GORGY RULA
Nabigo man ang 69-year-old fashion designer na si Jocelyn Cubales, o mas kilala sa showbiz bilang Joyce Peñas Pilarsky, na makapasok sa official candidates sa Miss Universe Philippines 2024, sobrang saya pa rin daw niya dahil natupad ang pangarap niyang makasali sa isang beauty pageant.
Kabilang si Joyce sa labinlimang kandidatang lumaban bilang Miss Universe Philippines Quezon City na ginanap sa Seda Hotel, nung Lunes, February 5, 2024.
Read: Lorraine Ojimba waging Miss Universe PH Quezon City; senior citizen Jocelyn Cubales pasok sa Top 10
Ni-represent niya ang Barangay Baesa, at ang senior citizens na nangangarap pa ring maging beauty queen.
Kahit hanggang Top 10 lang ang inabot niya, masaya pa rin daw siya dahil naiparating niya ang mensahe sa senior citizens na kagaya niya.
“It’s very rewarding po. Nakakatuwa,” bulalas ni Joyce nang nakatsikahan namin sa DZRH pagkatapos ng pageant nung Lunes.
“The love that I felt from the organizers, and the candidates, the people working with them, sa make-up, lahat sila mababait.
"At saka they gave me a sense of importance, inaalagaan ka nila, iyon ang masaya sa experience na yun."
Ang maganda rito, nakapagbigay rin siya ng inspirasyon sa mga tao, lalo na sa senior citizens na sa tingin nila ay wala na silang karapatang sumali sa malalaking beauty pageant.
“Okay lang. Kasi I’m able to inspire a lot of people and they were happy that I joined because, what they saw in me, they want to imitate as well.
“Like for example, being active, being healthy and having a positive attitude in life. And I told everybody to never give up and continue dreaming, because dreams do come true.
“Enough na yun for me that I’m able to touch somebody’s life. History na raw ako.
"Iyon yung important for me that people will hear my story, and that their life will be different and much more better, because they heard me doing these healthy examples.
“Because sabi ko sa kanila, 'You have to think of yourself na healthy kayo. Because if you’re healthy, you can do amazing things, di ba?'
“Kaya ayun! Nag-e-exercise daw sila, they take healthy food na raw, take care of themselves more.
"O, di ba? That’s something not everybody can do, di ba? Maligaya na ako dun. That’s a reward already for me,” masayang pahayag ni Joyce.
Read: 69-year-old fashion designer Jocelyn Cubales kandidata sa Miss Universe Philippines-QC 2024
JERRY OLEA
Mas iniisip daw ni Joyce ngayon ang inspiring messages na natatanggap niya.
Pero hindi rin siya nakaligtas sa matinding panlalait. May komento raw na natanggap niya na talagang iniyakan niya.
“Yung masakit na napaiyak ako, sabi nila dapat daw naka-dextrose na lang daw ako sa hospital,” pahayag ni Joyce.
“Kapag 50 years old above ka na, dapat sa hospital ka, na nasa hospital ka na lang the whole time?
“Marami namang mga healthy na old. And I want to encourage the people to be healthier pa. Hindi yung iisipin mo na lang yung hospitalization, huwag naman.
“Gusto ko sa mga senior citizens to be active. To share their talents, their abilities to the younger generation.
"Kasi they will all be gone, di ba? So it’s better to leave a legacy and better to share what you know.
"Because we are the older generation and we are the examples and the role models for the younger generation. Marami silang matutunan sa amin.
“Kaya, I’m asking the younger generation to give more respect for the elderly.
“Kaya nga thankful ako sa organization na they accepted me as official candidate. Kasi kung hindi yun na-lift [age limit], e, di I won’t be able to join, di ba?” saad ni Joyce.
NOEL FERRER
Wala na raw balak si Joyce na sumali pa uli next year. Tama na raw yung nakapagtala siya ng kasaysayan sa mundo ng pageantry, na siya ang kauna-unahang senior citizen na nakasali sa Miss Universe Philippines Quezon City.
“I’m happy that I encourage people now to exercise their abilities and to show the world that they have something to contribute to the world.
“Kasi, di ba, ang mga senior citizen, much more experienced kami kesa naman sa younger generation.
"Kasi, first-hand namin na-experience yung mga maraming mga bagay. Kaya marami silang matutunan sa amin.”
At least pinayagan si Joyce Peñas Pilarsky na sumali sa patimpalak. That in itself is a feat.
Better luck next time, Jocelyn Cubales.