Anyhow, we’re about to learn more about him in this interview we had.

What made you decide to join these pageants?​

“Peer pressure. I remember that I was forced to audition for the pageant. Pumayag na ako kasi audition lang naman, and I was thinking that time na kung makapasa afterwards, I will back-out. But then I learned na walang magrerepresent for the Journalism Department during that time. Even yung sa girls, so ako lang yung sole Journ candidate noon. Nanghihinayang at nakonsensya naman ako kung magbaback-out ako dahil walang magrerepresent sa aking beloved department so itinuloy ko na rin. At yun na nga ang nangyari, by God’s grace, nakasungkit ng panalo. Yung sa mga succeeding pageants naman like Mr. PUP at Ginoong Pamantsan, automatic yun kasi syempre ako yung nanalo, so ako yung nagrepresent sa ating college at eventually, yung ating University”.
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What ran into your mind when you got these titles?​
 

“Honestly, I got this thought at the back of my mind back then naparang niri-ridicule ko ang sarili ko. Iniisip ko kasi na nirepresent ko ang dept., college at ang University sa pamamagitan ng pageants, which is something that I’ve never imagined. It’s not that I’m looking down on such contests it’s just that ang i-deal ko sana ay yung sa ibang activities kagaya ng academic or athletic. Hehehe. But then I thought that I was able to represent well the place where I came from and that I was able to make a good rapport for it. Basta ang lagi ko lang iniisip noon kapag lumalaban na ako sa mga ganitong pageants, ay yung hindi ako yung hahangaan nilang mga manunuod, bagkus ay yung dept, college at university na nirerepresent ko. Yun bang iisipin nila na ‘ah, ganito pala ang mga taga-Journ/COC o PUP’. In which, I think naman, I was able to do well. And another good thing is, eventually, nagawa ko rin naman kahit papaano magtagumpay sa ibang larangan, hindi lang sa mga pageants. So, masaya ako dun”.

What is the significance of these achievements to your life?​

“Well, I don’t give so much importance to the pageants that I’ve won. To tell you honestly, if I would be given a chance to brag those pageants that I’ve won wouldn’t be on top of the list. But I do recognize na minsan ito ang naging stepping stone upang ma-achieve ko yung ibang mga bagay na gusto kong maranasan sa panahon na aking pagiging estudyante like being a student leader. I can say that, somehow, it helped me, at least to be known. Through these pageants naman kahit papaano, I gained personality development, and because nagging stepping-stone nga siya sa aking career sa student politics, I was able to gain from student leadership a mountain of experience and more development”.

Future plans?

“I have too many goals and plans to list. Hindi naman natapos ang buhay ko sa pagtatapos ko sa kolehiyo. Isang kabanata pa lang iyang buhay-kolehiyo at sangkatutak pa ang mga pahinang bubuklatin. Marami pa akong gusting marating, and those are big dreams, I mean really big. Its big kasi hindi lang naman ako nangangarap para sa akin at sa pamilya ko kundi, kundi para din sa nakararami. Kasi if I will pray to God to mightily bless me, I would also pray to Him to use me as a great blessing for others. I have a lot of things in my mind that I want to achieve, good thing I’m optimistic and I know I can do it”.

What is your message to your fellow COCians who also want to take the same path as yours?

“Do everything with excellence, or at least strive to make it excellent. Always think that you’re not only doing it for yourself, but also for others – in that way you’ll have that sense of responsibility. And of course – PRAY. Sa salitang balbal, “may halo ding swerte”, pero sa aking palagay, “maraming bagay ang nadadaan sa dasal.” Acknowledge God in everything”.