CELEBRATIONEVENTPAGEANT
Six (6) young, lovely and vibrant ladies competed for the coveted title of Mrs. FIL-AM 2011. These ladies are the ambassadors of goodwill of the association as they promote the organization and solicit funds for the organization’s projects.
Mrs. Fil-Am Committee Chair WENDY THROWER with (from left to right) 3rd Runner-Up GINA NABONG, 4th Runner-Up MICHELLE ALCANTARA, 5TH Runner-Up LUZ “BALOT” McCUNE, MRS. FIL-AM 2011 LILY PICKENS, 1st Runner-Up JACKIE LAZAGA, 2nd Runner-Up THERESA LABONTE and Mrs. Fil-Am 2010 ROSE WALLACE.
MRS. FIL-AM 2011 LILY PICKENS
Awarding and Coronation
The question “who will be crowned Mrs. Fil-Am 2011?” was in everyone’s head as the candidates await for the results. And the winner is ……..
FIRST RUNNER-UP JACKIE LAZAGA was awarded by Helen Davila, Mrs. Fil-Am 2010 First Runner-up
SECOND RUNNER-UP THERESA LABONTE was awarded by Lucy Catapang, Mrs. Fil-Am 2010 Second Runner-up
THIRD RUNNER-UP GINA NABONG
FOURTH RUNNER UP MICHELLE ALCANTARA was awarded by Norie Quitevis, Mrs. Fil-Am 2010 Fourth Runner-up
FIFTH RUNNER UP BALOT McCUNE was awarded by Celia Townsley, Mrs. Fil-Am 2006
CROWNED BEAUTIES (from left to right) Mrs. Fil-Am 2011 LILY PICKENS, 1st Runner-Up JACKIE LAZAGA, 2nd Runner-Up THERESA LABONTE and Mrs. Fil-Am 2010 ROSE WALLACE).
Special Awards
Best Gown award went to GINA NABONG – awarded by Dir. Dee Weber
Best Pageantry Spirit Award went to JACKIE LAZAGA – awarded by PP Marilou Hruby
The Farewell Walk of Mrs. Fil-AM 2010 Rose Wallace
Mrs. Fil-Am 2010 ROSE WALLACE did her farewell walk and speech before she crowned her successor.
Introduction and Presentation of the Candidates
The presentation started where all the candidates walked in their casual attire as a short introduction about them is heard on the background.
LILY PICKENS
JACKIE LAZAGA
THERESA LABONTE
GINA NABONG
MICHELLE ALCANTARA
BALOT McCUNE
The candidates in the laid-back poses.
Long Gown Competition
The candidates presented themselves elegantly during the long gown competition.
LILY PICKEN
JACKIE LAZAGA
THERESA LABONTE
MICHELLE ALCANTARA
BALOT McCUNE
The beautiful ladies holding hands together which shows that this is a very friendly competition. It also means that it’s not just honor and prestige a candidate earns but most importantly, friends.
The Entertainers provided by Joel Mendoza
Host for the segment was talented TED LINTAN.
The Candidates
Lilia Edith Eguarras Pickens Lily to all of her friends, she is a resident of Oceanside California for many years. A business entrepreneur, owner of in-home-care Agency for Elderly Care giving. She is strong socialite figure, a single mother. She also loves to cook and enjoy the company of her family and friends. Her hobbies are: dancing, bowling, music, singing and enjoys outdoors activities like walking and water sports like swimming. She has assertive and outgoing personality and love to live her life to the fullest and always a giver.
Special Thanks: Ormocanon International Organization, Credito Business Sevices, Ms Lorna Grande, Danilo Eguarras, Raul Padayao, Kristina Mercado, Aron Danaog, All Staff of Ventana Adult Care Facility, Matt Dalde, Elma Mendoza,Nenette Litas Fish Market.
Jacqueline Guevara Lazaga Jackie was born in San Pedro Laguna. She was a graduate in Business Administration in St. Paul College of Manila. Her husband is a retired Navy and have two sons named Mark who is 28 years old and Sonny James who is 19 years old and a daughter named Katrina who is 23 years old. Her dad is also a retired US Navy and her loving Aunt Victorina lives with her. She enjoys living in Oceanside since 1996. She works in Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in Materiel Management Department. Her words of wisdoms are: Always smile our faces are the best billboards where the ads of life are seen. Life is not a problem to be solved but a gift to be enjoyed. You can buy many things but there are three priceless things you can never buy: Love, Friendship and Happiness. Be happy with what you have, while working for what you want. Remember a happy and successful life begins with God and ends for God. Find joy in every simple thing and see beauty in every situation. When times are difficult, remember that no pain comes without a purpose.
Special Thanks: Mrs. Virgie Saguing, Mrs. Gina Saguing. Innovation Hair Salon (Shirley), Dr. Mari car Galdiano (DDS), Mission Asian Market & Café (Liz and Marcel Holandez), Mission Oriental (Tess), Lita’s Fish Market (Tess), 76 Gas Station/Auto Shop (MOH) , Jun Credito Business Services, George Barreto Fil-Am Marine Association President , Manhattan Pizza (Jackie Ortega, Mrs.Fil-Am 2008), Rose Wallace (Mrs. Fil-Am 2010), Jennilyn Esguera (Mrs. Fil-Am 1st Runner up 2009), Tri-City Tire & Automotive (Robert Bartolo)
Theresa Purvis Labonte JTheresa was born on May 5, 1964 in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. She is the youngest of 4 siblings. Her family moved to the US when she was seven years old. Since her father was a Navy Corpsman, they lived in several locations before finally settling in San Diego, CA. where Theresa attended Grade School through High School. She started her 16 and half year employment with the Navy Exchange System as administrative clerk. She held several positions that later lead to an Operations Supervisor. During that time she received her degree in Marketing. She accepted a position transfer to Virginia Beach, VA in 1998 as Financial Planner where she met her future husband Alan Labonte, a Naval Officer. They married in 2006. After living at different duty stations, the Navy has brought them to Southern California, where most of Theresa’s families reside and where they hope to retire. In her spare time, Theresa enjoys stamping, scrapbooking and creating DVDs of pictures taken of her family and friends. Her favorite quotes: Don’t be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin. ~ Grace Hansen~ Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think ~ Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh
Special Thanks: Celia Townsley, Ligaya Daniels, Dorothy Mahimer, Linda Freeman & Phillip Purvis
Gina Nabong outdoor and spending time with her friends. She also loves to organize, cook, and scrabble. Gina was born with a twin sister Juries N. Hedman. In 1984 she came to Oahu Hawaii, she graduated at Waianae High School in 1985. In 1996, she went to San Diego to work in a bank temp agency and earned her degree in Bachelor of Arts in business as an Administrative Assistant from Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas. The year 1998 she went back home to Hawaii. In 2005 resides at San Diego for better opportunities and took six months training of Medical Front Desk w/ Billing Codes followed Customer Service Center Call. She lived in Los Angeles from 2008 to 2010 and worked as a personal banker. Finally this year, she is back to where she belongs, to her family, friends in San Diego the sunny and friendly city.
Special Thanks: Nancy Ortiz, Virgie Flemming, David Johnson, Lou Dailey, Groove Style Barber, Greg Daily, Jones family, Sorbi Flying School, Randy,Nina, Juries Hedman, Benita,Mark, Josephine White, Jallyn Sualog and Family,Genciana Family, Alexander Nabong,Lyn, Angie,Sues Family ,Carol, Jennilyn, Jonathan, Cita and the rest of Fil-Am San Diego and San Diego South.
Michelle Alcantara Michelle is a resident of Temecula California. She was born in St. Luke’s Hospital located in Quezon City, Philippines. She attended college in University of Santo Tomas, Manila. She is the eldest child among three children and happily married to Done Alcantara a retired US Navy. They are blessed with four wonderful children, two boys, ages 18 and 10 and two girls, ages 16 and 13 years old. She works at Great Oaks High School in Temecula. Her hobbies are cooking, spending time with her family, and gardening. During her free time, she volunteers at her children’s schools and help them out with their community service as well.
Her favorite quote: “There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you do not do them.” Charles D. Gil
Special Thanks: Our “Lord” above, My mom, Noel Guanzon, Director of Sales Temecula Creek Inn
Luz (Balot) Mc Cune Luz McCune, who also known as “Balot” was born in Quezon City, Philippines, she grew up in Ft. Bonifacio, Makati. Balot attended the University of the Philippines and studied Fine Arts. She and her husband, Morgan McCune, have been married for 19 years. Her family has lived in Redondo Beach and Oceanside, California for 16 years. Balot is a hard working mother of three that loves to be with her children; Monica, Morgan and Mia. In addition to working for Scripps Healthcare for 13 years, Balot enjoys art, working out at the gym and riding along the pacific coast on her motorcycle.
Special Thanks: Fil-Am Officers and Board of Directors and Wendy Thrower, Pageant Chair
The Judges
Special Awards
Mrs. Photogenic Judges Ron Soliman is a Delaware-based photographer specializing in documentary photography. With 12 years of experience as a newspaper photographer and a photography director, Ron has earned awards from the National Press Photographers Association, Press Photographers Association of greater Los Angeles and other journalism organizations for his photography. Switching gear from the newspaper worlds, Ron has found his passion in documenting weddings around the world everywhere his camera takes him. He loves what he does and it shows on the energy he brings into every wedding he covers. Ron was ranked the Top 16 wedding photo journalist in the World by Wedding Photographers International Association. Ron’s works have been published at Times magazine, American Photo Magazine, Destination Weddings and Honeymoons magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, etc. To view his latest projects, please visit http://www.litratophoto.com/blog/
Samantha Hamto, 23 years old, a resident of Oceanside California. She took photography classes in Mira Costa College and graduated with Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from California State San Marcos year 2010. She enjoys photography and traveling. She currently works as a Chiropractic assistant in Encinitas, California.
Tyler Macy grew up on the east coast and went to art school in Portland, Maine. There he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. He currently works as a Manager for Kodak at Legoland, California.
Best Evening Gown Award Judges
Pageantry Spirit Award Judges: The Fil-Am BOD and Officers Mrs. Mely Sivage, President & Mrs. Cita Lime, VP
Mrs. Congeniality Award – Judges: The Candidates
