Beauty in the Eye of the Tiger: A 1-on-1 with 2012 Ms. THM Jonin Marie Gargoles by James U. Sy Jr.

2012 Ms. THM Jonin Marie A. Gargoles of Colgeio de San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B) (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

2012 Ms. THM Jonin Marie A. Gargoles of Colgeio de San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B) (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

2012 Ms. THM Jonin Marie A. Gargoles with parents Beltran G. Gargoles and Ninfa Artagame-Gargoles at Colgeio de San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B) (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

2012 Ms. THM Jonin Marie A. Gargoles of Colgeio de San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B) (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

2012 Ms. THM Jonin Marie A. Gargoles of Colgeio de San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B) (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo). They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I was born in the Year of the Tiger and this is how I met this beauty. It all started when my former officemate, Brilla Ellery A. Yap Yu, got me in touch with Ms. Josephine Virgo, Secretary of the VP for Students Affairs and External Relations, for an interview with the recently crowned Ms. THM of Colgeio de San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B). The interview was conducted in the VP’s office. Jonin Marie Artagame Gargoles, born on July 15, 1995, is the youngest of two daughters of Beltran G. Gargoles and Ninfa Artagame-Gargoles of Victorias City. She graduated 4th Honorable Mention with 7 different awards this year from the St. Mary Mazzarello School (Victorias) and is currently taking up Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management at Colgeio de San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B). Bep-Bep, as she is fondly called by those close to her, was among three young ladies chosen by Tourism Adviser Belinda Berbenzana to represent the College of Accountancy, Business Education, and Computer Studies (CABECS) Department in the 2012 Ms. Tourism & Hospitality Management (THM) pageant. The other two, however, declined. Gargoles remembers, “It was Ms. Berbenzana who conducted my entrance interview and she told me I have potential.” Potential she has indeed. Gargoles is a multi-awarded student at St. Mary. The aforementioned 7 graduation awards she received were Academic Award, MTG National Qualifier, Journalism Award, SYM Service Award, Loyalty Award, Contest in Attendance Award, and Diligence Award. She represented St. Mary in the 2012 THOS Search for Outstanding Student by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines-Bacolod and from grade 4 to 4th year, in the Mathematician Trainer’s Guild (MTG) National Qualifying in Cebu, Iloilo, Manila, and Subic among other places, as well as the Australian Mathematics Contest - Division and Philippine Mathematics Olympiad - Regional. She was the Associate Editor of the school paper The Momentum (She is now a staff of the Eagle, CSA-B’s paper). Gargoles also represented her school in the World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain. The Ms. and Mr. THM pageant was held last September 20, 2012 at the CSA-B Auditorium. 11 young ladies from 1st to 4th year vied for the title and awards at stake for the Ms. THM. It was actually only the second pageant Gargloes entered. While at St. Mary, she was invited to join the 2012 Ms. Kadalag-an pageant in Victorias but had to decline; her sister, Jenefa Mae A. Gargoles, reigned as 2007 Ms. Canetown. Bep-Bep was crowned 2012 Ms. (CSA-B) Freshman, in her pageant debut, last July 6, 2012 at the CSA-B Gymnasium, besting 7 other candidates. The Ms. THM pageant was divided into 5 parts: production number, festival wear, talent, long gown, and Q & A. “For me the most difficult part was the talent because I had to perform ballet while drawing.” Gargoles was doing ballet since she was in elementary with different instructors. Fellow student Maria Katrina Guevarra helped her in preparing for the talent portion. All the hard work paid off when Jonin Marie A. Gargoles was crowned 2012 Ms. THM, the title turned over to her by 2011 Ms. THM Cate Antoinette Pirote. She also garnered the special awards for Best in Long Gown, Best in Festival Wear, Best in Production Number, Ms. Photogenic, and Ms. Congeniality. Lee-Anna Justine Layumas was 1st Runner Up and Best in Talent while Ma. Andrea Criezl Mae D. Palle was 2nd Runner Up and Ms. Facebook. In the Q & A, Gargoles was asked, “If elected as president of the Philippines, what will be the first thing that you will do?” Her reply was to elevate poverty, provide more employment, and eradicate graft and corruption. I asked her of what she thinks of President Noynoy, “He is doing his best but he is not perfect and as citizens, it is our duty to help the president make changes in our country,” was her reply. Gargoles was happy with the victory and she attributed it to God, her confidence in herself, and the support of her family, school officials, friends, and classmates. “When I was preparing for the pageant, many people helped and encouraged me. I’d like to make special mention of my parents, my high school English teacher Hilda H. Parcon, Tourism Adviser Belinda Berbenzana, Tourism Professors Amelia Quingco and Marie Claire Ramos, Maria Katrina Guevarra, Ms. Josephine Virgo, Dean Rose de los Reyes, and CSA-B President Fr. Rev.Pederito A. Aparece, OSA. Gargoles expects to start her quest to become a successful flight attendant in 5 years time. She believes that life is a constant change (free plugging for Tito Joemarie Chan :p) and the only way to go is to continuously improve oneself to successfully face the challenges of life and of the times. Jonin Marie Artagame Gargoles, beauty and brains, loving daughter, an ideal girl, an ideal student, and an ideal future leader of our country.