The Mrs. Fil-Am pageant is on its fifth year. Over the years,
the continued support from the contestants, sponsors, and
the community as a whole have been tremendous and greatly
appreciated. The organization has raised approximately $25,000
in the last five years on this particular event alone. Thanks
to the tireless efforts of the contestants selling $1.00
ticket which is not an easy feat. We extend our thanks to
each and everyone who helped and assisted them with their
fund raising efforts. The hard work exhibited by the committee,
officers, board members, members, as well as the Friends
of the Library who help organize this yearly event is exemplary.
The Filipino American community, along with the Oceanside
Library, Senior Center, etc. continued to benefit from this
organization.
This
year, five (5) lovely ladies competed for the coveted title
of Mrs. Fil-Am 2010 - (from left to right), candidate TESS
CONCEPTION; HELEN DAVILA Mrs. Fil-Am 2010 1ST runner-up
and also Miss Congeniality and Viewer's Choice; ROSE WALLACE
Mrs. FIL-AM 2010; candidate NORIE QUITEVIS; and LUCY CATAPANG,
2nd runner-up.
MRS.
FIL-AM 2010 ROSE WALLACE
1ST
Runner-Up HELEN DAVILA
Also, Miss Congeniality and Viewer's Choice
2nd
Runner-Up LUCY CATAPANG
Joining
the candidates are, from left to right, Dir. Wendy Abon,
performer Shela Rapaido, Auditor & choreographer Enri
Fulmore, Dir. and Mrs. Fil-Am Chair Dee Weber and (far right)
singer Kiko Bautista.
Posing
with the candidates were Pres. Rica Derosier (far left)
and Emcee Ted Lintan (far right).
The
candidates started the show with their graceful dance moves
together with their escort FIL-AM member Jonathan Enerva.
Each one introduced themselves looking gorgeous even in
their casual attire.
Talented Shela Rapaido rendered "Saving All My Love
For You" by Whitney Houston as the candidates prepared
for the long gown presentation.
Mrs. Fil-Am 2009 NANCY ORTIZ did her farewell walk and speech
before she crowned her successor.
Awarding
of Prizes
Each
candidate was awarded a participation trophy.
Special
award like Viewer's Choice was given to HELEN DAVILA and
a trophy was awarded to her by Carol Johnson, Mrs. Fil-Am
2009 finalist. She will also receive cash award.
Miss
Congeniality went to HELEN DAVILA who also who received
a trophy and sash awarded by Lucy Dickson-Awde, Mrs. Fil-am
2009 finalist.
2nd runner up winner LUCY CATAPANG received her sash and
trophy from Dorothy Mahimer, 2nd Runner up Mrs. Fil-Am 2009.
She will also receive cash award.
1st
runner up winner HELEN DAVILA was awarded with sash and
trophy by Jennylin Esquerra , 1st Runner up Mrs. Fil-AM
2009. She will also receive a cash award.
Everyone
is waiting and excited for the big announcement… and
the winner is….
Rose
Wallace, Mrs. Fil-Am 2010
Her
bouquet was handed by Dir. Wendy Abon, sash by Jackie Ortega
( Mrs. Fil-Am 2008) and trophy by Sec. Belle Limoge. She
was crowned by Mrs. Fil-Am 2009
Nancy Ortiz.
The
newly-crowned MRS. FIL-AM Rose Wallace waved and thanked
the crowd in sharing with her this special moment.
Born
and raised in Northern California, he has traveled to San
Diego to study music at San Diego State. He loves music
from the "Frank Sinatra" era but also enjoys singing
and performing songs from many genres of music. He's looking
to pursue his passion for music and continue on in life
as an international music teacher.
The
Way You Look Tonight
Dahil Sa Iyo
SHELA
RAPAIDO
Native
of San Diego, she's been singing since her freshman year
in high school. She has performed in her high school's show
choir and a number of acapella groups. Though she's not
studying music in school, it is and will forever be her
passion.
Lucena
Catapang Better known as Lucy, she comes from
Koronadal, South Cotabato in the Philippines. Before
coming to the US, Lucy followed her star on an adventure
thatlanded her in Brunei. There, she learned and developed
skills in aerobic dancing. She became an aerobics
instructor and a personal trainer where she met an
interesting bachelor, Elmer Catapang. Their friendship
grew into a romantic relationship and decided to tie
the knot. Her opportunity to taste the good life in
the USA came after she married Elmer Catapang who
is an architect. His ultimate goal in life brought
him and his wife to this country when he was accepted
for employment by an architectural company in Escondido,
CA, in 2000. Lucy is also a certified Holistic Health
Practitioner. She enjoys working out in the gym everyday
and is health food conscious. Lucy has two sons named
Kai, who is seven years of age and E.J. who is three.
Lucy is presently a hairstylist and make-up artist
and is connected with Rumors Salon in Vista.
Marites
Romero-Conception was born in Quezon City, Philippines
on April 3, 1972. I'm
the 2nd eldest child amongst 8 children. My husband,
Christopher Conception and I have two children - Maria
Veronica and Miguel Vhon. I spent my elementary years
in San Luis, Pampanga, but attended Culiat High School
in Quezon City. I took up computer secretarial course
at Central Colleges of the Philippines, but was not
able to finish because of urgency to work abroad. At
the age of 18, I found a job to help out my family.
Then at age 25, I married my husband who had just completed
his college education. My husband's employment took
us to Singapore. We lived there for two and a half years.
I also found employment as a staff cashier in one of
the finest dining restaurants in Singapore.
In 2008, the parent company of my husband's employer
hired and petitioned him to come to the US. He was able
to bring us all, his family, to immigrate in this country.
I have been taking short courses at Vista Unified School,
taking ACE Computer, PRE-GED. My plan is to take up
the next available medical courses as well as photography.
Helen
Rafol Manzano Davila - Born on July 25, 1965 to
Thelma and Simproso Manzano in Sibuyan, San Fernando
Romblon. I am the third child of nine children Graduated
High School from Romblon National Vocational school
where I excelled on the basketball court and in the
choir. I married the love of my life, Ricardo Davila
in 1985. We have two beautiful children - Douglas who
is 23 and Melissa, 21 years of age. After getting married,
we lived in Okinawa, Japan and then moved to Oceanside,
California in 1994.Through my employment, I have been
supporting the Marines and Sailors aboard the Marine
Corps Base, Camp Pendleton since 1998. My hobbies are
bowling, bike riding, working out at the gym, and singing
karaoke.
Norberta
J. Quitevis - Norie was born in Nueva Caceres, Oslob,
Cebu,Philippines to Fermin and Dionisia Jumalon sixty
years ago. She has obtained a Bachelor of Science degree
in Commerce majoring in accounting in 1965. After college
she has held a title of executive secretary in the Philippine
Congress for four years and has worked for the Professional
Regulation Commission prior to immigrating into the
U.S. in 1994. She met and married her husband, Lawrence
Quitevis in 1997. They met while attending the Fil Am
New Year's party in 1994. She is an active member of
the Fil-Am, San Luis Rey Parish Church Choir. Norie
has held different jobs upon arriving into the country,
but is currently a caregiver for children with special
needs. She has struggled and endured the challenges
of what life has to offer, but felt much stronger and
fulfilled in her life journey.
Rosalinda
Wallace - Rose was born in December 1962 in Iba
Zambales, Philippines. She completed her primary schooling
at San Agustin Elementary School with honors and received
an award as best mathematician. She graduated high
school at Zambales National High School
also with honors and became Ms. Zambales Natl High
School in 1980. She attended University of the East
and earned BSSE degree majoring in Office Management
and Finance. After college, she worked for the Administrative
Office of Naval Air Station and unto Naval Magazine
in Subic Bay, Philippines. She came to the US 25 years
ago. While living in the country, she took additional
courses and received certificate as a nursing assistant,
LVN, phlebotomist and medical assistant. She is currently
working with a supervisory position at Mission Hospital
in Mission Viejo. She is married to Bruce Wallace.
They are gifted with a son named James and a daughter
named Roxanne. Her mother Luming also lives with her
in Oceanside. She enjoys reading, dancing, singing,
and playing cards with her friends. Her goal is to
retire in the Philippines and to be able to enjoy
the comfortable, slow pace life style that she was
used to while growing up and be closer to her siblings.
Her words of wisdom are "Try to experience as
much as you can out of life. We can only go around
once" as well as "Be positive as no goal
is impossible to reach as long as you have the passion
for life.".
The
five (5) candidates posed for pictures during one
of the many meetings and rehearsals they had at Dir.
Dee's residence, chair for Mrs. Fil-Am 2010.
On
June 10, 2010, the third and final canvassing was
held at the residence of Dir. and Mrs. Fil-Am Chair
Dee Weber. All the candidates were present to turn
in the final votes for their candidacy. Officers who
worked and in the picture were Pres. Rica Derosier,
Treas. Malou Hamto, Auditor Enri Fulmore, Dir. Dee
Weber, Dir. Wendy Abon and Sec. Belle Limoge. Mrs.
Fil-Am candidates were also joined by their escort
Jonathan Enerva in the picture-taking. The Mrs. Fil-Am
contest is not just about raising funds for a good
cause and representing the organization as ambassadors
but also about developing camaraderie and friendship
among their fellow candidates and working as a team.
KIKO
BAUTISTA
Lucena
Catapang Better known as Lucy, she comes from
Koronadal, South Cotabato in the Philippines. Before
coming to the US, Lucy followed her star on an adventure
thatlanded her in Brunei. There, she learned and developed
skills in aerobic dancing. She became an aerobics
instructor and a personal trainer where she met an
interesting bachelor, Elmer Catapang. Their friendship
grew into a romantic relationship and decided to tie
the knot. Her opportunity to taste the good life in
the USA came after she married Elmer Catapang who
is an architect. His ultimate goal in life brought
him and his wife to this country when he was accepted
for employment by an architectural company in Escondido,
CA, in 2000. Lucy is also a certified Holistic Health
Practitioner. She enjoys working out in the gym everyday
and is health food conscious. Lucy has two sons named
Kai, who is seven years of age and E.J. who is three.
Lucy is presently a hairstylist and make-up artist
and is connected with Rumors Salon in Vista.
Marites
Romero-Conception was born in Quezon City, Philippines
on April 3, 1972. I'm
Helen
Rafol Manzano Davila - Born on July 25, 1965 to
Thelma and Simproso Manzano in Sibuyan, San Fernando
Romblon. I am the third child of nine children Graduated
High School from Romblon National Vocational school
where I excelled on the basketball court and in the
choir. I married the love of my life, Ricardo Davila
in 1985. We have two beautiful children - Douglas who
is 23 and Melissa, 21 years of age. After getting married,
we lived in Okinawa, Japan and then moved to Oceanside,
California in 1994.Through my employment, I have been
supporting the Marines and Sailors aboard the Marine
Corps Base, Camp Pendleton since 1998. My hobbies are
bowling, bike riding, working out at the gym, and singing
karaoke.
