Representing Makati City, Heaven Peñaflorida is one of the contestants of the inaugural Mrs. Universe Philippines pageant. She is 33 years old, a single mom of two children and a businesswoman. It seems that she has the best of everything but before achieving her comfortable life, she met challenges along the way and came out very strong and empowered woman as she is now.
Mrs. Universe Philippines 2021 coronation night is tentatively set on September 10, 2021 at Okada Manila. Three main titles will be given namely Mrs. Universe Philippines, Mrs. Pacific Continental and Mrs. North Pacific Asia. The winners will represent the country in Mrs. Universe 2021 pageant in South Korea.
The Mass Communication graduate of Adamson University has been very busy preparing for the upcoming pre-pageant activities despite the implemented strict lockdown in Metro Manila. She is trying to maintain her figure by monitoring her food intake and regular exercise. She has regular facials to maintain her youthful glow. She has also been training her pasarela and Q&A skills with her mentors.
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| Heaven Peñaflorida answers questions from the media during the press conference. |
Heaven met some of the pageant bloggers in a press conference held Saturday, August 28 at Salugan Resort in Dasmariñas Cavite.
Here are nine facts you kneed to know about the beauty queen mom.
1. Her original name is Leni
She was called 'Heaven' by her classmates during her fifth grade. She loved that name and since then she used it as a screen name when she was modelling. It became her nickname that she decided to legally changed her real name from Leni.
"My friends would teased me. My mother got my name from Leni Santos, a former celebrity and my mom's idol," she shared to the press.
2. She was legally adopted
She grew up in San Pedro, Laguna. Her adoptive father died after she graduated high school. Meanwhile, her adoptive mother passed away recently. Despite of that, they took care of her as her own daughter.
She was adopted when she was just a baby. Her biological mom is Filipina and her biological father is Japanese.
3. A newbie in pageantry
Standing 5'6", this is her first time joining a pageant. Her first job was as an extra on TV and part time model.
"I never joined any pageant before because I was so busy struggling with our own lives as a breadwinner of the family. I had no chance to do the things I would love. This is the right time for me to do the right things like pageant."
4. Aims to inspire women
Heaven is indeed an inspiration. As a family breadwinner, she started working at the age of 16. Her first formal job was as a call center agent at the age of 17. At 19, she became a flight attendant. She also worked as a tour guide, real estate broker, manager, executive assistant. At age 30, she owns a boutique shop in Makati City called Affniqchic.
"Mrs. Universe Philippines advocacy is really about empowering women and then influence the children of tomorrow, so it's very aligned with my advocacy since what I'm really doing right now is trying to inspire women specially those who had been through tough times. That despite of all the challenges, you just have to face them. You just have to be strong enough so you can be an inspiration to others."
5. Dream to become a beauty queen
It was her childhood dream to become a beauty queen. She was not able to fulfill this during her younger days since she was busy supporting her family as a breadwinner. And now that she has the means and time, she is not letting this dream go to waste.
"I think most of women they dreamed of being a beauty queen, right? It's my first time joining a pageant and I want to inspire others. I've been through time times wherein no one listened, no one cared and no one dared to help me out. I wanted to be someone who would be there listen to someone like me who has been through tough times but you know I was able to survive."
She added, "Now I have the means to join. Let's be honest. Pageant is you have to spend some money also - for your entourage, gowns. Before I don't really have the means.
6. Simple life growing up
She was not born and raised to a rich family. Thus, she had to struggle to survive. She remembered eating makopa fruit as daily food for their family.
She recalled, "I have to support my own studies. I have to think where would I get the money to pay for our house rentals. I even had the experience of just eating makopa for our daily food. I've been through tough times. Despite all the challenges, I came out very strong and empowered woman".
7. Chill and cool mom
She is a mother of two adorable sons aged 11 and 9 years old. She described herself as a chill and cool mom.
"I don't really try to stop them. I just have to support them on what they want to do. I think I copied it from my mom because my mom is very supportive on what I want to do. She's just there for me. So I'm gonna do that to my kid also. I'll be the same way."
Asked on what is the best thing about motherhood. She answered, "it's about caring and loving."
"Since I only had my mom with me, it's the best thing that I can give inspiration and love to my two kids," she added.
She is not married to the father of her children but she maintains her good relationship with him. She is now in a relationship.
8. Certified fur-parent
She is a pet owner of two Pomeranian dogs which she treats as her own kids named COVID and 19. She got them during the pandemic.
9. Received cash from a stranger in a bus
Strangely, she received Php5,000 from a complete stranger in a bus while traveling from Makati to San Pedro Laguna.
"When I was 17 years old and that time I have no permanent job. I just talked to him. We're just beside together in a bus. I told him my situation that we're not eating anymore, I don't have money to pursue my studies, we don't have electricity for the past eight months. You know he pitied me and he helped me despite of us being strangers. What he told me was, 'I have a daughter and I don't want my daughter to feel the same way'. He told me to pay it forward."
Unfortunately she forgot the name of the good samaritan and hopes to meet him someday.
She used that money to get her requirements to work as a call center agent.
"If I see him again, I'll be super thankful and I will tell him I will pay it forward the way you did it to me. So right now since I'm more capable, I'm trying to help more people in small ways that I can," she said.
You can support her by casting your votes daily. Voting will end on September 2, 2021 at 12 noon.
HOW TO VOTE
- Like Mrs. Universe Philippines Facebook page.
- Vote here.
- Click Heaven Penaflorida.
- Choose a Package and VOTE.