelling… the cold air coming in from my slightly opened window
Thanking… my sister for reading over all of my blog posts
Considering… becoming a professional organiser/becoming better at writing so I will not have to keep asking my sister to look over my posts
Starting… to think about how much this gym session is gonna ache tomorrow
Finishing… my twelfth blog post! WOO!

#blogtemberchallenge

University&Graduation

Yes, finally I am a graduate! I graduated with a degree in Mathematics last month and it still feels so strange knowing that my school days are over. I know that I definitely will not miss the stress of endless exams or the mad rush of getting to a 9AM lecture on time but I love getting ready to go back to school and the long summer holidays.

“There is a good reason they call these ceremonies ‘commencement exercises’. Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning.”
Orrin Hatch

Deciding to do a degree in Maths was quite a simple choice for me. It had always been a strong subject for me and there are lots of different career options from taking such a vast subject, which (for me) was definitely a bonus since I had no idea what I wanted to do in life. I found the course very challenging and there were a lot of times where I thought ‘how on earth am I going to do the exam for this!’ but somehow I always managed to pull through. My graduation was held at the Barbican Centre in London. Wearing the robe and the hat, getting my graduation pictures taken and walking up on that stage to collect the scroll, all solidified that this was the end of a much loved era in my life.

Congratulations To The Class of 2015

Get Excited!

It is only two weeks until Miss and Mr Philippines UK 2015! I still can not believe how fast this year has gone by and I will soon have to be giving my crown away. The event is being held at the Camden Centre, which is right next to Kings Cross Station on the 12th of September at 6PM. I still have so much to get ready for the night including, most importantly, my speech. If you are interested in attending you can find more details here:

Miss and Mr Philippines UK Website
Tickets

Hope to see some of you there for this great night!

Barrio Fiesta

The Barrio Fiesta is a massive Filipino event that takes place in London every mid-July. For the past couple of years they have held it at Apps Court Farm near Hampton Court and every time I have gone it has been so much fun. It is always a great day filled with fun – there are fairground rides, entertainment at the main stage with Filipino celebrities and food… looots and lots of food! It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the Filipino community (since practically every Filipino attends) and to learn more about the culture. My favourite thing to do is get a temporary Filipino tattoo, it has become our little tradition every time we go.

The first time I went, it was quite daunting. There are so many people and there are so many things to see, where do you start! So here are my top tips if you are thinking of visiting the Barrio Fiesta next year:

1. Prepare For All Weathers – British weather, unlike the Philippines, changes drastically hour by hour. So it may have been sunny when you left but pouring down when you arrive. Make sure that what ever you are wearing, it can adapt if there is a sudden change of weather. I recommend layers, an umbrella for sunshine and the rain and some comfy shoes that can handle walking and the chance of bit of mud.

2. Picnic Blanket – A massive mistake we made the first time we came was, showing up without a blanket or anything to sit on. Everyone else had tents (which I am not sure are allowed..), umbrellas and plenty of food. We had nothing! Even if you do not bring food, which is not really necessary since there are tons of food stalls, a blanket to sit on and relax is a must!

3. Make Sure Your Phone Is Charged – For selfies. Lots of selfies! And if you know any Filipinos, there is a big chance they will be there too so meet up and split a halo halo.

4. Check Out ALL The Stalls – A lot of the stalls are advertisements which can be off-putting but they are all usually giving some pens, balloons or, if you are lucky, umbrellas out! Who would say no to free stuff?! For the past two years, we also have found a free photo booth hiding at the back of stalls which are always fun.

5. Have fun! – There are so many different things you can do at barrio. Be prepared to go on some fair ground rides, eat food and enjoy the entertainment. It’s a great day out for the Filipino community and anyone who is interested, embrace it!

London Barrio Fiesta – More information and dates etc. here

Masarap Bank Holiday Brunch

Masarap is a group of friends who want to raise awareness of Filipino cuisine. Their food is modern Filipino fusion, so they take inspiration from their favourite childhood Filipino foods and then have their our own special twist on traditional recipes, and it is delicious!

At the end of May they had a pop up brunch at Old Street. The main included: Tocilog Taco – tortilla with sweet marinated pork, cabbage slaw, lettuce and topped with a fried egg; a mini Kare Kare Burger Slider – slow cooked beef brisket boiled until soft then cooked in a peanut, garlic and onion sauce with cabbage slaw, and pickled papaya; Sisig Fries – fries with pork shoulder marinated in lemon with nacho cheese, pico de gallo and gaucamole. For the desert, we had ube leche flan cake with macapuno buttercream, at first I was not too sure how the ube and the leche flan would taste together but it was really good! Two of my favourite deserts in one. My favourite food from the brunch were the fries, I thought they were a really interesting twist on a classic. Even though they do not have any upcoming events, I will definitely keep my eye out and book my seat for their next one!

Grub Club
Twitter
Facebook

Happy Birthday Charlene!

My sister’s 20th birthday was on the 1st of July (so, yes she is a Cancer and would want me to say so) and while in the Philippines we had to have a party for her! My mum organised the party on the roof of a new hotel in Hilongos where we could have food and do some karaoke. The weather for the past couple of days had been pretty wet and we were worried that the original plans would have to be changed. Even though it had been raining just as we were driving to the hotel, luckily during the evening it did not rain.

When we got to the hotel all of the food and decorations were set up and they all looked so good. There was chicken, rice, barbecue and obviously it is not a party without lechon. Charlene also had a really big cake that we got from Panis. After we had some food and took some pictures with family it was time for karaoke! Of course, I had the first song and sang ‘If I Ain’t Got You’, which was a spectacular performance if I say so myself, but this trip has made me realise that I need a solid karaoke song (suggestions are more than welcome.) It was great to spend time and celebrate Charlene’s birthday with friends and family and we thank everyone who came to the party.

Citi Hotel

Micah’s MPUK Experience

Hello there everyone!

I’m Micah Lee, Miss Philippines UK Charity Winner 2013. Let me just start of by saying that if you’re thinking of joining, DO IT! Despite your doubts, whatever it may be, the nerves, time or distance, it doesn’t matter. It’s an amazing opportunity, and you’ll come out of it 10x more confident and stronger.

I’ve been there, before the audition nobody knew I was doing it except my family, not even my friends. In fact, I still couldn’t believe I was doing it and I came up with so many reasons why not to do it “I’m not tall enough”, “I’m too young”, “I don’t know what I’m doing” etc. Nevertheless, I managed to gather up the courage after encouragement from my mum. That’s one thing I would advise, if you feel like you’re not brave enough or still have your doubts, bring someone along to support you. It’ll make you feel so much better.

Little did I know that the next two months would be some of the toughest, most exciting, best times of my life.

One crucial thing I learned was confidence; how to walk like a beauty queen, how to stand out and how to talk confidently. My weaknesses became my strengths and I was able to do things I never thought I could do. I learned that it wasn’t about the materialistic things – clothes, shoes, accessories – that mattered so much. Rather it was more about how comfortable you were with yourself and how you flaunt what you have. Because if you’re bold, maybe nervous yet still manage to beam with confidence it’ll be obvious to the judges and the audience.

Most importantly, I met some of the most wonderful people. The organisers and us candidates become one big family. My summer was surrounded by such positive, supportive people which was so refreshing. We all worked through the obstacles together, like a family. Outside rehearsals, we would all hang out and it was exciting getting to know so many people within the Filipino community across the UK. Regardless of the journey from Wales to London almost every weekend, it was worth it. I’m sure that the other candidates, whether they were from London, Manchester, Newcastle or Sunderland would definitely agree with me!

The actual night was crazy! We were all so nervous and excited. Yet all of us presented the audience with all different types of beauty and entertainment. I must say that the scariest parts were swimwear and Q&A. Regardless of my fears, I smiled and enjoyed myself throughout it. If want to have a ‘summer body’ or even better if you’re comfortable with your current body, strut your stuff! Be proud of what you have. Because believe me when I say that not only are you giving people with a show but you’re also a role model to many of those girls and boys. With Q&A, don’t think about who’s watching, perceive it as an opportunity for people to finally hear you out. Though it’s useful to perhaps get an idea of how you’d answer the questions beforehand.

I’m incredibly blessed to have met such wonderful people and receive an astounding amount of support. It was overwhelming in a sense that even after it all finished, it still felt like a dream. This experience taught me to love myself. You may be insecure about whatever flaws you have, but you become great once you learn to accept it and love it.

I highly advise that anyone join. You don’t have to look a particular way in order to be successful in a beauty pageant. Everyone gains something from it – life lessons, wisdom and life long friends. Just smile, be yourself and to be confident. You can do a lot more than you think.

Micah’s Blog

Maynila Pop Up ft. Le Happy Chef

Maynila is a fairly new organisation that host different Filipino food events, from pop up restaurants to street food. Their first pop up restaurant was on the 23rd of May at Maida Hill Place in Westbourne Park. The chef for the night was Rex De Guzman and since we had been to his own ‘Taste of the Philippines’ pop ups and loved them (you can read more about them here and here) my sister and I decided to attend this one as well.

The menu for the night consisted of the starter: Pork Sisig – fried pig head terrine with sriracha mayonnaise, quail egg and pickled ginger with radish; the main course: Chicken Adobo sa Gata – chicken adobo with chilli and coconut cream with kangkong, chayote, crispy garlic and chilli oil, served with jasmine rice; and finally for dessert: Leche Flan – set caramel custard and turon  with calamansi and lime sorbet. Even though it was not really a dish, my favourite food on the night was the little tocino and pinakbet crostini that we had as we came in. I loved the tocino flavour and I thought it was amazing that you could even taste the crackling (I think that’s what it’s called – which I love.) My sister and I had such a wonderful meal and I am excited for their next event.

Maynila

Rafaella’s MPUK Experience

It’s been almost 1 year since my mum and her friends encouraged me to join Miss Philippines UK. It was a very daunting process, as pageantry has always been a foreign concept for me and it still is! Having the right walk, the right sway and the right stature, was confusing and slightly awkward for me. So I met Yulee, maybe 4th week after the auditions. I joined late! Because nursing placement had to be done. Assignments had to be completed, and an extreme increase of self-belief had to be boosted in order for me to even join a beauty pageant!

Luckily, Yulee, the other contestants and the dancers were kind enough to teach me the steps to some of the choreography that I missed during the first few weeks. So there I was dancing to Chris Brown, doing the salsa to Enrique Eglesias and walking to Ed Sheeran. I come home and think, did I really just do that?! Well I did and I sort of performed it to quite a lot of people, actually WE, all the contestants and the dancers performed it exceptionally well in front of our family, our loved ones and to people who just wanted to watch!

Overall, it was an unforgettable, amazing, emotional- slightly cringy experience and I don’t regret it for the world. It gives you a chance to meet other young Filipinos here in the UK, full, half, quarter, three-quarter, one-fifth, two-fifth… Anyway, it was a very good experience to mingle and talk about our Filipinoness and share about what we love about our heritage! Thank you to all the organisers of Miss Philippines UK and the contestants for making it fun and enjoyable!

Rafaella Carreon
2nd Runner Up 2014

Mr&Miss Teen Philippine Islands UK

Last Saturday, I had the privilege of being a judge at the Miss and Mr Teen Philippine Islands UK. The event was being held at Baden Powell House, which is right opposite the Natural History Museum.

Mr and Miss Teen Philippine Island UK is aimed for teenagers aged 13-17, who have a Filipino heritage. This year, there were 6 girls and 3 boys competing for the title and I thought they were all so amazing and had so much more confidence than I had at their age! On the night they had: their casual wear, a talent portion, creative island wear, formal wear and a question and answer. My favourite part of the night was the creative island wear. They had all chosen a region in the Philippines and put together an outfit to best represent that area. I had no idea what to expect but their outfits were so gorgeous and creative, it blew me away!

This was my first time being a judge for anything and it was an honour to be asked, but it was a very difficult job! Mr Malcolm Conlan, Ms Joysel Dizon Livelo, Ms Audrey Horca, Ms Jenny Daquioag and I judged the girls whilst Ms Ela Hidalgo, Miss Jodie Sayson, Mr Ali-Ali Hajj and Ms Catherine Samang judged the boys. We had a range of categories from how photogenic each contestant was, their various outfits and their overall presentation to judge on. I found the job difficult because I thought that everyone did an amazing job. To put themselves on a stage and perform, in front of not only their friends and family but strangers as well, must have been very daunting. I can remember when I did my question and answer for Miss Philippines UK and how nervous I was, I can not imagine doing that 5 years earlier.

The overall winners from the night were Reniel Lewis Bantolino and Arianne Michelle Arcilla with the title of Mr and Miss Teen Philippine Island UK. I wish them all the best of luck with their year to come and a massive congratulations again to all of the contestants – you were all beautiful and every single one of you are a winner!

Mr and Miss Teen Philippine Islands UK
Facebook – Mr and Miss Teen Philippine Islands UK

Charlene’s MPUK Experience

My name is Charlene Foster, candidate of Miss Philippines UK in 2013 and sister of Miss Philippines UK 2014 (and I would like to say personal trainer! *wink*)

The Barrio festival of 2013 (when I was 18) was when I first heard about MPUK. They made the event sound AMAZING and persuaded me to join. However, the thing I was really worried about was being half Filipino…

I don’t look Filipino. I don’t talk Tagalog. And, I was not used to being around Filipino’s (it was only when I was 16 I started going to Filipino events and immersing myself in my Filipino culture.) I was really scared I wouldn’t fit in and that the other candidates wouldn’t accept me because I am not ‘Filipino’ enough (despite my blood being 50% Filipino!) Nonetheless, my mum and the organisers persuaded me to join and I also thought it was an amazing opportunity to discover more about my Filipino culture.

However, I did join quite late. I think I missed the auditions and the first two or three weeks of practice, everybody started to mingle with each other already and I was even more nervous when my mum and me were slightly late for my first ever rehearsal. But once I arrived, I LOVED it! Everybody was really friendly and nice and I definitely did not feel left out. Meeting a group of amazing people who supported each other throughout the experience, not only in the pageant but also through newfound friendships, made my pageant experience particularly memorable.

Although I should be writing “unfortunately, I did not win anything on the night,” I achieved far more than I could have imagined. In particular, I gained a MAJOR CONFIDENCE BOOST (and right before University, there was no better time!) I enjoyed it SO much that I even persuaded my older sister, Yulee, to join! I felt like as I already experienced it, I could give her thorough advice and guide her way through it. And, guess what? SHE WON!

The advice I gave to Yulee and the advice I would give to everyone is, well… I’ll let Yulee pass that advice onto you. I look forward to meeting all you lovely candidates of Miss Philippines UK 2015, despite all your worries, just go for it! I can 100% assure you that you WILL enjoy your experience.

Until then,

Charlene x

Miss NABA

Miss London NABA (National American Basketball Association) is an annual pageant put on by the Filipino-British community. It is part of the wider Miss NABA that is held in Canada and the winner from this pageant goes on to represent London there.

This year, my friend Erika (from Miss Philippines UK 2014) entered the competition so I wanted to go along and support her as much as I could. Micah, another past candidate from MPUK, was also competing so I got to cheer for two people! This was the first pageant that I had been to apart from Miss Philippines UK so it was interesting to see all the similarities and differences. As this was a Filipino event, I saw lots of familiar faces from MPUK and also from the Greenwich Filipino Community, which are always great to see!

On the night the candidates had four different categories to compete in: casual, sports and formal wear and then also a Q&A section. My favourite section was the sports wear since I was really interested to see what everyone was going to wear. I could see that a lot of hard work and effort was put into every outfit, it must have been very hard to judge! But it was Erika’s formal wear dress that stole my heart. It was just perfect. It fit her like a glove and the style was unique yet classic, she really is the queen of formal wear dresses.

By the end of the night, my voice hurt so much from cheering for two people but it was all worth it when Erika won the overall title of Miss London NABA! I know how hard she had worked for the title and I can not wait to see her competing in Canada.

Some photos from Erika and her family
Miss London NABA Beauty Pageant Page
Erika’s Miss Philippines UK Experience

Models of Diversity Fashion Show After Party

At the start of the month, I was kindly invited by Luke Deards to attend a fashion show after party at the Grosvenor Casino in Piccadilly. I have been to a couple Grosvenor Casinos now, including: Barracuda, where we did a photoshoot for the Miss Philippines UK leaflets and Golden Horseshoe, where we had our thanks giving party. So far, Piccadilly has been my favourite with their friendly employees and amazing location!

The after party was for the fashion show that had taken place at the Ideal Home Show earlier that day. The models that walked in the fashion show were all from Models of Diversity. Models of Diversity is unique as they represent all different types of models from models of colour and models with disabilities to shorter and older models. They believe that no one should feel shut out from beauty and for that, I love everything that they stand for! On the night, I had the privilege of meeting Angel Sinclair, the founder of Models of Diversity and Chelsey Jay, the director of models with a disability (who are both amazing and gorgeous women!) I also had the opportunity to meet Sandy and Sandra from Gogglebox who also walked the catwalk at the Ideal Home Show and they were both so nice and friendly.

I feel privileged that I was invited to this event, it was an enjoyable evening and not only did I meet amazing people but I was also introduced to a modelling agency that represent different and unique beauty.

Models of Diversity