Two days after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake jolted a 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant event, the delegates learned ‘grounding’ to help them process their entire experience with the tremor.
The organizers held a ‘Leadership Excellence Achievement Program’ (LEAP) seminar called ‘Holding Space: Grounding After the Shaking’ conducted by the Epiphany Collective in Mandaue City, Cebu, on Thursday morning, Oct. 2.
Cambodia’s Mealyann Nita Saing told Inquirer Entertainment that the session served as ‘healing’ for them. ‘Some of us are okay, and some of us are not okay. But being able to hold space is very important, and I think they showed a good example how to hold space for others,’ she said.
Belgium’s Jana Janssens said the activity was a ‘great opportunity’ to discuss their experiences together. She sustained a minor injury after jumping off the stage when the earthquake shook their benefit gala night at Raddisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City on Sept. 30.
‘I was one of the last girls standing on stage, so we saw the worst part of it, we saw the glass falling down. I fell off the stage. It really helped me to talk about the experience, to process everything,’ she shared.
Kayla Jane Usison from the United States may be ‘very used to earthquakes’ living in California where tremors also occur. But she said they all needed the activity. ‘Holding space for other girls, and being present for them, it’s good. I learned new things for coping,’ she said.Australia’s Deborah Madriaga agreed, and said she loved the program. ‘Today I had a breakdown because I didn’t feel all the emotions at the moment. I was just in shock. I was just looking after my girls. When they started asking about our emotions, how we felt, that’s when, I was just feeling emotional, I was crying,’ she shared.
‘Because we never got to really express how we feel. We’re quite scared. It was a very vulnerable moment. But like I said to everyone, vulnerability is not a weakness, rather it’s a source of strength. And I really hope that we all took that in, and we’re all able to talk to one another, and just unite,’ she continued.
Hannah Leigh Cross from New Zealand also found the event necessary. ‘We as women really need the empowerment, that kind of push to get us back on our feet and keep moving. And I think what’s really great is that now we have a new purpose, which is to support the people of Cebu,’ she said.
The organization said it was ‘realigning’ the activities ‘in a spirit of compassion and solidarity’ with the province of Cebu. The preliminay competition originally scheduled on Oct. 3 was scrapped, and the delegates instead volunteered in the packing of relief goods for two consecutive days.
They are also set to visit three locations in the province of Cebu that bore the brunt of the earthquake the most, to distribute goods to the residents who are among the most affected by the tremor.
‘I’m really excited to journey to the epicenter tomorrow, to ground zero, and help those who really need the support right now. The grounding seminar was so fantastic, so needed. And I’m just so grateful for the organization to be able to organize that for us, because it was amazing,’ Cross said.
Saing also commended the organization, saying ‘they did such an amazing job of just keeping us safe and protected, guiding us through it. And everybody panicked in different ways, and they were able to help each different style or variation of that panic, which was really like heartwarming, because that is really hard to do. I’m really lucky to be part of this organization, and I know that they care about their girls.’
Janssens, a veteran of numerous competitions, said the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant is ‘one of the best’ that she has competed in. ‘I think a lot of pageantry can learn about them. They are doing very good for their girls. I’m really proud of them,’ she said.
‘Thank you for taking so much care of me. They stayed with me the whole time. I was feeling a little bit guilty even, because the staff, they were so tired, also didn’t sleep, only for an hour, I’m so grateful for them. I have texted them already that I’m so grateful for it,’ she continued.
Usison also expressed her gratitude to the organization. ‘I stayed calm and collected because they did all the freaking out for me, honestly. For me I just listened to where they are going, and I just trusted their direction. So I’m really thankful that we have great leader to lead us for this competition,’ she said.
Miss Asia Pacific International Executive Director Jacqueline Tan-Sainz said the organization found it necessary to hold the grounding activity to help the ladies cope with the aftermath of the massive earthquake.
‘The reason why we’re here is because it’s very hard to give something that you don’t have. Because your heart should be full before you get to help other people. So today is all about filling your heart, because later and tomorrow we will continue helping,’ she said.
‘We will be going to ground zero where it actually happened. So you will be seeing the people who are in need, not just packing like what we did yesterday. So we’re actually gonna be with them, help them, be in touch with them. And we hope that today we’re able to fill your heart and prepare you for what you’re gonna do tomorrow,’ Tan-Sainz added.
The Miss Asia Pacific International pageant will crown a new queen at the Cebu Coliseum on Oct. 8. Forty-three ladies from around the world are competing for the title, including Anita Rose Gomez who hopes to post the Philippines’ sixth victory in the competition.