“I’M the type of person who always wants to be happy and enjoy life. At the same time, every time I have a goal, I give time and focus on what I want to achieve,” said Elcid Magne P. Camacho. It was his spirit and determination that made him winner of the Hari sa Sugbo 2018 title.
Produced by designer Malayka Yamas, this is the newest male pageant in Cebu City armed with an advocacy to promote and spread HIV awareness and education. It had its first-ever coronation night last Feb. 18 at the Arctic Hall of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. Elcid, candidate number 12, was crowned as the first-ever Hari sa Sugbo with supporters cheering him on including his family. “They didn’t know that I joined these kinds of things,” he said, chuckling. “It was that night that they saw me for the first time joining a pageant.”
Apart from the title, he also won “Best in Swimwear,” an award the 26-year-old model sheepishly admits to often winning during contests; then again his physique was what started his career in modelling and pageantry in the first place.
Hailing from Getafe, Bohol, he moved to Cebu City to study Civil Engineering at the University of Cebu where a schoolmate of his encouraged him to try out modeling (specifically because of his abs). He’s been in the modeling and pageantry world since 2013. Prior to Hari Sa Sugbo, he joined pageants like Misters of Filipinas 2014 and also held the title of Mr. Summer Body 2014 and Mr. Cebu Body 2016.
At present, Elcid has his eyes fixed on another competition: the Century Tuna Superbods Ageless 2018, an invitation he received a day after winning the Hari Sa Sugbo title, and is one among the top 10 finalists for the male category. The awards night is set to take place on Thursday, April 12 at the Cove, Okada in Parañaque City, Metro Manila.
When it comes to getting prepared, Elcid learns the ropes through self-study. “Like days before Hari Sa Sugbo, I watched pageant videos on YouTube almost every day. I studied their moves, listened to how they answered the questions given to them just to get an idea. I prefer to learn on my own,” he said. “I had a feeling that I had a shot at winning since I was well prepared.”
Apart from that, he makes sure he manages his time well and hits up the gym every day not just because it’s part of his strategy on the road to victory but also because of his own advocacy. “I want to inspire people to stay fit and healthy. That’s why I also want to be fit and stay fit. Even when I’m busy, I make sure to go to the gym, eat the right kind of food to stay fit.”
In between the hustle, he finds joy in singing and playing the guitar.
To Elcid, the world of modeling and pageantry serves as a stepping stone toward his dream which is to be an actor. Fueled with that unyielding spirit, it won’t be long until he reaches his ultimate goal. “Just follow your instinct. If it’s something you want to do, go for it,” he advised. “Look at your failures as challenges and not as something negative because you will be discouraged. Every time I lose, I make up for it. That’s why I didn’t stop when I lost because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.”