WOMEN TO WATCH: Urban Time’s New Icons

As a voice for today’s youth, Urban Time, the country’s upcoming and hippest watch boutique, was on the lookout for girls aged 15 to 22 that best embodies the essential characteristics of an Urban Time Icon.

The Search for the Urban Time Icon was launched through an online campaign. Voting started on February and ended on March 22. Participating schools are the Ateneo De Manila University, College of St. Benilde, De La Salle University and De La Salle International, Trinity University of Asia, University of Asia and the Pacific, and the University of the Philippines. Each school’s respective organization teamed up with Urban Time in conducting the voting on campus. They also voted online through www.urbantimeicon.com.

With the help of fashion and lifestyle blogger AJ Matela, fashion stylist Rachelle So, and Urban Time’s Marketing Manager, Linfred Yap, five girls were awarded and formally introduced to the press via a launching party at the Urban Time store in SM North Edsa Annex last March 25, 2009.

Five winners were selected to represent the young and chic audience of Urban Time. They are Miki Hahn from La Salle College International, Rachel Rustia and Stephanie Sol from University of Asia and the Pacific, Portia Silva from Ateneo De Manila University, and Anna Monica Villaverde from Trinity University of Asia.

Portia Silva (ADMU)
Time is like freedom, someone once said. It’s at your own dispense and of course, at your own expense. For 19-year-old Portia Silva, it would be wise to say that she has indeed used her time well. A Communications Major at the Ateneo De Manila University, Portia has never wasted a bit of time going for her goals—she has been a consistent dean’s lister and has been awarded “Model Atenean” in 2008. She has been active both inside and outside school—a UAAP courtside reporter in 2008 and a host for numerous events, including “Helix 2009: Lights Out” in Fiamma, “After Dark” party in BMW Autohaus and “I Am Ninoy Symposium on Heroism” in Ateneo. She has published articles for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sunday Inquirer Magazine, Candy Magazine, and Bounce Magazine.

Rachel Rustia (UA&P)
There is no excuse for not doing something we like, even with the lack of time.
Rachel Rustia never had to make one, because she’s always done what she was passionate about.
Charity is the first word in Rachel wrote in her list of interests and quite clearly, it is not just a fancy word or filler to make her profile look good. Despite her busy schedule, she still found time to be involved in countless charity and community work, including Tulong Sa Kapwa Kapatid, a non-government agency aiming to educate children in Payatas, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. With an Industrial Economics course, she is also keenly involved in school activities. She was President of their Student Executive Board in 2008 and was part of the theater production of Dulaang Rock Opera Company, UA&P’s student-based theater.

Miki Hahn (La Salle International)
Whatever we spend most time on is something that we love.
For Miki Hahn, singing happens to be what she does most of the time and quite truly, she loves doing it. She has been singing since she discovered her voice and at 18 years old, Miki already has a debut album, “That Vibe”, with Viva Records and has had several event performances, including those at the Dish, Baga Berde, Peninsula Hotel, and the Shangri-La Mall. Specializing in pop and RnB music, she has received singing training from coaches of the UP College of Music and Ryan Cayabyab School of Music, as well as Myrna Cruz and Annie Quintos of the Company. At present, she is taking up Fashion Design at the La Salle International and is involved in helping cancer patients at the Philippine Children’s Hospital. She also plays a regular kontrabida role in TV5’s show Lipgloss.

Anna Monica Villaverde (TUA)
They say that the young have all the time in the world to do what they want. Possibly true, but the wise ones are those who do what they want with the time they have.
Anna Monica “Nice” Villaverde is definitely among those wise ones. Nice has gotten her hands on pretty much every school activity there is. The nursing student is involved in numerous school organizations, such as the Students Legislative Assembly, Debate Society, and the Student Nurses Association, and was also crowned as Ms. Nursing and Ms. Trinity University of Asia in 2008. She is known inside and outside school, as she has modeled for the ads of Candy Magazine, Haagen-Dazs, Globe, and Coke, as well as the events of Microsoft, Castrol, Stone Works, and MCX Motorcycle.

Stephanie Sol (UA&P)
Most people complain that they don’t have enough time, but Stephanie Sol seems to have no problem with it.
Stephanie tries to accomplish a lot with whatever time she has. Aside from winning various beauty contests such as Miss Teen Philippines in 2004 and “The Face of Ponds: The Most Beautiful Face in Mindanao” in 2005, this young lady is also involved in many socio-civic organizations that are geared towards saving the environment. Currently, she is a member of the Youth Empowerment to Save the Environment and the ASEAN Youth for the Environment. And just recently, she has been awarded the Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources’ (DENR) Youth Environmental Advocacy Award and for her notable environmental initiatives. Because of this citation, it is not surprising that she was appointed as the spokesperson for DENR Region 10.

Smart, beautiful, and passionate about making a difference, these are the women who hope to change our world someday.