Mr.Philippines-USA 2007 After Thoughts...

... Ok, I am back in SD after a very hectic but fun-filled weekend. I arrived in San Francisco thursday evening at around 1015 PM, on Thanksgiving. My Thanksgiving dinner actually consisted of honey-roasted peanuts and a can of Diet Coke. I know, it was pretty bad, but that's all they were serving on the plane so it's all good. Oh, the stewardess gave us a bar of this awesome tasting gourmet chocolate, and that was yummy! I arrived in SF, confident that I'd do well. I've been working hard for the past few weeks and although I haven't really met the rest of the candidates, but there's no doubt in my mind that I'd do well. Friday, I had a photoshoot with Walter Parada. Around noon, I came back to the hotel to rehearse for the Preliminaries. It was very intimate. They've converted the ballroom into a small runway with the judges sitting on each side it. We started off with the preliminary interview with the 10 judges asking questions. Each of us were asked about 2-4 questions. I got 2. First question: WHY DID I JOIN MR.PHILIPPINES? and I answered, that there are alot of sterotyping not just towards Filipino Men, but to Filipinos in general, and I joined because I wanted to show that Filipinos are not "just domestic helpers" or "maids". There's more to us than that, and I wanted to show how beautiful, talented and hard-working Filipinos are, that's why I joined. Second question: HOW MUCH BEARING DOES A TALENT HAVE IN THIS TYPE OF COMPETITION AND WHY? I answered that I was a little bummed knowing that there isn't any talent segment this year. There are so many talented Filipino singers, dancers, performers, models, etc. out there and to me i think talent should weigh more than how it is now in this competition so that we can showcase some of the things we Filipinos can do. After all having a talent is a blessing in itself.
After the second question, my time was up, and the executive producers thanked me and signaled me to go and get ready for the next event, which was the "Barong Tagalog" Competition. "Barong" is a traditional attire worn in the Philippines which is equivalent to the formal suit and tie here in the US. I wore a pink Barong with lime-green embelishments and a flat-front black slacks. The preliminary runway show started and as we walked down the runway, at the end, we introduced ourselves and the state/city we came from. Next up was the BENCH Underwear Competition. and the last part was the Tuxedo Competition.
The next day, Saturday (November 25th), we headed to the Palace of Fine Arts at 9 AM to rehearse for that evenings show. The auditorium was huge and a sudden rush of nervousness and excitement came rushing down my spine and I suddenly realized that going through that day, the producers already knew who the Top Ten were. I thought to myself, well I have done my best during the preliminaries, and today, I am just going to have alot of fun and not expect anything but still hope for the best. 7 PM came and the show started. It was pretty smooth over-all, and there were a few surprises but indeed it was fun. The time came for the emcee to call the TOP TEN FINALISTS and I got a little nervous again. Finalist number 1 was called, then 2... then 3.... then 4.... then 5... half way through, and I was getting more and more nervous... then 6th was called and 7th, and still my number has not been called ( I am candidate #7)... then what relief when the 8th finalist was none other than ME!!! Wooohoooo, I almost jumped for joy but retained my composure. All the Top Ten was called and each of us were handed an envelope containing our final question. My question: WHAT DOES A GINOONG PILIPINAS (MR.PHILIPPINES) EMBODY? My answer: "A ginoo is strong and tough, yet he is sensitive. He is smart, intelligent and witty, yet he's modest and down-to-earth. We cannot discount the fact that he's beautiful, handsome, etc. But most importantly, a ginoo knows his heritage, his culture and the Filipino People. Having all these qualities will definitely make someone a very very good representative of the Filipino People. Thank You!" It's all done and everything is in the hands of the judges. And I thought, even if I don't win, what's important is that I had fun. And the moment of truth came and I didn't place. Which was cool! but i was curious what my ranking was.
The next day, Elton, one of the executive producers came to my hotel to pick me and Dave Tiu (one of the judges and my new manager) and Elton told me that during the preliminaries, I was ranked #2, and everybody was expecting me to win or atleast 1st runner-up. Come pageant finals, I went down to rank #6, which was not too bad. I knew I did good and tried my best and I think that's what's important. If you ask me, would I do it again? DEFINITELY!!! The producers actually asked me to join again, and I'm considering it... anyhow, here's a backstage picture of Ingel, Mark, Dru and I (from left to right). I'll try to post more pics soon...
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving...

Happy Mass Turkey Murder Day...

... hah hah, I can't help but crack up just by reading the title of this particular blog :) I know it sounds bad but it sounds funny though... anyhow, I just wanted to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Today I am feeling really good. A few of my friends sent me text messages and a few of them called just to wish me goodluck for this weekend! It really feels good to know that though some of them aren't gonna be there, I know I'll have their support with me when I do my best Naomi Campbell walk onstage, hehehee...
I am at the airport right now in San Diego, and there's no one here but a few passengers trying to make the last minute trip to where ever their going. Funny, because the pizza guy's been staring at me for the last 10 minutes, lol, I'm guessing he's gay because he's been checking me out since I got here, which is kinda nice... :) Uh-oh my boy's not gonna like that though, lol... hehehhee.... My flight is not 'til 8:30 so I have an hour and a half to kill and just been listening to Frankie J, Mario Vazquez, and J.T.'s albums and I totally recommend yu guys getting them...
speaking of songs, I came across JoJo's new song, "How To Touch A Girl", and I'm a little bugged by the title. The song is pretty cool, and her voice is amazingly more mature now, but the title? Well, first, she's only 15 and I doubt she really knows how a "girl should be touched" yah know what I mean! Second, well, the title can be viewed in various ways, and I know the pervs out there would automatically assume that JoJo would like to be "touched" that way, yah dig? lol... anyhow, the song is great though, love the lyrics and she's actually NOT talking about anything sexual, not that there's anything wrong with that, but like I said she's only 15, hehehhe, so yah, can you tell I'm bugged by it alot, lol... anyhow, here's a little Thanksgiving gift for yu guys... one of my favorites of all time. MARK WAHLBERG!!! I dunno if this was shot pre- or post-Marky Mark era... nonetheless, he's a hottie...
:)

Holding On...

... just finish dinner with my boy, and as I sit here trying not to think much about this weekend, I suddenly realize that tomorrow is the first time that I am not gonna be spending Thanksgiving with my family. It made me sad a bit because it's the first time I felt how it is to be alone. I have always had my family with me during the Holidays, and this year I am actually going to miss my sister's birthday as well. We don't do anything extravagant or anything grandeur but the fact that we're always celebrating together made me realize that I should start getting used to not being able to be there with them, nor them being always there with me. The good thing is that I always have all those great memories we've shared and I am definitely holding on to those for as long as I can. Tomorrow night is my flight to San Francisco, and I'm excited and nervous at the same time. But I know it will definitely be a blast and I am not going to expect anything because I despise disappointments. I always go in with a clear mind so that when things doesn't go my way, it doesn't weigh me down as much... I am hella tired though, and I made dinner for my boy because he's been working alot of hours and I just wanted him to know that he's appreciated. I am going to be gone for about 4 days and it'll be very very hectic but I'll try to keep you guys updated about what's going on in SF... wish me luck and if you guys are in or around the Bay Area, please do come check this out, and see me: www.ginoousa.org

here's a very recent picture of me, taken by one of my favorite photographer Cameron Frost in Los Angeles... HAPPY TURKEY DAY Y'ALL!!!

Hot Stuff...

Channing Tatum... this guy exemplifies the male X-Factor. He's gorgeous, tough, rough, and the boy can dance! Yeah, have you guys seen "Step Up"... What do you think guys...? :)

Moving Day...

Today is a chill day for me!!! I moved last Friday and crap, I've been hella tired since then. Cranky too. To top it off, I've spent hella money on new furniture and new things for the place, but nonetheless, I am happy, just tired and whiny I guess... My friend Dru called me earlier to give me the run-down of the guys copeteing against me this coming weekend. And he told me that out of the 9 guys that showed up, only 2 are, using his own words, "DOABLE", hehehhee... that's Dru! but really, I'm not wiggin' it, though it was good to hear, I'm going there to have fun, and see what it's like... plus, I get to go to San Francisco again, so that ain't bad at all... Anyhow, it's really difficult moving to a new place, especially if you don't have anything at all: empty kitchen, living room, no cable (yet!), and nothing on the fridge (yet!). I've been living with my other roommates for like 5 years and pretty much everything in that house was theirs except for the stuff in my room (bed, tv, lapto, clothes, etc). Yesterday, I went shopping for living room furniture, and thank goodness, I have a friend who manages a really nice furniture warehouse here in San Diego, and I pretty much got my living room stuff for wholesale price :) so that, I'm really glad... my neighbors seem really nice and quiet which is a good thing. I'm probably the only one making all the noise in here and my dogs (PIGGY and GIZMO-they're both PUGS)

anyhow, i will leave you with a collage of my fave models, courtesy of my friend ALEXSANDER who's in Vegas right now, winning alot of money hopefully, lol...

A Big Day...

I just woke up and it's almost noon here in San Diego. Turned the tele on and saw that Tyra is on. I love her, and although some people don't, I think she's interesting. And she was talking about METH addiction, and it dawned on me: I KNOW SOMEONE WHO'S GETTING ADDICTED TO METH!!! I didn't even realize it, but when she started talking about symptons, indications, and what not, I knew this guy is using. He started complaining about "creepy-crawling insects" on his arms and legs. One time he called my boy and he said he's got some "maggots" coming out of his skin and he started picking his skin. All of which are hallucinations, another indication of METH abuse. Anyhow, enough of these depressing stories, it just dawned on me and i thought I'd share it with you guys...
Today is a late start for me, with the big move starting tomorrow. But I'm excited because the area I am moving into is so nice and I got a small place but it's just perfect. I was supposed to go to San Fran this weekend, but I don't think I'm gonna make it there until nexgt weekend, because of this move. And as November 25th comes closer (yah, Pageant nite - what's another word for PAGEANT btw, lol) I'm wiggin' it more and more, but oh well, as what my friend Ingel told me last night, just be cool, show mah face and have fun... and Jamie told me to "imagine everybody "nekkid" heh heh" so that's what i'm gonna do... i'm nervous because there's a swimsuit competition, i dunno if i look great in a swimsuit, here's a sample, yu guys let me know, heh heh ~ ciao...

Mr.Philippines-USA 2007

Ok, here it is... this year's "Search for America's Best Filipino Male" will be taking place on Saturday, November 25th, 2006 at the Palace Of Fine Arts in San Francisco, CA.


and this year, San Diego's representative is none other than, ME :)
for more info, please visit: www.ginoousa.org
and if you guys are free that weekend, please do come and see the pageant!



... thanks to my good friend ALEXSANDER for his support (www.alexsandercr.blogspot.com)

Gym....

... so today, I went to the gym at around noon, figured what the hell, I'd go early so I can take my sweet-ass time and not have to wait for machines, equipment, etc... and it was cool, not too crowded and a few hotties working out, so i'm a little more motivated, wink wink... and then as I was doing my abs, a short guy walked in and i thought, this guy looked familiar! He was very private, wearing a long gray hoodie, and black gym shorts. As he walked passed me, and I got to see his face, I swear that I have seen this guy before somewhere! My curiosity had gone skyrocketed, and I was focusing on this guy for a few minutes when the song "THAT GIRL" played on my ipOd. As I grabbed my ipOd to turn up the volume, I saw the graphics and sure enough, the same guy running on the threadmill is none other than FRANKIE J...!!! I was a little starstruck and was staring at him for a few minutes and i must admit he's way cuter in person :) and he actually caught me staring a few times, hehhehee.... i was gonna come and say hi, and shake his hand but I didn't wanna bug him... I was just glad to know that we go to the same gym :)
I'm a big fan and his latest album is awesome...

A New Blog....

This year's almost over, so I thought I'd start another BLOG and try to keep this one up a little longer than my previous blogs. A good friend of mine inspired me to start BLOGGING again, and here I am :) It's funny because I almost forgot how fun this is, and now that I am starting again, everything's starting to come back to me. I clearly remember though, how I lost interest in blogging. One time when everything seems to be doing ok, I got a message from some guy who's a bit "homophobic" and it made me realize how shallow and unpretty the world out there can be. It ruined my "perfect" notion of the world and lost interest in blogging after that. I know that I shouldn't let anyone or anything like that bother me, but I was thankful that I got to experience that, because it made me stronger and more aware of the world. Anyhow, I am back and there ain't no stopping me from now on... so whether you like it or not, HERE I COME.... :)