'If you were asked the Miss Universe question with an FQ twist, what would be your answer?' (Part 1)
Just like the other Filipinos here and abroad especially the “beki” community, I also watched with gusto the Miss Universe beauty pageant. I was actually expecting her to win the title the moment I saw her “lava walk” (Click video link of walk) and learned that she was among the top five in Miss World 2016.
But watching Catriona Gray compete was still exciting with that feeling of nervousness because competition was tough. Beauty and brains are not rare after all! The contenders from Africa & Asia Pacific were very strong and dominated the pageant with three out of the final five coming from our region. If you noticed, all those who made it to the final five have dark hair, no blondes. 
Then came the Q & A for the final five. I got a bit nervous because Catriona’s answer to the marijuana question was just okay. It was politically correct and in fact, the right answer for someone who has to think of her Filipino culture, but nothing spectacular and definitely not the Miss U kind of winning answer. Then came Miss South Africa with a stronger answer to her question on countries limiting the number of refugees allowed across their borders.
You know when you’re down to the final five, it’s really just a matter of having the best answer in the Q & A because by this time, everyone left is the best of the best – the most spectacularly beautiful women in the universe!
Fortunately, there was another round of elimination and Catriona made it to the final three where they were all given the same question. The question was, “What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life and how will you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?” And boy! she nailed it. Here’s how she answered it. (Click link).
FQ Twist to the Miss U question:
So I tweaked the question and asked some personalities, “What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life and how are you applying it in your preparation for retirement?”
I asked and gamely received the answers of the following people: JJ Atencio, Kenneth Yang, Ardy & Miriam Quiambao, Chris Tiu, Jaymie Pizarro, Alvin Lao, April Tan, Quintin Pastrana, Bo Sanchez, Migs Bustos, Tony Herbosa, Deanno Basas, Juanis Barredo, Ador Abrogena, Mylene Lopa, Riza Mantaring, Pia Tayag, and Ramon Bautista.
Let’s hear it from the first nine.
- JJ Atencio, Chairman and CEO of Januarius Holdings, Inc.
“That life is not a sprint but a marathon. We shouldn’t be hasty or impatient forcing the intended result, but instead look at life as a process of becoming, and enjoying that process. In doing so, we get to help others in their journey, and like rowing a boat to the other shore, if we help someone row, we end up in the other shore together.”
- Kenneth Yang, CEO McDonald’s Philippines
“I think the most important lesson is to Pay yourself first. Saving as much as you can from your salary and other earnings allows you the freedom to live and invest for a comfortable retirement.”
- Ardy and Miriam Roberto, authors and speakers; of course Miriam Quiambao Roberto was Miss Universe 1999 first runner-up
“One of the most important lessons that we’ve learned in life is that ‘When God gives you a vision, He will take care of the provision.’ It’s very applicable to our vision of our financial future; one that involves time freedom and being a blessing to our families and other communities. We don’t call it retirement because the work that we do is too much fun and fulfilling – but it’s the freedom to do what God has called us to do without worrying about money. I thank you!”
- Chris Tiu, sportsman, businessman, tv personality, and one of the successful Pinoy men featured in Raising Pinoy Boys
“That true love is not about loving and expecting anything in return, but is self-giving. The more we give, the more we receive… not gifts of this world but graces from God. Authentic service is true power. I want to be content and grateful with what I have (doesn’t have to be much materially) so that I can focus and continue giving back to areas and advocacies that I feel strongly about.”
- Jaymie Pizarro, The Bull Runner (the first Filipino to finish the World Marathon Majors)
“I learned that life is full of surprises. Whether these are welcome of problematic would depend on our outlook in life. For the future, I’ve planned accordingly with savings and investments, but I also know that one can never be completely safe and secure. Should unexpected things happen that are beyond my control, I have back up plans, and on top of that, I have a positive attitude knowing I’ll always have more than enough to be grateful for.”
- Alvin Lao, CEO of D&L Industries, Inc.
“The most important lesson I’ve learned in my life is that the right thing to do is often the most difficult thing to do. But still, oftentimes, it’s better to be kind than to be right! It means for me that I don’t look at retirement from just a monetary perspective, but from a perspective of paying it forward as well. Not just donating money, but also in terms of how I can use my time, talents, and experience to help others in need.”
- April Lee Tan, Research Head of COL Financial Group
“Spend below your means so you can have more for your investments.”
- Quintin Pastrana, anchor of ANC On The Money, president of WEnergy Power Pilipinas, Inc., and founder of Library Renewal Partnership
“To paraphrase Aristotle, true happiness is the full use of your powers, along the lines of excellence, in a life affording them scope. That philosophy drives me to earn enough from my current work plus new ventures to give me the time to pursue further education, allow my future children to do the same at a school of their choice, and have enough space and time to advance my philanthropy (literacy and livelihood empowerment), enjoy my reading, art, and quality time with my loved ones at a retirement home and retreat.”
- Bo Sanchez, the popular preacher in blue jeans who’s also a best-selling author, speaker, entrepreneur and staunch financial literacy advocate
“I’ve learned that building a loving family is my most important investment in the world – and having money to serve the family and spend time with them during my retirement years will be a huge blessing!”
So there you have our first nine answers to our Miss U with FQ question. We will bring you the other nine tomorrow, those of Migs Bustos, Tony Herbosa, Deanno Basas, Juanis Barredo, Ador Abrogena, Mylene Lopa, Riza Mantaring, Pia Tayag, and Ramon Bautista.
Cheers to high FQ! 
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Interested to meet up with me? I’m inviting you to kick-off your 2019 by starting the year right! Join me on January 12, 2019 (Saturday) at the Phil. Stock Exchange, Tektite Building in Ortigas and learn how to make 2019 your best year ever! If you’re interested to reserve a slot, please email me directly at FQMomm@gmail.com, cc gem.fqmom@gmail.com. Use the subject Jan 12, 2019 Meet Up with FQ Mom. You may bring up to 4 companions (family, friends, or even foes if you want to. )
- Thanks to those who already bought the FQ Book, especially to those who took the time out to send me their feedback. Your feedback is food for my soul. To those who have not gotten their copy yet, here’s a short preview of FQ: The nth Intelligence
You may now purchase the book in major bookstores, or if you want autographed copies, please go to FQ Mom FB page (click SHOP), or FQMom.com (click BOOKS), or email us at FQMomm@gmail.com - Want to know where your FQ stands? Take the FQ Test Challenge now! Click link. http://rebrand.ly/FQTest
Rose Fres Fausto is a speaker and author of bestselling books Raising Pinoy Boys and The Retelling of The Richest Man in Babylon (English and Filipino versions). Click this link to read samples – Books of FQ Mom. She is a Behavioral Economist, Certified Gallup Strengths Coach and the grand prize winner of the first Sinag Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards. Follow her on Facebook & YouTube as FQ Mom, and Twitter & Instagram as theFQMom. Her latest book is FQ: The nth Intelligence.
ATTRIBUTIONS: Photos from USAToday, ctvnews.ca, trulyrichclub.biz, Kerygma Conference, americaninquirer.net, josiahgo.com, Kenneth Yang’s twitter account (@KennethSYang), moneysense.com.ph, thebullrunner.com, Media Newser Philippines, imoney.ph modified and used to help deliver the message of the article.
