2015's Best: The Miss Bulgaria of My Life

"There's always that one friend who pushes you, to stand up for that dream <3"

The meme above was Miss Universe Bulgaria, Radost Todorova persuading Pia Wurtzbach to go over as she was announced the rightful winner of Miss Universe 2015.

There are times in life that you already know what's right, but you still need somebody to push you to stand up for that dream.

I believe my life's Miss Bulgaria is my friend, Kristin Valencia, Tin and I met as she was working in FEU Institute of Technology, she has been supportive of whatever I planned to do and she does correct me whenever I made something stupid. She has been a big part of my 2015 and has pushed me to be successful and to work within my goals disregarding whatever others will say against me.

Most of the time, I knew what's right, but I needed people to push me to the right side without doubting on me and Tin, for me is one of those gems I got for the last 3 years I have been working within the academe.

Best Moments of my 2015

So much has happened in 2015 and it would probably take a while for me to note them all, I'd like to give you some of my 2015's Best Moments.

 

 Parents 28th Wedding Anniversary

My dad and mom celebrated their 28th Wedding Anniversary last 2015, truth be told, they don't have the perfect relationship but for me, they are the best, cheers to more years to come, I dedicate my successes in life to them. 

Having the opportunity to reunite with my group back in college with our second dad, Engr. Elmerito D. Pineda, this happened around February 2015 in TriNoma, call me "mababaw" but this was meaningful for me since the five of us (plus Luke who was unable to come) got through a lot together that others may seem to hard to handle. I am grateful for Karl, Aura and Luke for giving me an "extended" family and my dad, Sir Elmer for always being around to help me whenever I need to.

March 2015: I passed the MIT Comprehensive Exams after one retake. 

May 26, 2015: I successfully passed the Final Defense for Alumni Tracer System with Decision Support for Universidad De Manila (3rd Trimester, 2014-2015), again, I would like to thank my mentor, EDP and my UDM-CET family for supporting me all the way.

I did two talks this year, the photo above was for the class of Ivann back in April while I did the Freshmen Career talk last July. I really am not keen of talking at first but I was discussing a lot most of the time and got used to it. I am hopeful that they got a lot from me, sana! :) 

Turned 24: I share the same birth month with my closest friend, Simon Ogbac

My birthday this year was sandwiched over my last academic term which was my final defense, therefore, no celebrations, no hooplah, I only spent lunch with my family and this guy right on this photo named Simon M. Ogbac, who I admit became closer to me this year (in fact I've known him for 5 years prior) whom I share the same birth month, he turned __ this year. I am grateful that I got to know him better, it was one of those things I would not trade for the world.

After 2 years, I finally graduated last December 8, 2015 - Master in Information Technology from FEU Institute of Technology.

Of Pageant Blogging and Thoughts of a Straight Girl

One of my favorite queens: Eva Psychee Patalinjug, Mutya ng Pilipinas 2014

Most pageant enthusiasts had all been members of the third sex, barely you see a guy or a girl who would follow pageants, let alone blog about them like it was a staple from food, lifestyle and other events.

I believe that I'm one of those included in the "barely" prototype.

I am also the author of Beauty Queens Online, a blog I separately put up for pageants, name it, be in those which are in the Big 4 (Miss Universe (we recently won, if in case you have been living in a rock for quite some time), Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth) as well as the likes of Mister World and Mister International.

My fascination for pageants started when I was an Araneta Center Inc, seeing the likes of Shamcey Supsup, Isabella Manjon, Janine Tugonon and MJ Lastimosa (both ladies were runners up in 2011), I decided to follow their journey one by one, till I left Araneta up to now in which I graduated my graduate degree in IT, I am still following them yearly, mainly because I kept in the loop of their personal success stories and gain friends in the long run. I followed not just Bb. Pilipinas but Miss World Philippines, Miss Philippines Earth and even the likes of PEPPS' Misters 2015 just recently.

I am thankful for those who allow me to write about their pageants, I simply appreciate the idea of having this new pageants run by Filipinos like Miss Global Philippines and PEPPS family (Marianne Galang). I felt that pageants had already ventured away on just being a "total" beauty contest, it went from finding the right one for each organization's advocacy, I believe that Pia, being the new Miss Universe would be able to launch her advocacies through Miss Universe Organization. Neil Perez has also changed the game for Male Pageants, making Mister International one of those contests look forward to each year.

I simply look forward to what is to come in 2016, particularly from Bb. Pilipinas, I am hoping, I get to cover, I also look forward to PEPPS and the Misters 2016 Pageant.