A week being a girl board member Breathing gases out of my mouth with my right hand covering it, I slowly opened my bag and placed my pen and books into it. Now, everything is ready! Anytime by now we’ll be leaving this air-conditioned room full of students patiently waiting for the results. I was half-asleep when I heard my name, that’s the girl in the podium calling me. So I went in to the stage together with the other students beaming with great happiness, I looked above and said to myself, “this is going to be the start!” It was Thursday morning when I and my four other classmates were sent by our school to take the examination for the Boys and Girls Week. When I opened the door, I really wished to evaporate on that very moment when almost all the students, already seated and taking the exam, turned their heads to my direction. I just walked slowly as silent as possible, as if I’m invisible, as I was heading to my seat. My hand and my pen had a fight, I can’t write even a single letter. Luckily, after a minute or two, they finally reconciled and I was able to pass my answer sheet even before the time ran out. I made a pig of myself while eating our lunch; I was acting like I had never eaten for years but can you blame me? I was really exhausted after taking the test. Finally, the result came in no time and I almost jumped out of joy when the emcee called my name as one of the qualifiers for the next round. I never really expected it to happen but I should keep going because I know that now, the fun starts. I, together with my fellow qualified students then sat to our designated seats waited for our interview, the elimination round. When I was called to come on stage, I then entered a portal to my Miss Universe pageant. When a series of questions were thrown to me, I caught it all by answering it with confidence; it’s like a dream come true! Only that I was wearing no gown and flat shoes but still I am so happy to experience being applauded by a huge crowd. Fortunately, I was not eliminated so I proceeded to the next level, to the final interview. The next day, I went back at the Capitol and once again faced a panel of judges; the only difference is that there were no more audience, only me and those serious faces staring sharply at me, I feel like I was in a court waiting to be persecuted but maybe, I’m really that lucky that I surpassed it all. I was appointed as the girl board member 2 of the 2nd district with Hon. Ardivilla as my counter-part. The following week, I stayed at her office and roam around the Provincial Capitol of Capiz. I was given the chance to witness a Sangguniang Panlalawigan session and I was also granted the opportunity to create a resolution and deliver a privilege speech over the real government officials of Capiz. We then celebrated our victory at a beach nearby, and we also visited Ameligan Island in Pontevedra, Capiz. We stayed for only a week in the Capitol but I felt like we made so many activities that are too many to mention.

I went home after the oath taking ceremony held in the island with a trophy, a certificate and a thousand pesos as an incentive. I was almost crying with my mouth hanged horizontally when I got home. I know, I felt it not just because of the wooden trophy nor the amount of money that I have received , it’s about the memories that I’ll be keeping, the friends that I’ll miss and the gratefulness that I’ll always feel every time I’ll be reminded of the rare opportunity that was given to me. I have only been a girl board member for a week but it feels like I had been it for so long, who knows? Maybe ten years from now, I’m going to work on that wide, air conditioned room that I had been dreaming of.