Life is a carnival show

I was so amazed and entertained the first time I went to a carnival — the mobile ones that visit towns during fiestas and festivals. As a child, I watched a mermaid in an inflated pool and the audience that surrounded it. There was a man who blew fire, and I saw the largest snake I have seen. These scenes were magic to me. I witnessed things that were unusual, and thought everything is possible in a carnival.

Later on, I realized life is indeed a carnival show. There are the ones who perform and entertain, and others who watch and observe. When I dared perform and eventually became a beauty queen, doors of possibilities have opened up not just for me, but for my family and other people. As a person, it is most inspiring if you can touch lives, if you can make people feel better than they actually do, and give hope. And I am so happy to be an ambassador of goodwill for Binibining Pilipinas Charities Incorporated (BPCI) because I can reach out to those who are needy. I can see sad faces turn into happy faces.

That’s me with my good friend Bb. Pilipinas second runner-up Nicollette Henson and a kid

This Christmas, as an annual treat of BPCI, hundreds of children from different orphanages in Metro Manila were gathered in Araneta Coliseum to receive gift packs and mainly to watch the special preview of Splendide: The Grand China National Acrobatic Circus. I watched along with the invited kids and my BPCI family. It was my first time to watch such a breathtaking show, and I believe it was the children’s first time too because they happily and excitedly cheered every act. Had I not known it, it would not occur to me that some of those children were ill. The performances worked like magic to them. It brought them happiness and for a while made them forget all their worries, and what they were going through. The fact that they have no family to enjoy the holidays with seemed to have vanished. During that day, they let themselves enjoy.

The Chinese performers seemed to have also forgotten fear with their unbelievable routines. The acrobats appeared to not mind the danger of their stunts. They delivered a great show and entertained everyone who watched.

It was China National Acrobatics Troupe’s first visit in our country. I hope that with events like this where we showed them appreciation and hospitality, we will be able to send a message that the Philippines is a safe place for them and erase the worry brought by the hostage crisis.

Splendide is a magnificent event to enjoy during this holiday season. It will have its regular performances at the Big Dome until today, Jan. 2.

We all have audiences to perform for in our lives. The China National Acrobat sure make for awe-inspiring entertainment. As for BPCI, that made the event possible, the activity has touched so many lives and gave the audience, the children, another happy Christmas childhood memory that they can bring with them as they carry on in life. As for me, I used to perform only for my dreams, and my family. Now, I wish to perform to inspire more lives specially the young ones and tell them that like in carnivals, everything is possible, even those that seem like impossible dreams.