Ruby Claire Lopez: Thoughts from a beauty queen
Ruby Claire Lopez, Lin-ay Sang Iloilo 2008 and Lin-ay Kang Binanog 2008 is one of a few brainy ladies this writer has come across. It's quite obvious with how she handles every question thrown her way --- smart, articulate and with poise --- during the Fiesta in the City at SM City Iloilo. So, Ilonggos need to know her better and here's the interview.
Lin-ay Sang Iloilo 2008 with her mother
Kathy M. Villalon (KMV): How old are you?
Ruby Claire Lopez (RCL): I turned 20 last June 23.
KMV: What course are you taking and in what school?
RCL: I'm a fourth year BS Nursing student of Central Philippine University.
KMV: Why did you take up Nursing?
RCL: It is my personal choice. Ever since I was young, I planned to take up a medical course. I envisioned myself working in a hospital setting. I never saw myself with paper or office work. I love the nature of the nursing profession where it has a lot of interaction with the people and that aspect, I believe, is my forte.
KMV: Describe yourself.
RCL: I'm a bubbly person. I can easly get along with people. I love socializations. I can be very spontaneous. I am also opinionated but I don't give unsolicited ones. I stand firm with what I believe is right. Others may get intimidated with the way I speak because it is very authoritative but for me, it just a matter of conviction.
KMV: What are your hobbies?
RCL: I'm a very sentimental person so I spend most of my spare time writing my experiences through poetry and short stories in my diary. As of the moment, I own eight of it because I'm fond of writing down my emotions and reading it later on when my intense emotion, happy or sad, has subsided and laugh about it. I also love shopping with my friends. It's my stress-reliever. I enjoy texting, surfing the net and singing along at myx, though I'm totally out of tune.
Privileged to meet Jon Avila
KMV: How are you as a daughter?
RCL: I'm a very obedient daughter. I could even count with my fingers the number of times I disobeyed my parents. I look up to them and I believe they raised me well, so I don't have any excuse to behave badly.
KMV: What about as a friend?
RCL: I see to it that my friends and I influence each other positively. Any relationship should be beneficial, so as with friendship.
KMV: As a girlfriend?
RCL: I shouldn't be the one answering this. But I'm a girlfriend who believes that there are three vital ingredients in keeping a relationship: love, respect and trust. And I think, If I'm in a relationship, I'll give these three.
KMV: Do you have a bf?
RCL: Right now, I'm not committed romantically to anybody.
KMV: What are the qualities of your ideal man?
RCL: I'm not getting any younger so I hope I could find someone mature enough. Someone who could control me when I have tantrums but could be a good companion. I want a goal-oriented person. And the sexiest part, for me, is the brain. Someone who could tickle my mind is a turn on. And of course, someone whom I'll be proud to introduce to my parents.
Ruby enjoys the pictorials for Lin-ay Kang Binanog 2008
KMV: How are you as a student?
RCL: I'm a cool student. I believe in grace under pressure. I don't stress myself out because of school works. I always innovate my studying style to suit my mood and the lesson. Learning is supposed to be fun.
KMV: What clubs are you into?
RCL: Right now, I'm affiliated with the Nursing Student Council. I'm a board member. And what a play of fate, I'm the chairman of Mr. and Miss Nursing. I have been trained to be a leader since my elementary years. Now, I'm venturing college politics. Though with different levels, it all boils down to one basic principle, community service.
KMV: Tell us about your experience in becoming Lin-ay Kang Binanog 2008 of Lambunao?
RCL: The whole experience was overwhelming. I'm not used to joining beauty pageants though I'm a fan of it. The experience started the moment I said yes to their offer of joining. There were rehearsals and pictorials. Though it was tiring since i have to go back and forth from the city (where I study) to Lambunao for a week, I enjoyed every bit of it. It all paid off the moment I was crowned. Being applauded brings a sense of euphoria to me. People you don't know, began to know you, so it was an added pressure to do better. It also opened many doors for me.
Ruby and her family
KMV: What activities are you active in relation to being Lin-ay Kang Binanog 2008?
RCL: I represented our town during the Semana sang Iloilo and I guess, I've done my job well and made every Lambunaonon proud when I was crowned Lin-ay sang ILoilo. That's the best gift I could ever offer my dear town. It's letting other people know what a true Lambunaonon is. We are first class, indeed. First class in beauty, talent and wit.
KMV: What's your beauty secret?
RCL: I'm a student nurse, so I get a lot of advices from the lessons we have in school but what I really practice is drinking two glasses of water right after waking up in the morning. And always maintain a positive outlook because it will always radiate in your aura.
KMV: How do you keep yourself healthy and fit?
RCL: Healthy lifestyle. I don't have any vices.
KMV: Do you have advocacies and what activities do you take part in in relation to these?
RCL: My mother is a social worker so I'm kinda aware of these issues. I see abused women and children and other social concerns. But I still haven't involved myself in their activities. But if someday I'll be given a chance to work on it, I love to be an advocate for educating out-of-school youth. I believe, that is one problem that needs urgent action.
Ruby (middle) with the Nursing Student Council.
KMV: What are your thoughts on typhoon Frank which wreaked havoc in Western Visayas?
RCL: Frank hit iloilo by surprise and left with homeless families, numerous deaths and bucket-ful of health and social problems. It was very terrifying. The damage that the typhoon brought to Iloilo vanished many dreams and hopes. I never anticipated the events that have passed. A typhoon that caused a flash flood. But the damage has been done, all we have to do is to work as a region, as one in bringing back Iloilo to what it used to be. It is also a wake up call for us that Mother Earth has taken its revenge. Everything we do comes back to us. The illegal loggings, kaingin.... these may sound very basic and cliche, but it's a truth that we have to stop doing it before it's to late. It is also a reminder not to invest in our worldly possessions but invest in the most important thing, faith. Because, everything could be taken away from us in a snap of the fingers but it is faith that saves us.
KMV: And your thoughs on how a beauty queen should conduct herself?
RCL: When you become a beauty queen, you become a public figure. Instead of taking it negatively, it should be taken as an opportunity to influence others. A beauty queen should be a good example. She doesn't have to be perfect, since nobody is. I don't even live up with the connotation that beauty queen should be glamorous all the time. You just have to be yourself and the real beauty queen will emanate.
KMV: If there's something you want to change about yourself, what is it?
RCL: Not really change. I want to develop my patience. Ironic as it may sound, since I'm a student nurse, but I only have patience with things I'm passionate with. So, I'm trying to develop my "unbiased patience".
KMV: What are your goals?
RCL: What drives me to be better and keep on improving is the hope for contentment. Contentment in all aspects... faith, career, family, relationship and love.
KMV: What principles do you stand by?
RCL: Luck never made a man wise. I don't rely on pure destiny. Uncontrolled circumstances only make up the 10% and 90% is left on how we deal with it.