Anna: The woman behind the title

The biggest beauty contest of her life is yet to come in September. Yet, Binibining Pilipinas Anna Maris Arcay Igpit, the country's bet to the Miss World pageant in Warsaw, Poland, already knows what to do after representing the Philippines. And that would be sharing everything she has learned with young girls so that, in time, one of them could follow in her footsteps. She is not required to do it by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Incorporated where she is under contract. Moreover, nobody forced nor advised her to render such a noble act. Her reason is plain and simple - she just wants to return the goodness of the people she met along the way who have helped her get to where she is now.

She was barely 16-years old when she joined the Miss Bohol Sandugo 2003 where she was adjudged first runner up. That was her first pageant. Virgin on the ramp, so to speak. Anna fondly remembers her experience with a girlish laughter. "That was my first time and if you will look at my video, sus grabe gyud, as in nagpataka ra gyud. I did not have any experience then, nothing!"

After that, people who believed she was beauty queen material prodded her to join more pageants and eventually she has come to love it. She moved on to become first runner in Miss Danao 2003, Miss Kawasan 2004 and then Miss Talisay City of that same year. Then, Chicoy Tomol, manager of Models Association of Cebu, opened the door for her to be part of this prestigious print and runway-modeling agency. Soon, she was gracing the ramp, doing the catwalk, while enjoying it all. And why not? As a child, she was amazed at how live mannequins project the message of what they are modeling that she told herself she would be like them in the future. "When I was a child, ganahan gyud ko magtan-aw og mga models kay guapahan gyud ko nila. But katong na-model na ko, I have realized nga I love beauty pageants," Anna told The Freeman Lifestyle.

So, she went on to become Miss Mandaue 2005 and then went back to Bohol to finally grab the title Miss Bohol Sandugo 2005, as well. Anna admitted only now that it was never her plan to join Binibining Pilipinas this year because she felt she was not ready. But the people around her, especially good friend Queen of Asia Oceania 2005 Maria Karla Rabanal Bautista, persuaded her to seize the moment. "So I told myself, okay mo join ko because this would be a good training ground for me. Pero moapil gyud ko'g balik because I really did not expect to win kay feeling nako dili pa gyud ko andam." But she said that once you are out there competing, everything would change because you would really strive to win. Thus, aided by proper training and believing fully in the power of God, Anna came home with one of the crowns in the most prestigious beauty pageant in the country.

Four months after her moment of glory, Anna is now bent on paying back to the people who generously helped her without asking anything in return. One of them is beauty queen maker Rodgil Flores, the person behind the success of such titleholders as Maricar Balagtas, Karen Agustin, Carlene Aguilar, Karla Bautista and, recently, 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman. "Tito Rodgil is a very wonderful person. He does not expect anything in return. During our training he fed us, sometimes he spent for our fare. Our make-up artist happens to be his friend, so it's free," she shared. Aside from Rodgil, former beauty queens also trained her, giving her inputs on what to do and what to avoid while joining the Bb. Pilipinas. Now they are giving her pointers on what to do in international pageants as they give her a crash course in catwalk modeling to be able to sashay her gown on stage effectively. She is so humbled by all these gestures that she wants to do her share.

For a start, she volunteered to train the candidates for the upcoming Miss Bohol International 2006 that is happening on July 28. According to her, she has seen a lot of potential beauty queens among the girls but then they still lack the proper training just like her when she was still starting. She would also render the same service to Cebuanas who are interested in beauty pageants. But that would have to wait until after she competes for Miss World.

As far as the said international pageant is concerned, Anna prays that Julia Morley, chairperson of Miss World, would be enlightened to give the Philippines a chance to bring home the crown. She said that in a country tormented by economic crisis and political division, such an honor would be a great deal to Filipinos. Having come this far her so that her efforts would be focused in bringing prestige to the Philippines. Whatever would be the result, she is prepared to accept it because she has known a long time ago that everything happens for a reason, following the will of God.

"I prayed the holy rosary while I was backstage. Even during commercial breaks, I was captured on video just looking up and my friends knew I was praying on stage. I was guided that night. Actually, deep inside I was really nervous but people observed that I seemed to be playing and enjoying the moment. That was God's will," she revealed, adding that she had a pin of the Sto. Nino during the pageant night. And because her parents are close to the priests at the Basilica, she might be allowed to pray before the original image of the Miraculous Child before she leaves for Poland.

Will she join showbiz after her reign? Anna is not yet sure because she feels it's not her cup of tea. Actually, she was already offered by fellow Boholano Cesar Montano to be his leading lady in an upcoming movie about the life of Francisco Dagohoy but she just laughed at the thought of it. She will definitely continue her studies at the Southwestern University, if not enroll in a home study program later on. For Anna, a college degree is still what matters, making her parents happy and proud.