She is now a marketing executive for Filipino food brand

Work is fun. We're only 8 or 10 in the company, so it's a lot of fun. But now I work for a Filipino food brand and sometimes I also help the manager for the Indian food brand. It's a lot of fun because I'm into food, apparently. 

Does she get special treatment for being a former beauty queen?

I wish (laughs). No.  No special treatment. Well, they just tease me for being a beauty queen. They easily know your name. Oh, she's the beauty queen from the office. So that's the only thing. 

Does she ever miss being in the spotlight?

A part of me wants to.. not in show business, but my frustration since I was a kid is to do theatre, like singing but you know parents especially my mum and my grandmother always wanted me to join beauty pageants. But other than that. I prefer being behind the camera.

What does she do to unwind?

Running. It may be boring but I watch Netflix at home. Read books, but mainly running, biking and swimming. It's free, it's fun and there are lots of areas where you can do it here in Dubai. La Mer, the roads. We always take the Jumeirah side to do long runs. 

Right now she’s back on the spotlight as pageant judge

It's exciting. I mean wherever I go there are a lot of good looking Filipinos. Even in the Metro. You'd be like, wow, this guy could be a model in the Philippines. So I think it's about time that we showcase the good looks and talents of the OFWs here in Dubai to represent our Filipino community. I'm excited because whoever wins here will represent UAE in the Philippines and it's actually a good way of saying that Filipinos can juggle working here and representing the country... 

She has definitely embraced the OFW lifestyle

I am excited to always share my life as an OFW to the Filipinos in the Philippines or anywhere. To show them that, “Hey, you know what? It's actually a good and noble job”. Because you're not only helping your family but you're presenting yourself to the world as a Filipino. 

She remembers sending her first balikbayan box

I was so happy, I even asked my uncle to take a video of them opening it so I could really feel. You know Filipinos have a saying “You can't call yourself an OFW if you haven't tried chai, paratha, you haven't sent a balikbayan box. A lot more. 
What was in the box?

Chocolates, my old clothes, sorry (laughs), toiletries, comforter and I forgot the rest but basically thing they love. 

She loves food

I always look for isaw. I love street food. I like Thai. Of course Filipino food is really good. But other than that, Thai food because it has a lot of flavours. Since I'm half Arab, I can say I love Arab food.

Her survival food? 

I love paratha. For only Dh5 you can survive. And also avocado shake. These foods are a staple. You always have to have them, especially if you're under budget (laughs). It's like your food when you're facing petsa de peligro (a term used to describe a period in a month when your cash flow is running low).

The most expensive thing she’s splurged on is..

Oh my gosh! I feel I was supposed to say Justin Bieber tickets but it was free. I bought a Dh500 ticket to Coldplay because I'm a Coldplay fan. That was New Year of 2017. Oh, another one: my sports watch. Suunto. It's a triathlete watch. It actually encouraged me to work harder because it's expensive. I mean run harder and faster. 

Of course she loves shopping for clothes…

Anywhere there's a sale but I love H&M, Mango, Forever 21 and our brands Splash and Iconic. Anywhere because I'm very basic. I have white, black, brown. That's it. Neutral colours. If I want a normal long sleeves that I can wear in the office and after office I go to Mango. Only when it's sale because it's also expensive. Or if I want jeans that fit well to my hips it would be Zara. I know which brand to go to. Not necessarily expensive.

She doesn’t always dress to kill.

You know what, interestingly, whenever people introduce me, like in a normal day, I don't look like this. I have messy hair, I have loose shirt. Most of the time I'm dressed down.  I always wear a shirt and jeans and sneakers and bare face. 
A normal day for her starts at 6am.

On a weekday I wake up at 6am or 7am, prepare for work. After work, I visit the gym for at least 30 minutes to 3 hours. Afterwards I eat my dinner and read my book and travel back home. Watch Netflix and then sleep. On a weekend, I run in the morning as early as 5am with the group or sometimes alone. And then I come back home, sleep, prepare lunch. Sleep again, watch Netflix and sometimes I go out to watch movies with my friends. But mostly reading. I also have my quiet time.

Her most memorable experience was...

Other than representing the Philippines in Miss International, it would be getting my Master's Degree. My grandmother passed away last January. At least she was there to see me get the diploma. I was balancing work and other beauty queen related opportunities like hosting, teaching, travelling and then Masters. There were times that I worked from 8am, I studied at night and I came home at 3am to finish my papers, my research. So I guess the most memorable one is to finish my Master’s Degree with me paying for it and doing everything I can to finish it. 

She had a very strong bond with her grandmother

My grandmother was very protective of me. She raised me and everything. While studying I was also taking care of her. There were times when she got admitted to the hospital, we had to watch over her. That's where I do my paperwork. 

When she gets sad, she goes to...

The cat cafe in Jumeirah. You just have to pay Dh30 and just pet the cats and enjoy. You always have to find a way to enjoy.

What’s next for her?

I don't really know… I am still praying for what's next for me. Right now it would be my career. I also have plans of pursuing a PhD. Not in the near future but yes it's one of my plans. Maybe have a family if the right man comes along. But other than that, if there's an opportunity somewhere else or back in the Philippines I am always open.

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