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Artscene By Nathan Howes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 29 · Wednesday, June 23, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE Student wins title, trip and scholarship M eet the winner of the 2010 Miss Philippines Philippine Independence Day Council/Toronto (PIDC) pageant -- 16-year-old Naomi Macapagal of Oakville. Macapagal, a Grade 11 student at Oakville Trafalgar High School, was crowned the winner in the contest May 8 in Toronto. She beat out 11 other competitors vying for the title. The two runnersup were from Pickering and Toronto. "It makes me feel so good because I've been working so hard for this. I put so much time and effort over the last three or four months," said Macapagal. "Now I get to experience the title, going to the events, getting exposure and helping out other people in the Philippines, as well." It was quite the night for Macapagal. Besides winning the pageant, she also won seven major awards including Best in Talent, Beauty and Poise, Best in Casual, Best in Gown, and Photogenic and Ambassador of Goodwill. Macapagal also won a free trip to the Philippines, a cash prize of $1,000, a music scholarship valued at $8,500 and jewelry. Macapagal entered the contest originally because she thought it was interesting and wanted some extra activity to participate in. Her mother also played a factor, as she was a pageant contestant at Naomi's age and won pageant titles in the Philippines. But it wasn't until halfway through the contest that things really started to change Macapagal's perspective. "What really got me going halfway through was my urge to help others, after I started to learn what the organization was truly about." Some of Macapagal's responsibilities will include attending various galas and events, along with being the ambassador and representative for the Filipino, Chinese, Korean and Asian communities. She will also help raise funds for charities such as Answering the Cry for the Poor, which helps poor people in the Philippines and Kapuso, which is a program for building classrooms and feeding and educational programs. "I am very proud of its success and we plan to continue this event for years to come," said Rosemer Enverga, the pageant director. "My goal in creating this pageant is not only to showcase their talents, but also to educate young people." The pageant has been going on for 10 years now. Enverga also runs the Little Miss Philippines and the Mrs. Philippines pageants. As Miss Philippines, Macapagal hopes to achieve more maturity and responsibilities for the next year. It has given her a lot of selfdiscipline and will help her to plan for the future. Even though she is focused on school right now, she may still go back to modeling if she joins Miss Teen Worldwide when it comes to Canada in the fall. That would be the next step for her in that field. "If I join that then I would say that I am going somewhere in this field with modeling and pageantry," said Macapagal. "My main focus is to do good in subjects that I've been learning, such as business, math and accounting. Right now, I'm planning more on being an accountant or financial consultant. "[But] I'm not 100 per cent sure on exactly what I want to do. Ever since winning this pageant, it kind of changes everything." "We are so happy and very proud of her. She has worked very hard and truly deserves it, " said Helaine Macapagal, Naomi's mother. "Pageants are a lot more work than most people would think they are. You gain a lot of maturity, responsibilities and self-discipline. You improve your weaknesses," said Naomi. "It's not just about your outer beauty, it's about the inner beauty as well." The pageant is open to Philippine women ages 15 to 21. Those interested in joining the 2011 Miss Philippines pageant can contact Envergaby by telephone at 416-284-2810 or by e-mail at missphilippinespidc@gmail.com. ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER WINNING THE TITLES: Oakville Trafalgar High School student Naomi Macapagal is Miss Philippines 2010, a Phillipine Independence Day Council -- Toronto (PIDC) pageant held in Toronto in May. Besides the pageant title, the 16 year old picked up seven major awards, a free trip to the Philippines, $1,000, a music scholarship worth $8,500 and jewelry.