Loud cheers and applause were heard when the hosts announced that STELA’s male representative, Jose Rafael Warren VII, was the eventual winner of Mr. University of Baguio in the UB gymnasium on April 19, 2024.
Warren, a 19-year-old first-year Bachelor of Arts in Music student, is an advocate for the good health and well-being of the university’s students.
During the contestants’ introduction, he expressed his hopes that his voice and words would open the hearts and minds of listeners, especially those who suffer in silence.
When asked about the legacy he wants to leave should he win the title, he emphasized the importance of having an enjoyable experience, as life has no meaning without fun.
“I would like to leave a legacy that would inspire others to have fun in whatever they do. It could be within their work, school, or at home. The things you do have no point if there is no fun behind it. That is exactly what Nanay and Tatay left for us. They wanted us to have a fun and enjoyable experience,” he said.
According to Warren, winning the crown means a lot to him as he never considered joining the pageant until he participated. He did not expect to win the crown, but somewhere throughout the process, he realized he wanted to win.
“It did scare me knowing that I’d have a title as powerful as this. I realized I’d have to step up to the challenge. A new experience that would provide me with different skills I could possibly use,” he added.
When asked about the message he wants his fellow UBians to hear, he said, “If you don’t know where to head towards, then as long as you can take the next step, take it. It’s better than staying still. Live without regrets, and if you don’t know your next step, then looking for that next step is your next step,” he stated.
Warren bested the other 8 male contestants from different schools in the university, including the Senior High School, which was aiming for a back-to-back feat. He also made history as the first-ever Mr. University of Baguio winner coming from the BA Music program.
Meanwhile, Elisha Udarbe gracefully represented STELA in Ms. University of Baguio 2024.
The university holds the annual pageant to give students the platform to showcase their beauty, wit, elegance, and advocacies, and this year is no exception as the pageant’s theme is to pay homage to the founders.
Written by Diomel Ballado
