During the coronation night of Mr and Miss Teen Philippines-Australia in June 2006, I mentioned that I wanted to help the needy and learn more about the Filipino culture. Now that I have been to the Philippines and back, I achieved this goal plus much, much more. In fact, the whole experience has changed my life.

From the moment we landed in Manila, we had a very hectic schedule. We met and gave thanks to the CPU Alumni and Department of Tourism for their support. We also had our 15 minutes of fame dancing the ‘boom-tarat-tarat’ on Wowowee. In Iloilo, we met and thanked more supporters, the CPU President, the Director of Department of Tourism and the Mayor of Iloilo City. We also appeared on live television as we were interviewed by the CPU Alumni, handed grant-in aid scholarship certificates to work students and performed a dance routine on short notice!

The next day Clara and I paraded on a float during the Kasadyahan Festival. Later that evening, we were guests at the CPU International Night where we performed our song and dance routines for the audience. The following day we experienced the lively colour and sounds of the Philippines’ biggest cultural event, the Dinagyang Festival. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I was completely amazed by the spectacular costumes, exciting presentations and heart-thumping drums. Again, we were interviewed on live television and later in the day, were interviewed on live radio.

After the festivities we visited the various recipients of the funds I had raised. I donated funds to A. Montes 1 Elementary School where my father and all his brothers attended many decades ago. The school was in great need of many things including new book shelves for the library as the existing ones were falling apart. We were warmly greeted by the grade 3 music band and the rest of the school assembly. We were entertained by young students performing songs and folk dances and in return I performed a hiphop dance with my sisters. The children made Clara and I feel like celebrities as they swarmed us for autographs and photos. The children’s smiles and laughter filled me with joy. It was a very moving experience.

I also donated funds to Barangay Sambag, Jaro for the provision of a new foot path to houses. Sambag is where my mum spent her childhood days. Before, the local people could only access their homes by walking along a dirt track which was dark at night and would become muddy and slippery when it rained. Now that there is a new footpath, local residents are able to safely walk to their homes, the shops and public transport. It feels great to be able to contribute to other people’s lives by easing their burden.

The trip to the Philippines was a life-changing experience. I was able to help the less fortunate and see the fruits of my donations. The experience has made me appreciate what I have and made me want to do more to help others. The challenging schedule also helped me to grow and better handle stressful situations. The whole experience has not only enabled me to help others and learn more about the Filipino culture, it also helped me to develop as an individual.

Winning the Miss Teen Philippines-Australia 2006 competition was an experience of a lifetime. Imagine, I made it to the front page of the Gold Coast Sun with featured article on page 5! I even watched myself in The Filipino Channel (TFC) Global several times.

But there is more to it than just glamour, publicity and popularity. The fulfilment in becoming Miss Teen Philippines-Australia comes from the opportunity to create huge social impact as an ambassador of goodwill. I was able to use my ‘title’ as a vehicle to draw awareness and effectively reach out to the needy. Donating my personal cash prize (as I have promised my sponsors) and working towards soliciting more money to increase the amount of donation for the children in the Philippines were more rewarding than I have expected. Every effort was worth it!

My work commenced on 18 January 2007, the following day after we arrived in the Philippines. We visited the ‘Children’s Village’ in Norzagaray, Bulacan where victims of abuse and domestic violence were sheltered and rehabilitated. Since my family had been actively involved in the Youth-for-Christ program of Couples for Christ, our activities were focused at evangelising the children so that we could impart God’s message of love and hope to them. We distributed souvenirs from Australia which included a mini-poster of my mission. Through the watchful eyes of the children, we saw how desolation could be transformed into happiness by sharing God’s love through visiting strangers - us!

A few more days, we visited the Intensive Care Unit of Philippine General Hospital Manila and I donated a humble amount to the family of a baby who I chose myself. The knowledge that my ‘gift’ would lessen the family’s financial burden brought an inner feeling of self-dignity.

When the whole delegation arrived in the Philippines on 25 January 2007, the fun began! We were accorded VIP treatment in Manila and Cavite yet five-star reception in Iloilo City. Upon our arrival at the airport, there hanged a big streamer with our names on it and we were welcomed by the Department of Tourism with native garland shells. We joined the Kasadyahan Festival parade on a float and witnessed the famous Dinagyang Festival. We had our short moments of fame through television exposures and interviews. We also had an opportunity to meet the leaders in education and politics. Evan handed over his donations for the cause that he had chosen, and we were there to witness and support him. During the International Night, I sang my winning piece ‘Isang Lahi’ with my sisters interpreting the song for international delegates… All those times, I really felt like a beauty queen!

After a very hectic schedule it was time to unwind.

Next stop - Boracay! I’ver been there before but it was always awesome to be back. There were lots of pearls and charms, foods and drinks, tourists and masseurs and shops….and shops!

A few more days and we went back to Manila. We made a courtesy call to Gawad Kalinga who received half of my personal winnings for the educational scholarship of a child. Although nothing momentous occurred, I knew that my donation was safe in good hands. In fact, I plan to participate in other Gawad Kalinga projects in future for the sake of families who have lost their human dignity from severe poverty or natural catastrophe.

I left the Philippines with an imprint of bountiful memories. I know that I will not be the same person from the past and my humble beginnings will not end with just memories. No matter how far I go, I will not forget that I owe my achievements to my parents and sisters, my grandmother, all my relatives (especially my aunt), my friends and my sponsors who believed in advocating a good cause. Most of all, I will forever be grateful to my Lord.

Philippine festivals and fiestas mirror the rich Filipino heritage, and the welcoming and religious spirit of Filipinos. All year round, there are festivals or fiestas celebrated throughout the country. You have not experienced the rich diversity of the Philippines until you have been to the festivals.

Anyone will be awed by the degree of the Filipino’s devotion to his patron saints. As the feast day of a town’s patron saint nears, folks get busy with all the activities that go with the festivals or fiestas: processions on land or water in honour of the patron saints, parades with colourful floats and brass bands or drums, street dancing with dancers clad on colourful and outlandish costumes, singing contests, games and, most importantly, an array of mouth-watering local cuisine artistically laid in every household’s dining table. In some rural areas, the tradition of opening their houses to everyone is still practiced and the fun fare lasts for two to three days, depending on the town’s tradition. Tourists often wonder how we can afford to put on such lavishness with the hospitality and warmth that we show.

The whole month of May is said to be the season of fiestas. Aside from the month-long celebration in honour of the Virgin Mary, there are fiestas almost everyday in various towns and barrios nationwide.

Most Filipinos in other parts of the world make it a point to go home this time of year in order to pay homage to their patron saints and offer thanksgiving. It is also a most-awaited occasion to reunite with family and friends.

Here are just few of the famous Philippine festivals:

• Feast of the Black Nazarene (9 January in Quiapo, Manila)
• Feasts in honor of Santo Niño or Child Jesus:
• Ati-atihan Festival (every third Sunday of January in Aklan)
• Sinulog Festival (every third Sunday of January in Cebu)
• Dinagyang (last weekend of January in Iloilo City)
• Panagbenga or Flower Festival (last week of February in Baguio City)
  • Moriones Festival (every Holy Week in Marinduque)
  • Turumba Festival (every Good Friday in Pakil, Laguna)
• Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan (whole month of May, nationwide)
• Carabao Festival (15 May in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Rizal)
• Pahiyas Festival (15 May in Lucban Quezon)
• Obando Fertility Rites (17 to 19 May in Obando, Bulacan)
• Pintados Festival (29 June in Tacloban City, Leyte)
• Kadayawan Festival (every third week of August in Davao City)
• Peñafrancia Festival (third Saturday of September in Naga City, Camarines Sur)
• Masskara Festival (around the third week of October in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

Filipinos indeed will never run out of ideas in celebrating life. Aside from the existing festivals, more and more new ones are being conceptualized and launched every year. For the Filipinos, festivals and fiestas are true symbols of togetherness, community bonding, overflowing fun, colour and excitement. These give an experience hard to put into words but can be felt by each one through the bright smiles, melodic songs, dances and delectable cuisine that go in every Philippine fiesta and festival.

The 2007 FAFQ Inc. delegation consisted of:

• Jerome Somodio, Head of the delegation
• Mr Teen Philippines Australia 2006, Evan Ybarzabal
• Miss Teen Philippines Australia 2006, Clara Conde
• Jun, Gina, Jc, Liz Conde
• Florante, Evelyn, Flora Lyn, Floravel Ybarzabal
• Mauro, Cecilia, Macela Somodio
• Theresa Pineda Stekly.

The trip was event-filled and exciting. Some of the key dates we are follows:

• January 18: Miss Teen Philippines Australia, Clara Conde handover donations to ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. for the benefit of Bantay Bata 163. Clara and Evan visited the Children’s Village in Bulacan, Metro Manila. Clara’s family provided a program for the children in the village.
• January 24: Clara and Evan visited and made donations to randomly selected PGH Pediatrics patients. All members of the delegation attended the Welcome dinner hosted by the CPUAA Metro Manila Chapter, headed by Engr Rey Cordova at the Emerald Garden Restaurant, Manila.
• January 25: Visited ABS-CBN Studio and watched Wowowee Program. The group went to Silang, Cavite, for a Dinner, hosted by Engineer Romeo Sualibios and family.
• January 26: Arrival at the Iloilo Domestic airport and welcomed by the DOT, CPU and Iloilo City Government officials. Have had courtesy call with Dr Juanito Acanto, CPU President, DOT Director Edwin Trompeta, Atty Jerry Trenas, Iloilo City Mayor. Passed by, DYRI, RMN, for the live radio interview. In the afternoon, FAFQ Inc, gave grant-in-aid scholarships to six work students namely; Loel L Mamon, Aklan, Roy Prader, Antique, Girlie Vicena, Capiz, Niel Epilepsia, Guimaras, Annabele Seguisa, Iloilo and Rey Neil Catague, Negros Occidental. Live TV interviewed followed at the CPU Educational Media Centre hosted by Prof Ric Patricio and Director Rinand Escuban. In the evening, the Department of Tourism hosted dinner to the group.
• January 27: The FAFQ Inc. joined the Kasadyahan Parade and the Mr and Miss Teen Philippines Australia, Evan and Clara rode in the float sponsored by the International Pharmaceuticals Inc. In the evening the delegates attended the International Night, held at the Sarabia Manor Hotel where Evan and Clara performed their talents.
• January 28: The FAFQ Inc. watched the performance of the world famous Dinagyang Festival at the Freedom Grandstand.
• January 29: Evan, gave his donation to A Montes Elementary School for the improvement of the school library. Proceeded to the Asilo de Molo to hand over FAFQ Inc. donations. The delegates entertained the “lolas” and the “lolos”. In the afternoon, Evan again presented his donation to Bgy Sambag for the foot path donation.
• January 30-31: The delegations proceeded to Boracay.
• February 6: Clara handed donation to Gawad Kalinga in Manila.

The delegation wishes to thank all for making the trip a wonderful experience!