"How Beautifully Connected We Are..."

(Author's note: This is the 2nd of three parts about my feature on Ms. Emma Mary Tiglao, BBP 2019 candidate representing the province of Pampanga. Get to know more about Emma's #BeyondBeauty persona behind all the glitz and glam of pageantry.)

"Find people who help you feel more at home in your heart, mind and body, and who take joy in your joy. Find people who love you, for real, and who accept you, for real. Just as you are. They’re out there, these people. Your tribe is waiting for you. Don’t stop searching until you find them.” 

If you would ask Emma Mary Tiglao what gives meaning to her life, family and friendships are at the top of her list. 

All her life (at 24 years, four months and 19 days as of today), Emma has made some incredible, loving connections outside of her family, they are her person... her tribe. One of them I had the pleasure of knowing recently. She is Kash Manalo, a young Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) working in Dubai.

Emma and Kash became friends eight years ago. Emma was a third year Tourism student of Holy Angel University where Kash was working as a multimedia specialist. "The College of Hospitality and Tourism Department produced a video campaign material where Emma was one of the hosts and the rest is history," Kash said.

Emma and Kash during one of their travels

Their friendship was unexpected. When they met, Emma - at 18 - was a student and title holder in a national beauty pageant while Kash was 6 years older and the total opposite of her. "We hit it off. We didn’t share the same era, but we shared the same purpose. Purpose to give, to live and be alive. I can’t even put into words how beautifully connected we are in many ways but all I know is that we value our friendship beyond distance," Kash narrated.

Kash is grateful that her friendship with Emma gives them the allowance for mistakes and freedom to grow individually. "When Emma realizes that she has done something wrong, she would tell me without hesitations and wait for my sermons. Her maturity for admitting something and accepting my opinions makes me so proud. She’s helping herself improve and learn from her mistakes. She’s trying to learn every day and striving to be better."

Kash also appreciates how Emma, despite all her successes and achievements, remains the humblest and kindest person. "She’ll join you in your battle, she’ll be the first person to jump and cry because of your achievements. Emma will even cross the ocean just to see you and make up for lost time. She values her friends and people around her. She has a rare quality that’s hard to find."

When asked what makes Emma unique as a friend and as a person, Kash recalled Emma's efforts. "When she was competing in Binibining Pilipinas 2014, that was also the time I was about to leave the Philippines to fulfill my dreams. Emma went out of her way to go back to Pampanga to surprise me and say our goodbyes. It was short but it left a significant mark in my life," Kash said. 

Emma was also an OFW like Kash. At a very young age of 21, Emma took out a big step outside her comfort zone to go to Cambodia to help her family, buy them a house and a family car. "She was at the peak of her modeling and hosting career, but Emma chose to leave. She’s bold and brave to take a path that she’s not familiar with. Her bravery took her places, she found new friends and family, it kept her well-grounded," Kash said.

But Emma's kindness is more evident in how she helps people in need, big or small. Kash recalled how Emma has been helping charitable organizations focused on special children and less fortunate kids since 2014. 

Emma loves to share her blessings without using her platform.

"Even when she was in Cambodia, Emma - together with some of her friends there - continued to do good deeds and random acts of kindness. They cooked Filipino dishes and shared it with some of the less fortunate people in Cambodia," Kash added. 

After fulfilling her dream of buying a house and car for her family, Emma came back to the Philippines and continued to share her blessings. According to Kash, Emma organized outreach programs at the Munting Tahanan ng Nazareth and the Special Education Center in Angeles City without using her platform. 

Kash also shared that there were times when they would pack some goods, drive around Angeles City and San Fernando and hand out these goods to the homeless and street families. "When Emma helps, she helps silently. She doesn’t use her platform to gain attention. She just wants to change the world with her simple kind gestures. Her enthusiasm to help makes a big difference and inspires the people around her to do the same. I believe that your vibe attracts your tribe. That’s what she does. Her enthusiasm to help others gives us the reason to be better and to share."

Emma loves being around children.

When I asked Kash what could have been Emma's career if she did not pursue her dream of being a beauty queen, she told me it would either be as a teacher in a social facility organization or a flight attendant. 

"Emma really wants to be a teacher. She is fond of children. She enjoys her time playing and interacting with them. Being a Flight Attendant is also one of her biggest dreams. She sees it as an opportunity to see places around the globe. She loves to travel a lot. She enjoys her time being on the beach, hearing the sounds of the sea," Kash added.

According to Kash, Emma joined different beauty pageants and accepted modeling stints to raise money and pay for her college tuition. "Her dream was to finish her college and have a diploma. She graduated with flying colors while working left and right. She knows what she wants and what she wants to achieve. She worked hard for every single penny she earned," Kash proudly says about Emma.

Behind all that glitz and glamour, Kash says the one thing that people would be surprised to find out about Emma is that she is also a cowboy. "She’s always on the go. When you ask her if she wants to join you on a 9-hour bus ride, she’ll drop what she’s doing and go for it without hesitation. Sasakyan lahat ng trip mo just to please you."

"We all know that she is flawlessly beautiful. I always tell her that she’s “halimaw” whenever she is on stage. We always laugh it off. Because deep down she’s simple, exceptionally thoughtful and determined."

On Emma's normal days, which she rarely has, she tries to spend time with her family, to watch movies or have dinner out to catch up with them. 

"People see Emma the beauty queen. But in the eyes of her friends, we see the determined Emma who works hard for her dreams. Her dreams are not actually about her, it’s about her family especially for her mama and papa. She wants her father to stop working overseas that is why she’s striving so hard for her family," Kash said.

When I asked Kash what she thinks was the biggest challenge faced by Emma and how she overcame it, Kash said it would be what she went through in 2014. 

"The world of technology can be so mean and cruel. After joining Binibining Pilipinas and Miss World Philippines that year, Emma was brutally bashed about her performance in the Q&A segment. It was heartbreaking to read the mean comments, but she took these comments positively and as constructive criticisms. Her 5 years off in pageantry gave her the time to focus on healing, learning and growing. She was bold enough to try things that were new to her. She traveled a lot, met new people, tried to go outside her comfort zone and that shaped her into who she is today. These opportunities opened her eyes to the reality of life and discover what she really wants."

Now, Emma is back stronger and better than ever, brave enough to try again and wise enough to know that she is already a winner because she kept going, grateful in the thought that no matter what happens, she will always have the love and support of her family and true friends.

Thank you Kash. It's a pleasure to know you. I hope to see you soon.