Fil Am Beauty and Brains: Caitlyn Del Rosario
By: Lou Maningas Cabalona
The moment this lady walked into the room, everybody had their eyes on her. Her proud father, Illinois-based musician Roland Del Rosario, introduced her to friends at fellow musician Rogel Arceo’s birthday party as one of the candidates selected to be part of the prestigious MISS ILLINOIS USA this year.
She gives everyone a firm handshake and smiles, “Hi, I am Caitlyn.” She also quickly points out that she is part of the Miss Illinois (USA) that moves on to Miss USA and then Miss Universe. Apparently, there is also a “Miss Illinois” that presumably goes on to Miss America and then Miss World.
After gracefully answering everybody’s questions about Donald Trump’s connection with the pageant, I had a chance to talk one on one with this Purdue University beauty who also volunteers to take care of the elderly in hospices.
Louella: Tell me about yourself?
Caitlyn: I am 24 years old pursuing a Biology degree at Purdue University. After completing my degree, I want to become a Physician’s Assistant. I first started doing pageants this year in the Miss Purdue pageant this past February and I had so much fun participating and meeting such wonderful, kind, and talented young women.
L: Your father is Filipino. What aspects of Filipino culture/ heritage were you exposed to growing up?
C: He was born and raised in the capital, Manila. Growing up with a large family and small income, he worked very hard to get where he is now. He taught me about the Filipino culture through their love of food, God, parties, and music. My favorite food is Halo Halo and, strangely, Durian fruit, but only when it’s frozen.
L: They say all Filipinos are talented. What talent are you most proud of?
C: The talent I am most proud of is offering my company to those in need. Sharing my time to help brighten someone’s day is a gift that can be difficult to teach or learn, but it’s not impossible. Although my passion for singing and playing piano is an acquired talent that I’ve practiced for years, spending time with youth or elderly community is my proudest gift. Seeing a patient or child smile simply for spending time and creating a human connection is a talent that cannot be easily taught.
L: What made you decide to join Miss Illinois USA?
C: I wanted to continue to explore the pageant world and I felt this was a great pageant to help broaden my knowledge and to meet new people and make great friends. When I did my first pageant, it was both exhilarating and frightening at the same time. If something has that strong of a will and power that it both excites and scares you, it probably means you should do it. Miss Illinois USA believes in supporting young women to help bring awareness of a healthy lifestyle, being active and social in their community, bringing awareness to their charities, and being a positive role model.
L: As a Miss Illinois USA Pageant candidate, what advocacies are you passionate about?
C: I’m passionate about taking care of our elders. I am a hospice volunteer with Transitions Hospice and will soon be completing my Nurse’s Aide certification. Through my experiences as a hospice volunteer and nurse’s aide, I have met some wonderful people who have changed my perspective and have taught me great things. Unfortunately, I have also seen some not so great things and this fuels my passion to want to give back to the community and the generation that helped raise my generation. There is no greater feeling than being connected to another person by simply being there for them.
L: How can the Filipino American community show their support and help you become the next Miss USA?
C: I think the best way to show support is to help spread the word and for Filipino Americans to educate our culture by encouraging more involvement in the American community. This allows Americans to become more familiar with Filipino culture and become more interested and aware of traditions such food and music.
The blending of these two cultures shows that the future of America is not only a more blended society of varies backgrounds, but accepting of each other’s customs that it becomes a part of American culture.
By the time we finished chatting, guests at the party, many members of the Filipino Musicians of Chicago, have already gathered over $300 to help support her in her journey to representing Filipino Americans in Miss Illinois USA and hopefully, Miss Universe as well! Her GoFundMe page mentions that funds also support our charity, Warriors For Ross, that help children and their families with medical needs.
The 2016 Miss Illinois USA is on September 4-7, 2015, with the coronation night on the last day at 7pm at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL.
To support Caitlyn and know more about her, visit http://www.gofundme.com/cdelros2 016.
Louella Maningas Cabalona is a singer, actor, and a business intelligence consultant. She is the co-founder of the Filipno Folk band, SamaSama Project, ILPRO (Illinois Philippines Recovery Operations) and is one of the 10 inaugural delegates of the FYLPro Immersion program of the Philippine Embassy in DC in 2012. She is passionate about sharing Filipino culture in the modern world and actively supports all upstanding Filipino Americans who exemplify excellence what they do. She is currently pondering on a “Pinoy” business startup while planning the next series of 2016 medical missions to the Philippines with her husband, Baron. If any of these adventures sound interesting to you,
Purdue University student, Caitlyn Del Rosario, is busy preparing for MISS ILLINOIS USA this September. 24 years old, Caitlyn is born to a Filipino father and European mother.
Louella and Caitlyn with the ladies of Filipino Musicians of Chicago – Patty Lou Soliman, Gemma Apacible, Lanie Del Rosario and Lottie De
Veyra – Topacio.
Louella and Caitlyn with the ladies of Filipino Musicians of Chicago – Patty Lou Soliman, Gemma Apacible, Lanie Del Rosario and Lottie De Veyra – Topacio
