“MY DREAM for now is to be Miss Universe Philippines, to win Miss Universe,” says Michelle Gumabao, one of the 52 candidates in the forthcoming Miss Universe-Philippines competition.
The winner for this year’s Miss Universe-Philippines 2020 will represent the country in the 2020 Miss Universe Pageant. This isn’t Michelle’s first time to join a national pageant. She was hailed Bb. Pilipinas-Globe when she joined Binibining Pilipinas 2018. The pageant was held in Albania were she became one of the 15 semi finalists.
Despite joining two national pageants, the volleyball player still feels nervous.
“It feels better the second time around, but I do admit it still gets me nervous. I still feel like I’m new at it, but really just excited about everything that’s gonna happen.”
Michelle admits that she had to make a lot of sacrifices in joining this year’s competition.
“If you want something in life, if you’re determined and passionate, you have to sacrifice time with everybody, even with the people that you love.
“Even now, I’m celebrating Valentine’s Day with you guys. It’s really gonna take so much time for me. But, the biggest sacrifice would be volleyball.”
Michelle plays for Creamline Cool Smashers of the Premiere Volleyball League.
“I think I’m at a point in my life that I’m ready to transition and open new doors of opportunities for me, but I will never forget where I came from. I still am very supportive, I’m still 100 percent part of my Creamline team.”
Michelle disclosed why she joined the competition again despite having a title for herself.
“I think, for me, it’s really destiny. It’s really God’s will for me. I had a lot of signs that I waited for, and asked for, and I prayed for, and it all happened. Everything is really aligning, everything is falling into place.
“A lot of people put in their support, their words of encouragement and faith in me. That’s what really inspired me to go one more time.”
It’s not new to her to experience pressure in winning beauty pageants.
“Being a professional athlete, you live with pressure, you learn how to hone that pressure as a motivation. And that’s what I’m doing now, I have nothing to prove, but everything to gain, and everyone to hopefully be proud of me. So I’m just gonna work hard and give my best shot.
“Hopefully, everybody sees that and cheer me on and encourage me in this journey, because I’m really so excited to experience something new.”
How does she prepare for the question and answer portion of the pageant?
“I love public speaking, I’m a motivational speaker, I can talk for one hour. But to make an impact in 30 seconds is a big challenge. So that’s what I have to focus on, and it just takes a lot of practice, a lot of criticisms that you need to listen to and to accept.
“You have to also learn from other people. I also ask my friends to help me because a lot of people will be able to notice the weaknesses that I don’t see sometimes.”
What more improvements does she prepare for this pageant?
“I focused on my confidence, number one… to be able to accept that this is for me, and I’m ready, and my training… I want to be able to invest more time into my training to be able to form a team that can lead me into victory, and surround myself with people who will contribute.
“Because I can’t do this journey alone, and I have to get really good, professional mentors to guide me and mold me.” she explains.
The grand coronation night of Miss Universe Philippines 2020 will be held on May 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.
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PILAR PILAPIL, who starred in ABS-CBN shows for the past 13 years, makes a Kapuso comeback via GMA-7’s upcoming prime-time series, First Yaya, top-billed by Marian Rivera.
The former beauty queen is part of the upcoming prime-time series First Yaya, starring Marian Rivera and Gabby Concepcion.
Pilar’s last TV project with GMA-7 was the remake of MariMar in 2007, with Marian also playing the title role.
Pilar was cast as Dona Dolores Aldama, Marimar’s grandmother.
Prior to MariMar, Pilar did a full-length TV series in the Kapuso network titled Di Ba’t Ikaw.
Aired in the year 1999, it was the first network-produced teleserye that starred Jessa Zaragoza, Jao Mapa, and Jomari Yllana.
Pilar’s last teleserye in ABS-CBN was the daytime series Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit, which concluded in October 2019.
Pilar’s other TV projects with the Kapamilya network include: Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (2001), Lobo (2008), Agua Bendita (2010), Ina, Kapatid, Anak (2012), Muling Buksan Ang Puso (2013), Pasion de Amor (2015), A Love To Last (2017), and The Blood Sisters (2018).
