By Loy PalaposAt thirteen she has accomplished more than girls twice her age, as proven by more than fifty awards, certificates of recognition, and exposures spotlighting her talents in ramp modeling, beauty contests, oral articulation, and mathematics. At 12, when she was in seventh grade, she took the entrance exams for college at Duke University, and came out the youngest passer, and the highest in her school. She has tacked several titles in her belt, including that of Miss Pre-Teen Rio Grande Valley, Declamation and Oral Reading Champion, and Highest Math SAT Scorer.
At 10:00 AM last Monday, November 26, a long distance call from Texas jolted me. The big news? Addie Valerie was crowned All American Pre-Teen winner, a beauty and talent competition held in California, besting 158 other representatives from all over America.
Aptly nicknamed Darling, Addie Valerie Amper is the granddaughter of Dr. Addie Torres, Ph. D. and the only daughter of Valerio Amper, of Anda, and Endievie Torres of Alicia. Both parents graduated from Divine Word College (Holy Name University), he in BSC-Accounting, and she in BSN. Jethro, their second child and only son is a sixth grader at Sheryland Elementary School, Mission, Texas where he excels as a Champion in Chess.
She was born in Davao City on April 16, 1993, where her father was the Manager of Davao Union Cement. Even at two years old her enthusiasm and zest for life were her avatar. In kindergarten she already manifested her inclination to the arts. She loved to dance, sing, and act even if words at times left her mouth ambiguously. Her parents, aware of their daughter’s potentials, supported her passion for acting and modeling. In 2000 she won the most coveted title of Little Miss Davao City.
When the family moved to the USA in 2001, it could have spelled an end to her dream in the celebrity world; but even in a totally new environment, her innate grace and charm triumphed over mediocrity, and she was asked to join the search for Miss Pre-Teen Rio Grande Valley in 2004. She was nine then, when she bagged the beauty title, which made her a celebrity in the campus. That stint led her to ramp modeling and engagements which brought her to several places. Some of them were: Sunrise Mall Children’s Place Spring Fashion Show, Edinburgh Auditorium, Pharr Fashion, Bag Fashion, Donna Summer Concert, Sunrise Mall Elite, Miss Mission Pageant, Rio Grande Humanity Fashion Show, Pharr International Graduation Fashion Show, and scores more. To enhance her skills in the ramp, she enrolled at the Missy’s Modeling Studio, McAllen, Texas. Her training at Valley Keyboards, also in Texas, enhanced her skills in playing the piano, singing and dancing.
She joined several beauty and modeling pageants where she either emerged the title holder or a runner-up: Miss National American in Houston, Texas, State Actress Winner, States Spokes Model, National All American Miss in Anaheim, California, National Pageant Winner in All American Miss Spirit (all in 2004). From 2005 to 2006 she again garnered several awards, including the 2006 Spirit of America Award. In the year 2001, she was the School District Declamation Champion, and from 2004 to 2005 she was the consistent School District Oral Reading Champion, aside from being the recipient of the 2006 Duke University Award.
Her participation in beauty contests and fashion shows have brought her to several places in USA. Participating in various quests is, for her, one way to express her mental, emotional, psychological, and physical attributes. “Win or lose…the experience makes me a better person.†Even in losing, she has learned to evaluate her weak points, and come out more knowledgeable. She and a small select group are scheduled to visit Washington DC, in March 2007. She is representing her school, and they will meet the Congressional Representatives and State Senator, among others, as part of her itinerary in a Leadership Training Program.
Late last year, there was this popular American Celebrity, Tommy Hilfiger, in the world of modeling. He was searching for female teen-age mannequins for ramp modeling in the Big Apple, New York City. Among almost two-hundred aspirants who were interviewed and tested for acumen in carrying designer clothes, Addie Valerie was one of the ten being picked. She alluded her making it to the magic ten her ability to relate to the audience, especially with her perfect smile, emanating from her joyous heart, that never fails to touch anybody who experiences it.
Now, on her eighth grade, she will soon be in Junior High. Nevertheless, all throughout the years, she never forgets her dream: to be a pediatrician someday. She loves children, that’s why. What happens if the celebrity spotlight will focus on her, which is not remote, considering her varied talents? She has already gone places and is high in the totem pole in the world of entertainment and pageantry. To this, which other gifted children always see as a dilemma, she has already a definite answer. She will choose her studies and become a doctor. All her experiences and accomplishments could be geared to this focal dream to serve others.
Asked about her first impression during her first few days in Bohol, she sounded incredulous. “No seatbelts, no speed limits…it’s heaven here. People seem free to do anything they want.†Compared to Uncle Sam country where there are a thousand-and-one restrictions, and anybody has to obey several rules and regulations, non-compliance of which results to monetary fines and other sanctions, including imprisonment or community service, where nobody is exempted, including the rich and influential…
She has been categorized as brilliant even as a kid, excelling in subjects which are the others’ Waterloo, like mathematics and the sciences. Always finishing at the topmost five percent of her classes at school-year-ends, she did not have any problem relating to her peers, and even those older than she. She did not experience being an outside or left-out even during the first time she attended classes. She at once felt at home in school, as if she was born in the US. She cannot even remember any language barrier. She was the proverbial duck to her pond.
It did not come as a surprise that her teachers and those who matched her performance in school readily saw in her a phenomenal child, making her acceptance at the Business Education and Technology Academy in Edinburg, Texas. She is enrolled in a special class for gifted and talented children.
Call it fate, but Darling’s parents are also convinced of her determination, hand work, obedience, love, family support, and above all…God’s grace. When she was offered the educational acceleration from elementary to college by Duke University in September, her parents decided to make her experience the regular secondary school curriculum, to be with students her age, although a grade higher than her classmates last school year.
A perfect combination of brain-and-beauty. Nothing frivolous, nothing ostentatious, just inborn charm that emanates from within her in-depth core. Not pre-fabricated nor cultivated or rehearsed…that intrinsic glow of the joy of living. She comes to Bohol to experience for herself the pristine white beaches, the blue-green sea, the marvelous chocolate hills, and the hospitable people she has been hearing so much about. If she has her way, she would love to reside her forever. But school in the USA beckons. She knows the applause for wining titles and the sophistication on the ramp are fleeting fancy. She would be a doctor someday, and now she knows Bohol is her home.
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Topic: All-American Pre-Teen: Addie Valerie Amper (Read 8907 times)