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

LIKHA Magazine Photoshoot

Read More: LIKHA Magazine Blog Post

LIKHA Website

A Peso X A Dream

When Typhoon Haiyan hit in late 2013, I saw a brand named ‘Flipcore’ were selling t-shirts to help the cause – I had to get one to support the relief efforts and because they were designed very nicely! It was not until competing for Miss Philippines UK that I was able to meet Jonny who runs Flipcore. Now, through crowdsourcing on Kickstarter, he is following his dreams of making Flipcore bigger and better than ever.

Could you introduce yourself, where are you from and what are you doing at the moment?

I go by the name of Jxhnny Esta, but my friends know me as Cras. I am based in London and I am an Entrepreneur, currently working on a project for my brand, Flipcore.

What is Flipcore all about? When did you start it and what makes it important to you or different from other brands?

The name Flipcore originated from the term “Filipino to the core”, which spoke for every person proud of their heritage. I started this brand in 2007, when I got inspired to create something that portrayed the culture. As an artist I knew that seeing my artwork being worn by people was a special feeling. It was not until later in 2009 I came up with the name and established the name. Flipcore has now developed into a Lifestyle brand, which represents a movement to inspire people in achieving their goals and staying true to the heart. Unlike other companies, Flipcore is not just a clothing line with a logo, but it is a part of our daily lives.

What has been your favourite/most memorable project that you have worked on at Flipcore?

Hmm, I have quite a few favourites. Back in November 2013, we launched a fundraiser for the Typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines, which really meant a lot to me. It was the only way I could think of to get funding from a crowd and donate back home. Like most people, I wasn’t in the position to donate but I did everything I could to make sure I made a difference. With the help of many supporters, we were able to raise some money by selling fundraiser shirts.

This project “A PESO X A DREAM” is the currently the biggest project I’ve done as it is real personal to me. It is the first time I am sacrificing everything I have into the brand and releasing a full complete collection (I have never put out more than one clothing design at a time). I recently visited the motherland, and during my stay, it made me learn a lot about myself and my life. Just like some people, I feel lost at times. I just can’t stick to one thing, like I am still trying to figure out what to do with my life. I’ve been through so much struggle in the past, and one day, God spoke to me. I realized I needed to make a change, because life is too short, and nobody wants to live with regret. If I didn’t have this project, this brand, I wouldn’t know what I’d be doing right now. This is my passion, this is what I love to do. I’m going for my dreams and trying to be the man God wants me to be.

What gave you the inspiration for the “A Peso X A Dream” project? And what is the meaning behind the name?

“A Peso X A Dream” basically represents anybody who ever started from the bottom. It speaks for every person who understands what it’s like to go through pain & struggle. Whether you come from a broken home, living without a job, living with addiction, money problems or even poverty. Throughout it all, you just want to change all that. I know this doesn’t relate to everybody, but it does for me. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but just know that I am not proud of my past as it left me facing lot of problems, spiritually and financially. I don’t really have much right now, but this dream. A dream that I believe will turn my life around and inspire people in the process if I really work hard for it. We all want to be happy, and we know that success brings happiness. I believe anyone can be successful, you just gotta be passionate about what you love to do.

And what makes you proud to be a Filipino?

I’m proud to be Filipino because lumpia… Hahaha! Seriously… besides the corruption and poverty, you can’t take away the fact that The Philippines is one of the happiest countries in the world. Oh, and the hospitality! I’ve learned that even with no money, Filipinos know how to be happy. We often laugh during difficult situations, bringing light into the darkness. Like even if we are struck by typhoons, we don’t stop trying and we can still put the smiles on our faces which makes us stronger through the trials and tribulations. That’s the true Filipino spirit. Dreams don’t easily come true for everyone in The Philippines, but the Filipino is one of the happiest, creative, passionate and hard working people you can ever meet. That’s what makes me proud.

His Kickstarter is live and there are some amazing rewards up for grabs. Jonny has also made a documentary that is on the Kickstarter page (we did a photoshoot together in Manila so try and spot me in the film!) I would personally recommend any of the t-shirts because they are amazing quality (the t-shirt I bought in 2013 is still in good condition after a million washes!) and their grey sweatshirt is going on my Christmas list. Any pledge would mean so much and I can not wait to see what is next for Flipcore!

Flipcore Kickstarter

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. 7 | BLOG-TEMBER CHALLENGE

Monday, Sept. 7: Tell us about your blog name. Where did it come from?

My blog URL is just my name (not much to say about that) but my blog name is Mabuhay.

Mabuhay is a Tagalog greeting. It literally is the imperative form of “live”, from the root word buhay (life). The phrase carries various meanings including “may you live”, “cheers”, “welcome”, and “hurrah”.
– Wikipedia

When I chose it, I only identified the word to mean welcome. I wanted to welcome people to my blog and welcome them into the Filipino community that I am still learning about. It is only now I understand that it has a lot of different meanings and I think that it even more so reflects what my blog is about; it is sort of a little diary about my life as I continue to learn and grow about myself and my Filipino heritage. Recently, I wanted to discard the ‘Mabuhay’ title for my name due to various reasons but now I see that it is important to stay close to my Filipino journey and to welcome others on the journey as well.

#blogtemberchallenge

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

Philippines 2015

13th June 2015 – 13th July 2015

One month in the Philippines, going around the different islands and having so much fun. My sister, Charlene, helped film and edit this video, so thank you and a massive thank you to Miss and Mr Philippines UK, without them this amazing trip would not have been possible.

“I’m really proud to be Filipino. Filipinos are really supportive, and I want to thank all of them. I love them!”
Charice Pempengco

See more of what we did in the Philippines:
13th June – 15th June : Dusit Hotel
16th June : Visit To PCF In Tondo
17th June : Manila Hotel
18th June : El Nido – Manioc Island Resort
19th June : El Nido – Island Hopping
20th June : El Nido – Lagen Island
22nd June – 24th June : Baguio
26th June – 28th June : Boracay
28th June – 30th June : Cebu
1st July : Happy Birthday Charlene!
1st July – 6th July : Home Sweet Home
7th July – 9th July : Bohol
10th July – 13th July : Manila

Bohol

After a relaxing week back at home, it was time to say goodbye and head off to our last stop, Bohol! We took a challenging two hour boat ride and then a five hour car journey to get to Bohol Beach Club Resort but it was all worth it in the end. The resort staff were so friendly, it is located right on the beach and the food at the restaurant was just amazing! Since it was already night time when we arrived, we planned to take a guided tour around Bohol the day after and it was probably one of the best days that we had in the Philippines!

T A R S I E R

Our first stop for the day was at the Tarsier Sanctuary. Once we entered, we learnt a little about the tarsiers; what they eat, how big they get and how they are nocturnal creatures. After learning that they are nocturnal creatures, I thought we would only be able to see them sleeping but we were lucky to see one briefly open its eyes! They also have a really cute gift shop there and we got some souvenirs including a magnet monkey for our little sister.

C H O C O L A T E H I L L S

Firstly, we went around on an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle, which I was very scared about!) to see the hills from the ground. Once I got over my fear of the vehicle, I had a lot of fun seeing the different hills and I would definitely do it again. Then, we went to the chocolate hills viewing point (after the 200 plus steps you have to climb to get to there, but it is worth it.) There are so many to see in all directions, they just seem to go on forever. We went during the rainy season so the hills were mostly green but I can imagine how they must look like in the summer, truly chocolatey!

Z I P L I N E

A zip line in the mountains over a river, need I say more? My mum went first and you have to lie down so it really feels like you are flying over the hills. Even though Charlene was afraid of heights, I was so happy that she decided to go on the zip line with me (even though she was silent for the whole ride – she had the biggest grin!) and I know she had a lot of fun on it. On the way back we took a slow cable car, that for me was just as scary, if not more. They also take pictures of you on the zip line and we purchased them as a little souvenir.

R I V E R C R U I S E L U N C H

Our last stop for the day was the River Cruise Lunch on the Loboc River and it was a relaxing way to end our stay in Bohol. While we ate there was some live music and traditional dances for entertainment and everyone was so talented. Once we finished eating the singer asked if anyone would like to sing and Charlene encouraged me to. Even though I did not really know the words to any song off by heart everyone enjoyed my enthusiasm and other people started to join in as well. By the end of the cruise we were all dancing and singing along to the music, it was so much fun!

Bohol Beach Club Resort

Cebu

After our stay in Boracay our next stop was Cebu. I had never been to Cebu but it is such a talked about city and so close to our hometown that I was looking forward to seeing it. Due to overrunning of flights, we did not arrive in Cebu until night time, which was a shame because it meant less time there. Even though it was night time when we got to Bluewater Resort, it was still amazing and we could not wait to explore in the morning.

I was really excited with the buffet breakfast the next day. They had a good range of food and it all tasted delicious. Since the resort offered a shuttle bus to the SM Mall, we decided to go there to get some lunch. The last time we came to the Philippines in 2011, my sister fell in love with a dish that was something similar to orange chicken that they had at Chowking, but sadly they have discontinued this dish so we went safe with rice and spring rolls. Back at the resort, we had some time to relax and take pictures (we can not go anywhere without taking pictures.) They also had a number of pools so my sister and I spent the rest of they day sitting in the pool (and taking more pictures, obviously!)

The next morning, we checked out and headed to take a boat back home to Leyte. On the boat, we made some great friends that toured us around and made the four hours fly by. Shoutout to Wilson, Jon Neo, Francis and Emerzon and the chief and second engineer. Our stay in Cebu was really too short to visit and look around this amazing and historical city, hopefully we can come back in the future to see more!

Bluewater Maribago

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

Jasmine’s MPUK Experience

Hey all! I’m Jasmine. Some of you may know me as the Miss Friendship and Miss Charity of Miss and Mr Philippines UK 2014. Before I talk about my experience, I would just like to commend, as a friend and fellow candidate, the lovely Miss Yulee Foster and how she has actively utilised her title as Miss Philippines UK thus far, and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us.

Let me start off by saying, originally the idea of entering MPUK was certainly daunting. Ironically, a few weeks prior to the audition days, I was sure about entering, but on the last week to the actual audition, I seriously thought, “Oh God, what am I doing?” I found it nerve-wracking walking up to the auditions. I had never done anything like this before and had no idea what I had in store. Then I thought to myself, this is going to be an experience if anything – and in the end I was so right. Looking back at the time I had with MPUK, in the summer of 2014, there are so many memories to recount and so many things I gained.

From start to finish, an experience like this helps you grow as an individual. I definitely feel that it strengthened me as a person, as it motivated me to be more confident and it shed light on my strengths and weaknesses. It also provided me with the opportunity to become more in touch with my Filipino roots, having been surrounded by fellow Filipino people, the culture/traditions and occasionally, yummy Filipino food.

I walked into this process an individual and walked out of it with wonderful friends. I genuinely had no idea that I was going to get along with the candidates as well as I did, let alone make real friendships. Seriously, for the most part I had so much fun with these people that you forget that you’re meant to be competing with them. Each person was unique and added something to the experience. They are truly an amazing bunch and I am lucky to be counted as one of them. Belated apologies for all of the selfies that bombarded Facebook news feeds that summer haha.

The night of the pageant was unforgettable and went by so quickly for us candidates. All our hard work was finally showcased and though there were raging nerves, we all pushed through it and I am proud of everyone who participated – as walking on stage in swimwear is not as easy as some may think (note: if you are thinking of joining, please don’t let that unnerve you, as it is so worth it in the end). Let me also point out that the people who worked behind the scenes that night, deserve their own round of applause as you wouldn’t believe how much was going on behind the curtain.

Winning the titles of Miss Friendship and Miss Charity is such an honour. These are awards based on the support of people close to me and I wear the sashes proudly for each person who bought tickets to see me on the night, or for the raffle (for the Miss Charity title) and for each person from my MPUK family who voted for me (for Miss Friendship). I cannot express how grateful I am to every person who was part of me winning both awards. For me, that reminder of unwavering support made the whole experience worth it.

If you are thinking of joining, I really encourage you to do so. There are two things I want you to remember if you do join:

1. You will not be alone through this process.
There are going to be so many people who will have your back. The organisers immediately put you at ease, from the audition and throughout the process and want you to do well. Of course, you never know who you’re going to get in terms of the group of candidates, however remember that you are all in the same boat, all going through the same process. Trust me, making friends in this will make the experience much more fun and enriching. Let’s not forget, that you will have all those people cheering for you on the night who are there for you and believe in you.

2. Be(lieve) in yourself
Be yourself! Believe in yourself! This is how you are going to get through the pageant night with no regrets. Let your clothes be something true to what you want to wear and what makes you comfortable, rather than something that you THINK will win. Believe in how you present yourself. Believe in your introduction and your answers, because if they are true to you, it will come out more naturally. Don’t quote or say something that you don’t believe in. Don’t let any part of this experience be half-hearted. No one can be you, better than you can.

I am excited to see the show this year and all the new candidates that come with it. If you are joining, I wish you the best of luck, but urge you to remember to enjoy it! Can’t wait to meet some of you in the summer!

All the best,
Jasmine xoxo