"How Has The Pandemic Challenged You?" The Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Delegates Answer!

"During the pandemic, I have lots of realization in my life. It made me more self-aware. And I believe that you have to understand yourself, your weaknesses and strengths, and adversities will always be present. But it will make you the strong person as you are right now, and I’m very proud of myself that I made it far right here."

"It changed me in a way that it challenged who I was and what I was capable of doing. I am a Tourism graduate and, sadly, because of the pandemic, our tourism industry is greatly affected. But it truly challenged me into knowing whatever areas and what other courses, whatever work field I can pursue. So I am an ESL teacher right now and that is a proof that you also have to prioritize, you have to be aware of the other skills you are capable of."

"Oh, to be honest, it was very challenging for me especially that I lost my job, my dream job. I was a flight attendant before. But it also opened so much opportunities for me. Right now, I currently work as a writer, and I never thought that I could be a writer but the pandemic made me a writer, and that’s just something that I’m very thankful about."

"You know, I try to see things in a very positive way, so during the pandemic I made sure that I used it on myself to develop whatever it is that I need to work on. Like I said earlier, I enrolled myself in different classes. I worked my skill in the kitchen and that has always been my mantra in life, to make sure that I’m better. And after this pandemic, I’m going to ensure that I come out as a better Janela."

"The pandemic has definitely challenged me in all the ways possible. First of all, I am alone here in the Philippines which makes it really difficult for me to just be away from my loved ones. Also, I came here to the Philippines. I left my secured job in California, so right now, I am not making any, you know, income at the moment. But, to be honest, I am just trying to make the most of my time and I’m happy to be on this journey kahit mahirap siya."

"The pandemic challenged me a lot greater because I learned to love myself even better. It has been a constant struggle over the past 24 years of my life, and I believe this pandemic, it taught me a valuable lesson and that is to listen to the voice that is within me."

"When COVID-19 surged in the Philippines, I was left in my apartment alone, and what I actually did is that, my coping mechanism was really to reflect and be better with myself. And, you know, the challenge of not seeing my friends and family but putting it all in my journal..."

"The pandemic has really challenged me in so many level. It has delayed most of my plans in life. But, looking at the bigger picture, I just try to sit back and see that this pandemic has actually had a good effect on me. It has made me more resilient, more understanding of the situation, and more hopeful of what the future may bring."

"The pandemic has challenged me because a lot of people have been into skeletal workforce po, and a lot of them had to work from home. So, a lot of people struggled, like me, to differentiate being at home and working at the same time. That was a struggle for my mental health."

"This pandemic I’ve encountered so many problems but I rose up and stand with this challenge. With this pandemic, I learned so many things, like the value of communication. Before, I never really asked someone, 'How are you?' 'How are you doing?' But with this pandemic, people mean so much to me, that’s why with this pandemic, communication, life, and time itself, it’s so important for me."

"The pandemic really did challenge, especially my mental health, in the past year and this year. I struggled a lot and I wanted to overcome all of those weaknesses, especially my social anxiety. I had overcome it in Binibining Cebu and when we were in a lockdown, I was forced to retract from the society again, and now I am glad to be able to be in front of everyone again through Miss Universe Philippines."

"Above all else, the pandemic has challenged me in a way that has made me both stronger and more independent. I spent the first year of the pandemic in New Zealand and had the privilege of having that safety and security. But I still chose to sacrifice all of those things and relocate to the Philippines in January. And if there’s anything that that journey taught me, it’s that you might need to make some sacrifices along the way and you might need to give up on so many things and let go of so many things in your life. But you shouldn’t let anything, not even a worldwide pandemic, get in the way of your dreams."

"In this time of pandemic, everyone is affected, you know, the minorities, maybe our drivers or commuters, our low income. But for me, pandemic really affected me in terms of my studies because I had the chance to go on my classes, and it’s really, really hard. But I’m looking forward in the positive side of it. Because of the pandemic, I was able to take care of my grandmother until she passed away."

"I have a little side story. My mom actually got diagnosed a year ago during the pandemic, and it has been really hard, especially as a firstborn. But these things happen and when I see my mom’s face smile, that’s when I know that life is more than what you make it out to be. And life is really beautiful."

"You know, the pandemic has challenged me a lot. It taught me how life can change in an instant. And before this pandemic, I’ve always loved the little things in life. And when the pandemic had hit, it made me realize to be more appreciative of those things. And while we live, we should be able to truly live our life to the fullest because anything can happen."

"The pandemic has challenged me in many, many ways. But most of all, it has challenged my mental health. It has been hard not just for me, for everyone to keep a positive outlook, not a positive COVID test. But yeah, definitely mental health. It’s hard to be happy every time, but it’s always okay to feel sad or feel down when you are."

"Okay, so, the pandemic has challenged me to become a better and more strategic person especially in the workplace. So, as HR, I’m used to face-to-face assessments, interviews, and engagements. And, of course, we had to adapt and learn new ways of working so I had to shift and pivot my work into the virtual format. So because of that, I became more resourceful and adaptable to the current situation. But yes, definitely, everyone can relate that it has been…"

"During this pandemic, my family has been through a lot, and of those things are we lost my grandmother at the start of the year, and we learned a lot from it. I personally learned a lot from it because through that, I learned that I should cherish my relatives more, my friends and family because you don’t know what can happen. I mean, life is very fleeting, and if we don’t cherish every moment and we don’t appreciate our close…"

"A lot. I have been challenged a lot all throughout the pandemic. I’ve gone through a lot, and one thing would be my mental health because I’ve always been an outside person. I like to travel, and when the pandemic came, I found myself questioning as to who I really am. But then I’ve found my purpose. I am a teacher and I will be a teacher."

"It has challenged me a lot. My board exam got postponed three times and I felt so sad after that, because I felt like that was my life over. But then I ventured out into something new that’s why I opened my own milk tea shop, and I guess that’s looking [at] the bright side out of it. I mean, you really have to utilize your time and effort just to make sure that this pandemic will not really affect you."

"COVID-19 was really very challenging, especially for the frontliners, and that it may be man-made or otherwise should be faced with bravery and determination to conquer. I think that we should continue our lives and that we should also be very careful of everything, of what we’re doing."

"You know what, I am a COVID survivor, and it really changed my perspective in life. My mom also got COVID and it's really hard because she’s already a senior and I feel like I cannot live [without] my mother. So, this pandemic really made me realize how life is important and how family is important to everybody and we should take care and do not take advantage of the time we have with our families."

"All of us, we have been through a lot in this pandemic. The pandemic has challenged me both in my studies and myself. Because I earn for myself to send myself to school. The biggest challenge for me is going to school in this pandemic. I’m a self-supporting student and it hurts me a lot not having enough money to go to school because of what pandemic did."

"It has challenged me to a lot of things, most especially in my career as a nurse. Because the first time that they asked me to be assigned in a COVID facility, I first refused because of fear of contracting the disease. But as I’ve realized that this pandemic has strengthened my personality, because I now realize that if we let our fears be greater than us then we will do nothing progressive in this country."

"Honestly, the pandemic has actually affected me both mentally and emotionally, because you’re forced to be on an online setting which was really an unfamiliar setting for us. And so, emotionally, it has affected me because I wasn’t with my friends while doing most online requirements. But I do hope that everything would go back to…"

"Well, being the breadwinner of the family, this pandemic, the most challenging part for me is earning for the family and sending my sister to school. Right now, I was actually a flight attendant that turned into having an online business, which is selling danggits for a living. So, I realized that resiliency leads us, this is the major takeaway in this pandemic. And I believe that together, we can do, we can survive everything."

"The pandemic has challenged me in a way that I have gotten so comfortable being an introvert. So this one is another challenge, getting out of my comfort zone again and, really, utilizing my platform to inspire so many."

"Well, with all of the saddest things that we have experienced for the past years, I know that we are all surprised. Well, the pandemic challenged me in a way how to adjust, but it also helped me to be flexible with all of the things that we are experiencing. And I think that we should just focus on the things that we are, we have, we are experiencing right now because we are living in the pandemic, we should accept it and be flexible."

"This pandemic was really challenging. My family lost our business, and also, I lost my grandfather during these very trying times. And it’s really remembering that it’s important to love, to listen, to care, to respect, and most especially, to help others."

"So much. It challenged me so much because I used to be the outgoing person. I love traveling so much and be with people. I’m very clingy so hugging is like part of my everyday life, and now you have to put extra barrier when you’re facing everybody, so it’s kinda difficult but, yeah, hanging in."

"The pandemic is indeed very challenging to everyone. It’s a tough time, and we all have been through different kinds of hardships. And me personally, I believe the feeling of being isolated and not being able to, like, know the uncertainties coming our way, I think that is the most challenging part."

"The pandemic has challenged me in a way that when you’re isolated, you think about so many thoughts. Sometimes it becomes a danger to your mental health, and when you’re alone, you do not have the physical touch, the things that you used to do when it was normal. And I think that it is a danger for so many people because a lot of us, when we are alone, we think about so many things that endanger us. And I think that the pandemic, in a way, has motivated us to become someone better…"

“Mr. Voltaire, I think that being away from my work, which is in showbiz, I get to be with people everyday in show business and make them smile. So one and a half year of not being able to do that has been very sad. But I was able to recalibrate and remember who I was with, who I inspired even before I came to showbiz. And I think it’s very important to really…"

"I think that the pandemic has definitely challenged everyone because it changed the way that we live our everyday lives. And so, although it may have been challenging, I think it’s also refreshing because it gave us a new perspective as to how we can go about doing things."

"I lost my job. I got retrenched from my company, and it was very hard for me because I am the provider of my family. But I never lose hope. I was able to find a job and support my family in this time of pandemic."

"The pandemic has challenged me when it comes to expressing my love to people. My love language is actually physical touch so it was really hard for me. But we are adaptable, and I learned to adapt, make use of the digital world in order to connect with them and to express how much I love and appreciate them for being there for me."

"It’s challenged me in multiple ways. I mean, from having to go to school full-time and working full-time and trying to support my family. Having to focus on school and from home, it teaches us responsibility and accountability because we need to be more focused. And aside from that, I have to deal from being away from my family and not being able to see them. And it has been very hard, but social media has been such an advantage for me because I can communicate with my family all over the world."

"I experienced loss during the first wave of the pandemic but it really taught me that this virus does not discriminate. It challenged me because even people who follow, who do good, also pay the price. But at the end of the day, if we put common humanity still even when they’re at risk, I learned that it’s okay, we’re all gonna get through this together."

"During the pandemic, I really lost a lot of friends because we lost communication with one another. However, I got to overcome this feeling of loneliness because I also got to meet a lot of people online. And I guess that’s one of the good things about social media. We get to meet a lot of people but we just really have to know the pros and cons and get to know them better."

"It chall1enged me very much, maintaining a positive outlook during this pandemic is such a challenge. However, I found time to rise above, and it’s somehow showed that I am a phenomenal woman."

"The pandemic has made me realize how fast and short life is, and how helpless we can be if the basics are taken away from us. And so I really learned to value the people in my life, care for them better and connect with them better for sure."

"During the pandemic, I was really, really sad because everything was put on pause. And what I've learned about it is that I have to live this and value the balance between work and at the same time self-care. Because we’re in a pandemic, I have to progress without becoming an empty cup, and by doing that I have to learn to allot time to work and grind and also to relax, because at the end of the day…"

"The pandemic has challenged me in a lot of ways, whether it be through my mental and emotional and in the way I see things. But if there’s one thing that I would take away from the situation is that I should always keep in mind what my priorities in life are, and that is to love the people that I care about, and to take care of myself and other people as well."

"Well, the pandemic has challenged me on my job because it’s my job, I got retrenched from my job in Cebu Pacific. I was a flight attendant for three years, and it saddens me but I still got back up, I got my way up there. I risked and I opened up a business, and I have my new career now which is in real estate, and I did not expect…"

"Last year was the very, probably the most challenging year of my life because of the pandemic. It made me realize a lot of things. I went through COVID-19 but I come out victorious. I am right here, right now, being as confident as I can, and I am a product of being, of a survivor and a resilient Cagayanon."

"This pandemic has indeed brought a lot of challenges and hurdles to me. However, it has made me stronger, more resilient and more persistent, and it made me be a beacon of hope to the people around me. Especially now in this situation, I was able to get out of Thailand and find a way to make it here to the Philippines despite all the protocols and changes in rules and the cancelled flights. It has been like a story of hope for everybody out there."

"I know the pandemic has affected people all around the world. It really is a great challenge for me but I know that, you know, obstacles are part of life. I’ve accepted that and it’s also an opportunity for us to learn and grow, so this pandemic has taught me a lot of lessons. Like what I said earlier, always look at the bright side of things."

"Well, being stuck alone in this pandemic, I really had to learn to look inward. I had to learn to, learn to love myself and fully take care of myself and it’s allowed me to become in tune with my passions and hobbies. And I’ve even written down some goals and plans for the future. And these things were just things that I enjoyed from the day-to-day but now, I’m a woman who doesn’t second-guess…"