By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
WHAT intrigued me this week was the much-talked triumph of Alexie Mae Caimoso-Brooks (as Miss Iloilo 2024) in a glittering pageant held at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) Cultural Center on Jan. 13.
After winning the coveted title, Alexie is now the “talk of the town”, perhaps, in the entire world… the universe rather.
Believe it or not, social media, until now, is abuzz about her winning.
Watching her on Facebook and television, it’s safe to conclude that no one will disagree that she really deserved the crown.
Her sun-kissed complexion, stunning beauty and body curve plus her speaking prowess are proofs that, indeed, she has the complete package to be the next queen of the universe.
In sum, Alexie’s beauty and brains seem to be “a combination made in heaven”.
However, beyond her queenly looks, I am more interested about her story – abandoned, neglected.
Thanks to my friend, newshen Glenda Tayona, who referred me to Alexie’s handler, Malick Hilado, who’s also a down-to-earth and very accommodating guy.
The result: I was able to talk to Alexie via video call Thursday night, Jan. 18.
NOTHING’S IMPOSSIBLE
In my less than an hour interview, what captured me was Alexie[s significant human experience (SHE) in life.
SHE really “beautified” Alexie and her life’s story and journey is worthy to be told and retold from generation to generation.
Listening to this 22-year-old athlete-turned-beauty queen, it’s notable that her SHE was highlighted by lots of negativities – struggles, hardships, bullying – all due to an unwantedness.
But SHE also motivated and pushed Alexie to paddle in the “sea of angst” towards high standing.
SHE “sculpted” this heptathlon star to become a “mighty warrior” in life armed with the mantra: Nothing’s impossible!
Imagine, confided by Alexie, she started dreaming of becoming Miss Universe when she was only 12 years old.
“But you know,” Alexie lamented, “no one believed in me…not even my Lola Basing. Yes, kinda wild, but that’s what I dreamed of and, until now, I am working on it. Thus, for some, she’s like a “day dreamer”.
But now that she’s Miss Iloilo, she said she’s working on it every inch towards that immense goal.
“And if luck will allow me to realize such a ‘wild dream’, well, I am beyond ready to prove to the entire universe,” she said
‘KAINGS OF KAMATIS’
Too, I was touched by Alexie’s revelation that, once, she was a “kargadora” (hauler) of vegetables at Super public market in Iloilo City.
She said during her high school days at Iloilo National High School (INHS), she helped her Lola Basing vend vegetables at Super.
And, at Super, she became an “icon of hardship and strength”.
She became famous as a “kargadora” for “kaings of kamatis”.
“Kinahanglan indi gid mahulog ang mga kaing bangud kon mahulog, pusa gid ang mga kamatis,” Alexie related in Hiligaynon.
Those “kaings of kamatis”, she stressed, until now serve as a potent reminder for her that in every opportunity that may come along her way, she needs to take good care of it.
Hence, from being an ordinary girl from Bulad village in Leon town in Iloilo Province to a decorated athlete in Southeast Asia to (now) beauty queen, Alexie enunciated, “I cherish every moment. I (always) keep on moving forward full of determination and resiliency.”
Above all, she said that whether in sports or beauty pageant, “I (always) do my best.”
HEART-WRENCHING CONFESSION
But, over and above, what “awed and shocked” me was Alexie’s heart-wrenching confession about her parents.
For now, she has no intention of meeting them.
“Maybe she’s proud of me. But I don’t know. She can’t blame me,” Alexie said.
Quite an incomplete quote, right?
So I asked a harder question. She candidly said: “Sorry, I am mentally and emotionally detached from my mother.”
My respect.
As to her father, Alexie simply said he’s a black American, and she has no intension of knowing him anymore.
“Why? Is he looking for me?”
Well, her feelings toward her parents are relatable.
More so, growing up under the care of her Lola Basing for 22 years now is quite understandable.
FAIRY TALE
To be abandoned or to be rejected is quite “masaklap”. But there’s also a “beauty” in it.
It taught Alexie lots of lessons that helped her ace every “battle” in her life full of confidence and determination.
No doubt that one day the universe will be seeing her living her gigantic dream.
“Winning the Miss Iloilo crown daw nag-pas-an ka lang isa ka kaing nga kamatis,” she said.
Balance. Strength. Determination. Courage. Alexie does it perfectly!/PN
