The Weight of The Crown
The winners of the Mr. & Miss BES pageant speak out about their journey to the crown and what the title means to them. The following interviews have been edited for length and translated to English.
Every five years, it is a tradition at Bulacan Ecumenical School to cultivate beauty and intelligence through the Mr. & Miss BES Pageant. This year, the school gave a chance to 36 candidates to show off their God-given potential.
Those who came out on top eagerly spoke with us to discuss their paths to the crown and what their new title means to them.
For you, what does it mean to represent the school?
Angelika San Diego, Level 2: For me, as Miss BES, it’s an enormous opportunity for me [...] and I am very honored since I’m just a junior high school student. I'm not that smart or what, but it’s a huge honor because I conquered it. Because of that, I am proud as a BESian. I proved that I have the qualities, also that the school has helped me. That’s why I won and conquered the challenges that I faced as a BESian.
James Lawrence Santos, Level 2: For me, it’s like I can show to them [people outside the school] being a BESian, being a good model to others or wherever. And to also show [the school as] being the ‘home of God-fearing achievers’.
Kent Lhean Guinto, Level 3: For me, it is my pleasure to be one of the few students to be selected as the school’s representatives. The school has taught me its values and I have the ability to portray and pass it down not only to future students but also towards others.
Kyla Dianne Ramos, Level 3: I am grateful that I won as Miss BES because we all know that our school promotes these values that the students apply in their life. Not just here in the school, but also values that they can bring with them to their future.
What lessons did you learn during the pageant?
San Diego: Always trust yourself, because during my pageant journey, I was always doubting myself because I was the only one who fought. Also financially, I’m only saving, that’s how it is. I needed to trust myself because I only have myself to rely on.
Santos: I learned companionship with the other models, and I also learned that we had proper training for the actual event. We were not confused at every ramp. And also, we discovered the attitudes of one another.
Guinto: I have learned that stepping out of my comfort zone is an important step towards achieving something. At first, I really did not want to join the school’s pageant, but as my teachers and peers pushed me to try I had the courage to try. Having people around you who supports you and trusts [sic] your abilities will give you enough confidence and courage to push through and reach new heights.
Ramos: During the pageant, I learned to just enjoy the process. Don’t think about the competition and don’t get pressured. Just be friends with the people you’re with because you won’t enjoy [the process] if you’re always thinking about the crown.
Who are you grateful to?
San Diego: I am grateful to my mom and also to my dad, because it was really my mom who answered for everything. Even though the amount she gave was small because she had her doubts, still I am grateful. Especially to God, because throughout my whole journey to Mr. & Miss BES, even though I am not that close to Him, I knew that He guided me.
Santos: Firstly, of course, we wanna give thanks to the Lord and He is always guiding us. Second to Ma’am C [Carolyn Capiral]. If it wasn’t for Ma’am C, I wouldn’t have joined; and to my classmates who insisted that I join even if I didn’t want to. To my parents and to the teachers that pushed me to enter Mr. BES.
Guinto: First of all, I’m very grateful to the Lord for giving me the opportunity to join and giving me this achievement. I’m thankful for my friends and classmates who supported me through the pageant. I’m also grateful for my parents for continuing to give me confidence and not doubting my abilities. I’m also thankful to my alma mater, Bulacan Ecumenical School, who taught me values in life that I will surely treasure as I pursue my future.
Ramos: I’m thankful for my parents because they supported me all throughout, through all the expenses, even if it was costly; and to my classmates that made the banners, etc. To my teachers that pushed me to join the pageant because I wasn’t supposed to be in it. Shout out to Ma’am Leosel [Abadies], I joined because of her. I’m glad I joined because I really wasn’t planning on entering. I’m glad I won, I didn’t really expect it.