I was invited by fashion designer and beauty queen maker Renee Salud to a gathering of the members of Beyond Beauty which in composed of well-meaning personalities mostly former beauty queens who have banded together to give a deeper meaning to their usual get-together. I should say that they have truly lived their lives not only as society figures but role models that even the present crop of beauty queens and their mentors should emulate.
The gathering last October 26, 2016 was done at the Missionaries of the Poor in Manila where old homeless men and children with cerebral palsy are housed. The members of Beyond Beauty helped in taking care of the children even just for a short while.
They assisted the volunteer teachers in making their classes. One thing that I realized is that children with cerebral palsy have a chance of being a part of mainstream society. All they need is care and dedicated love so that they can be useful citizens of the country. Mama Renee even shed a tear because he remembered his ward who also had cerebral palsy and died a few years ago.
Aside from the visit of the Beyond Beauty team, they brought food not just for the day but supplies of necessities in the days to come. They pitched among themselves certain amounts to buy the food that they donated. Of course, there are also well-meaning friends who augmented by giving financial donations for their outreach program. Since Christmas is just two months away, they also helped in setting up the Christmas tree and some decorations that made the place livelier in time for the yuletide season.
They say that beauty queens have good bodies and intelligent brains. But this group is made up of people who have the heart not only for their respective loved ones but for their fellowmen as well. Kudos to Mama Renee Salud, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1979 Dang Cecilio-Palanca, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1981 Maricar Mendoza-Du, Miss Young Pilipinas 1982 Sharon Hughes-Bediones, Bb. Pilipinas-Maja 1985 and Miss Maja Internacional 1985 Second Runner-up Izza Gonzales-Agana, Mutya ng Pilipinas-World 1988 Dana Narvadez-Silverio, Bb. Pilipinas-International 1995 and Miss International 1995 Top 15 Gladys Duenas, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2005, Miss Universe-Photogenic 2005 and Thai Royal Silk Awardee 2005 Gionna Cabrera and all the other members of Beyond Beauty for making your usual gatherings more worthwhile and meaningful.
May the Lord continue to bless you and give more strength to be of help to our needy countrymen. Indeed, there is more to beauty queens than just the physical. You are all truly BEYOND BEAUTY!
Travels and Others 