Five finalists gun for the title!
2021 has been an interesting year, to say the least. With the ongoing pandemic, many of us are still struggling with our current reality. While for some 2021 was a cursed year that they wished never existed, for others, it became a time of reflection about what’s important in life, a time of reconnecting with friends and family, albeit mostly over zoom. Here at Tinig Pinoy, while we’ve had to accept the reality of not being able to have our regular radio programming, our dedicated team continued to bring important news and entertainment to our global listeners, with the same relentless service and zeal for the community as nearly three decades ago when Tinig Pinoy Radio came into existence.
The year 2021 has been a special year for Tinig Pinoy as many people tuned in month after month to cheer on the Calendar Girl contestants as they showcased their talents for listeners across the globe, thereby proving that Pinoys are truly capable of anything. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve been inspired, we’ve been in awe by the diversity of abilities and skills that the Calendar Girl contestants have exhibited. As we turn to the last page in our calendars this month, we sadly must also conclude the Calendar Girl contest – but not without a big bang! The moment we have been waiting for all year is here as we determine the ultimate Calendar Girl this Saturday, December 18th.
Five fierce and fabulous ladies who have gone through extreme lengths and hard work to get to this stage will compete with the ultimate Calendar Girl title. Don’t miss this nailbiter event!
These five ladies are:
NUMBER #1 – MS. OCTOBER
NAME: GLENDA GALARPE CAPIN
From: Lourdes Alubijid, Misamis Oriental
Currently working in Taiwan
BIOGRAPHY: Glenda Galarpe Capin is 34 years of age and currently working as a caregiver in Taiwan. She is a mother of three children and loves singing, dancing, and performing rap songs. She loves joining contests such as online singing competitions and modelling as a source of extra income. She was pursuing AB Mass Communication in college, but had to stop her studies because it was tough being a self-supporting student. She started to work abroad as a domestic helper when she was just 26 years old.
The first time she went abroad was in Saudi Arabia as a domestic helper for about three years. Now working in Taiwan, she once again opened her dream that she has long sought in life – to have her own home and be established in life. She wants to be a good example to everyone, especially to her co-OFW workers, that even if they are far away from their family it is not a reason to hide their talents.
This is one of the biggest reasons why she joined the Calendar Girl contest – to share, encourage everyone to keep going, that even if they have a child, even if they are a single mother like her, they are still able to achieve the dream they started. She joined this contest to continue and fulfill her dreams as a confident and completely beautiful woman, and to prove herself and to encourage others, not only in her external appearance but in being true to oneself. Finally, she wants to raise the dignity of her co-OFWs.
NUMBER #2 – MS. SEPTEMBER
NAME: RUBILYN RAMADA RUBIA
From: Tagum City, Davao Del Norte
Currently in the Philippines
BIOGRAPHY: Rubilyn Ramada Rubia is a 39-year-old from Cuambogan, Tagum City. Previously a single mom before getting married, Rubilyn has a beautiful 15-year old daughter. Her parents took care of her daughter while she travelled and worked abroad as an OFW and as a band vocalist. Along with her sister and her brother-in-law, she is part of a 3-person band called Brightside Trio Sequencer, travelling for 5 years across Asia, and the UAE is the last country where they worked before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Singing is her passion, and although the pandemic is still going on it can never stop her passion to sing. The reason why she joined this contest is to showcase her talent to everyone and challenge herself to pursue her passion for singing. Even if she is going to win or lose, she is already content that she was able to perform through Tinig Pinoy Radio.
NUMBER #3: MS. AUGUST
NAME: FERDILYN SARMIENTO
From: Tagum City, Davao Del Norte
Currently working in Macau
BIOGRAPHY: Ferdilyn Sarmiento is from Tagum City, Davao Del Norte, Philippines, but currently working in Macau as an OFW. She is 29 years old and has one daughter. She has an undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She is joining this competition to explore her capability, not only to showcase her talents, but also to encourage and inspire people, despite her shyness.
She loves singing, dancing, acting and writing poems. When she was younger, she enjoyed listening to the radio and hearing the DJs and was inspired by their voices. She also enjoys helping charities and helping those who are less fortunate. Currently, she has also done modelling work for a cause in Macau.
Furthermore, she is joining this competition to help her father who needs to have a CT Scan and in maintaining his medications. While it is not easy to be the breadwinner of the family, often feeling tired, she presses on, wipes her tears and continues to work knowing her family needs her.
NUMBER #4 – MS. JULY
NAME: ANALYN P. ESCABARTE
From: Kitcharao, Agusan Del Norte
Currently in the Philippines
BIOGRAPHY: Analyn P. Escabarte is 41 years old and is a single mother of one. She is very fond of singing and has been making a living off of it before the pandemic in China. Prior to the pandemic, she worked hard to make a living miles away from her daughter just to give her a better life. However, because of the pandemic, her work had stopped. Not to be deterred by the pandemic, she realized that she has been granted the opportunity to spend time with her child to engage herself in her life. She is now able to apply her responsibility as a woman and a mother, which is to work for her child’s growth and education. Being with her daughter teaches her many things every day.
In addition, she doesn’t believe in miracles, she believes that only hard work and having good character is key to success. With that, she believes that anyone will be capable of achieving what they have always dreamed of.
Lastly, her primary reason for joining this contest is to become a role model showcasing her qualities as a woman and a mother.
NUMBER #5 – MS. APRIL
NAME: DAISY JOY CARDOZA
From: Garden Island City of Samal
Currently working in Singapore
BIOGRAPHY: Daisy Joy Cardoza is a mother of three boys and a beautiful wife of her husband. She is originally from Mlang North Cotabato but moved with her family to Samal Island. Being hailed as a winner of Tinig Pinoy Radio Calendar Girl Miss April is a source of pride for Daisy Joy as it has opened a lot of opportunities. Through Tinig Pinoy Radio, Daisy Joy was able to showcase her talent, including during the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day. She has gained friends and is able to meet people from across the globe.
Daisy Joy died once. She underwent a major operation in Singapore for her appendicitis and stayed in the ICU for five days. Within this period, she began asking herself about the purpose of her life and the reason why she was given a second chance in life. As she became better, she began to see life in a different light. “Life is so short, we need to do the best out of it, choose a life you will never regret living” so she lived by her name Joy. She became joyful. She laughed and made silly videos to make everyone laugh. She became a better listener and became someone who loves to make people smile. She began to love more knowing that the moment we are gone in this world, we can’t give it anymore.
Joy became her advocacy in life. She wanted to make not only the people around her smile but those that can be reached by her charitable programs with the help of her friends who were willing to help. There’s a saying that she lives by: “mabigat kung ikaw lang mag isa ang kakarga, ang gaan kapag sama-sama” at “gaano man kaliit na tulong, kapag pinagsama, lalaki.”
THE JUDGES
Five distinguished individuals will serve as judges during the proceedings, they are:
PETRONILA GARCIA
Ms. Petronila Garcia is a career diplomat who has served the government for 40 years.
She previously served as the Philippine Ambassador to Canada from January 2014 to September 2020, becoming the first female Philippine Ambassador to Canada since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1949.
She also served as the Philippine Ambassador to Israel from 2007 to 2011 and the first woman Ambassador assigned by the Philippines to an Arab country, the Arab Republic of Egypt, with concurrent jurisdiction over Sudan from 2004 to 2007. Her other foreign assignments include the following: Minister and Chargé d’affaires, a.i. at the Philippine Embassy in South Korea from 1997 to 1999; Counsellor and Chargé d’affaires, a.i. at the Philippine Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa from 1995 to 1997; Counsellor at the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv from 1993 to 1995; Consul at the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, Australia from 1987 to 1992; and Third Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore from 1984 to 1987.
Prior to her retirement, Ms. Garcia also served as the Philippine Consul General in New York.
ADDIE BANTUG
Addie Bantug is a Management Consultant in Engineering and Construction. He was the Canadian Director for the Design of the East West Lateral Road in Mindanao for DPWH and NEDA which was funded by Canada. Currently Addie holds a number of executive positions, including:
President: New Post Construction Inc. a company based in northern Ontario
President: New Post Infrastructure, an Engineering and Management firm
CEO: Tripac Barista Coffee Company
On top of his busy schedule, Addie is also a Choir Conductor and has conducted choirs of various churches in Canada. Currently he has a virtual choir group, The Hymnsingers with members in the Philippines, Australia, UAE, USA and Canada.
CYNTHIA MARIANO
Cynthia Mariano currently resides in Toronto and is originally from Tarlac. She has a degree in Civil Engineering from the Angeles University Foundation (Pampanga).
She has been a licensed Canadian Immigration Consultant for over 10 years and is also an Immigration Law instructor at a college in Toronto. Cynthia is the founder and CEO of Bestway Canada Immigration Specialists in Toronto and also the founder and director of Bestway Review Center in Manila.
She has been a content contributor for the Book of Canadian Immigration Law Professionals. Cynthia gives back to the community by getting involved in different charitable organizations that help our kababayans in Canada and in the Philippines.
ANICETO “JOHN” BERTIZ III
Aniceto “John” Bertiz III is the Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Linkages. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Known as OFW rights advocate, Aniceto “John” Bertiz III has been at the forefront of fighting for the rights and the welfare of millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) here and abroad, especially among those most vulnerable. Serving his full term as the lone representative of OFW and migrants sector under the Alliance for Community Transformation and Service – Overseas Filipino Workers (ACTS-OFW) Partylist, Bertiz has made a great stride as a no-nonsense legislator championing OFW causes during the 17th Congress (2016-2019).
As a first-term lawmaker, Bertiz introduced several legislative measures and launched many programs designed to “energize, equip, emancipate, and empower”
the OFWs and their families so that they will not only be contributories to the country’s stability and economic growth but also, most importantly, become active partners in governance and nation-building. Of the 181 legislative measures (101 House bills and 80 House resolutions) he filed, 19 of which have become law. Appointed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to TESDA as the Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Linkages on May 15, 2020, DDG Bertiz brings with him his rich experience as an advocate and legislator for OFWs and their families. As in charge of forging strategic partnerships and meaningful linkages at TESDA, he was instrumental in initiating over 82 partnership talks, 25 of which have been signed and 7 are now in the penultimate stage.
MARIA ESTRELLA ALMEDA ZALDIVAR
Maria Estrella A. Zaldivar aka Tala Zaldivar. She is Mrs. Universe Philippines FW – Globe 2019.
A visual and a performing artist. She was known as Dj Tala during her years with TPR.
Presently; a radio host at DWIZ 882 alongside Atty. Ferdinand Topacio for the radio program Yes Yes Yo Topacio airing live from Monday to Friday, 11Am to 12Noon.
She is the COO and co-owner of Global Biotech Pharmaceuticals Inc. Seated National Director of CCW-IUFACC and a proud mother of two.
