Some people call him 'The Abs of Tacloban'. I choose to see him as the 'Survivor' instead (Photo credit: Joy Arguil)
Rick Palencia by Dencio Natividad
Rick has basically moved on from the depression brought about by the same. While the challenges are still at bay, he has been able to rise and take a good stock of his life. And now he is ready to pick up from where he left off in 2014 and has committed to making a solid performance in Misters 2015 The Pageant as the representative of the Tacloban/Samar/Leyte areas in the Visayas.
Here now are his answers to the Q&A we had.
Rick (right) with Neil Perez after qualifying as Misters 2015 Official Candidate (Photo credit: Joy Arguil)
1. Well, I am a simple guy who has been molded to be adaptive due to some circumstances in life. I enjoy reading things about the universe and like to look at the stars more often that I should. I am a shy person but not “suplado” so please don’t hesitate to approach me. I love to kid around when I am comfortable with a person and I can be brutally honest if needed. I like to help people. I sometimes help strangers more often than people I know. lt just makes the act have this more genuine feeling for me. I am from Leyte-Samar region, particularly residing in Tacloban City, the place I have grown to love.
2) As one of the candidates, what image do you want to show the others?
2. Humble. As a Filipino, it is a common stereotype of us being proud of our rich culture. But at the end of the day, I still choose to be an equal human being in this planet.
Rick Kristoffer Palencia, upside down
3) In Miss Universe, a popular running line is “yellow is the color of joy”. What color best represents you?
3. I think Blue would best represent me. Not only is it my favorite color, but it has that calming feeling. Same as me having a calm temperament. I think “blue for peace” would be my quotation if I was asked. I like to give people advices specially on problems they are facing and I like to calm them down and make them worry less about the troubles they are facing.
4) Not everyone can win a special award in the competition, but if you are qualified for the following, which would you prefer to win: Mister Friendship or Mister Talent?
As a dancer of course, I would like to grab the Mr Talent award and I will surely do my best to achieve it. But I think both awards would be great to have.
5) If you win one of the titles, people will expect you to be a good role model. How will you start building that image if ever?
By being the best of myself. Because that is what brought me to the competition. By being honest about myself. But of course I will bring Tacloban City and all of region 8 to my rising. Because I owe them what I am today.
6. You wanted to be called ‘The Yolanda Survivor of Tacloban’, but I advised you that it may sound too dramatic for comfort. But just to dwell on that part of your life, how has the tragedy affected you? Can you now say that time has healed the wounds and have moved on from the same?
My story about Yolanda is a very long story to tell. But it affected me in a specific way and struck me with one word, “timing”. In giving affection, in speaking words, in praying, in helping, and in everything else, timing is important. Sometimes timing means everything. I never knew how important time was until we had no more time to prepare for STYolanda.
But everything is of no use if we don’t learn from it. I believe wounds have healed but the scars still remain.
7. How do you expect your life to change after being named an Official Candidate of Misters of Pilipinas 2015?
I immediately expect more adventures – more friends to meet, more people to help, more places to travel. I’m trying not to think about the competition too much. I’m just trying to enjoy it just like how gladiators do it in the arena. I know this pageant is not easy but I know it will be very much worth it.
8) Any message to your followers, Rick?
To my fellow Leyteños and Samaranons, I would like to thank you all for molding me to be the man I am today. For all the challenges and for all the experiences. Thank you for supporting me. To my supporters and followers, I will do my best to meet your expectations and maybe even surpass it. And especially to God who I am ever grateful for the life I have today. Thank you for orchestrating everything to happen.
Your blogger's photo with Rick Kristoffer Palencia (Photo credit: Joy Arguil)
