Samantha Panlilio, Beauty Queen to Changemaker—I found my passion in giving back to the community

SHOWBIZ KONEK
ni Maricris Valdez Nicasio

HINDI pinlano ni Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2021 Samantha Panlilio na sumali ng beauty pageant pero nang malaman niyang 

ang Tita Myrna Panlilio niya ang kauna-unahang Binibining Pilipinas na kinatawan ng ating bansa noong 1964, naengganyo na rin siyang pasukin ang timpalak pagandahan.

“Legacy to me is very important, hence why I joined pageantry,” katwiran ng magandang dilag.

Kasunod nito ang pagsasabing ito rin ang nagtulak sa kanya para tumakbo sa 2025 election. Sasabak siya sa mundo ng politika at kakandidatong kongresista sa pamamagitan ng isang partylist.

“And from pageantry, I found my passion in giving back to the community beyond my efforts in the business world.

“And so, I think that this always been a calling for me, I guess, because I know that I can get to a platform where I can help more people as well. And so, who am I to pass that up, right? You can help more people,” anito nang makausap namin sa launching ng kanyang Pangarap at Kalinga (PAK) Foundation sa Shang Palace, Shangri-La Makati.

Si Samantha ang magiging second nominee ng Agimat Partylist.

“I’m very excited about that. You know, for the past few months, I’ve been working to really connect with my community, and we are filing in two weeks time,” ani Samantha.

Ang Agimat Partylist ay unang itinatag ng yumaong Ramon Revilla, Sr. noong 2011. Bale sa pamamagitan ng Agimat Partylist at PAK Foundation, naniniwala ni Samantha na mas mapalalakas at mas mapalalawak ang mga adbokasiya niya tulad ng community development, education, healthcare, at livelihood projects.

Ang pagpasok sa politika ni Samantha ay hindi personal subalit naniniwala siyang isa itong calling.

Lumaki siya sa Ternate, Cavite at doon niya nasaksihan ang mga hamon na kinakaharap ng lokal na komunidad.

“I’ve always been proud to represent Cavite during my stint in Binibining Pilipinas.

“But pride and beauty aren’t enough. We need action. We need real change.

“Agimat is very focused on farmers, fisherfolk, single moms. And so, what I’m bringing to the table, hopefully, is going to be more on women empowerment, the LGBTQI+, community, of course, coming from pageantry, you know, a lot of the people I surround myself with are within that community.

“So, that’s something that I want to help,” pagbabahagi ni Samantha.

Idinagdag pa ni Samantha na, “Accessible education is essential in shaping the future.

“Children have incredible potential. I’m committed to ensuring they have the right resources to realize their dreams.”

Nang matanong kung ano ang feeling nito na nakatutulong siya sa kabataan, sinabi ng beauty queen na, “Nakakataba talaga ng puso, I mean iba ‘yung feeling when you’re on the ground and you see them and they call me after. That feeling is priceless.”

Unang proyekto ng foundation ang pagtatayo ng apat na bagong silid-aralan sa Ternate National High School. Ang mga silid-aralan na ito ay tumanggap ng mga mag-aaral sa senior high school at mga bagong enrollees, na magbibigay sa mga guro ng tamang kapaligiran na kailangan para magampanan ang kanilang mga responsibilidad sa mga mag-aaral.

sa kabilang banda natanong din si Samantha kungmay planoba siyang pasukin ang showbiz, at ang tugon nito, “Just wait for it.” At kung mabibigyan ng pagkakataon gusto niyang gumawa ng horror at sina Jodi Sta. Maria at Piolo Pascual naman ang gusto niyang makasama sa isang project.

“My dream is really a horror movie. I’ve always been a fan of ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll.’ I think it’s really good, and it will be fun.”