Because we know it’s not easy, it’s a lot of pressure, and maybe even exhausting days because of rehearsals and activities. But why did you want to become a beauty queen?
HA: So when I was 6 years old, I was actually in a beauty pageant in Masbate, and I won the title of Baby Queen 2002. And actually in that moment, I really loved the spirit of the community, how my family was so excited, and just the feeling of being a queen, it really stuck with me throughout my whole life.
I would always reflect on that moment, and I really wanted to be back on that stage. So it really wasn’t a hard decision for me to choose. I really just told my parents, “Hey, you know, I really wanna join beauty pageants.”
So again, in 2014, I joined Miss Philippines Australia, because I grew up there in Australia. And I was just such a fan. Like you mentioned, there’s Pia, there’s so many beautiful girls that have represented the Philippines, in so many amazing pageants, and it’s more than just the physical aspect of it. It’s the platform and how they use it, and how they help the community.
That’s what I loved about these pageants, so I really wanted to take it one step further, and that’s why I came for the biggest national pageant here in the Philippines.
KM: Yeah, so you won your crown last July 11, so it’s been a little more than two weeks of being our Binibining Pilipinas International. How has it been for you so far?
HA: It’s been amazing, like I’m lucky to meet you here, even if it’s through Zoom. I’m meeting so many amazing people. I’m hearing your stories, people are listening to mine.
And one of the greatest things so far is the Department of Science and Technology is listening to what I have to share, because I am an advocate for education, and an advocate for investing in science and technology, so I’m so glad that people are listening and want to collaborate.
KM: Okay, so speaking of your advocacies, Hannah, why did you choose children’s education and science and technology? Why those two?
HA: So like I mentioned, I did grow up in Australia, so I was very privileged to have amazing access to education, and I kind of took it for granted. My mom would always tell me the stories of her schooling when she was growing up in Masbate, her and her siblings, they really struggled with the distance they had to travel, the access to school supplies, and every year when I would visit Masbate and my relatives, I would also see those struggles were still there.
Even after so many years, they still didn’t have the best access. My parents, my siblings and I, we really started donating school supplies and things like that from a young age, from when I was younger.
And of course when it comes to pageantry, with that platform, it’s such a bigger platform that you can really create your advocacy in a bigger way. So I created a page called Books of Tomorrow, because the saying that I have is, “With a book, a child can learn to read today, and with a pencil, they’ll write their own future tomorrow.”
So I’m so grateful that people are really listening and following and wanting to donate school books, writing equipment, libraries, and I’m so excited for more communities that we’re going to reach.
KM: Okay, so that’s the Facebook page, right? Books of Tomorrow?
HA: Yes, yes.
KM: For all our viewers who are tuning in, please like and follow Hannah’s advocacy. The Facebook page is Books of Tomorrow.
So Hannah, of course we look at you and we wonder, “How do I become as gorgeous as Hannnah?” So let’s talk about the different aspects that you’ve been working on maybe in your daily life, even before you joined the pageant, and then maybe after you joined the pageant.
Let’s talk about fitness first. What is your exercise or workout routine? And what do you do when you don’t feel like exercising?
HA: So honestly, during 2020 when the pandemic and lockdown started, I honestly was quite lazy, and I really let myself go with the diet and exercise. I didn’t find the motivation anymore. I would save the YouTube videos, I would save the Instagram videos where people were working out, and I’d tell myself, “I’ll do that later.”
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