The amazing Elsie Opalla Alburo is 56 years old and representing Consolacion, Cebu in the Queen Mother of Cebu 2024 beauty pageant.
So, how did you get into pageantry? What made you want to compete? In four years’ time, I’ll be turning 60 years old, a Senior Citizen. I want to make history, to leave a legacy that once in my life, I joined a prestigious pageant for mothers like this. I want to inspire women out there that after the childbearing years (the fats and big tummy chapter), mothers should take care of and maintain their beauty, their figure not for other people, not for their partners, but for themselves. Be mentally and physically fit.
What does beauty mean to you? It’s more than just looks, right? Beauty is typically the outward appearance in the eyes of the beholder. However, inner beauty is what defines your worth as a person. It is what is inside our hearts that makes us God’s most beautiful creation.
What makes you special? What sets you apart from the other contestants? All of us have our own beauty and uniqueness. What sets me apart from the other candidates is my toughness, the resilience of being a mother of a half dozen kids. Dealing with different attitudes, different weaknesses, and strengths is never easy. Much more, the perseverance to mold them into children with good values, attitudes, thereby making them better citizens in our country.
If you win, how would you use your title to help others? If I win as the Queen Mother of Cebu 2024, I will pursue my advocacy in spending time with street children, imparting to them the relevance of EDUCATION. I will tap and collaborate with the LGU, private institutions, and religious organizations in driving my advocacy forward. I will facilitate workshops, symposiums, and lectures for the street children to raise their awareness of how education could change their lives for the better.
What’s the coolest thing you’ve learned from being in pageants? My mother was a beauty queen in her time, during my younger days, I was focused on my studies and didn’t have the time to join any pageants, even though I wished to have joined before. My three daughters had joined and won Miss Consolacion pageants. When I learned that the Queen Mother of Cebu was a pageant inclusive of all ages, sizes, and statuses, it gave me the courage to audition if given the chance. I wasn’t fond of putting makeup on my face, but when I joined Queen Mother of Cebu, I started to learn some basic steps in putting light makeup on my face.
Tell us about a time something amazing happened during a pageant! This is my first time auditioning for a pageant. I was in the middle of mass at Sr. Santo Niño church when I received a message that I qualified as one of the finalists. I was amazed and couldn’t believe that I qualified.
What kind of person do you think does well in pageants? Usually, the people who do well in pageants are those individuals who can handle pressure, abide by rules, policies, and have self-discipline. People with perseverance to reach their goals.
How do you deal with people who might say mean things? We cannot avoid those who say mean things to us. I treat their criticisms as constructive criticism that could make you stronger, as I continue living my life the way I wanted. Life is the most precious gift from God to us. It has no rewind or replay.
What do you dream of doing in the future, pageant world or not? I plan to establish a small business and venture into agriculture, my favorite pastime. To continue helping and sharing blessings with others as my legacy to my children and to spread goodness. I leaned from the Bible verse that Jesus said, “whatever you do to the least of my brothers you have done to as well.” A simple, happy family life is my ultimate dream in this lifetime.
Makeup Artist: Faith Semblante
Spibsor
Sponsors:
Mr. Edwin Chua
Atty. Jescelyn Opalla Del Rosario
The children
Barangay Captain Neil Congson of Barangay Nangka, Consolacion
Hon. MAYOR TERESA ALEGADO
