Mother. Wife. Beauty Queen. Speaker. Cultural Worker. Public Servant. Etcetera. Not necessarily in that order.
Does it take a superwoman to excel in those roles?
Not really. All it takes is (Miss Tagbilaran 1987) Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin to pull such a feat.
Fiel Angeli A. Gabin: 'I use "Perla,"
especially for the face, and instead of eyebrow pencil, uses mascara to
define the eyebrows.' Contributed Photo
Bullied
by the richer, more "entitled" girls and some schoolmates, saying that
their family is "uyamot," but through honest efforts, has proved that
there's more to life than money and material wealth.
If she were to live her 50 years all over again, would Fiel do it the same way, with nothing changed?
"I
will still be profoundly grateful to God for each day of my life - good
times, bad times and all, cherish moments with my loving family and
true friends," she says with conviction. "And continue my advocacy of
helping young people hone their potentials through my own simple ways."
On the occasion of her 50th birthday on Monday (February 24, 2020), Fiel has 50 (actually, more!!!) good reasons to celebrate life.
1.Eldest daughter of bank executive Rep Bongoyan Araoarao (who opted to run for Panglao Mayor declining a managerial position, after bring prodded by his father), and Wincie Espejo Araoarao, a dedicated Bohol National High School (BNHS) PE teacher and Bukang Liwayway Dance Troupe founder.
2.Given the name “Fiel Angeli” which means “faithful angel” by her mother.
3.Thankful to maternal grandparents Lolo Aloy and Lola Pining Balatero Espejo, her first “babysitters”, and used to visit paternal grandparents Lolo Tio and Lola Tilde Bongoyan Araoarao on some weekends in Panglao.
4.Lost an 11-month-old sister “Hannah Gay” in April 1973 due to meningitis, although her Mama Wincie still believes to this day that it was a case of medical malpractice.
5.Started dancing at age 3 (“Pearly Shells” and “Tiny Bubbles”), trained by her Mama Wincie and wanted to be a gymnast like her mom, but got so scared.
6.Thankful to her experiences at Holy Spirit School, Bohol National High School, and Divine Word College of Tagbilaran.
7.“Manang Fiel” to Reparato Anthony “Ondoy”, Ann Claire “Bibby”, and Coeli Marie “Chelli”.
8.Since she was young, was always smitten by those who speak English well.
9.Has always considered herself an ugly duckling, but loves seeing beautiful swans and “envied” little girls who were taken as models in fashion shows and chosen as “Reynas” during “Flores” and “Santacruzan”.
10.Loves seeing swimming pools and the beach.
11.Likes avocado “lamaw” with banana, mango, condensed milk, and ice.
12.Rides the tricycle as main mode of transportation everyday since 1976 till now.
13.Imagined since Grade 6 that she will be wedded at the HSS Chapel (and she did!).
14.Has loved Siquijor since 1977, even before she met her husband, Jerome John Jumawan Gabin.
15.Watched the "Sound of Music" almost 20 times.
16.Started admiration for local showbiz personalities in the early 1980s and likes Pops Fernandez, Ruffa Gutierrez, Janella Salvador, and Sue Ramirez; while her favorite Hollywood actors are Christopher Reeve (original “Superman”), Keanu Reeves, and Johnny Depp.
17.As right-brained, hates Math and would rather be left and stay afloat in the middle of the sea or slowly swim ashore than solve a math equation.
18.Started joining beauty pageants at age 13, in the Miss Regional Secondary School Conference at Larena National Vocational College (now SSC) in Larena, Siquijor.
Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin as Miss Tagbilaran 1987.
19.Thankful to her 4 regional secondary school press conferences (RSSPC) all over Central Visayas and 3 national SSPCs covering Luzon (Zambales), Visayas (Iloilo), and Mindanao (Zamboanga del Norte).
20.Won first runner-up in the Miss RSSPC 1985 and second runner-up in the Miss Regional Science Fair and Quiz 1986 in Lapu-lapu City.
21.Cherishes her 2 Miss Talent awards in Miss BNHS Personality 1986 for oration and Miss Tagbilaran 1987 for “Binasuan” dance and believes that talent is to be shared.
22.Jumped from the boulders of the Mag-aso Falls in Antequera with BNHS and DWCT friends in the late 1980s and jumped with friends at the Dauis Bridge at 1:00 a.m. of November 1, 1993.
23.Twenty (20) years after being VP for Public Relations of Sandugo Toastmasters Club, became Bohol Toastmasters Club Charter President in July 2014.
24.Served as president of the Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO) Central Visayas in 2004-2005 and was convention director of the 24th RADIO - Central Visayas Convention in September 2018.
25.Has gone around Bohol, as well as Negros Oriental and Siquijor judging festival street dancing competitions and beauty pageants.
26.Was a victim of cyber bullying through a Facebook post in August 2017.
27.Offers to God through St. Joseph Worker all her sincere, honest efforts and experiences in the first-ever Saulog Tagbilaran street dancing competition in April 2013.
28.Became consultant and judge of Pilar’s “Panubig” Festival and Dauis’ “Panagat” Festival.
29.Took the EAT Danao zipline in 2007 with her Honey Jerome and Siquijor St. Francis of Assisi Apostoles and became “braver”.
30.Uses "Perla," especially for the face, and instead of eyebrow pencil, uses mascara to define the eyebrows.
31.Not experienced having a facial treatment ever and reverted to Kokuryu foundation that she used in her BLDT days.
32.Uses petroleum jelly to style hair and sports the bun hairstyle to avoid “mahangin sa labas” moments.
33.Can wear a P30-dress and a $5-gown and has no qualms about it.
34.“Low maintenance” as she buys “cheap” clothes (Expensive clothes and shoes are gifts from siblings).
35.Is “obsessive-compulsive” (OC) when it comes to folding clothes – by kind and by color.
36.Wished that she had smooth long, legs.
37.Would rather sweat by sweeping the yard (“manilhig”), rather than go to the gym.
38.“Ni-para” and nakasakay sa sakayan” with Cielo and a big bag to catch up with the Balite Lines in the middle of the sea, just to go home to Tagbilaran for Lola Pining’s urgent concern.
39.Considers organizing the Thailand-Philippines Youth Exchange Program (TPYEP) in October 2005 and October 2011 involving Kanlayaneesithammarat School English Program, Holy Spirit School, and Tagbilaran City Science High School among her greatest achievements.
40.Cried and thanked her daughter Cielo – the reason for her first international travel - while the China Southern Airlines took off 1 meter from the NAIA ground in May 2012.
41.Was “stopped” by a Los Angeles Airport security officer for trying to have a photo op near President Obama’s “Welcome to America” sign.
42.Wanted to see Hoover Dam after watching “Superman” in 1980 and fulfilled it in 2012 with her Mama Wincie and Cielo.
43.While in America, had visited California, Texas, Nevada, New York, and Minneapolis and was secretly hoping to have a photo op with a Hollywood Star.
44.Goes for what is “unique” rather than “stereotypes” and abhors corruption in any form.
45.Believes that a swan is a symbol of grace, beauty, and humility, and that something beautiful comes out from nothing by honest efforts and God’s grace.
46.Influenced by admiration for her Mama Wincie, Madame Imelda Marcos, US Olympic skater Dorothy Hamill, beauty queen and original Wonder Woman Lynda Carter, and media executive Charo Santos.
47.Aside from beauty pageantry, campus journalism, culture and arts, alumni associations, and federated parents-teachers associations, now into special children as part of advocacy.
48.As a keeper of memories, she likes having pictures of activities and important occasions.
49.Cherishes simple bonding moments with her husband Jerome, children Aj Wincielou Johanna “Cielo” and JF Regilbert Johnson “Renji”, and Mama Wincie.
50.Firmly believes in God’s
power as felt in her life experiences; prays through St. Joseph, Mother
Mary, Santo Nino, Padre Pio, St. John Paul, and St. Teresa of Calcutta,
and is profoundly grateful to God for the very colorful journey.
* * *
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.
