Truly Cebuana

Beauty and brains are two things that make a woman stand out. However, with those two qualities plus personality and character, the possibilities for her to be a big name are infinite.

We all know Candidate No. 6 Pierre Anther Infante as the twentysomething radio DJ, dressed in a mermaid-cut gown, who bagged the Miss Cebu crown back in 2012. “Miss Cebu was so much fun. I didn’t feel the pressure of the competition at all,” Infante said. To her, the beauty pageant was a chance to discover more about herself. She also added that the best thing about the pageant was the genuine friendship among the finalists. “I earned really good friends. We’re all so close and we still keep in touch.”

Anther is now 22, lovelier than ever, with a day job as a marketing officer for one of the most established malls here in the city. At first, she didn’t know if she was the right person for the job saying, “I was the type who was scared of people even when I was younger and in the world of marketing, you need to be a people person.”

As a quiet college student, her routine was to go to class, hang out in her dad’s office and wait until her next class starts. According to her, her colleagues only knew her as the professor’s daughter. Students in her school then later found out that she was a disc jockey at a local radio station. “I talked to the listeners about random things–absolutely anything. It was a fun job,” Anther said. As isolated as she was in that small booth, being DJ Leila (her radio alter-ego) taught her to express herself more, which then pushed her to break out of her comfort zone.

Since her win as Miss Cebu 2012, Anther was just recently signed to be a talent by Viva Entertainment Group, alongside Sinulog Idol 2011 Raechelle Mae Faelnar. On the look-out for showbiz talents, VIVA established a group for the Visayas and Mindanao regions called Viva Concerts and Events South, Inc.

Upon hearing the news that she got the contract, Anther was in disbelief. “It hasn’t sunk in until now. But I’m taking up the challenge,” she said. “I told them I’m more of a host and then they said that I could maybe venture into acting.” Knowing how great the competition can be in the showbiz industry, Anther understands how difficult it is to hit it big, and if she started at an earlier age, the chances would be bigger. She then continued, “But with what I have with VIVA now, I’m thankful. I hope it works out for the best. I’m open to possibilities.”

Many might wonder what made her decide to enter the entertainment industry.On the downside, Anther is aware of how celebrities aren’t as free as they’d like to be. “You’d get a little restricted because it’s not just all about you. You’re carrying a name,” Anther mentioned. But then she explained that the entertainment industry fosters an environment for happy people.

“The goal is to entertain. It’s a good place to be where you get to work with really creative people.” To those young aspirants who hope to make it big someday, she shared a practical piece of advice: “Build good relationships.” She then defended that making connections and maintaining relationships with others are entirely different. “Be persistent. Success doesn’t come to you in an instant,” she continued.

With the support of her family, Anther is in pursuit of a career doing what she loves the most, beginning her hosting stint while working her way up the corporate ladder. Anther explains that titles awarded to persons of note won’t matter at the end of the day if they aren’t good people to begin with. Success is important, but what’s most important to her is to be, “somebody who has a good heart.”

Only a few women can have so much charm, wit and maturity at such a young age and in that rare group is a Pierre Anther Infante – a young woman living up to being truly Cebuana.