In fighting form

CEBU, Philippines – Enlisting for a beauty pageant had been a prospect Felina Joyce Yap Lim balked at. Fearing her nerves would prevail during the question and answer portion, the Cebuana ramp model would much rather sashay on stage than subject herself to an impromptu interview for everyone to witness her possibly getting tongue-tied.

But when an opportunity to represent the Philippines in an international pageant landed on her lap, Felina summoned the fearless within her and decided to step up to the plate.

Now, the 23-year-old is set to compete in her second international beauty tilt. And while her participation in the contest is surrounded with controversy, Felina takes the higher road by shrugging off the merciless critics. She instead provides good reason why Filipinos should still rally behind her, and promises to give it her best fight.

Journey  to  a crown

Felina’s first pageant foray was in Miss Southern Leyte 2013, where she placed first runner-up. In the same year, she was handpicked by one Ovette Ricalde to be the country’s bet for Miss Chinese Cosmos Southeast Asia. Held August of last year in Malaysia, Felina surpassed her own expectations by once again placing first runner-up.

She relates, “I was of course, very pressured because it was my first international pageant, and I hadn’t even competed in a national pageant during that time. At the back of my mind, I was questioning myself if I could do it and if I deserved to represent the Philippines. I couldn’t back out, so I stood by my decision of taking on the challenge. I just thought of it as a blessing, because there must be a reason why Tito Ovette picked me. He must have seen potential in me that I haven’t realized yet.”

“I didn’t get the crown, but I still shed tears of joy, because it was an international pageant. Plus, it was the first time in Miss Chinese Cosmos Southeast Asia that the Philippines placed in the top three,” she says of the second place finish.

Impressed with that performance, Ricalde once again appointed Felina for another assignment abroad. This time, it’s for the India edition of Miss Supranational 2014 to be held in Udaipur, India and with an originally scheduled coronation night on November 15.

Felina was all set to leave for India tomorrow; a recent update, however, from the World Beauty Association states that the finals night has been moved to a later date because of the Ebola scare. Indian embassy officials have turned down visa applications of candidates from South Africa and Western Africa, including those of some Asian countries, so a new pageant date will be announced soon.

Two  Supras

Controversy stemmed from an alleged rift within the inner circle of Miss Supranational, with one camp reportedly breaking away to hold their own pageant in India, and another one holding its finals in Poland this December (where Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2014 Yvette Marie Santiago will compete and where reigning queen Mutya Dayul from the Philippines is connected).

Pageant followers have criticized Ricalde’s move to send a Filipina candidate to the second Miss Supranational, saying that Binibini’s representative is the legitimate delegate.

Of this, Felina comments matter-of-factly: “I’m sad in a way because we’re all Filipinos, yet we’re criticizing our own. Why not just support two Filipinas? At least we have a representative, and have somehow, a chance of winning in the pageant. It will still be for the Philippines, anyway. For me, bashers are bashers. I’ve prepared myself for all the criticism. It’s okay if they insult me. At the end of the day, my purpose is to bring pride for our country.”

“Tito Ovette’s contract with Miss Supranational was signed in 2009. The contract for the Poland pageant is dated 2012. We’re not really saying that we’re the original, all we’re saying is, just look at the dates on who had the contract first,” she adds.

According to Felina,   Miss Supranational’s India edition espouses good governance, meaning, it is focused on spreading the message of decreasing corruption in government, “which is very applicable to the issues in the Philippines,” she says.

Set to vie against 21 other candidates, Felina’s gown and Pahiyas Festival-inspired national costume was crafted by Cebuano designer Roger Salazar.

“I feel equipped. Every day, until pageant night, I will tell myself that I am ready,” says Felina, who trained under Rodgil Flores in preparation for India.

A finalist in Miss Chinatown 2014 held last July, Felina revealed that she was supposed to join Miss Cebu 2015, but had to junk that plan when Miss Supranational was offered to her.

“I want the Filipinos’ support as well, even if they think that this is the fake one. I don’t want them to think about whether this is a fake Miss Supranational or what. I just want them to wholeheartedly pray for me, especially the Cebuanos,” she requests. “Because in this battle, I will not strive to win for myself alone, but for the pride of the Philippines.

Health and wellness advocate

The youngest of three daughters, Felina is the operations manager of the family-owned Body and Sole Spa. Her elder sisters take charge of the enterprise’s other areas. “We do plan to shift responsibilities each year, so that we familiarize ourselves with all aspects of the business,” shares the licensed massage therapist and facialist.

The young businesswoman describes the health and wellness industry in Cebu as “very competitive.” She also laments the sometimes negative extra-curricular activities attributed towards spas, saying, “We do not like that image, so we are really fighting against that.”

Wanting to immerse herself in another culture, Felina packed her bags for Baguio after high school to take up Nursing in Saint Louis University. “I had lived in Cebu up until I graduated from high school, and I could always come home, so I decided to spend my college years somewhere else. I had no help, so I washed my clothes, cooked for myself, and everything else.”

During her down time, Felina indulges in yoga, travelling, sewing, dancing and singing. She’d also love to try out acting if a window of opportunity opens.

At the end of the day, she enjoys the company and fierce support of family. Admitting she’s a Cebuana at heart, Felina is still grateful that her lineage allows her to straddle two different cultures.

“I know how to value money. In our family, if you want something, you need to work for it. That’s the Chinese side of me. Being Cebuana, on the other hand, we are naturally hospitable, warm and happy-go-lucky. If I was pure Chinese, I don’t think I’ll be as hospitable as I am.”