City Metro Manila, Philippines

Star sign Pisces

If there is a characteristic that sums up Filipino people, it's our hospitality.

We also smile no matter how much trouble we have in our life.

Filipinos are always included on the list of the happiest people on earth.

Filipino food, festivals and family gatherings are my favourite things about my country.

My school life has always been been exciting.

I have learned valuable life lessons from working on presentations, writing papers, doing research and working with other people.

I often help organise conferences for college students. These might be civic group events or community events.

Since my father is a painter, I am an art enthusiast and attend art exhibitions and festivals.

My first language is my native language - that is Filipino. But I am equally comfortable speaking English, so I also consider English as my first language.

I have been learning French since I was 17, so I hope by the end of my master's degree I will be fluent in French, too.

Studying for a semester at Lingnan University has given me a basic grasp of Cantonese.

I think the most interesting thing about me is my ability to express emotions through poems.

I try to condense my feelings into words and put them on paper. I find my hobby fulfils all my heart's desires.

I was always impressed by the way Princess Diana and Mother Teresa empowered women through their actions.

Their strength was evident from the various humanitarian activities they were involved in when they were alive.

Their compassion and goodwill affected people all around the world.

I am inspired by these women to help other people and be the best person I can be.

That's why I want to go into public service. I have always dreamed of serving my country by becoming president.

I would start in local government, so that I can help the people in my local area.

Filipino cuisine is influenced by the different nationalities that have settled in our country over the years. It's a mixture of western cooking methods and Asian ingredients and flavours.

The key feature in most Filipino dishes is fresh seafood caught from the seas surrounding our islands.

We have lots of festivals all year round. As the majority of Filipinos are Catholics many festivals are religious feasts in honour of patron saints.

Some of the most important are Maskara, Penafrancia, Panagbenga, Ati-Atihan and Pahiyas.

Festivals often feature processions and several days of family gatherings.

Christmas is considered to be the most important festival of all. It's a time when families get together to celebrate Jesus' birth.

For me, the defining feature of Hong Kong is its convenience. I once explored Hong Kong with a local family.

One family member commented how the huge number of convenience shops around Hong Kong was a reflection of Hong Kong.

I think this is a good metaphor - Hong Kong is brightly lit, open 24 hours, and you can buy practically anything.