Kyrnyx

“No matter how many times you fail, fall, or flop, stand up because chances are given to those who strive harder in order to achieve something.”

On December 20, 2015, a controversial win of a Filipina ended the Philippines’ drought to win the title, Miss Universe. After Steve Harvey mistakenly announced the winner, which he cleared later on. Missosologists were shocked and disappointed with the outcome; 1) Colombia didn’t deserve that humiliation, 2) Philippines should have had her ‘crowning’ moment. But Harvey apologized and said he’ll take account into what happened that night. No one’s perfect because everyone commits mistakes, and we just need to deal with it, learn from it, and move-on.

It took 42 years when the coveted crown came back to one of the Asia’s powerhouse when we talk about pageants. It all started with Venus Raj’s 4th runner-up finish in 2010, succeeded by Shamcey Supsup’s 3rd RU finish (2011), Janine Tugonon’s 1st RU (2012), Ariella Arida’s 3rd RU (2013), and MJ Lastimosa’s top 10 finish. It was a tough journey for Philippines since we annually send high-caliber delegates and finally sending a 3-time joiner of the national pageant, Binibining Pilipinas, that eventually won the million-dollar crown. But do you know what these ladies have in common? They at least joined several national pageants to try their luck, hone their capabilities, and reach their dreams no matter how many times they fail.

       Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015

[From left to right] Maxine Medina 2016, Ariella Arida 2013, Shamcey Supsup 2011, Pia Wurtzbach 2015, Janine Tugonon 2012, Venus Raj 2010, and MJ Lastimosa 2014.

A back-to-back win didn’t happen as Maxine Medina only finished as one of the top 6 finalists in 2016 and succeeded by Rachel Peters’ top 10 finish in 2017. But another lady chased her dream and proved everyone that failure would never be a hindrance in pursuing what your heart truly desires.

December 18, 2016, Catriona Magnayon Gray was an early favorite to win the blue crown, giving the Philippines its 2nd crown for Miss World after Meagan Young’s win on 2013. Everyone expected Gray’s win since she was considered as the delegate who got it all. Beauty, wit, and personality, those were evident on her. But fate didn’t allow that to happen, to win the blue crown, because on December 17, 2018, the Mikimoto crown was destined for her to wear it in Bangkok, Thailand. She bested 93 diverse gorgeous ladies, and also proved that you can be a queen regardless of your height, weight, complexion, beauty, race, and even how many times you joined a pageant just to fight for your advocacy and purpose in life.

      Catriona Magnayon Gray, Miss Universe 2018

These misfortunes of the respective queens didn’t hinder their goals in life; to succeed. These are only few names to mention but there are a lot of Filipinas who are resilient and fighters in their lives, not only in beauty pageants, but also in their battle in day to day living. What does this imply? DO NOT GIVE UP. As long as you have the chance and opportunity to be better, grab it. Not all are given the chance to prove themselves for the second time around. Remember, “Failure is the only opportunity to begin more intelligently.”

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE GREAT TO START, BUT YOU HAVE TO START TO BE GREAT.” –ZIG ZIGLAR

In a world full of judgments and criticisms, one must be resilient and open enough to accept these. Words could either make or break you, but at the end of the day, you need to filter of which to wholeheartedly accept because no one will help you to really be better, it’s only yourself.

In this generation, the real pressure is on after you finish your tertiary education, or for someone who’s looking for a decent job in order for him to survive and help those who helped him along his journey. High salary, good position, positive environment and colleagues, these are the things that one is dreaming of, but not all can be given to you. Before these can be achieved, challenges will be faced, problems must be solved, and obstacles should be toiled. Not all are given the luxury of everything. We also need to work hard for something that we want, prove that we deserve better, and remain humble at all times.

“LIFE IS A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION.” –RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Do not worry about what will happen to your life. It isn’t figured out yet, so just do what will make you comfortable, happy, and satisfied. Sometimes, we overthink about things that should not bother us. One of the problems that this generation is currently facing is the fact that the people who surround you are expecting too much especially when you finish a degree. Yes, being a degree holder gives you that ‘entitlement’ and privilege of easily finding a job, but these people don’t know how hard it is to find a job that you will love, where you will feel the essence of belongingness and you will grow as a person. Before you will reach to your destination, you need to experience the ups and downs of a lifelong journey.

“CHANGE IS THE END RESULT OF ALL TRUE LEARNING.” ―LEO BUSCAGLIA

Indeed, change is the only constant thing in this world. We change because we realize how something works. We change because we learnt things that we should have done before. Change is inevitable. The transition of life from an empty bottle to a filled one is an indication that we are ready to face the world, the reality. Hardships and sacrifices do not end after we finish our education, rather, we experience a bit of more burden as we go through life. We change our circles, our environment, and even our perspectives in life.  We prioritize things that would be beneficial in our growth, for our family, and for everyone that we have in our life.

 “WATCH WHAT YOU SAY, AND WHATEVER YOU SAY, PRACTICE IT.” – SOYEN SHAKU

Before we criticize others work, personality, or what, let us reflect first on what we should do or improve about ourselves. We tend to be judgmental individuals to the point that what we say reflects on us. If we want someone to improve, let’s assess ourselves first before jumping into others’ lives and judge them as if we know them personally, like their struggles, challenges, and even their daily problems that they face. If you are in your workplace, act professionally. You are done with the gossips and hearsays in class and school. Be matured enough to act accordingly. Again, practice what you preach.

“KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE STARS AND YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND.” – THEODRE ROOSEVELT

Landing on a good job doesn’t make you better than any other person. Do not be too arrogant just because you got a job first than others. Humble yourself. You should not underestimate someone who’s just taking his time in finding his own timing. You cannot tell or say when will he be successful. You don’t even know, he might get a better job than what you have. If you can help, offer. If you cannot, just support. Help should be given for free; do not let someone feel that he has something to give in return like “utang na loob”. After all, it is someone’s initiative of what to do or give back to you for offering a help.

 LIFE is a four-letter word; complicated enough that no one will ever decipher its true meaning. Whether you were born with a golden spoon or you come from a thriving family, your life will be full of ups and downs. The goal in life is to minimize the downs and live a happy and inspiring existence.

HAIL TO THE NEW QUEEN!

“A thousand stories untold, yet one of them is to be told. It’s an exigency of a dreamer who continued believing that there is likelihood if you just clench on with the rope tighter. That there is sun after every storm, and that love comes in various form. That in the runway of life it’s hard to walk, and that chasing your dream is the most challenging catwalk.”

Indeed, life for him is a stage filled with underdogs and queens. Is he an underdog? The hailed “Queen” perhaps? Only the greatest “Judge” will know.

I want to take everyone back to the placid evening of July 13, 1997, when the silver moon is beaming gloriously and was jovial to gleam to the new born child of Mr. Gerardo E. Carpio and Mrs. Beverly P. Carpio. It was a healthy baby boy and was the sixth child in the family alongside with Mark Gerard, Mie Gerardin, Maria Gretta, Marx Gerr and Muriel Grace. The house is now a delighted home because of this exquisite and fragile gift.

As days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and months turned into years, this child is now ready to make a big step to school and was enrolled in Macanhan Elementary School to pursue his six-year primary education. After conquering all the “Chinese garter” years, he is now ready to take a full crack in the pace of his fast changing learning environment. There he is, sitting in the corner, timid and silent, but his diligence, prudence, and wise answers gave pride to Carmen National High School, where he graduated as Fifth honors in his batch.

But sometimes in a students’ journey, we cannot evade to hear comments and indescribable criticisms towards us and towards our selfless achievements, and what’s more throbbing is when these comments are coming from the mouths of our parents who were never appeased of what we have become. Pretty hurts isn’t it? But the hero of this bio-sketch never faltered, he didn’t let the words swallow him whole, he called to his pillow and cried out all the frustrations, and the next morning he fueled his engine and felt brave once again. He used his full bright smile as a façade of his sequestered soul.

Our dreamer is finally in college and on the track of shaping his career as a future teacher and educator. He is currently attending school at Liceo de Cagayan University where he found treasures that he thought would be impossible to find. The first treasure that made him aspire more is when he became one of the City College Scholarship Program grantees of the city of Cagayan de Oro. In his stay at the university, it was fate who decided when he met his best friends in the person of Nap, Cloie, Levi, Meagan, Ivy, Arianne, Faith, Kate and Charmaine, together with these people, he experienced how to be someone amidst the middling society.

In class, he was pronounced as a handsome, clean, and well-groomed man, who in spite of being a steadfast member of the LGBTQ federation, he’s still able to make girls stick around him. Obviously, he is hardworking and a good life coach, and I tell you he is fun to be with, take it from his gorgeous best friends and classmates. One of the best things that you’ll experience when you’re around this person is that he always talks about beauty pageants, may it be local, national, or international, and he knows it all. I don’t know but, the love for “Beauty Contests” is already streaming in his veins. He also enjoys watching Volleyball and Basketball during his free time and would love to indulge himself in chatting and posting things through his Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts. I remember once when he told me in one of our casual conversations that it is sometimes good to keep our pride so that people (people he hates) will also realize that they’re not as exciting as they think they are, he can be a lion when provoked too.