1. Early life

2. Miss Cebu 2016

3. Activism

4. BaBeBoBs Beauty & Fitness Consultancy

5. References

She attended Cebu International School. She was a host for television program with Drop Decay vocalist Tony Alfonso and DJ Joah Go on MyTV Channel Cebu.^[4][5] In May 2014, Raine and her mother, Merce Abellana ^[6] (former Miss Cebu's 5 Prettiest 1986)^[7] have been the ambassadresses and endorsers to Oro Galleria Fine Jewelry of the Oro China Jewelry Group.^[8]

Early life

Baljak is a Cebuana of Croatian, Spanish and Chinese descent. She was born in Sydney, Australia but moved to Cebu City, Philippines as a child.^[9][10]

In her childhood, she remembers raising money with her cousin to contribute a small playground built in Maslog that still exists today.^[10] She has mentioned in interviews that she enjoys rock climbing ^[1] and in a 2006 Freeman article she won first place at ten years old in an Aboitiz Baseline Climbing competition.^[11] In 2013 and 2014, Baljak competed in Manila for the International Schools Athletics Conference representing CIS Girls Basketball team.^[12][13] She has also volunteered for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in September 2013 - January 2014.^[14] In February 2014, Baljak volunteered for the Yellow Boat Foundation.^[15] On Baljak's graduating year from Cebu International School, her Visual Arts class exhibited their artworks at the Ayala Center Cebu on March 16–24, 2015.^[16]

While Miss Cebu is her first pageant, Baljak is not a complete stranger to them. Her mom, Merce Abellana was crowned one of Miss Cebu's 5 Prettiest 1986 and was also Miss Mandaue 1984 third runner-up and Binibining Pilipinas 1990 Top ten.^[17] Her aunt Mae Beverly Lao-Abellana was a Binibining Pilipinas 1981 finalist. Her grandmother Maria Fe was and great-grandmother Mercedes Durano Lao were also beauty queens, having been Miss Danao during their times.^[9]

Alongside the beauty queens, the men in Raine's family were also quite the achievers, with her great-grandfather Gregorio Abellana having fought against the Spanish as a Katipunero, while her grandfathers Jovito Abellana and Reuben Lao fought in World War II.^[9] Jovito Abellana's memoir, [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13410204-my-moments-of-war-to-remember-by My Moments of War to Remember By], was published in 2011 by the University of San Carlos Press.^[18]

Miss Cebu 2016

Raine Baljak was candidate number 9 for Miss Cebu 2016. The pre-pageant was held at the Ayala Center Cebu Terraces on January 9, 2016 and she was an early stand out awarded two of the four awards given that night, as Miss Epson for being knowledgeable about Cebuano history and Best in Funwear in her two-piece creation by Mike Yapching.^[19] The coronation night was held at the Waterfront Hotel's Grand Ballroom on January 13, 2016 where the panel of judges awarded her as ABS-CBN's Kapamilya Star of the Night and Best in Evening Gown wearing designer Dino Lloren.^[20][21]

During her reign as Miss Cebu 2016, she has participated in community projects such as Pasundayag 2016 Cebu City Summer Workshop. Pasundayag promotes the idea that economic status is never a hindrance to a child's potential to shine and continue their dreams. On its 14th year, this annual summer workshop trains children aged 6 to 16 in the art of cultural, modern and traditional Cebuano dances (Pad-um, Pasiguin and Tinikling, along with modern dances like hip-hop) with the Knapsack Dancers, Abellana National School Dance Troupe, Miss Cebu Charities and other local celebrities who shared their time and passion contributed to the success of this event. Where the Cebu City Government through the Cebu City Tourism Commission and Cebu City Tourism Foundation Inc. hold their annual Pasundayag in cooperation with Ayala Center Cebu and Knapsack Productions.^[22][23]

Activism

On the relocation of the Cebu Farmers’ Market (CFM) at VIBO Place along Escario Street in Cebu City, Baljak attended supporting the organic fruit and vegetable farmers. She presented a demo alongside friend, Chef Chip Lopez of Kairos – The Lazy Chef as they prepared a Thai green papaya salad using green papaya from her family's 8Hills Natural Farm for the dish. The nineteen year old beauty queen brought with her an heirloom mortar and pestle to prepare a vegan sauce for the salad, as an alternative for those with allergies, this helped her live a healthier life.^[24]

Baljak has also participated at the Cebu Daily News' Siloy Campus Journalism Workshop at the Cebu City Hall which was attended by 250 elementary and high school students from Cebu City. Baljak listened to talks on feature and news writing, took notes and occasionally nodded her head in agreement to points emphasized by the speakers. After listening to the talks and participating in the workshops, Baljak said she looks at journalists as people who love to listen and write about the stories and experiences of people that inform, inspire and involve the public.^[25]

In September, Baljak also has volunteered at the Rise Above Foundation working hard in cooking and distributing meals to the children at the community center in Barangay Guadalajara, Guadalupe, Cebu.^[26] In the same month, Baljak was a TEDx Speaker at the University of San Jose-Recoletos for their theme: Six Degrees of Separation.^[27]

BaBeBoBs Beauty & Fitness Consultancy

She’s now an entrepreneur as well after starting a home-based business called “[https://www.youtube.com/c/BaBeBoBsBeautyFitnessConsultancy BaBeBoBs Beauty & Fitness Consultancy]” in Cebu City. ^[28] Her business supports her weightlifting charity project for the youth [https://www.facebook.com/MissCebu2016ASSYnBUTTS/ Miss Cebu 2016's ASSY & BUTTS] (Artemis Strength for Saving Youth and Boys Ultimate Test To Strength) and marine conservation effort #ProjectCORAL - Cebu's Oceans Rescued and Loved. ^[29] Which you can view her coaching, projects and events on her YouTube Channel, https://www.YouTube.com/BaBeBoBsBeautyFitnessConsultancy

Two years after being crowned as Miss Cebu 2016, Raine Baljak shows us what a true queen is in and out of the spotlight.

“When I earned the title, I experienced my dream of being a princess and for the first few months, I felt that something is odd with being a celebrity, then I realized I lived in a dream and that’s why it’s awkward,”

“I used to have goals, but I didn’t have the steps on how to do it. Now that I do, I can really stand for that you need to work on the plans even though people are not very favorable to you,” she says.

Currently, she has established her own business, called BaBeBoBs Beauty & Fitness Consultancy, which has helped her materialize what she believes in.

“Others have treated me as a sexual object, but that is the least of what I can do, that is why my Business name is a tease to everyone. Business wise it gets their attention. People like we women have more essence than being a sexual object. We can be nurturing, compassionate and strong, that’s why BaBeBoBs is there. BaBeBoBs is an acronym for my last name Baljak with Beauty, Body and Brains = BaBeBoBs (pronounces as Ba•Bee•Boobs)” she explains.

“What I am doing now is creating avenues where the youth can come together to feel safe, be nurtured and when necessary, seek guidance. My weightlifting career is just a stepping stone for my means of getting the children’s attention to institute discipline in them.”

“If by lazy you mean not working at maximum capacity then that is once a month when my dysmenorrhea hits. My mood is at its worst; I get weak and need to nap. I wake up and back to work!” she shares.

When it comes to inspiring young women who wants to pursue pageants, she advises, ^[30]

“Have courage to embrace your femininity, show kindness to your peers and care about the choices you make for yourself—never underestimate the power of beauty sleep, a balanced diet with a training program and a dependable coach.”

References

• Steve Thomas (rugby)
• Steve Thomas (rugby league footballer)
• Steve Thompson (disambiguation)
• Steve Thompson (footballer)
• Steve Thompson (footballer, born 1964)
• Steve Thompson (footballer, born 1989)
• Steve Thompson (football player)
• Steve Thompson (rugby player)
• Steve Thomson
• Steve Thomson (politician)
• Steve Thonn
• Steve Thornton
• Steve Thurston
• Steve Tiley
• Steve Tirpak
• Steve Titmus
• Steve Titus
• Steve Tolleson
• Steve Toltz
• Steve Tomac
• Steve Tomlinson
• Steve Torpey
• Steve Torpey (disambiguation)
• Steve Tosches
• Steve Toushin