Ma. Teresa Chan Bilo
2010 UST Ms. Economics and 2010 Ms. Arts and letters 2nd Runner-Up
What makes a woman truly beautiful? True beauty is beauty that hasn’t been boxed in by static cultural ideals of perfection. True Beauty is living, free and pure. Everyone has the capacity to embody true beauty. It holds a high degree of power because it is authentic, pure and inseparable from the character of the woman who radiates it.
When I stepped into college, it never crossed my mind that I will be joining beauty pageants. All I wanted is to graduate as a magna cum laude. All these years, I remained focused to my goal.
But then when the opportunity to travel a new path across my journey knocked, I didn’t let it pass by without giving it a punch…and yes, I just made a knock-out punch, so to speak.
“Great power comes with great responsibility.” Representing the Quadricentennial Batch in the 2010 UST Mr. and Ms. Economics was quite a challenge to me. It gave me qualms, shivers and butterflies in the stomach. I had to make sure my academics stuff won’t be, in any way, hampered by the rehearsals and trainings since I have a grade to maintain as part of my scholarship requisite. After numerous postponements of the pageant date, September 14, 2010 was the date that made it all happen to me.
I was so jittery during that day. I have my period, stressed, and some other personal stifles on the side. But thanks to my supporters, friends, my beautiful mom, and my hair and makeup artist for keeping my spirits up. The pageant had six (6) categories: Jetsetter Theme Wear, Talent, AB Uniform, Sportswear, Mr. and Ms. Photogenic, and Formal Wear. In all these categories, I only have one thing in mind every time I come out on stage…that I have to make the crowd love me.
The journey I traveled taught me one moral that I intend to keep. That in life, you have to be cognizant to the extent when to push your limits. Weak people are eaten up alive in this world. In order to embody true beauty, a woman must be willing to be schooled in beauty… Beauty with a capital letter B - “Essential Beauty.”
To my loyal friends, my professors, my family, the Quadricentennial Batch of Economics, my mom and my bb…my heartfelt gratitude to you. I have reaped the fruits of my labor… another feather on my cap. To Almighty God Be The Glory. ♥♥
Major Awards: Best in Talent, Best in Sportswear (Fencing), Best in AB Uniform, Best in Formal Wear, Ms. Photogenic and Ms. Joel Cruz Signatures.
footages of Tessa's winning form in the 2010 UST AES General Assembly and Pageant Night
