Evan Ybarzabal - Mr Teen Philippines-Australia 2006
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.