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Shamie Marie dela Cruz
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UNVIELED ELEGANCE.Elegantly beautiful, refine and quennt-look. Shamie deserved to be the Dinagyang queen this year. |
“In every problem there's a solution and once you solve it then that's a great achievement for me ” uttered the 20-year-old Shamie who was born on September 22, 1984 at Cagamutan Norte, Leganes , Iloilo . She's a daughter of a skilled electrician father and a compassionate municipal health Midwife mother who ceaselessly support Shamie in her endeavors in life. “I value my education and the hardship of my parents to prepare me for a brighter future, of course I tried to be an obedient daughter as well” she said with great optimism. Shamie finished her elementary and high school education at Cagamutan Elementary School and Sacred Heart Academy , respectively. “I want to serve humanity with compassion, travel in various places and establish a fulfilling professional career someday that's why I took up Nursing” hopeful words said by this amiable lady who is now in her senior years in Nursing course at Central Philippine University. Her various achievements prior to her reign as the present Dinagyang queen were astounding like winning these beauty titles: Ms. High School 2000, 2001 Ms. CPU UPDATE, Ms. L.Y.P. 2003, Ms. Senior 2004, Ms. Nursing 2004, Ms. CPU Pre-Centennial Queen and Ms. PRISAA 2004.
“As a person I describe myself as slim, sexy, and spiritual,” she said with a sweet smile that showed her fragile innocence wrapped within her sensible nature, a conversationalist kind of lass. “I love the company of down-to-earth friends but loathes boastful individuals, I get turn off with those who have dirty toenails and bad breath especially on a guy” then she laughs vividly as if a near-innocent kid is talking to me. “Collecting unique and rare accessories is my favorite hobby besides the usual watching TV, movies, malling , etc. stuff other young people like me were doing these days” Shamie said with anticipation in her eyes. She loves “My Bestfriend's Wedding” with Julia Roberts as the lead star and definitely adores the gorgeous Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt. “Oh, I'm a lover of R n' B, Pop genre and Jazz music,” she replied after I asked her about her passion in music. Norah Jones and Usher are among her favorite music artists. After we talked about her favorite stuff, I tried to dig deeper into her hidden sensibility and wit.
“I felt so blessed and blissful at the same time after I won the Ms. Dinagyang crown but above all I thank God for granting my dream to win,” Shamie said with great optimism reflected in her eyes after I asked her about the feelings she had during the announcement of her victory in the Dinagyang pageant night. “As much as possible I'll try to live an exemplary life so that my fellow youth would emulate my simple yet righteous path of living my life in the way I know how,” such nice words were said by Iloilo's beauty queen after I asked her about her expected role as an ambassadress of goodwill. For her the competition was truly tough because all of the contestants came from various universities in the city and they are the best of the best women in their respective school. In fact, many believed and expected her to win due to her witty answers during the press conference with the media. Nevertheless, she did not expect a lot, only that she kept on going and did her best with God's guidance. “For me the swimsuit competition was the hardest part of the pageant because it is against my personal conviction but I truly love the gown… well, it simply shows that women are truly elegant and stylish.” Shamie then showed me some of her splendid photographs during the pageant. “My mom is a vivid epitome of a woman's worth because she showed great sacrifice and love for me ever since I was born,” a sentimental answer Shamie unveiled about her role models in life. “But in terms of fashion sense I like Ashley Judd, she's versatile”. It was a lucky Saturday afternoon for me last February 5, 2005 because the ever-sweet and amiable Shamie never hesitated to grant me an exclusive chat with her in KFC branch at SM City Iloilo along with her close friends from CPU. She even cancelled her scheduled Thesis Defense that day for me.
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| UNVIELED RADIANCE.Compassionate, witty, down-to-earth and versatile. This is the real Shamie inside and out. |
“My future plans and aspirations for now is that I can be a good role model to others, live up to my parents' expectations, be a good Christian and a servant to humanity,” such exemplary and inspiring words that came out straight from her heart touched me. I am hoping and truly optimistic that this gentle-soul lady will reach her dreams especially now that her graduation from college is near. Finally, before I parted ways with the reigning Dinagyang Queen and her friends I asked her my final query… what is the edge being an Ilongga and a Centralian (referred to the alumni and students of CPU) in this ever-changing world?
“I deeply believe that Central Spirit is the fusion of being a traditional yet modern Ilongga morally, culturally, mentally and spiritually” such exceptional words moved my soul deep inside, great words that will always look up and speak up for all the Ilonggas out there that never faltered to preserve and justify their inner radiance.
(Express the beauty of the soul! E-mail the author at rslphoenix@yahoo.com)
