Written by Nicole Abendan
Indeed, it is beautiful how pageants are prospects that lead people to explore their potential and their capabilities. It is like a whole different world allowing change to be normal and candidates to be pillars. Hence, it is a good postulation of how the University of Baguio adopted such a platform to encourage their students in achieving breakthroughs and viewing the world from their own favored perspective.
The Mr. & Ms. University of Baguio 2023 Pre-Pageant was held at Baguio Country Club Cordillera Convention Hall on March 22, 2023, where the candidates from different schools of UB shared their advocacies and talents. The event was hosted by their fellow UBians, Adrian Paul Andiso, Iris Shantel Gutierrez, and Rayah Jahziel Tayag. The place was filled with UBians from different schools to actively support their representatives throughout their journey.
Having the privilege to perform a private interview with each of the student candidates, the realization of the distinction between their beliefs and outlooks is apparent from their stances and determination. Safe to say, despite their differences, they became a family hand in hand acknowledging one another’s principles as in the end, they all have the same ideology, and that is to create change.
Many of them attested to being first-time pageant joiners but it did not hold them back which proves how this platform is effective in terms of providing space for students to explore their aptitudes in an aspect aside from academics. Even their advocacies seem to be either based on their personal experiences or observations of the current society. Most of these fall under the categories of sex education, gender equality, body positivity, youth volunteerism and empowerment, responsible consumption and sustainability for the environment, breaking bullying, and stopping mental health stigma. All are distinct but aim the same.
“I am a product of my own advocacy,” Joanna Cassandra B. España, the Ms. SNS once said in a private interview with us.
It is one of the strongest lines dropped by a candidate that truly left a mark. It is a handwriting on the wall highlighting that advocacies are not just the changes they aim to offer but perspectives of how they view the world.
Maybe it is quite overwhelming encountering all these propagations as it is so diverse just like how pageants are supposed to be. You will end up seeing the world in these candidates’ eyes through what they preach. Nonetheless, one thing’s for sure. They are ready for it.
So, it all comes down to the same question. What did it take? Different people with different personalities and values in life. How did they all come up with one act: to see the world?
Perhaps, their advocacies are more than just something they endorse. It is who they are in the world they live in. Thereby, as pillars of change, what it takes is their eyes to see to embrace breakthroughs in the perspectives they can call their own.
