|
AREN’T THEY LOVELY?
Meet Mania's Five
Loveliest
Published in Youngstar Magazine
December 2002
Put together five girls who
possess both beauty and brains, exude confidence, hold generous hearts and ooze
with that x-factor and you have Manila’s
Five Loveliest, 2002.
Walking into the room where
the interview was going to take place just took me back to those days when my
friends and I would have our slumber parties. Girly giggles, laughter and
chatter all of female vocal timbre was all I needed to hear in order for me to
feel the positive energy that was contained in the room.
Christine Marianne “Chris” T. Yam
Her
striking chinita features and even more striking wit and intelligence is
capable of catching and holding anyone’s attention. Described by the group as
“sugar-and-spice and everything nice,” 22-year-old Christine Yam is a fresh
Liacom (a double degree consisting of political science and business management)
graduate of De La Salle University who intends to pursue law in the near future.
For now though, French classes in Alliance France, going to the gym, doing
several jobs and being one of Manila’s Five Loveliest is enough to keep
Christine busy. At least for the moment.
Seeing
this project as a way of “representing women of the youth in a certain way,” for
Christine, being part of Manila’s Five Loveliest is “…a privilege and an
opportunity to extend…or give in return…to society…what our family has given to
us.” One of the reasons Christine may feel this way is because she considers her
family as her inspiration. “They have given me so much,” she gushes. “I want
them to be, like, one day, be really proud of me and know that they brought me
up properly and all.”
Describing herself as “a balanced, well-grounded and God-fearing person,”
Christine shares that people would most likely be surprised to find out that
“I’m nice, despite my ‘mataray’ look, my snobby look” she relates. “That I’m a
funny person and (I’m) outgoing.”
However, despite her busy schedule, Christine finds time to do the things she
loves. “I enjoy going out of town, travelling, spending time with my friends and
family…reading, eating.” The last book she read, The Alchemist, by Paulo
Cuelo, really got to her. Apparently, what struck her about it was that it
talked about life. “It really made me think and contemplate about what was going
on in mine as well,” she says pensively. “You know, whether it be about love,
family, life, God and all that.”
Though
she does date, Christine is presently unattached. And it is this unattached air
that makes guys think that cheesy pick-up lines would work like a charm. For
Christine, one unforgettable pick-up line a guy used on her goes, “So Chris
YUM, when am I taking you out?” Needless to say, she didn’t go out with the
guy. So now, you guys are probably asking, ‘If lame pick up lines don’t work on
her, what could this beautiful girl possibly want in a guy?’ “The physical part,
it really varies,” says Christine, though a real eye-catcher for her would be a
guy’s smile. “Personality wise, he has to be charming, witty, of course, that
comes along with intelligence. Sense of humor’s good…God-fearing…And he must be
a gentleman.” And just the same, Christine wants to be liked for her “…brains
and personality.”
So to
a girl who seems to have it all: looks, brains and a personality to match, is
there any room for insecurities? “Yes, of course,” replied Christine. “Everyone
has their own insecurities, but it’s a matter of actually wanting what you have
and not wanting what you don’t have.” Interesting. So I guess this goes well
with the thought she lives by: “My life is God’s gift to me. How I live my life
if my gift to God.” Now if we all did that, wouldn’t this world be a happier
place to live in?
Michelle D. Robles
 Like everyone else in
the group, there is more to 18-year-old Michelle than just a pretty face. Not
only is she part of Manila’s Five Loveliest, she is also a full-time student – a
freshman – at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA & P) where she is a
member of the Student’s Executive Board. And this works perfectly with her being
a part of Manila’s Five Loveliest., because for Michelle, being part of Manila’s
Five Loveliest means inspiring other people by simply being themselves. “…By
doing good in school first, then being active in organizations…By starting
first… with yourself…then you learn how to…reach out to your community.”
But her busy schedule does
not stop her from doing the things she loves the most: shopping with her mom,
hanging out with her friends either in Starbuck’s Coffee or at a friends house
to talk and playing with her dogs. A true dog lover, Michelle considers playing
with her dogs as a way of relaxation. “I have nine dogs, she shares. One of her
pets is a pomeranian dog which her dad gave to her as a surprise one time when
he fetched her in school and it has been with her for already four years.
Keeping her family close to her heart, she shares that her mom is her
inspiration. “She’s been there for me…eversince I was young pa, she’s been
pushing me to do…the things that I want.”
A girl
who knows what she wants, among the things that Michelle has her sights set on,
at least for the future, is to have her own line of clothing. “I want to have my
own…set of apparel and clothing,” she shares. “Coz, what I want, after I
graduate in CRC, I’ll try to study in New York…I’m gonna look for a school pa,
about fashion. Kasi I’m into fashion and stuff…” However, despite her love for
seemingly glamorous things, Michelle also remains simple yet practical, as she
considers her lip balm as her most treasured item, at least for the moment, and
her white shirt as that piece of clothing she can’t live without. “Kasi
it can match anything,” she explains. “Lalo na in CRC, we can’t
wear, like sleeveless…and…well, you can mix it with anything.”
Describing herself as friendly and open-minded, with Michelle, what you see is
also what you get. “I’m myself when I’m with other people and I don’t try to be
someone else.” Standing by this statement, although she is one of the
title-holders for Manila’s Five Loveliest, Michelle shares that she could be
pretty gross at times. “…I could be really gross. I mean, I can tell you the
pinaka-gross that I did.” And more surprising than that is that this girl
loves to eat. “I eat so much!” she says in a whiny voice. Well, with her lean
figure and flawless complexion, who would ever guess that this girls loves
chocolate most of all? And not just any kind – she’s pretty specific about it.
“(I love) Kinder Bueno…you know that? The chocolate? I super love it! I’ve been
craving for it for like, sobrang tagal na! …I’m saving it. I have one nalang,
eh. So I’m going to Shopwise pa to buy.”
But
the future and food are not the only things Michelle could be specific about,
when it comes to her own set of criteria. Single and unattached, Michelle is
also specific about what she wants in a guy as she shares that she prefers
“chinito guys, big bods, and, basta, taller than me…and older than me…by two
years.” She doesn’t like guys who “look madumi” and just like other girls, wants
to be liked simply for being herself.
Pamela Kathleen “Pam” B. Ayson
Dubbed
as the mother of the group because of her “maalaga and maasikaso” attitude,
Pamela Ayson, 19 describes herself as open-minded, spontaneous and loving –
descriptions which the other four girls attest to being true. Passionate, yet
laid-back, Pam exudes confidence and an easy-going demeanor which made it easy
to talk to her.
Pam
considers her being one of Manila’s Five Loveliest as a “…privilege, kasi,
nobody gets to be part of it right away. You have to pass a lot of things,” she
relates. “Nominations…then they have to screen you before they pick you. So I
guess it means that we’re unique, we’re something else,” she says with a smile.
And something else Pam truly is. While others may appear pessimistic and
hopeless about our country’s current condition, Pam remains hopeful. “I really,
really wanna make a difference in this country,” she says with heartfelt
optimism. Her being one of Manila’s Five Loveliest has already helped her get
started, by empowering the youth. “Actually, I have plans… Elections are coming
up and I feel that there’s a need for the youth to be empowered…as early as
now,” she explains. “
A
sophomore from De La Salle University majoring in Communication Arts, Pam is an
artist at heart – an actress, a dancer and a writer. Her love for acting has led
her onstage as one of the cast members in a production of William Shakespeare’s
As You Like It by in Actors, Actors, Inc. (A.A.I.) which collaborated
with Harlequin.
Though
most of what she does entails hard work, this does not stop Pam from pursuing
goals she set for herself, one of which is to experience what it’s like to live
in New York, or in Paris. When asked what motivates her, she shared, “Knowing
that at the end of each accomplishment, I have the satisfaction of, telling
myself, ‘Wow, you achieved this.’ You have that euphoric high once you reach
that goal. And then when you’re there…once you felt that, you just want to be
there,
page 1 l
next page >>
|