Ang Kalatas Volume V June 2015 Independence Day Special Edition | Page 20

Rediscovering
their roots
BEAUTY queens Glyssa and Hannah made a trip
to the Philippines recently as part of a charity visit
under the auspices of the Philippine-Australian Sports
and Culture Inc. They share their thoughts about
the country, the people, and their experience that
rekindles their Pinoy identity.

GLYSSA PEREZ
Miss Philippines-Australia 2014
Miss Visayas-Australia 2014

Glyssa at the famous “Kalang Banga”
in Calamba, Laguna
20

JUNE 2015

SINCE I arrived back from the Philippines recently, my
view of life has somewhat changed. I wouldn’t say that it
has dramatically changed my life because I think my trip
wasn’t long enough for me to experience, to learn and
grow as a person. I feel like I need to immerse myself there
longer to really grow. But I do want to share with you my
‘somewhat change’.
I was in the Philippines for about six weeks. First
stop Manila, then Cebu, Ormoc, Bohol and then back to
Manila. It definitely was a busy but joyful trip. My first two
weeks in Manila, I was with the beautiful Hannah Arnold
‘Miss Charity Queen Australia’. Both Hannah and I had a
wonderful time attending appearances and attending
events. Hannah can also agree with me that the most
memorable part of our Manila trip was when we went
to the ‘Technological University of the Philippines’ to
meet some scholars and donate 50,000 pesos for the
scholarship programme; ‘Home for the Angels’, a child care
centre for abandoned and abused infants and the ‘Hiyas
ng Pilipinas 2014’ both founded by Lito Atienza that aims
to enrich the God-given talents of unfortunate children of
Manila by expressing themselves through dancing.
After our duties we had the chance to unwind at the
Hidden Valley Springs Resort at Alaminos, Laguna and the
day after visited Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. If you are
into history, culture and an appreciation of architectural
designs of the past, then you will definitely love Las Casas
Filipinas de Acuzar. I know I definitely did.
Have you ever longed in your heart to make a
difference in the world for the better? Or even make
a difference in your community? Well that has always

been in my heart to make a difference. I always thought
to make a difference you need to do something
extraordinary. But it’s totally the opposite. When you
have the heart to do something to help or even make a
difference, it doesn’t have to be something big, it can be
something small.
What struck me the most from my trip were the
people. Sometimes we don’t realise even for myself
that we take things for granted (I know we always hear
this phrase) but it’s true. The people that I’ve met along
the way taught me that to be happy we need to accept,
appreciate and find the beauty in the simplest things. I

”

What struck me the
most from my trip
were the people. Sometimes
we don’t realise that we
take things for granted but
it’s true. The people that I’ve
met along the way taught
me that to be happy we
need to accept, appreciate
and find the beauty in the
simplest things.
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