Texas Fil-Am is Miss US International 2009
This was sent from our family mailing list and one of my cousin were high school mate of the mother of the girl that won this prestigious award to represent the US in the Miss US International 2009!! Now, isn’t that something!! I think its a great achievement for all of us really. This article was written by Mike Banos. Read the story below…
Cagay-anon scion is Miss US International 2009
A.J. is the daughter of Dr. Romeo “Boy” Sy Yap of Cagayan de Oro City and Virgincita “Geget” Bautista Valdehueza Yap of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. She is the younger of two siblings and has an older brother Nathan.”We are just so fortunate that the Lord granted us this wonderful gift,” proud Dad Boy Yap said in an email interview from Texas. ” Saba kaayo ang auditorium,kay daghan kaayo sa among barkada ang nitambong. I was one proud father to see our daughter being crowned. For the family it is a very “crowning moment”.
“I´m so happy,” said Gov. Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental upon hearing the news. “Geget Valdehueza was born, and she grew up, in Balingasag, though her roots are from Tagoloan. Congratulations! ”
“Congratulations and more laurels for her,” said Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula when informed of A.J.´s win.
The preliminary competitions for the swimsuit and evening gowns were held July 8 at the Hilton Hotel Ballroom in Houston. A.J. won both the “Best in Swimsuit” and “Best in Evening Gown” awards.
The next day the contestants had a private interview with the judges. The five finalists were chosen following the preliminaries but were only disclosed during the pageant night on July 10. Among the six judges were reigning Mrs. America Maureen McDonald and former Miss Universe Chelsi Smith.
During the pageant night on July 10, A.J. was announced as one of the finalists joining Miss California Kristy Dennis, Miss Florida Lees Darayanne Garcia, Miss Michigan Shawna Vale, and Miss Wyoming Keri Shaw.
The five finalists again competed in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and had a question and answer portion with Emcee Alex Trevino. A.J. was asked to describe her recent vacation in the Philippines.
In the final tally, Ms. Wyoming Keri Shar was chosen fourth runner up; Ms. California Kristy Davis, third runner up; Ms. Michigan Shawna Vale, second runner up and Ms. Florida Lees Darayanne Garcia, first runner up.
“I thank God for what she is and what she has become,” Geget Yap said in an online interview from Texas. “It is truly a gift to have a beautiful daughter both in appearance and in character. I told her to wear the crown with dignity and pride yet with a humble heart.”
A.J. is a junior at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas majoring in biology. Her father Boy is a psychiatrist and Mom Geget is a nurse by profession and Director and Owner of Virginia’s Lakeview Personal Care Home in Texas, USA.
A.J. was selected by National Pageant Director Britt Harrison and other pageant directors from other states of MISS US INTERNATIONAL as Miss Texas US International 2009.
She graduated as the Most Outstanding Student at the Sacred Heart School in Conroe, Texas and went on to graduate Summa cum Laude at Willis High School.
Boy, Geget and A.J. recently took a month-long vacation in Cagayan de Oro and Region X (Northern Mindanao) and was presented to the employees of the City Hall during the traditional flag-raising ceremony held every Monday.
“I loved CDO, everything was very close and I enjoyed spending time with my family there,” A.J. said. “I loved the malls the most in CDO and the least, was the traffic and rain.”
During her stay she went river rafting in the Cagayan river, visited the Chocolate Hills and Hinagdanan Cave in Bohol, Camiguin, Duka Bay Resort in Medina, Misamis Oriental, and petted a tiger at the Mantianak Zoo and Nature Park in Sugbongcogon.
She also admits developing an addiction to halo-halo which she says she could eat every day, besides the traditional Pinoy breakfast foods like Tapsilog and garlic fried rice. However, she has her reservations about balut.
She admits her parents being both in the medical profession were influential in her decision to pursue a career in pediatrics.
“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, seeing how my parents can help someone else’s life and also seeing how rewarding it is to be able to help someone in need,” she said. “I want to specialize in pediatrics because I love kids, being the second youngest cousin, I have a lot of nieces and nephews and being around them help me decide how much I really enjoy being around children.”
Miss International is the fourth largest beauty pageant in the world. Around 70 contestants from all over the globe are expected to join the 49th edition of the pageant at the Venetian Macau Resort on November 7, 2009. Alejandra Andreu of Spain will crown her successor at the end of the event.
Also called a Festival of Beauty or the Olympics of Beauty, contestants are expected to serve as “Ambassadors of Peace and Beauty”, demonstrating tenderness, benevolence, friendship, beauty, intelligence, ability to take action, and, most importantly, a great international sensibility.
The ultimate goal of the Miss International beauty pageant is to promote world peace, goodwill, and understanding. (with reports from Penny Geiszler, Turn for the Judges (TFTJ) Staff & Ingrid Chaves-Agud.
