By Randy Espares Jr.

Far Eastern University (FEU) 3rd year Nursing student Francine Tajanlangit was named as the 2nd runner up in the recently concluded Miss Manila 2023 Coronation Night held at the Manila Metropolitan Theater last June 23.

As part of the Top 5, Tajanlangit is now an ambassadress for Manila and will participate in events that promote the improvement of the city. 

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Tajanlangit described her journey as difficult considering she is a newbie when it comes to the industry of professional pageantry. 

“I was surrounded with title holders, and more experienced queens who competed internationally. The only experience I had was school pageants which was significantly different compared to Miss Manila,” she explained. 

In 2020, Tajanlangit competed in FEU’s Ms. Kalikasan where she won the crown.

Additionally, she placed 1st Runner-up in Mr. and Ms. LPU of the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) in 2019.

Despite the challenges, Tajanlangit prepared comprehensively for the competition by consistently exercising and having a healthy diet, as well as focusing on being more emotionally and mentally ready by becoming socially aware of current events. 

“Within 30 seconds, I must be able to provide a concise and impactful answer. We were not given any guide questions so I made it a habit to be socially aware and dig deeper into the issues and express my stance with substantial evidence,” she said. 

Beauty queen for a cause 

Tajanlangit expressed how the outreach programs that she started doing as a youth, became a source of strength in her journey representing Roxas Boulevard.

“I came to Miss Manila to extend the community services that I have been doing ever since I was younger. So whenever, there were times of fatigue, I am reminded of the bigger cause that brought me to this amazing journey,” she said. 

Part of her advocacies is also influenced by her studies as a nursing student, helping communities through essential blood donation programs. 

“Aside from being able to donate blood, I was given the chance to help in taking the vital signs of other donors and gave them food packs as a small token. With the tremendous need for blood in hospitals, these initiatives are very vital and I am happy to be part of it.” Tajanlangit added. 

Moreover, FEU became a part of her journey as she tries to incorporate the school motto in facing difficulties in her journey as a beauty queen. 

“So all throughout the pageant I was embodying the FEU ideals ‘Be Brave’ I was braving through almost two months of pre-pageant activities and the very coronation day. There were short moments of doubts but the spirit of courage gave me confidence and strength,” she said. 

Miss Manila 2023 is a pageant competition returning after a five-year hiatus as a project of the current Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, presented by the City of Manila in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts of Manila. 

(Photo courtesy from Francine Tajanlangit’s Facebook)