FROM: Joyce Ann Burton-Titular,
Bb. Pilipinas - Universe 1985 and Bb. Pilipinas - Young Philippines 1981
The one memory of Lyka Ugarte that really sticks in my head was the time when we did a fashion show together at the Silahis Hotel on Roxas Blvd in one of the clubs there. I think it was for fashion designer Ghoulee Gorospe, if I'm not mistaken.
Lyka sailed into the club, during rehearsals, with her long dark hair curling down her shoulders framing her porcelain face. She was as thin as a waif in those days. But she was so fair and so beautiful and so... aloof. Totally in a world of her own. As in MATARAY!
As for me, I was terribly shy so even if I wanted to get to know her better, I stayed away. But during those rehearsals I would catch my eyes straying to her doll-like face. I am a very visual person and love to look at beautiful people but staring is not my style so I just had to satisfy my eyes with stolen glances.
And I thought to myself, "Ang ganda-ganda naman ng babaeng ito pero napaka-suplada ang dating. Ano kaya ang problema niya?"
As the years went by, I would read about Lyka Ugarte in the papers and chismis magazines and sometimes it would be good articles and sometimes it would be bad. Unfortunately, the bad ones started piling up. It all came to a head when I read about the suicide attempt. While I thanked God that it was a failed attempt, I also asked for forgiveness for not getting to know her better. I should have just forgotten my shyness and befriended her when I had the chance. At least if we were good friends then I could somehow try to comfort her. But we weren't really friends - I was just an acquaintance and a spectator in her life.
So when I had the opportunity to see Lyka Ugarte again - at the Boardwalk Fashion Show earlier this year (2011 - we both modeled in the plus-size segment), I grabbed the chance to get to know her better. I dropped all my shyness (which is really just a version of pride) and practically cornered her. I wonder if she knew what I was up to; there was no time to waste, I wanted to know more about her and the things she went through. I just wanted to be a source of comfort and hope.
During the Boardwalk rehearsals I remember lending my UBER TALL heels to Lyka because she refused to walk in the EVEN TALLER heels that Boardwalk made the models wear... and I thought that was really funny. This Lyka Ugarte can be so stubborn! But I guess that's what makes her Lyka - mataray pa rin in spite of all the stuff that happened to her.
After the Boardwalk show, I made it my goal to meet with her, far away from the fashionistas and bright lights. We got together (with her super pretty daughter) at a coffee shop in Makati. Finally, I got the full story from her. All the heartbreaks she went through came pouring out of her mouth. I think we even cried a bit during that loooong conversation. Although she is still going through struggles in life, she is surrounded by her children and she is on her way to something better.
I left our little tete-a-tete feeling happy that I finally spent time getting closer to a beautiful woman who is so loved by God.
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To Lyka:
If you are wondering why you are so passionate and skinless its because God made you that way. You just need people around you who accept you. And you need the Lord in your life. Creative people are wired differently. They think differently. And act and react so differently. Once you accept that and learn how to deal with the tides of your emotions, wonderful things will happen!
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Visit Joyce Ann Burton's site at:
http://adventuresofabeautyqueen.com/
AND TO WATCH HER IN ACTION DURING THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT:
http://kattera.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/truly-filipina-joyce-ann-burton-bb-pilipinas-universe-1985/
Lyka sailed into the club, during rehearsals, with her long dark hair curling down her shoulders framing her porcelain face. She was as thin as a waif in those days. But she was so fair and so beautiful and so... aloof. Totally in a world of her own. As in MATARAY!
As for me, I was terribly shy so even if I wanted to get to know her better, I stayed away. But during those rehearsals I would catch my eyes straying to her doll-like face. I am a very visual person and love to look at beautiful people but staring is not my style so I just had to satisfy my eyes with stolen glances.
And I thought to myself, "Ang ganda-ganda naman ng babaeng ito pero napaka-suplada ang dating. Ano kaya ang problema niya?"
As the years went by, I would read about Lyka Ugarte in the papers and chismis magazines and sometimes it would be good articles and sometimes it would be bad. Unfortunately, the bad ones started piling up. It all came to a head when I read about the suicide attempt. While I thanked God that it was a failed attempt, I also asked for forgiveness for not getting to know her better. I should have just forgotten my shyness and befriended her when I had the chance. At least if we were good friends then I could somehow try to comfort her. But we weren't really friends - I was just an acquaintance and a spectator in her life.
So when I had the opportunity to see Lyka Ugarte again - at the Boardwalk Fashion Show earlier this year (2011 - we both modeled in the plus-size segment), I grabbed the chance to get to know her better. I dropped all my shyness (which is really just a version of pride) and practically cornered her. I wonder if she knew what I was up to; there was no time to waste, I wanted to know more about her and the things she went through. I just wanted to be a source of comfort and hope.
During the Boardwalk rehearsals I remember lending my UBER TALL heels to Lyka because she refused to walk in the EVEN TALLER heels that Boardwalk made the models wear... and I thought that was really funny. This Lyka Ugarte can be so stubborn! But I guess that's what makes her Lyka - mataray pa rin in spite of all the stuff that happened to her.
After the Boardwalk show, I made it my goal to meet with her, far away from the fashionistas and bright lights. We got together (with her super pretty daughter) at a coffee shop in Makati. Finally, I got the full story from her. All the heartbreaks she went through came pouring out of her mouth. I think we even cried a bit during that loooong conversation. Although she is still going through struggles in life, she is surrounded by her children and she is on her way to something better.
I left our little tete-a-tete feeling happy that I finally spent time getting closer to a beautiful woman who is so loved by God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Lyka:
If you are wondering why you are so passionate and skinless its because God made you that way. You just need people around you who accept you. And you need the Lord in your life. Creative people are wired differently. They think differently. And act and react so differently. Once you accept that and learn how to deal with the tides of your emotions, wonderful things will happen!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit Joyce Ann Burton's site at:
http://adventuresofabeautyqueen.com/
AND TO WATCH HER IN ACTION DURING THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT:
http://kattera.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/truly-filipina-joyce-ann-burton-bb-pilipinas-universe-1985/