Ageless.
If there is one person who deserves to be given that description it must be Elsa V. Payumo.
Who among us baby boomers who grew up in ’60s doesn’t know Elsa?
Most everyone I ask would utter: “Of course, Elsa Payumo, the Miss Caltex girl!”
Born on January 13, 1940, in the province of Bataan, Elsa was doted on by her parents. She received a well-rounded education, which was capped by a degree at the UP Conservatory of Music.
In 1963, Elsa’s life reached a point that turned her life around. Elsa became the second Miss Caltex. The first Miss Caltex was Mila Abad. The entire country fell in love with the newest Caltex girl.
Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Elsa was showered with fame and glamor, receiving attractive offers from big film studios to become a film star.
But showing she was from a different mold, Elsa opted instead for a career in the travel industry.
Elsa ruminates: “Of course, winning Miss Caltex was a great honor in itself. What it really gave me was initial fame. Looking back, I realize there is something more to life than the frivolities of renown.”
As an executive in the then-nascent Philippine travel industry, Elsa became active in promoting tourism. In due time, she was elected president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association for four terms.
Parlaying her experience as Miss Caltex, she launched the Baron Travel Girl. Even today, like Miss Caltex, the Baron Travel Girl is considered as the epitome of the Filipina beauty queen who is celebrated not only for her good looks, but also for her innate talent and intelligence—good looks hand in hand with a sophisticated mind.
Another of her brainchild projects was the Outstanding Taxi Driver of the Year Award, which she single-handedly launched. It was so successful that the Department of Tourism adopted it to become part of what was known as the Annual Kalakbay Award. It was the precursor of corporate branding as public service program concept, which has been adapted in other forms through the years.
In recognition of her achievements in the tourism industry, Elsa became one of the Ten Outstanding Women in The Nation’s Service of the year 1977, as the first awardee in the field of tourism.
Wishing to do more for her fellow Filipinos, she decided to try her hand in the field of public service. With her fame, charm and compassionate nature, she ran and overwhelmingly won as a pro-people councilor of Makati City.
As councilor, she organized various youth association and women’s clubs, and became their mentor and adviser.
But frustrated by politics and unwilling to sacrifice her principles, she left public service after serving one term as councilor. She went back to her travel business, jetting around the world, hobnobbing with hotel and airline people. But during a trip to Las Vegas, her mother became ill and she immediately flew back to Manila. At the hospital, she was met by a healing priest, who gave her a bible.
Soon, Elsa’s mother passed away. It coincided with the loss of her business. She confesses: “My finances hit rock bottom. I lost my condo unit. I sold my jewelry and all the other glamorous worldly trappings that went with my image as a celebrity.” It was one of the lowest points in her life.
Elsa found solace and strength by attending healing masses at the Buklod ng Pag-ibig, a Catholic Charismatic community founded by Fr. Pascual Adorable SJ.
She remembered the bible given to her by the healing priest and began to read it earnestly. One time, as she casually opened the bible, she was struck by the passage from Zephaniah 3:20: “I will make you famous throughout the world as I restore your fortunes before your very eyes, says the Lord.”
To her, it was an answer to her questions. At that point, she decided to dedicate herself fully to spiritual ministry as a member of the Buklod community. She realized that “God opened up a lot of avenues for me. It was about time I should do something for the Lord.”
She felt the divine hand always guiding her. When the community needed to raise money to repair the leaking roof of the Buklod center, she felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to join the TV Show Deal or No Deal. With nothing but her great faith in God, Elsa won over a million pesos, which she donated to Buklod ng Pag-ibig.
Gradually, Elsa’s fortunes have since then turned for the better. She has been able to regain her financial independence and as a result, she is now able to serve fully in the activities of her community. She spends her days holding regular bible studies, visiting the sick, serving as mass lector and doing various church activities.
Echoing the words of “The Potter’s Hand,” one of her favorite songs, this great lady has been “captured by Your holy calling,” giving her life to the hand of the Divine Potter, so He can “take me, mold me, use me, fill me, guide me, lead me.” Indeed, no matter how daunting the task she faces, she is inspired by her belief in God’s guiding hand.
No wonder that when people see Elsa now in person, they have a common observation, which is, she glows with a kind of beauty that knows no age. Is it the beauty of selfless love for God by serving others? Perhaps. As she now reflects: “I have discovered that only by God’s grace can one understand one’s purpose of sharing oneself with others. I have finally found a place where I can serve the Lord and others through its healing ministry.”
Now at the ruby age of 80, Elsa can clearly see the arc of her life story: once a young beauty titlist, who experienced what it was to be adulated, who enjoyed all the material trappings that come with a celebrity and a worldly lifestyle, only to realize that her life is meant for a higher and a more fulfilling calling, which is to serve her fellow beings. God’s good servant, true and through.