Thesis 5 17 17

UNIVERSITY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 1
INTRODUCTION
“Never lose your faith; this will keep everything intact.”

Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015
Pia Wurtzbach is a native from Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental. Before winning the
Miss Universe 2015 title, she joined Binibining Pilipinas thrice, including the time she became
the representative of the Philippines for Miss Universe. According to Wurtzbach, her training
was not that easy—walking with seven-inch high heels for at least seven hours a day is not a
joke. However, for her, the hardest part in her journey was waiting. It took her three years
before getting the crown (Dimalanta, 2016). On another note, Wurtzbach revealed there
weretimes when she asked herself, “Are you sure about it? You are putting yourself at risk
for being embarrassed in public.” But, she told herself, “ Sasali talaga uli ako hanggang sa
makuha ako ng korona (I will join again until I get the crown),” (Wurtzbach, 2016, para. 8).
Instead of giving up, she chose to keep going until she achieved her heart’s desire. Just like
what she said, “If you want something you really have to work for it.” For all the aspiring
beauty queens, what is the real meaning of beauty? What is its essence?
Beauty has more meaning more than anybody would think (Rajvanshi, 2014). An
individual can be beautiful for some people but there will always be some who will fail to see
the person as such. There are thousands of definition for beauty. Plus, there are many
degrees to each of its definition. Basically, beauty is defined as a quality that pleases or
delights the senses or mind. Itall depends on how a person chooses to see another, thus, the
saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. What might make one person pretty might
make another to look hard at, as Biakolo (2014) stated that the physical characteristics of a
person is defined as the traits or features about the person’s body. The first thing to be
looked at on someone could be his or her clothes, nose, or figure. These are all examples of
physical characteristics.
Beauty is reflected on the eyes of the one looking, but we all recognize the same
conventionally gorgeous people when we see them. We crave for the hard proof of
attractiveness, and scientists devote plenty of energy to discover it. But the conclusions of all
of these research are seldom as simple as they seem. It is often said that a person is
beautiful when her physical appearance is attractive. Physical appearance is somehow
important in being beautiful as a person. People may find goodness in a person who is
physically attractive without even knowing the personality (University of New Hampshire
2009; Rubenstein, Kalakanis & Longlois, 1999; Saviuc, 2015 & Siddiqui, 2014).
Gibran (2004), Mueller (2015), Glenn (n.d.), Whitlock (2015) and Kiam (2012) found
that beauty is not merely seen on the face, but found in what is inside the heart. In sum,
being beautiful does not solely depend on the physical appearance of a person. It may vary,
but what matters the most, is the kindness of the heart. A beautiful person is not just
someone who has too much make-up on her face, or someone who wears really nice and
expensive clothes. Beauty is a total package of being beautiful inside and out. Furthermore,
the act of knowing how to carry oneself confidently is what makes a person truly beautiful.
For Rubenstein, Kalakanis and Langlois (1999), there is no doubt that beauty is to
some extent, in the eye of the beholder.But at the end of the day, how one sees and feels
about herself is what really matters.
Real, natural, strong, and powerful beauty comes from within one’s heart. It
blossoms like a rose in spring and encourages an alluring, captivating, extraordinary spirit
that cannot be contained. A confident woman is a force to be reckoned with. Nothing can
stop her, and nothing can get her down. Believing and trusting in what a person can do may
serve as a strong foundation for herself (Mueller, 2015).
Lastly, for Capili (2014), being beautiful is being brave and strong, especially in facing
the troubles life has to offer. Individuals who have the guts to reach their goals and have
proven their sense of worth through competitions are the real meaning of what it takes to
become beautiful.
Competing is a part of life. It includes fighting for what an individual really loves.
Moreover, it is inevitable. Competition arises whenever at least two parties strive for a
certaingoal which cannot be shared or which is desired individually, but not for sharing or
cooperation (Gibney, 2012).
De Sena (2013) concluded that competition really matters deeply. In life,there is a

need to compete so as to attain one’s dreams. It is a matter of guts, fortitude, discipline,
risk-taking, confidence and other critically important ingredients to gain success.
Aside from this, competition is to self-esteem as sugar is to teeth. Most people lose in
most competitive encounters, and it is no question as to why that causes self-doubt (Kohn,
1987). Competition is like a comparison upon looking at the world: one can be aware of
other people's performance without learning it or thinking about it. Currently, in the society,
others can address everyone by their given names and gain respect based on thoughts and
deeds. The most essential of all these is existence and choosingto compete, because life is a
competition that primarily aims to be a winner, but staying compact and concrete for the
next challenge is the crucial benefit that need to be gained (Warley & Wilson, 2015).
Plowman (2013) shared that when people think of competition, they typically refer to
negative competition, which leads to hostility, negative attitudes, and a winner-takes-all
mentality. Every competition has two sides. Of course, there is a winner and there are the
non-winners. When people win, all their efforts are paid off. But, losing does not necessarily
mean that nothing was gained. It is safe to say that people learn from their mistakes.
Experiencing defeat can likewise serve as a stepping stone for one to become wiser, braver,
and bolder in the next fight of life. Nonetheless, it must be remembered that a person’s
greatest and most dangerous challenger can be himself or herself. Often times, some things
are forgotten while aiming for crucial ones.
There is also the literal kind of competition. At present, there are several types of
competitions, such as singing, dancing, sports, and the likes. Aside from this, included also in
the long list of competitions are the beauty pageants which are commonly held today. As
Chatterjee (2015) put it,appreciating beauty is definitely inert in every human.
Traditionally, Callanta (2016) explained that a beauty contest is a competition based

on judging and ranking the physical features of the contestants, although some contests
have evolved to include the personality traits, intelligence, talent, and answers to the judges'
questions as criteria. Beauty pageants are generally multi-tiered, with local competitions
feeding into the larger competitions. For example, prior to the international or worldwide
pageants, a contestant must undergo series of local competitions within the certain
community.
According to Pariseau (2014), when people think of beauty pageants, they get a
certain mental image based on what they have on the television and on the news. However,
most people do not understand beauty contests in the way that contestants do. Apparently,
there is a whole lot more to what non-contenders see on TV.
Naturally, beauty pageants are beauty contests that are organized to show-off a
contestant’s natural good looks, poise and charm. More emphasis is placed on a person’s
natural appearance and inner beauty. As Tewari (2016) elaborated, a beauty competition is a
way of building the self-confidence of a woman.
From infancy on, beauty pageants tell women that beauty is vital in succeeding in life.
The pressures and expectations from pageants can lead to surgery or facial treatments and
eating disorders as young girls strive for perfection that is non-existent. Aside from the latter,
beauty contents also somehow teach children that the worth of a person is almost purely
based on appearance. McKay (2013) furthered, the contestants of beauty pageants will not
only face physical consequences, but they will also objectify women in the way similarly from
the 1950’s.
Pageants are everywhere now in our society, from barangays to towns to TV

programs to universities. The aforementioned are open to young women who have been
taught to believe that as long as alady is good-looking, success is sure to follow. Theladies
participating in pageants often have layers of make-up, add to that fake nails, hair-sprayed
hair and faux breasts. They are paraded in bikinis in front of audiences, asked silly questions,
told to perform a highly superficial talent, and judged on the latter (Sarhan, 2013).
This is why it is not surprising why the history of beauty pageants is traced down to
the antiquity of time. It was the time when people thought beautiful women can feed the
hunger of naive sight (Fredericksen, 2013).People are mesmerized with awe when a beauty
passes by. Some say seeing such is like seeing goodness in everything or experiencing
heavenly bliss. But, a lot of women can give that kind of exciting experience. The question
then became, who isthe most beautiful? The argument began and beauty pageants have
been held since then.
In today’s society, beauty contests are really something. According to Miss American
Diamond Website (2005), the history of beauty competitions originated in the old city of
Troy. The jury included the great minds of the city, like warriors, public speakers,
philosophers, poets, actors and sculptors. Consequently, ancient China had special rules and
a unique way of selecting the most beautiful. Even the strict Islamic Ottoman Empire
enjoyed this entertainment for beauty pageants were where the most beautiful wives were
chosen.
It was in 1854 when the first beauty pageant in America was carried on, but was
closed down due to public protests. It was in the 1880’s when the modern beauty pageants
began. Specifically on 1888, the first woman with the ‘beauty queen’ title was crowned in
Spa, Belgium (Foxtel, 2016). Contestants had to send their photos, with a short description
about themselves to join the competition. The selected beauties were secluded from the
public, and they had to ride in a closed carriage and live in a separate building without
access to the outside world. The hailed beautiful woman is an 18-year-old Creole who won
the very first ‘beauty queen’ title.
International pageants also have a huge impact in national aspirations. As cultural

scholar Sarah Banet-Weiser (n.d.) suggested, many countries that send contenders to these
pageants are making a claim. In the context of the world's cultural economy, having a
contestant join an international contest can be about claiming inclusion in the family of
nations that negotiate the international community. In 1994, women from India won both
the Miss World and the Miss Universe pageants. They celebrated the event in India and other
countries. Because of its recently acquired monopoly on beauty titles, the women in India
could claim that they have the world's most beautiful. In successfully meeting the pageants'
standard of beauty, the new Miss World and Miss Universe staked a claim for India in the
international commercial culture these pageants represent (Woolf, 2014).
Beauty pageants have been popular in the Philippines since they were brought to the
country by the American colonial government in the first half of the 20th Century (Capili,
2014). Opposition from feminists, if there was any, was muted. The recent successes of
contenders in international competitions have heightened the involvement of the nation even
further. Capili, who wrote a book about Philippine pageants, says that as a conclusion,
pageants have become more competitive. In the old days, an untrained candidate may end
up winning a title either because she is a great beauty or is someone from a pedigreed
family. However, these days, there are talent scouts and modeling agencies who actually
train young women for months, or even years, before the actual competition (Enriquez,
2014).
Technically, a candidate goes through a lot of trainings so as to win in the

competition where showcasing beauty and talent are both required. But Filipinos have been
honoring and celebrating their fairest since 1908 to be exact—the year of the first London
Olympics, the election contest between William Howard Taft and William Jennings Bryan,
when Pius X sat in Rome and the Romanovs still ruled Russia. It was four years before the
Titanic sailed from Liverpool—when Manila crowned its first Carnival queen, or queens to be
exact (Garcia, 2016).
King (2016) mentioned that beauty pageants epitomize the word glamour. Young
women dress up in floor-length gowns, sparkling bikinis, and all the hairspray a human scalp
can hold, while showcasing their broadest smiles and most special talents. A spectacle in the
truest sense, beauty pageants are essentially graded performances of traditional femininity:
who is the most graceful? Who is the most beautiful? Who can wear an evening gown and
five inch stilettos without tripping? But far before sparkly tiaras and bouquets of flowers were
handed out to sobbing women in their evening gowns, beauty pageant advocates claim that
young girls who participate in such contests grow-up to be confident and secure women who
know how to interact well with other people. Apparently, beauty pageants also have
advantages, such as developing self-confidence and good communication skills among
contenders.
Beauty queens from the Philippines are known for their innate gracefulness and
kindness. With their heartfelt smiles that could light up the stadium, they can really captivate
the heart of the nation. On another note, preparations for beautypageants is a long process.
It takes a lot of sacrifices, and courage, determination and self-discipline must be kept in
mind once thedecision to join a beauty competition was made. To mention one, Miriam
Quiambao, Miss Universe 1999 1st runner-up, shared her story after she fell down on the
stage during the actual pageant. According to her, she stood up for the rest of the women
who have fallen whether on or off stage. She believed that through that example, she
displayed courage and strength of becoming what it takes to become an empowered Filipino
(Faye, 2015).
Majority of the beauty titlists, after winning the competition, achieved a better and
brighter living. Among those is Venus Raj, a known promdi from the Bicol Region. After
winning 4th runner-up during the Miss Universe 2010, she was offered a showbiz career in
one of the top networks in the Philippines, apart from her modeling career both in print and
television. Another example is Megan Young who, after being crowned as Miss World 2013,
was able to do charity works and tour around the world aside from the better showbiz career
she enjoys today (Tinio, 2015).
Definitely, beauty pageants offer a better future for almost all the winners. The
question now is, what about the unfortunate contenders who fail to take home the crown?
Discovering what is behind the spotlight lies the reality of struggle and difficulties. Obviously,
in any competition comes two sides of the coin. Out of all the many candidates, one must be
chosen as the winner who outshines the others whileshowing an extraordinary package of
beauty and brains with a good heart (Brown, 2015). But what exactly lies behind that stage?
And what happens to those who lost in the competition? Can it be said that their loss in the
contest can mean the end of their dreams?
For the non-winners, there are times when they want to lose hope and give up on the
path they chose to tread on, although their hearts choose not to.In spite of their failures,
there is still something that gives the non-winners motivation to strive for more and still
pursue their goals. Just as Vermeeren (2011) emphasized, to overcome the feeling of losing,
one has to be resilient.
In the local scenario, the term “kontesera” is a new colloquial word in the Filipino
context. The said term is used to refer to any beauty queen aspirant who joined several
competitions but has never won any major award.The researchers of this study have chosen
to focus on the resiliency of a beauty pageant kontesera, particularly on the essence of their
sacrifices, fulfillments, and learnings acquired after joining several beauty competitions.
These women dubbed kontesera, who show resiliency amidst their downfall, have a
big effect on all beauty queen aspirants. Behind all the defeats, what keeps them going?
Itmay be theiroptimism and their mindset. As the reigning Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach
shared, “Never settle when you can dream bigger.” In beauty competitions, the desired
crown they want to wear on the stage with flashing lights will be given, if they will learn how
to wait for theright time. Konteseras cannot depend merely on perfect timing;they have to
get moving to get the goal they are pining for. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy task, and
forthe gorgeous ladies who haven’t experienced their winning moment yet, it’s not the end of
their dreams. They are just starting to feel the heat of a fire burning victory (Dodaro, 2014).
Hoping plays a significant part to become resilient inthese kinds of competition. One
pageant requires a long time, filled with many preparations and trainings. As a beauty queen
aspirant, one must know how to overcome the feeling of losing.
The word resilience originated from the Latin word resilíre, which means, “to leap
back” or “to bounce back” (Luther & Cicchetti, 2000). It is also defined as the
ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, etc. Moreover, resilience is a
term that is frequently used to mean “bouncing back from a dreadful event” or “having
strength to cope” or “being determined to see things through to the end”. All these would
sum up to people simply being mentally strong, by being sufficiently strong to maintain a
sense of well-being while facing challenges (Alcaraz, et.al, as cited in Mowbray, 2011).
According to Dillion, et.al. (2006), resilience is understood as the behavior which

young people show in making decisions, such as choosing not to use drugs and putting this
into practice, despite having been exposed to drugs and other risk factors. A distinction
needs to be made between address of resilience and being resilient. Being capable of
resisting drug use depends on the circumstances of the particular young person, how the risk
and protective factors interact at different stage in their life course.
Resilience helps in making the uncertain things certain. Having the strength to
“bounce back” from life’s challenges is something that everyone desires. Resilient people do
not wallow or dwell on failures; they acknowledge the situation, learn from their mistakes,
and then move forward (Kobasa, 1979). However, resilient people feel distressed just like
everybody else. But even in the darkest times, they manage to buoy their spirits with positive
thoughts.Just as Fredrickson (2013) shared, people must see the brighter side of every
situation. The heart of resilience is belief in oneself—add to that the belief in something
better than oneself. Such people find resilience by moving towards a goal or dreams beyond
themselves, to rise above pain and grief by perceiving bad times as a temporary state of
affairs.
Resilience is an invisible shield made-out of good will. It helps people succeed and
heal adversity, but some people do not have enough resilience to go through life. To have
the aforementioned figurative shield means to face life’s hardships difficulties with boldness
and courage. It means being patient and never giving-up. It is also the ability to withstand
stress (Sparth, 2006).
Having resilience means being capable of adapting to and overcoming the changes in
life as it enables everyone to live a life based on their choices rather than being at the mercy
of chance or habit. Living a resilient life, is living a complete and happy life, where people
know who they truly are and what their goals are. For one to lead a resilient life, there is a
need to conquer the pain, the tragedy and the unpredictable challenges that life gives
(Sicinski, 2008).
The good news is, resilience is a process of thoughts and actions that can be learned
through experiences. Although obstacles in life cannot be controlled, resilience can give the
strength to control the responses to the unfortunate occurrences in life. This is the most
functional under-publicized research information everybody should know (Tugade
&Fredrickson, 2011). There are steps which can be taken today and every day to make it
more likely that one will bounce back from any tragedy stronger, smarter and with more self-
esteem.
Positive emotions are more than just a short-term fix. Experts have found that
feelings of love, gratitude, and relief can last for years after a crisis. Why are these emotions
so powerful and long-lasting? On a basic level, Fredrickson says, such feelings help keep the
mind free and flexible.
According to Pekarek (2013), resiliency is the ability to conquer challenges of all

kinds–trauma, tragedy, personal crises, plain ‘ole’ life problems–and bounce back stronger,
wiser, and more personally powerful. It requires serious attention because this is what must
be done by one when faced with life’s unescapable difficulties.
A challenge is not a problem; it is an opportunity to excel and move forward. Believe

in what people are capable of doing, and achieve great things with what is available
(LaFrenier, 2014). But the challenge must be seen in a positive perspective because it may
not give the forward step hoped for. The way a challenge is presented might be a little
harsh, but it can still be taken, accepted and turned upside down.
So as to monitor resiliency, one can possibly attach a growth chart to a wall or door.
For every challenge conquered, one can simply put a mark on the next inch and label the
said obstacle. Within a year, a person will be surprised by how much he or she has grown
and matured (Sackman, 2014).
Bower and Spence (1969) stated that konteseras must believe in the power of
motivation. Stories of their lives, friends, families and businesses reveal powerful lessons that
will help them through hard times. The best thing the young ladies who suffered failures
should do is think about how they will face adversity and how they will share that with other
people.
A moral is always learned after encountering difficult times. For some, the lesson is
reassuring, even in the worst-case scenario. In beauty pageants, one has to recover from the
pain of losing and be able to face another competition again. The worst can often be mixed
with feelings of relief and an outpouring of compassion. One just needs to learn to think out
of the box (Woolston, 2016).
According to Edison (2003), in order to bounce back, one should shift their
perspective. Don't judge problems negatively. Instead, turn them into assets. Personal
growth occurs in facing obstacles, just as athletes become more fit by doing obstacle
courses, they will become stronger and healthier by overcoming hindrances. As they move
through obstacles, they develop persistence and perseverance. Likewise, wisdom and
maturity are gained. They will learn to face problems head on by maintaining the quality of
being easily understood, remaining organized and being disciplined. As the saying goes,
tough times don’t last, tough people do.
The same goes to show in beauty competitions. When a girl, a teen or a woman
chooses to join a beauty pageant, there will always be people who will make statements
about the negative things that can happen to a person participating in such contests. Parents
ultimately decide if a minor participates in a beauty pageant (Cartwright, 2011). Just because
a child desires to join a beauty contest doesn’t mean she has to. Children and teens
physically develop at different rates. This has a huge impact on a young girl’s self-esteem
and self-image. Parents need to be aware of this transitional phase in a girl’s life. The need
to listen to what a child says before, during and after competitions is important.
Admin (2011) revealed that in joining beauty pageants,a contender will not get to the
top right away without experiencing a loss. For some women, that certain loss can be their
greatest motivation to strive more. At first, they will feel neglected and disappointed, but
they don’t have to deal with that stress over and over again. Although the loss has a huge
impact, others would perceive it as an opportunity to improve and prepare for a comeback.
After some readings of related literature, the gap the researchers wish to fulfill is to
know what motivatesa beauty pageant kontesera to be more resilient after several defeats to
still get back on track.
This research study aims to describe, explore and explain a participants resiliency as
akontesera, specifically the essence of their sacrifices, fulfillment, and learnings developed
and acquired after experiencing several losses.
This study is reflective of the experiences of beauty pageant kontesera in terms of

their resiliency. Ten kontesera who have joined at least five Barangay or Municipal level of
competition. The voluntary submission program shall be confidential and shall not be used
again for any purposes. The participants were given informed consent forms.
METHOD
This is a phenomelogical research study focusing on the essence of the experiences

of kontesera particularly on their resiliency after several defeats in beauty pageants.
Ten purposively selected female beauty pageant kontesera were included using the
following criteria: she (1) at least joined five beauty pageants; (2) barangay or municipal
level and (3) did not win any title.
In order to explore on the informants descriptions’ regarding the meaning they

attributed on the resiliency among beauty pageant kontesera, the researchers conducted
series of interviews as the main data gathering technique. The researchers also held a brief
orientation about the purpose of the study followed by the signing of the Informed Consent
Form. Furthermore, with the permission of the participants, theresearchers used audio
recording devices to better capture the data needed. The scheduled interview took place on
the informant’s preferred date, time and venue.
Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. This procedure may be
summarized in four (4) steps: (1) identifying the key terms in responses; (2) developing
themes and categories; (3) classifying responses according to the themes and categories
developed; and (4) summarizing the responses in each category in narrative summary.
Emerging themes were validated by three raters. One of the raters is an expert when it
comes to research. The second one is a registered guidance counselor. The last one is a
college professor who is also an expert when it comes to research.
FINDINGS
Findings are presented following the sequence of the objectives of this study: to
describe, explore and explain the participant’s resiliency as a kontesera, specifically
focusing on the essence of their sacrifices, fulfilments, and learnings in joining several
beauty contests.
For purposes of organization and clarity, tables that quantitatively summarize data
were placed at the bottom part. Meanwhile, transcriptions (statements directly derived
from the participants) are italicized; translations/corrected statements in English are put
inside brackets follow each transcript for better understanding of meaning expressed. In
addition, owing to the participants’ natural limitations in terms of articulation, some
responses immediately translated and put in correct English form instead of first writing or
describing the literal expressions based on signs made by the participants.
The participants’ descriptions include: (1) the age they started joining beauty
pageants; (2) the number of times they joined beauty pageants; (3) the level of
competition; and (4) the number of minor awards they won.
With the data gathered, most of the participants started joining beauty pageants in
their adolescent years (12-18 years). Most of them already joined five to nine times. All of
them are products of barangay and municipal level of beauty pageants. Some of them
already won minor awards like best in long gown, best in talent, miss congeniality, etc.
Table 1
Participants’ Profile
______________________________________________________________
Participants Age when they No. of times Level of No. of
(N = 10) started joining they joined competition minor
Beauty pageants beauty pageants awards
______________________________________________________________
1 17 5 5b 0
2 15 6 6b 2
3 13 9 7 b/2 m 3
4 14 7 6 b/1 m 5
5 13 8 7 b/1m 0
6 18 7 7b 2
7 14 6 6b 0
8 18 7 6 b/1 m 3
9 16 7 6 b/1 m 1
10 13 6 6b 1
________________________________________________________________________
 b (barangay); m (municipal)
Experiences as Beauty Pageant Kontesera

Participants’ experiences were described, explored, and explained focusing on their
resiliency as kontesera, specifically focusing on, the essence of their sacrifices, fulfillments
and learnings. The findings were divided into two parts, the positive and the negative
aspects of being a beauty pageant kontesera.
Sacrifices
For the negative aspect, the participants expressed that one of their sacrifices as a
beauty pageant kontesera is that it is time-consuming—thinking and coming up with a
good talent takes a lot of time especially during rehearsals. Several times, participants are
required to attend practices for several weeks and there are instances wherein rehearsals
are being done almost the whole day.
Siyempre sa talent, matagal mag-isip ng bago kase dahil

maraming beses ng sumali nakikita nila lagi yung talent mo.
Tapos yung rehearsals din, mula umaga hanggang gabi,
walang pahinga, whole naka-heels, then for almost (2) weeks
yon before the pageant. [I need to think of a new talent
because they have seen my talents previously. The rehearsals

start morning until evening and it’s really tiring because I’m
wearing heels the whole day. And it will take (2) weeks before
the actual pageant.] P1
Gimik sa talent talaga, yung matutuwa yung judges. Malaking

points kase talaga yung sa talent portion. Tsaka practice
nadin sa paglalakad ng nakaheels tsaka minsan, may prod pa
kaming candidates na sobrang sakit sa paa kase halos buong
araw kong suot yon. [I need to think of a strategy for my
talent because it has huge points on the contest. Also, we
need to practice on how to walk in heels and sometimes, we
have a production number with my co-candidates and it really
hurts because we’ve been wearing those shoes the whole
day.] P2
Mahihirapan ka sa talent portion tsaka Q & A, sa paghahanda

tsaka practice palang mahirap na, kase sobrang dapat
seryoso ka sa gagawin mo para maganda yung kalabasan.
[The difficult part is the talent and Q & A portion, the
preparation and practice are really hard and you have to be
serious for it to turn out good.] P3
Financial Repercussion. To become a beauty pageant kontesera is very

expensive. It takes a lot of financial investment in terms of costumes, make-up,
transportation and food allowances including the professional fee spent for the payment of
handlers.
Actually, pera talaga. Siyempre magrerent ka ng costumes.

Tapos, mahal pa kasi, gusto mo yung mga magaganda yung
makuha mo. Ang mahirap pa minsan, naghihiram ka lang ng
pera para makabili tapos hindi mo mabalik kase natalo ka.
[Money really matters. You have to rent good costumes but it is
really expensive. Sometimes you just borrow money and you

can’t repay it because you lost.] P7
Maglalabas ka talaga ng pera, sa pamasahe, pagkain, tsaka sa

handler ko din. Nakakahiya nga na minsan, nagpupuyat kami sa
practice tapos matatalo lang ako. Siyempre pag sa handler, si
mama pa nagbabayad kasi wala naman akong nakuhang pera sa
pageant. Kasi hindi naman pwedeng libre lang. [You need to
spend money for transportation fee, food and for my handler’s
professional fee. We stay late at night just to practice. My mom
will pay him instead because I didn’t win money that night.] P4
Nahihiya nga ako sa handler ko minsan kase lagi nalang ako talo
diko nakukuha yung korona, pero nagbabayad ako sa kanya
tapos gastos pa sa costumes and pagkain tsaka pamasahe kase
minsan malalayo talaga yung mga barangay na sinasalihan ko.
[Sometimes I feel ashamed for my handler because I always fail
to win. But I still pay him. And for my costumes, food, and
transportation fee for the pageants in different barangays.] P5
May halaga din kase eh. Hindi naman magkano lang yung
ilalabas mo. Sa lahat na costumes, gastos, handler tsaka yung
pang maga tutulong sayo sa mismong pageant. Kase kahit
pagkain lang ibibili mo sila. [It’s really expensive. The costumes,
food, handler—of course you have to pay them. Even the people
who will help you on the actual pageant, you have to buy them
food.] P6
Essence of their Sacrifices

Passion. Joining different beauty pageants have become the passion of the
participants. All of them mentioned that, despite the many challenges of losing, it’s the joy
they feel that matters. During the competitions, they are all excited to showcase their
skills, talents regardless whether they win or lose. They are all persistent to continue
joining competitions with the belief that one day, they will be able to achieve their
ultimate goal of becoming a beauty queen.
Kahit na maraming beses na kong natalo, masaya pa rin ako

kase nagagawa ko yung gusto ko. Bata pa lang ako, gusto ko
ng maging beauty queen. [Even if I lose many times, I am still
happy because I do what I love. When I was a child, I always
dreamt of becoming a beauty queen.] P5
Sabi ko sa sarili ko, manalo man o matalo, masaya ako. Kase,

ginawa ko yung gusto ko at hindi ako susuko kahit anong
mangyari. [I told myself that win or lose, I will be happy
because I love what I am doing and I will never lose hope
whatever happens.] P6
Kapag sumasali ako, hindi lang ako excited. Manalo kundi,

excited ako sa mismong experience. Kasi mahal ko yung
ginagawa ko kaya ine-enjoy ko lang. [Every time I join, I just
do not look forward to winning, but also the experience I will
have. I love what I am doing that’s why, I’m just enjoying it.]
P9
Totoo yung kapag mahal mo yung ginagawa mo, hindi ka

mapapagod, yun siguro talaga kase ako honestly wala akong
nararamdamang panghihina na loob kase gustong gusto ko
yung ginagawa ko. [It is true that if you love what you are
doing, you will never get tired of it and I don’t feel any doubts
because I really love what I’m doing.] P10
Fulfillment
Participants disclosed that despite losing several competitions, many said that,
they have gained a lot of inner strength and confidence after experiencing several defeats.
Self-confidence. Admittedly, the participants disclosed that they have gained a lot of
confidence in themselves and in facing the public after being exposed in different beauty
contests.
Siguro, dahil medyo maraming beses na din akong sumali mas

malaki yung confidence ko, unlike sa mga first-timers,
kumbaga mas maexperience nako.[I have the advantage
because I joined several pageants and I have more confidence
compared to the first-timers.] P2
Kapag kasi sumasali ka ng beauty pageants, nasasanay kang

humarap sa maraming tao, makihalubilo sa iba’t-ibang tao at
yung self-confidence mo, mas nagegain pa. [When you join
beauty pageants, you tend to feel comfortable like when you
need to face a crowd. Your self-confidence increases.] P3
Kahit Na laging talo, yung exposure pa lang sa maraming tao

is nakakadagdag na ng self-confidence. Una, malungkot pero
eventually, babalik ka rin sa sarili mo, tapos sali ulit. Sali lang
ng sale. [Even though I always lose, the exposure to the
crowd really helps me increase my self-confidence. At first it’s
frustrating but eventually you will go back to your old self and
join again.] P5
Sense of Worth. Thekonteseraparticipants revealed that self-discover and self-

worth were among the many things they learned after joining several beauty pageant
competitions. Many said that discovering new talents, being able to do one’s passion and
the development of self-trust were just among the many positive attributes that were
revealed from their experiences of being a kontesera.
Nadadagdagan ang tiwala ko sa sarili ko at napaka-

overwhelming sa pakiramdam na nagagawa mo yung passion
mo. [I trust myself more and it is really overwhelming.] P1
Nailalabas ko yung talent at skills ko at the same time fulfilling

din. Imagine, pinanonood ng lahat yung mga kayang gawin. [I
can showcase my skills and talents and it is really fulfilling.
Showing people what you can do is a great feeling.] P7
Alam kong pahalagahan yung sarili ko. Alam ko rin na kaya

kong manalo. Siguro nga, kanya-kanyang oras lang at dahil sa
gingawa ko, mas natututunan kong mahalin yung sarili ko at
deserve kong gawin yung gusto ko. [I know how to value
myself, and I know I can do it. Maybe it is not the right time.
Because of what I’m doing, I know how to love myself and I
deserve to do what I want.] P9
Sense of Satisfaction. Being able to do what you really love gives you happiness
as they say. They feel complete even if they don’t get the chance to win. Just by
showcasing their skills and talents in front of a crowd gives them a sense of satisfaction.
Kapag kase nakakasali ako, feeling ko kumpleto ako. Yung

pinapanood at sinusuportahan ka ng mga pamilya at kaibigan
mo, nakakalambot ng puso na kahit talo nandiyan pa rin sila.
[Whenever I join, I always feel complete. When my family and
friends support and watch me, it is really heart-warming. Even
if I lose, they are always there.] P2
Kahit natatalo ako, gusto ko pa rin sumali. Yung hindi ako

gaanong nahihihrapan na maka move-on pa kasi.Bakit ko igi-
give up kung nag-e-enjoy ako diba? Tsaka nasa-satisfy ko
yung sarili ko. [Even though I lose, I always want to join
again. It’s not really hard for me to move on. Why would I
give up something that makes me happy? Somehow I feel
satisfied.] P3
Naniniwala ako na kanya-kanyang spotlight lang yan. basta

hanapin mo lang yung pwesto mo kung saan ka talaga nagsa-
shine. Nagagawa ko yung gusto ko talaga. [It’s about perfect

timing. Just find your own place to shine. And I really love
what I’m doing.] P5
Learnings
Self-determination is one important quality that these participants learned from
their journey as konteseras. Losing in a competition takes a lot of courage and strength.
For them, bouncing back after losing several contests was really tough, but they believe
that they will be able to achieve their dream and they learned how to be determined in
achieving one’s goal.
Kung may gusto ka, paghirapan mo at matuto kang

maghintay. [If you want something, work hard for it and learn
how to wait for it.] (P2)
Na dapat talaga kung may gusto ka, huwag kang titigil na

magpursige para makuha yun. Dapat talaga, lakasan mo yung
loob mo para maabot mo yung goals mo. [If you really want
something, you do not stop until you achieve it. Be brave
enough to face anything for you to achieve your goals.] P7
Huwag na wag mong igi-give up ang pangarap mo, kasi mas

nagiging makabuluhan ang buhay mo pag ginagawa mo yung
gusto mo. [You should never give up on your dreams. Life is
more meaningful because you do what you love.] P9
Faith in oneself. It was shared by the participants that, as a beauty pageant

contestant, it is important that to have faith in oneself. They shared how important it was
to stand in front of the crowd and model themselves as if they already won the contest.
Naniniwala ako sa kakayahan ko. Alam kong deserve kong

maging beauty queen one day. At hindi na ko makapaghintay
na mangyari yun. [I believe in my own capabilities. I deserve
to be a beauty queen someday, and I can’t wait for that day.]
P1
Kaya ko at kakayanin ko pa, mahirap pero kaya ko kasi

naniniwala ko na dito ako magiging successful eh. Buhay kona
ito. [It is hard but I can make it. I believe, I will be successful
in this field, I know I can. This is already part of my life] P4
Alam ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko naman kaya ko itinutuloy to at

para na rin sa mga naniniwala sa aken na one day mananalo
rin ako. Papatunayan ko yan sa lahat ng nakalaban ko dati na
kaya ko. [I know myself that I can and I will do it for the
people who believe that in me. I will prove to my co-
candidates before that I can.] P6
Continue to face life’s adversity. Challenges will always come to their ways but
what the kontesera believes that whatever life may give them they must face it with a
smile on their faces and the courage to win against the battle of life for them to achieve
happiness and contentment in their lives.
I know hindi madali pero alam ko din na malalampasan koi to

at kailangan kong maging matapang para maipagpatuloy ang
laban ng buhay ko bilang isang beauty queen. [ I know it’s
not easy but I can make it and I need to be brave to face the
battle of life as a beauty queen aspirant. ] P4
Sense of Optimism. It was during their experiences of defeat which taught them
the value of positive psychology. Despite losing several times in competitions, they have
managed to look at the brighter side of their experiences as konteseras. For the
participants, they all believe in the saying, “In every defeat lies a true victory”. Until today,
all the participants remain to be positive that one day, they will all become beauty title
holders in God’s perfect time.
I convinced myself na I am not just a failure. Family ko na din

at support nila. Tsaka alam ko talaga yung gusto ko. [I
convinced myself that I am not just a failure. With the support

of my family and this is what I really want to do.] P1
Iniisip ko na lang na may mas better pa na mangyayari. Hindi

pa oras para makuha ko yung korona. Darating din ang oras
na yun. [There is something better waiting for me. The perfect
time will come.] P4
Sinasabi ko na lang after the pageant na I can do better next

time. Hindi ko pa siguro time makuha yung crown pero
naniniwala ako na one day, magiging akin din yun. [I tell
myself right after the pageant that I can do better next time.
Maybe, it’s not my time to win but I believe one day, I can get
that crown.] P7
It’s not my time. May mas magandang mangyayari sa akin and

I know na hindi ako bibigyan ni Lord ng pagsubok na hindi ko
kaya. Makukuha ko rin yung gusto ko. [It’s not my time, there
is something good waiting for me and I know that God will not
give me something I cannot do. I will get what I want.] P8
Summary of Findings
Table 2
Categories Themes No. of Responses

A. Negative Aspect of Joining
Beauty Pageants
Sacrifices
34
Time Consuming 34
Talent Portion
Rehearsals
Financial Repercussion
Transportation
Costume
Essence of Sacrifices 4
Passion 4
B. Positive Aspect of Joining

Beauty Pageants
Fulfillment 23
Enhanced Self-Confidence
Exposure
Sense of Worth
Sense of Satisfaction
Learnings 20
Self-Determination
Faith in Oneself
Resiliency 18
Continue to Face Life’s
Adversity
Sense of Optimism
Resiliency Among Beauty Pageant Kontesera
DISCUSSION
This study is a reflection of the in-depth narrative and descriptive lived experiences
on the resiliency of the beauty pageant kontesera, specifically focused on the essence of
their sacrifices, fulfilments, and learnings. The researchers sought the personal
information and the background of their journey as a kontesera. Through this study,
significant ideas emerged from the experiences of the participants as a kontesera. The
findings were divided into two parts, the positive and the negative aspects of being a
beauty pageant kontesera.
According to the successful story of Pia Wurtzbach in 2016, it was not easy at all
to be a beauty queen but it also affirms that if someone undertakes a resolution, nothing
is impossible. She also posted on her Instagram account after she has been crowned as
Miss Universe 2015: “I used to sit and think in that exact same spot a few days before
the competition wondering what it would be like to stay in that suite as Miss Universe”.
You can’t be a beauty queen in just one snap; it takes a lot of sacrifices to be one.
This study is a pioneer study to use the term resiliency as a way of defining the
journey of a beauty pageant kontesera who experienced several defeats.
In the study of Martin (2014), the most beautiful women you’ve ever encountered
would be the total losers in traditional pageants. This is because natural and authentic
beauty cannot be scored. Moreover, the courage to get up after every failure is what it
takes to become a full-grown woman.
It turned out that the essence of the sacrifices of the participants immersed as
passion in life. Doing what they love gives them a sense of inner fulfillment. Joining again
after a defeat takes a lot of courage and beauty pageant kontesera shared that it did not
take them too long to join again because they have set their minds that they will not stop
until they achieve the crown they desire. For the participants, having passion makes life
worth living, and as they shared, the purpose of their lives is to become beauty queens
someday. They perceive that having passion aided in improving their resiliency as beauty
pageant konteseras. Moreover, deeper value as a person are better felt. Most of the
participants preferred taking their defeat in a depthless level for them not to engage in
depression. Every time they faced the crowd, their expectations drop down to zero and
are left with the feeling that one thing should be checked off their bucket list.
These findings are evidences that being passionate plays an important role in
maintaining the resiliency as a beauty pageant kontesera. Aside from the latter, the
findings show that despite the numerous struggles ahead, with the abundance of positivity
in life, it is not impossible to keep the fire burning.
For the negative aspect, a previous study stated that being a beauty pageant
contestant takes a lot of preparations. On the other hand, the participants in this study
revealed that one of their sacrifices is time consumption. Preparing for the talent portion
in the pageant takes a lot of time and it needs creativity in coming up with an idea. Aside
from the Question and Answer part, the talent portion is also a crucial point in every
competition. It usually reflects the culture or what type of person the contestant is. Also,it
is not just the quantity of time that defers the aesthetic of the presentation, but the
quality of it. For the rehearsals, according to the participants,the preparation of walking
eight hours a day in three-to-four-inched heels, which usually lasts until two weeks before
the pageant, makes them physically drained.
Accordingly, financial repercussion, as found in the study, is definitely inevitable. In

this kind of situation, apparently, money really matters. Costumes, props, and the
professional fee of the handlers need to be paid. At times, the participants would borrow
money from their acquaintances just to provide for their needs in the pageant. And as the
competition goes, there is no assurance that they will get something in return so they just
settle in the matter of luck that night.
In the article of Aol.com Editors (2011), it is really a financial endeavor—the travel

fee, the handlers, the wardrobe, the make-up—and all of the preparation fees are
staggering. As they join, they are hoping to bring home money but, unfortunately, they
will end up with nothing but a fulfilled heart.
As the participants defy discouragements by being resilient, they also have the
gains or the fulfilments that serves as the positive aspect of being a beauty pageant
kontesera. When they say fulfilments, these are the immeasurable ones. Truly, it might
have been a lost that night, but as time heals the wound of losing, they soon see the
benefit of it. One of the things enhanced in them is self-confidence. Engaging in a big
crowd gives them the guts, which in turn, adds up to their self-confidence. Aside from
this, the lesson they learned in every loss may be used in their next pageant. It is more of
a collection of memories that they cherish. After seeing the brighter side of it, a sense of
worth kicks in. It gives them the courage to stretch beyond their comfort zones.
Another salient point of self-worth is learning to love yourself. As Neff, (n.d.)

stated, “Self-worth is about who you are, not about what you do”. They must value their
inherent worth as persons. Knowing their worth will lessen the burden they carry.
Knowing their capabilities and strengths will somehow be of help in reaching their desired
goal.
Self-worth takes a big role since, for the beauty pageant kontesera, it was
discovered that if they know what they truly deserve, they will fight for it. Also, they are
more conscious on how to value themselves. A participant said, “ Alam kong pahalagahan
yung sarili ko. Alam ko rin na kaya kong manalo. Siguro nga, kanya-kanyang oras lang at
dahil sa gingawa ko, mas natututunan kong mahalin yung sarili ko at deserve kong gawin
yung gusto ko (I know how to value myself, and I know I can do it. Maybe it is not the
right time. Because of what I’m doing, I know how to love myself and I deserve to do
what I want)”. Another participant said, “ Nadadagdagan ang tiwala ko sa sarili ko at
napaka-overwhelming sa pakiramdam na nagagawa mo yung passion mo (I trust myself
more and it is really overwhelming)”.
Another prominent fulfillment is self-satisfaction. Farooqi (2010) mentioned that at a

certain point in a person’s life, they might have asked their selves about the reason or the
purpose of their life and the goals they want to pursue. As for the beauty pageant
kontesera,based on the participants’ answers, it was found that they feel complete on the
inside in repeatedly joining competitions despite losing. It is like a missing piece in them is
filled in doing the latter. It is not really hard for them to join again after a defeat because
they want their satisfaction to be filled up and that is by joining and taking the risk of being a
beauty pageant kontesera.
A sense of optimism is a must to be a resilient person. A pessimist sees the difficulty

in every struggle and an optimist one sees the brighter side of it. In every disappointment
comes a big challenge of overcoming it. And for the participants, it is really needed because
they are experiencing disappointments every now and then. Also, it is because at this point
in time, they have not experienced their winning moment yet. Plus, they believe that in every
defeat lies a true victory.
The participants expressed that they learned how to be determined in terms of being
resilient. It is an important quality that they gained through the journey of being a beauty
pageant kontesera—being determined in achieving their personal goals and having the
conviction to stand in times of downfall.
Deeper faith in oneself is an ideal goal for beauty pageant konteseras. Many factors
should be taken into consideration. Being able to stay intact in the midst of losing in a
pageant is a difficult thing to do. The participants shared that despite the enormous amount
of failures, they still managed to stand up. The number of losses do not matter, as expressed
by the participants, because for them, they will eventually attain what they want. Finding
someone who is extremely successful but does not believe in himself or herself is an
impossibility. Trusting oneself gave the participants the willingness to get up again and again
even when they fail in the pursuit of their dreams.
Being a loser in a competition does not literally mean you will not gain something,
because, as for the beauty pageant kontesera, true victory lies in every defeat.It is just a
matter of perception and the perseverance in life which is what the participants believed. For
them, getting back up despite losing repeatedly means knowing that giving up is not an
option because, as they stated, everything has its own perfect timing. They are well aware of
the fact that there is a need to work harder for to become beauty queens
someday.Consistency in being determined and committed are vital in the world of beauty
pageants. Based on their answers, the participants have firmly decided not to give up on
their dreams. In the study of Burgstahler (2016), self-determination is an understanding of
someone’s strength and limitations and being determined in facing life’s adversities.
For the young ladies aspiring to become beauty queens, believing in themselves while
following their hearts is the key to reaching their dreams. As Cage (n.d.) put it, “You are
capable and worthy of being and doing anything. It won’t come instantly, and you may
backslide from time to time, but don’t let that deter you. Never give up.”
This study intends to reflect of the experiences of the beauty pageant kontesera in
terms of resiliency. They shared their sacrifices, fulfilment and learnings in joining beauty
contest. What keeps them joining and where they get their motivation in repeatedly
participating in pageants amidst defeat are two of the questions answered in this study. Most
of them said they get it from their family, friends and loved ones. This study took control of
the selection of participants, because it was focused on the konteseraswithin Pampanga.
Future researchers may get participants who joined national beauty contests but not winning
any major awards with the considerations of how many times they joined such competitions,
and what their plans are after losing in the pageant. Future researchers can likewise
conducttriangulation in interviewing the participant’s relatives.
Emerging Framework
A person who aspires to be a beauty queen needs to be resilient. Basically, being a
beauty pageant kontesera comes witha lot of sacrifices, fulfillments, and learnings. The
crown symbolizes the resiliency of the kontesera or the way of achieving the main goal,
which is to become a beauty queen someday. The upper box are the sacrifices, wherein in
every success lies something to be given up or taken care of. During the process, not only
are sacrifices considered, but also fulfillments and learnings. It is not about the titles and
material things, but the happiness and contentment they feel from within. These things serve
as a way of coping with the disappointments they experienced in every defeat. The main
reason why the participants keep on pushing through their dreams and goals is because they
know that this is their purpose in life—it is where they belong. Passion, which is positioned in
the center of the framework, gives the emphasis of the latter as the main reason. The
passion embodied by the participants as beauty pageant konteseras give them the courage
in aiming high. The participants have expressed that they know well enough that although
life will get tough, withstanding it would make them tougher.
SACRIFICES
Time Consuming
- Talent Portion
- Rehearsals
Financial Repercussions
- Transportation
- Costumes
- Professional Fee of
Handlers
FULFILMENTS LEARNINGS
Enhanced Self-
Confidence Self-
- Exposure Determination
ESSENCE Faith in
Sense of Worth Passion Oneself
Sense of
Satisfaction
Sense of
Optimism
RESILIENCY
Continue to face
life’s adversity
Sense of
Optimism
Figure 1. Resiliency among beauty pageant kontesera.
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B
GRAMMARIAN’S CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the undersigned has reviewed and went through all the pages of
the Research Study Manuscript entitled “ Stood Up! Resiliency Among Beauty Pageant
Kontesera” developed by Jaya Bundalian, Wynne Capati, Maria Katrina Jorge,
Cherry Pie Sison and Princess Angelica Yamat, aligned with the set of structural rules
that govern the composition of sentences, phrases, and words in the English Language.
Mr. Emmanuel Bagtas, RN, Ph.D Date Signed:

Grammarian
APPENDIX C
Robotfoto
Name: ________________________________________ Gender: ______________

Age: ________________ Birthday: __________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________
Nationality: _______________________
Religion: _________________________
Status: ___________________________
Educational Attainment:
Primary: __________________________
Secondary: ________________________
College: ___________________________
Occupation: __________________________________
Number of times joined:________
Age started joining:_________
Number of minor awards:_______
Appendix D
Informed Consent Form
Title of the Research: Stood Up! Resiliency Among Beauty Pageant Kontesera
Researchers: Jaya L. Bundalian, Wynne M. Capati, Maria Katrina M. Jorge, Cherry Pie G.
Sison, and Princess Angelica B. Yamat.
Purpose: The purpose of this research study is to describe, explore and explain the
participants’ resiliency as beauty pageant konteseras.
Procedures: Participation in this study will require answering the questions utilizing an
interview guide and providing some basic demographic information. The interview will take
about one and a half hour and the proceedings in the interview will be tape-recorded and
transcribed.
Risks: During the conduction of the interview, you may come across a question that you may
find unpleasant or otherwise objectionable, that may cause you to think about negative
emotional states. Rest assured that the researchers will provide counseling for serious
adjustment regarding emotional or developmental needs.
Benefits: There will be no monetary benefits. Potential benefits that participants may attain
from joining this research study include the satisfaction of knowing that they have
contributed to a better understanding on the resiliency among beauty pageant kontesera.
Data Collection and Storage: All of the results will be kept confidentially and only the
researchers working on the study will see the data, unless required by the law.
Contact Information: For related problems or questions regarding your rights as a subject
and questions about the study, you should call the researchers or email them through the
following:
Jaya L. Bundalian 09174214946 bundalianjaya@yahoo.com
Wynne M. Capati 09157954230 wynnecapati@yahoo.com
Maria Katrina M. Jorge 09988521051 katre.jorge@yahoo.com
Cherry Pie G. Sison 09773412168 phiesison@yahoo.com
Princess Angelica B. Yamat 09268551854 pabyamat@gmail.com
Content Statement: I have read and understood the study described above. I freely
consent to participate. I understand that I am free to withdraw from the study at any time. A
copy of this consent is being provided for me.
Signature of the respondent: _______________________

Date:__________________
Signature of the researchers: _______________________

Date:__________________
Signature of the researchers: _______________________

Date:__________________
Signature of the researchers:_______________________

Date:__________________

Date:__________________

Date:__________________
Appendix E
Letter for validation of Questionnaire
Date
Dear ,
We are the fourth year Psychology Students of the University of the Assumption in the
Department of School of Arts and Sciences taking undergraduate thesis in Research 2
under Mr. Noli Franco, conducting a study entitled Stood Up! Resiliency Among
Beauty Pageant Kontesera
With your expertise, we are humbly asking your time to validate the attached interview
questionnaire for our study.
We are looking forward that are request would merit your positive response.
Respectfully yours,
_______________________
Jaya Bundalian
_______________________
Wynne Capati
_______________________
Maria Katrina Jorge
_______________________
Cherry Pie Sison
_______________________
Princess Angelica Yamat
Appendix F
Validated Guide Questions
A. Identity
1. What are your dreams and personal goals?
2. What advantage or benefit do you see in joining beauty competitions?
B. Resiliency (bouncing back from difficult experiences)

1. What is the most difficult part of being a kontesera?
2. What description can you give yourself after losing in a pageant?
3. How do you get back to yourself after the pageant?
4. What coping strategies do you employ to regain yourself?
5. What coping strategy do you consider as most helpful in your case?
6. What do you consider as your strengths?
7. From whom or where do you get support?
8. Right now, are you still open about joining another beauty contest? Why?
C. Learnings
1. What have you learned or realized from joining beauty contests?
2. Do you think those learnings can give you more confidence in joining beauty
pageants?
Appendix G
Letter for validation of Themes
Date
Dear ,
We are undergraduate student under the direction of Professor Noli D. Franco in

the Department of School of Arts and Sciences at the University of the Assumption. We are
conducting a research study about the resiliency of beauty pageant kontesera with their
sacrifices, fulfillment, and learnings developed and acquired after experiencing several
defeats.
With your expertise, we are humbly asking your time to rate the attached themes we
had made from the responses of our participants.
We are looking forward that our request would merit your positive response.
Sincerely,
_______________________
Jaya Bundalian
_______________________
Wynne Capati
_______________________
Maria Katrina Jorge
_______________________
Cherry Pie Sison
_______________________
APPENDIX H
Letter for the Raters of Themes and Categories
Date
Dear ,
We are undergraduate student under the direction of Professor Noli D. Franco in

the Department of School of Arts and Sciences at the University of the Assumption. We are
conducting a research study about the resiliency of beauty pageant kontesera with their
sacrifices, fulfillment, and learnings developed and acquired after experiencing several
defeats.
With your expertise, we are humbly asking your time to rate the attached themes we
had made from the responses of our participants.
We are looking forward that our request would merit your positive response.
Sincerely,
_______________________
Jaya Bundalian
_______________________
Wynne Capati
_______________________
Maria Katrina Jorge
_______________________
Cherry Pie Sison
_______________________
APPENDIX I
Transcribed Interview
Participant 1
A.
1. Makatapos muna talaga at siyempre gusto kong magbunga yung
paghihirap ko diba?
2. Nadadagdagan ang tiwala ko sa sarili ko at napaka overwhelming sa
pakiramdam na nagagawa mo ung passion mo
B.
1. Siyempre sa talent, matagal mag-isip ng bago kase dahil maraming beses ng
sumali nakikita nila lagi yung talent mo. Tapos yung rehearsals din, mula umaga
hanggang gabi, walang pahinga, whole naka-heels, then for almost (2) weeks yon
before the pageant.
2. Disappointment. Syempre lahat umaasang mananalo ka diba? Hindi naman kasi
talagang madali yung matalo ka ng paulit ulit nalang.
3. I convinced myself na I am more than of a failure. Family ko na den upport
talaga. Tsaka alam ko yung gusto ko.
4. I convinced myself na I am more than of a failure. Family ko na den support
talaga. Tsaka alam ko yung gusto ko mangyari sa buhay ko, I will not stop until I
reach my dreams.
5. The best strategy for me is focusing on the positive side and not on the
negative side. Failures are just part of life, pag hindi ka nagkamale, hindi ka
matututo. At pag hindi ka natuto hindi ka magbabago, tsaka yung pagkatalo
ko yung nagpapatibay sa aken kung ano talaga gusto kong gawin sa buhay.
6. I’m a perseverant and a determined person. I never get tired of chasing

and pursuing my dreams.
7. Family tyaka kaibigan talaga wala ng iba pa.
8. Oo naman, sabi ko nga diba? Go lang ng go. Naniniwala ako sa mga
ight timing eh. In God’s perfect time
C.
1. Naniniwala ako sa kakayahan ko, at kaya ko. Alam kong deserve kong maging
beauty queen one day. At hindi nako makapaghintay na mangyari yun.

2. Matatag kesa noon, sobrang pagbabago sa determinasyon ko simula nung sumali
ako hanggang ngayon. Alam ko na maganda at mabuti akong tao.

Makukuha ko din yung koronang gusto ko.
Participant 2
A.
1. Siyempre gusto kong maprovide yung pangangailangan ng pamilya ko yung mabili ko
yung gusto ko at gusto nila. At the same time mahal ko yung ginagawa ko kaya ko
tinutuloy parin to.
2. Siguro dahil medyo maraming beses nadin akong sumale mas malaki yung confidence
ko unlike sa mga first timers, kumbaga mas maexperience nako.
B.
1. Gimik sa talent talaga, yung matutuwa yung judges. Malaking points kase talaga yung
sa talent portion. Tsaka practice nadin sa paglalakad ng nakaheels tsaka minsan, may
prod pa kaming candidates na sobrang sakit sa paa kase halos buong araw kong suot yon.
2. Kapag kase nakakasali ako, feeling ko kumpleto ako. Yung pinapanood at
sinusuportahan ka ng mga pamilya at kaibigan mo, nakakalambot ng puso na kahit talo
nandiyan pa rin sila.
3. Kung may gusto ka paghirapan mo at matuto kang maghintay, hindi magiging madale
pero worth it sa hule. Wag na wag mong susukuan yung pangarap mo.
4. Siyempre hindi muna ako magsasarile, si mama naman lagging andiyan para icomfort
ako. Todo suporta siya saken. Tsaka mga kaibigan ko na din na for sure tatawag o
magtetext para lang icomfort ako.
5. Comfort ng mama ko talaga.
6. Siguro yung suporta ng pamilya ko. Yun naman kasi talaga yung dahilan ng lahat.
7. Family, tsaka kaibigan na din.
8. Oo naman, parang parte na ng buhay ko yun eh. Kahit siguro makakuha na ako ng
korona sasali ulit ako sa ibang pageant. Kase parang hindi lang doon natatapos yung
buhay ko. Ieexpose ko pa yung sarili ko.
C.
1. Kung may gusto ka paghirapan mo at matuto kang maghintay sa lahat ng mga

pinapangarap mo. Hindi naman magiging madali yung lahat, pero magiging possible sa
taong buo ang tiwala sa sarili.
2. Oo kase yun yung magsisilbing baon mo sa pagsali ulet, basta believe in yourself and
do your best. And never forget kug bakit ka sumasale, wag mong gawin para lang sa iba,
gawin mo para sa sarili mo.
Participant 3
A.
1. Hmm.. Kung hindi man ako magiging beauty queen, gusto kong maging
supermodel, or business woman.
2. Kapag kase sumasali ka ng beauty pageants nasasanay kang humarap sa
maraming tao, makihalubilo sa iba’t-ibang tao at yung self-confidence mo mas
nagagain pa.
B.
1. Mahihirapan ka sa talent portion tsaka Q & A siyempre lahat yun ipapractice mo ng
matagal, sa paghahanda tsaka practice pa lang mahirap na, kase sobrang dapat seryoso
ka sa gagawin mo para maganda yung kalabasan.
2. Sport. Hmm.. Sport na tinatanggap mo yung pagkatalo mokase competition yon, may
mananalo at matatalo.
3. Kahit natatalo ako, gusto ko pa rin sumali. Yung hindi ako gaanong nahihihrapan na
maka move-on pa kasi.Bakit ko igi-give up kung nag-e-enjoy ako diba? Tsaka nasa-satisfy
ko yung sarili ko.
4. Nagbabasa ng mga books, nakikinig ng mga musics, hmm.. nagfofocus sa studies para
makalimutan yun ganon, at nagbabasa ako ng mga blogs tungkol sa mga ganon. Parang
inspiration ba.
5. Yung.. Hmm.. Nakikipagkwentuhan sa iba’t ibang bagay at focus talaga sa studies ko.
Actually parang routine kona na after matalo usap lang sa iba.
6. My strength is my family ofcourse. Yun naman talaga.
7. For my family again na alam ko naman na laging nandyan para suportahan ako manalo
matalo nandyan pa rin sila, sila yung hindi mang iiwan sayo kahit anong mangyari.
8. Kung meron.. Willing naman ako kung iniinvite nila ako, kung sa tingin ko naman e
kaya ko why not diba? Hindi naman ako magpapadaig sa isang pagkatalo lang.
C.
1. Na.. kailangan magtiwala ka sa sarili mo and wag mong isipin yung sasabihin ng ibang
tao kase sisirain nila yung utak mo, yung self-confidence mo ibababa nila, pero kailangan
mong magtiwala sa sarili mo at sa mga taong nagtitiwala sayo.
2. Ofcourse.. Ahmm.. Yun nga dahil mas kilala mo yung sarili mo, mas nagtitiwala ka sa
sarili mo, at mas nadadagdagan yung self-confidence mo. Sa lahat naman ng gagawin mo
for sure may matututunan ka.
Participant 4
A.
1. My dreams is, if I’m giving a chance to win I will help my family and my goal is to learn
every challenges in every competition.
2. The advantage is the exposure in other and the benefit is the prize and trophies that I
got.
B.
1. Maglalabas ka talaga ng pera, sa pamasahe, pagkain, tsaka sa handler ko din.
Nakakahiya nga na minsan, nagpupuyat kami sa practice tapos matatalo lang
ako. Siyempre pag sa handler, si mama pa nagbabayad kasi wala naman akong
nakuhang pera sa pageant. Kasi hindi naman pwedeng libre lang.
2. Sport lang dapat
3. I’d get back myself to be comfortable and happy
4. Iniisip ko nalang na, may mas better pa na mangyayari. Hindi pa oras para
makuha ko ang korona. Daratin din ang oras na yon.
5. Kaya ko at kakayanin ko pa, mahirap pero kaya ko kase naniniwala ko na dito
ako magiging successful eh. Buhay kona to.
6. Magpapahinga, paliligayahin ko muna ang sarili ko tyaka na ako susubok ulit.
7. The support of my family siyempre.
8. From my family and friends also.
9. Yes, naniniwala ako na baling araw matutupad din ang pangarap ko na maging
isang beauty queen.
C.
1. Kaya ko at kakayanin ko pa, mahirap pero kaya ko kase naniniwala ko
na dito ako magiging successful eh. Buhay kona to. Wala nakong naiisap na iba
pang gagawin kundi ito lang bukod sa pag aaral, tsaka nakikita ko yung sarili ko na
magiging beauty queen talaga. Siguro imposible pa ngayon pero alam kong
mangyayari yon.
2. Yes. Lalong tumaas self confidence ko. Naniniwala ako na balang araw
mananalo at mananalo ako. Basta gagalingan ko pa susunod na pagsali ko.
Siguro nga may bang time para sa aken.
Participant 5
A.
1. Pangarap ko yung hmmm makatapos ng pag-aaral, makapag trabaho then
tutulungan ko family ko . tas itutuloy ko yung pagsali sa beauty pageants para
tuparin pangarap kong maging beauty queen.
2. Kahit Na laging talo, yung exposure pa lang sa maraming tao is nakakadagdag
na ng self-confidence. Una, malungkot pero eventually, babalik ka rin sa sarili mo,
tapos sali ulit. Sali lang ng sale.
B.
1. Nahihiya nga ako sa handler ko minsan kase lagi nalang ako talo diko
nakukuha yung korona, pero nagbabayad ako sa kanya tapos gastos pa sa
costumes and pagkain tsaka pamasahe kase minsan malalayo talaga yung mga
barangay na sinasalihan ko.
2. Disappointed ako, kase lahat binigay ko para manalo. Hmmm pero wala.. talo
parin ako
3. Suporta ng family and friends ko. Kahit natatalo ako. Pinaparamdam nila na
para sakanila ako parin ang panalo.. hmmm atlis nawawala ang lungkot ko haha
4. Tinatawagan ko friends ko. Hung-out, mamamasyal kami, then kakaen sa
labas. Yung parang walang nangyari. Ayokong magkulong sa lungkot ko.
5. Iniisip ko na hindi habang buhay, talo ako. Baka may plano si God bago ko
makuha ang korona, kaya tuloy parin ako
6. Lakas ko talaga ang family ko, hmm hindi dila sumusuko kahit na lagi akong
natatalo kaya lalo akong nagpupursige.
7. Family and friends
8. Naniniwala ako na kanya-kanyang spotlight lang yan, basta hanapin mo lang
yung pwesto mo kung saan ka talaga magsshine. And nagagawa ko yung gusto
ko talaga.
C.
1. Yung kahit na reding ready kana, mataas confidence mo namananalo. Eh hindi pala
sapat yon. Minsan talaga gusto ko ng huminto kaso pangarap kong ‘too. Mas lalo ko pang
paghahandaan ang mga susunod pa na beauty pageant na sasalihan ko. Lakas ng loob at
tiwala sa sarili.
2. “Never give up” kung gusto mo talaga ang isang bagay hinding hindi ka susuko at
gagawin lahat yon para sa pangarap kong maging beauty queen. Tyaka lalong nagging
maganda relasyon naming ng family ko.
Participant 6
A.
1. My dream is to become a successful beauty queen someday so that my family
will be proud of achievements.
2. Sabi ko sa sarili ko Manalo man o matalo masaya ako kase ginawa ko yung
gutso ko at hindi ako susuko kahit anong mangyare.
B.
1. May halaga din kase eh. Hindi naman magkano lang yung ilalabas mo. Sa lahat
na costumes, gastos, handler tsaka yung pang maga tutulong sayo sa mismong
pageant. Kase kahit pagkain lang ibibili mo sila.
2. I can describe myself as a confident woman to overcome the challenges after
losing in a pageant.
3. Uhmmm with the help of my family and friends, they help to realize with the
positive thing and give me a moral support to get back to my normal life.
4. For me, the coping strategies I will employ to regain myself is to embrace
failure and disappointment. No matter what the result is, I have to accept it that
makes me a better individual. And also laughter, positivity and hope.
5. In my case, living to learn is the strategy I consider the most helpful. Because
it is not all about winning in a contest. For me, it is also important that I gain
learning from my experience.
6. I think my self-confidence is my strength I consider the most because despite
of all the failures I overcome. I am here standing as a strong woman.
7. Uhm actually I get support from my family, friends, relatives and from the
people who believes in me.
8. Absolutely yes, I am still open about joining beauty contest because I do
believe that in time, I can achieve what I am longing for.
C.
1. Alam ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko naman kaya ko itinutuloy to at para na rin sa mga
naniniwala sa aken na one day mananlo din ako. At papatunayan ko yan sa lahat ng
nakalaban ko dati na kaya ko.
2. I think the faith in myself contributes to my self-confidence after several competitions I
join or I will join in the future. Uhmmm I believe in myself that I can overcome all the
challenges that life may bring.
Participant 7
A.
1. Gusto ko talaga matapos ko na muna kurso ko. Nursing kase ako. Para naman
hindi nila masabi na puro ganda ka lang.
2.Naiilalabas ko yung talent at skills ko at the same time fulfilling din. Imagine
pinanonood ng lahat yung mga kayang gawin.
B.
1.Actually, pera talaga. Siyempre magrerent ka ng costumes. Tapos, mahal pa
kasi, gusto mo yung mga magaganda yung makuha mo. Ang mahirap pa minsan,
naghihiram ka lang ng pera para makabili tapos hindi mo mabalik kase natalo ka.
2.Stronger. Di naman ako nawawalan ng pag asa.
3. Na dapat talaga kung may gusto ka wag kang titigil na magpursigi para
makuha yun. Dapat talaga lakasan mo yung loob mo para maabot mo yung
goals mo.
4. Kahit natatalo ako gusto ko pa rin sumali, yung hindi ako gaanong
nahihihrapan na maka move on pa kase bakit ko igigive up kung ineenjoy ko,
diba? Tsaka nasasatisfy ko yung sarili ko.
5. Yun nga, nab aka hindi para sakin ang korona ngayon. Sa tamang panahon
siguro (laughing)
6. Un lakas ng loob ko siguro. Na kahit ano mangyare hindi ako sumusuko
7. Pamilya, kaibigan at boyfriend ko na lagi nakasuporta sakin.
8.Oo naman. Sinasabi ko nalang after the pageant na I can do better next time,
hindi kopa siguro time makuha yung crown pero naniniwala ako na one day
magiging akin din yun.
C.
1. Na dapat talaga pag may gusto ka, wag kang titigil na magpursigi para
makuha yun. Dapat talaga lakasan ng loob para maabot mo yung goals mo sa
buhay kase wala naming ibang gagawa nun kundi ikaw lang kaya might as well
galingan mo na.
2. Oo. Kasi ito ung mga makakatulong sayo para maimprove mo pa un mga skills
mo. And at the same time mas makadiscover ka ng bago sa sarili mo.
Participant 8
A.
1. Hmm.. Dream ko maging isang stewardess or maging newscaster someday.
Pero yung goal ko syempre yung matulungan ko yung family ko at maibigay ko
yung gusto nila, at syempre maging successful ang future ko.
2. Siguro yung pagkakaroon ng tiwala sa sarili mo at naniniwala ka sa kakayahan
mo. Kase ganun ako, nailabas ko yung mga talent or skills ko mula nung sumali
ako ng beauty pageants.
B.
1. Yung nag expect ka na mananalo pa pero hindi pala. Sakit nun.
2. Hmm.. Tanggapin lang yung pagkatalo kase wala naman mawawala sayo e. Be
positive lang.
3. Siguro after ng pageant back to normal lang lahat, hmm.. parang walang
nangyari ganun.
4. Hmm.. Yung advices ng family and friends ko at laging nakasuporta sakin sa
mga laban ko. Sila yung bumubuo sakin after kong matalo sa competition.
5. It’s not my time, may mas magandang mangyayari saken and I know na hindi
ako bibigyan ni lord ng pagsubok na diko kaya, makukuha ko din yung gusto ko.
6. Hmm.. Yung mga taong nagtitiwala sakin at yung mga taong naniniwala sa
kakayahan ko. Sila yung nagpapalakas ng loob ko kaya ako sumasali sa beauty
pageants.
7. Ofcourse sa family ko, sa mga friends and relatives ko na laging nandyan para
suportahan ako sa mga laban ko.
8. Hmm.. Open naman ako basta gusto ko yung sasalihan ko. Saka para mas lalo
pa akong mahasa at madami pang matutunan about beauty pageants.
C.
1. Tiwala lang sa sarili saka positive lang lagi. Kase kung wala kang tiwala sa sarili
mo walang mangyayari sayo, hindi mo maachieve yung dream mo. Hinuhusgahan
ka na nga ng iba pati ba naman sarili mo. Huwag ka lang magpa apekto.
2. Ofcourse yes, lalo pang tumaas yung self-confidence ko kase marami akong
naexperience at natutunan sa beauty pagents. Saka marami akong kakayahan na
naimproved at mas lalo pa akong nagtiwala sa sarili ko.
Participant 9
A.
1. To become a beauty queen, para din mapatunayan at maging proud sakin ang
pamilya ko.
2. Kapag sumasali ako, hindi lang ako excited. Manalo kundi, excited ako sa
mismong experience. Kasi mahal ko yung ginagawa ko kaya ine-enjoy ko lang.
B.
1. Uhmm siguro yung mismong feeling, na kahit ilang beses ka ng sumali yung
feeling is iba pa rin. And syempre mahirap yung walang kasiguraduhan na
mananalo ka or what.
2. I guess I can describe myself as a strong and confident woman and wala
naman malaking bagay na nawawala sakin, actually mas nadadagdagan pa dahil
sa experience na nakukuha ko.
3. Uhm ofcourse, with the help of my friends and family talaga.
4. Siguro isa yung pagtanggap sa pagkatalo. Kasi mas nagiging matured ka kung
marunong kang tumanggap non.
5. For me it is the learning, kase hindi naman ibig sabihin na natalo ka e wala ka
ng natutunan. Importante, natalo ka man at least may natutunan ka sa
experience na yun and that’s whats important.
6. Siguro yung katatagan ko as a kontesera, na despite of many failed
competitions hindi pa rin ako sumusuko tuloy tuloy lang ako sa pagsale, yung iba
nga as in super marami na beses nakasale.
7. Syempre sa mga kaibigan at pamilya ko.
8. Oo naman, dahil naniniwala ako na balang araw makakamit ko din yung

pinapangarap ko, hindi man ngayon feeling ko malapit na hahahah!
C.
1. Wag na wag mong igigive up ang pangarap mo, kase mas nagiging
makabuluhan ang buhay mo pag ginagawa mo yung gusto mo. Walang saying o
tapon kase masaya ka.
2. Siguro mas tumaas yung self-confidence ko lalo, despite of my several failed
competitions handa pa rin akong sumali at mag try ulit.
Participant 10
A.
1. Gusto ko din maging title holder someday. Tsaka ngayon na graduate na ko
gusto din makahanap na ng stable na trabaho. At kaya ko naming pagsabayin
yon.
2. Totoo yung kapag mahal mo yung ginagawa mo hindi ka mapapagod, yun
siguro talaga kase ako honestly wala akong nararamdamang panghihina na loob
kase gusting gusto ko yung ginagawa ko.
B.
1. Ung paghahanda siguro. Syempre may halong pressure kasi talaga baka mas
maging maganda yung sa mga kalaban mo.
2. Ayun nga tulad ng sinabi ko braver siguro kasi di porket loser ka eh
panghihinaan ka na ng loob mas magiging way yon para mas maging matapang
ka na harapin yung mga pagsubok.
3. Di naman ako masyado nagpapaapekto sa pagkatalo. Kaya okay lang, wala din
naman akong routine na ginagawa. Kung talo okay lang basta sali lang ulit.
4. Lumalabas kasama mga friends ko. Mga high school friends ko lagi ko kasama,
bonding na rin tsaka mas nakakalimot ako pag ganon.
5. Iniisip ko lang na someday makukuha ko din ung korona na gutso ko at hindi
ako susuko para makuha yon.
6. yung family at friends ko na laging andyan para sakin na alam kong hindi mag
iiwan.
7. Pamilya at barkada ko. Sobrang supportive kasi sila sakin lalu na pag
rumarampa na ako lagi silang nanunuod at proud sila sakin
8. Oo kung kukunin ulit nila ako sasali ako.
C.
1. Never give up sa mga dreams mo dahil makakamit mo yan someday. just wait
and be patient. One day makakamit at darataing yun sa buhay mo na kapag
naghirap ka sobra sobra pa yung darataing sayo na kahit hindi mo hiniling ay
ibibigay niya.
2. Oo naman. Kasi kung susuku ka mas lalong hindi mo makukuha un gusto mo

or yung goals mo kase wala naming mawawala sayo kung magttry ka ulit eh. At
walang makakapigil para abutin mo yung pangarap mo.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jaya L. Bundalian is a senior college student from University of the Assumption

taking up Bachelor of Science Major in Psychology. After passing the Psychometrician
Licensure board examination, she will pursue her career in clinical psychology where she
plans to engage herself in. While fulfilling her dream to become a successful psychologist,
she also aspires to be an inspirational author and speaker. She plans to publish her own
book someday.
bundalianjaya@yahoo.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wynne M. Capati is a senior college student in the University of the Assumption

under the program of BS Psychology. After graduation, she is planning to pursue her
career in industrial psychology. All her knowledge as a psychology major student will be a
big help in her chosen field and for the future of her own family.
wynnecapati@yahoo.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maria Katrina M. Jorge graduated at the University of the Assumption with a

degree in Bachelor of Science Major in Psychology. She is planning to pursue her career in
industrial psychology and be able to apply all her knowledge in her chosen setting.
katre.jorge@yahoo.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cherry Pie G. Sison is a 4th year BS Psychology student at the University of the
Assumption. She is planning to pursue her career in industrial and school setting. If she
will not be successful in her chosen path here in the Philippines, she is planning to go
overseas to work and gain more experience in the field of psychology.
phiesison@yahoo.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Princess Angelica B. Yamat is a 4 th year BS Psychology student at the University of

the Assumption. After graduation, she is planning to pursue her career in industrial
psychology and be more exposed in different companies.
pabyamat@gmail.com

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UNIVERSITY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 1

“Never lose your faith; this will keep everything intact.”

De Sena (2013) concluded that competition really matters deeply. In life,there is a

Traditionally, Callanta (2016) explained that a beauty contest is a competition based

Pageants are everywhere now in our society, from barangays to towns to TV

International pageants also have a huge impact in national aspirations. As cultural

Technically, a candidate goes through a lot of trainings so as to win in the

According to Dillion, et.al. (2006), resilience is understood as the behavior which

According to Pekarek (2013), resiliency is the ability to conquer challenges of all

A challenge is not a problem; it is an opportunity to excel and move forward. Believe

This study is reflective of the experiences of beauty pageant kontesera in terms of

This is a phenomelogical research study focusing on the essence of the experiences

In order to explore on the informants descriptions’ regarding the meaning they

Experiences as Beauty Pageant Kontesera

Siyempre sa talent, matagal mag-isip ng bago kase dahil

because they have seen my talents previously. The rehearsals

Gimik sa talent talaga, yung matutuwa yung judges. Malaking

Mahihirapan ka sa talent portion tsaka Q & A, sa paghahanda

Financial Repercussion. To become a beauty pageant kontesera is very

Actually, pera talaga. Siyempre magrerent ka ng costumes.

really expensive. Sometimes you just borrow money and you

Maglalabas ka talaga ng pera, sa pamasahe, pagkain, tsaka sa

Essence of their Sacrifices

Kahit na maraming beses na kong natalo, masaya pa rin ako

Sabi ko sa sarili ko, manalo man o matalo, masaya ako. Kase,

Kapag sumasali ako, hindi lang ako excited. Manalo kundi,

Totoo yung kapag mahal mo yung ginagawa mo, hindi ka

Siguro, dahil medyo maraming beses na din akong sumali mas

Kapag kasi sumasali ka ng beauty pageants, nasasanay kang

Kahit Na laging talo, yung exposure pa lang sa maraming tao

Sense of Worth. Thekonteseraparticipants revealed that self-discover and self-

Nadadagdagan ang tiwala ko sa sarili ko at napaka-

Nailalabas ko yung talent at skills ko at the same time fulfilling

Alam kong pahalagahan yung sarili ko. Alam ko rin na kaya

Kapag kase nakakasali ako, feeling ko kumpleto ako. Yung

Kahit natatalo ako, gusto ko pa rin sumali. Yung hindi ako

Naniniwala ako na kanya-kanyang spotlight lang yan. basta

shine. Nagagawa ko yung gusto ko talaga. [It’s about perfect

Kung may gusto ka, paghirapan mo at matuto kang

Na dapat talaga kung may gusto ka, huwag kang titigil na

Huwag na wag mong igi-give up ang pangarap mo, kasi mas

Faith in oneself. It was shared by the participants that, as a beauty pageant

Naniniwala ako sa kakayahan ko. Alam kong deserve kong

Kaya ko at kakayanin ko pa, mahirap pero kaya ko kasi

Alam ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko naman kaya ko itinutuloy to at

I know hindi madali pero alam ko din na malalampasan koi to

I convinced myself na I am not just a failure. Family ko na din

convinced myself that I am not just a failure. With the support

Iniisip ko na lang na may mas better pa na mangyayari. Hindi

Sinasabi ko na lang after the pageant na I can do better next

It’s not my time. May mas magandang mangyayari sa akin and

Categories Themes No. of Responses

B. Positive Aspect of Joining

Accordingly, financial repercussion, as found in the study, is definitely inevitable. In

In the article of Aol.com Editors (2011), it is really a financial endeavor—the travel

Another salient point of self-worth is learning to love yourself. As Neff, (n.d.)

Another prominent fulfillment is self-satisfaction. Farooqi (2010) mentioned that at a

A sense of optimism is a must to be a resilient person. A pessimist sees the difficulty

Figure 1. Resiliency among beauty pageant kontesera.

Name: __________________________ Gender: