In focus: Binibining Liloan

CEBU, Philippines — The daughter of a barangay councilor and a court sheriff, Theresa does not recall wanting to become anything else than a lawyer.

 “I often joke that the dream began while I was still in my mother’s womb,” says Theresa, a Miss UC Law 2016 title-holder and Miss Liloan 2017 first runner-up.

A Political Science graduate from the University of Cebu, Theresa’s currently on her second year of post graduate studies at the University of Cebu Banilad – all for her goal to make the courtroom her playground.

“I don’t have any background of injustice or inequality to push me to get a law degree, unlike most. I just couldn’t think of any other thing I want to do. Plus, this is my father’s unrequited dream, so I’m going to fulfill this for us.”

With her participation in Binibining Cebu, Theresa has had to sacrifice sleep and time for family as she juggles reading assignments and pageant duties.

If she could possibly enact a bill or a law, Theresa offers this suggestion:

“Corporations wouldn’t like this, but I’d like us to have a law imposing Carbon Tax to sanction those high-emitting industries contributing much to pollution and global warming. We have to take stringent and drastic efforts in protecting the environment especially with the apparent threat of climate change.”

Describing herself an introvert, she’s content to read, write, or watch movies and TV series inside the comfort of her room. She also dabbles in photography and literature and gets a high in encountering good phrases and words. “Im addicted to words! They say I have a sporty physique but I’m not into sports. Im a self-proclaimed jack of all trades, yet a master of none,” she reveals.

According to Theresa, she’d like to represent the woman who never had the chance to take the spotlight, the beautiful lady thriving in her everyday life to achieve her dreams, that lady who never exacts themselves to society’s standard of beauty but remains to be their own kind of beautiful.

 “That is who Binibining Cebu should be,” she says. “A woman who represents the ordinary, but extraordinarily abides in herself and as to who she truly is. And I am that.”

 Theresa thinks Liloan became a first class municipality because of the continued efforts and cooperation of all Liloanons for sustainable living. But if she could suggest one aspect for improvement, she says its residents should become more disciplined and responsible.

“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around or circumvent it. To avoid that, I shall work within myself to be as disciplined and responsible in my daily living and let others emulate til it transpires to the whole community like an osmotic process.”

Listing off what she loves about her hometown, Theresa proudly claims: “You name it, Liloan has it! Each of the barangays in Liloan has their own specialties. From food, to ceramics and crafts. In the barangay where I grew up, I’m claiming that we are the makers of the most delicious masi. But Liloan is really known for the Titay’s rosquillos. Cebu experience for tourists wouldn’t be complete without our rosquillos. With tourists spots, we have the Bagacay Point or the Parola Lighthouse, we have mountains suited for trekking, the Mulao river for trail running and long stretches of pristine beaches. But the people in Liloan is what makes me fall in love with it even more. Everyone is concerned and initiating efforts in making Liloan a great place to visit and to live in. Liloan is a first class municipality, and it wouldn’t become one for no reason. #liveloveliloan” (FREEMAN)