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April 7, 2009
Tisha Silang has won beauty contests, dodged stalkers and raced all over Asia. next up: learning to cook and going wherever life leads her.
Article by Rich Herrera and UNO Editors
Photos by J.A. Tadena for Fotomojo
Hair by Marie Tan
Make up by Ning Tadena
Styling by Sidney Yap
Shot on location at Embassy Cuisine. Special thanks to Cat Arambulo for letting us use the kitchen 
“I think the story has probably been told one time too many,” says Tisha Silang. She’s talking about her Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant experience―which we will get to in a bit. If there’s one thing that strikes you about Tisha Silang, this adventurous beauty queen turned TV host turned businesswoman turned Amazing Racer, it’s that she has quite a few stories to tell about her life so far, and all of them bear repeating.
You may have watched her recently, competing in the Amazing Race Asia season 3, and looking damn good while doing it. Whether it involved a foot race in a back alley in India or stacking chips on a poker table, Tisha was well prepared to deal with any and all opponents. (She’s also an avid boxer and belly dancer. Talk about a born competitor.) Throughout the race―which Tisha joined with her real-life love interest Geoff Rodriguez―Tisha demonstrated patience, even though the stresses of the competition put the couple’s resolve to the test. Many other couples have been stretched to the limit on previous seasons of the show, much to the admiration of millions of dramavores in TV land. “What you saw was pretty much how I really am,” she sighs with a smile. When casually asked about some of the remarks made in the heat of battle she stated flatly, “They had to cut out a few things that I said. It’s a family show.” Despite some stinging retorts flung her way she managed to navigate towards smoother waters―with a few bouts of emotional overdrive―throughout the course of the grueling one-month taping schedule. Tisha was often seen quietly explaining herself to amnesiac cabbies, even thanking them promptly whilst being driven to the moon. She was often heard in her interviews honestly disclosing her team’s pitfalls with the tact of an all-star point guard. Meanwhile, off-camera she heard a candid, yet fair gripe regarding the whole thing: “This is so far from Top Model.” And a far cry from when she first blipped onto pop-culture watchers’ screens as well.
“If you had asked me about how I felt about my whole experience in Binibining Pilipinas around nine years ago, I probably would have told you that it was a devastating experience having been dethroned and not having been able to fulfill my dream of going to Miss Universe,” Tisha admits. (She was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe in 1998, but resigned because of her Canadian citizenship.) “However now, I am able to look back upon the whole experience and say that the experience was life-changing and all for the positive.” “Had I not come to Manila for the pageant my eyes would never have been opened to what a beautiful country the Philippines is. The pageant opened up many doors for me that allowed me to experience things that I never would have even dreamed of doing. Before joining the pageant I believed I would never have a life outside of my hometown of Mississauga, and my chosen career as a nurse.” “Here I am now ten years later, having been able to work as a television host, gain experience in brand marketing, travel the world for my job as a Business Development Manager, represent the Philippines and [win second place] in the Amazing Race Asia! How can I not look at my experience in Binibining Pilipinas now as being anything but positive? Without me having joined the pageant I never would have been able to experience all of this!” If there’s one thing Tisha doesn’t lack, it’s perspective.
However, if there’s one thing she does lack, it’s her father’s culinary mastery, but she’s working on it. “Unfortunately I didn’t inherit my father’s stellar cooking skills, but I’m trying! I can’t say that I can do anything that is very complicated but I’ve started with easy to make dishes, such as pasta. I’ve gotten some good reviews for my alio olio―I know this is easy, but hey it’s a start for me!―as well as my penne pasta with italian sausage and mushrooms. Next things I’d like to perfect are my fave Filipino dishes like sinigang and adobo which I’ll be asking my Dad for help with… His are the best!” She’s also not a finicky dinner date, as it turns out. “It’s going to sound bad, but if you ask anybody who knows me you would hear that my favorite meal is burgers and fries. I can probably eat more then most of my guy friends! However, Thai food comes a close second. I think with any meal the perfect thing to go with it is great conversation and company. You could be in a fast food joint, at home or at a fine dining restaurant―if you’ve got great company that always assures a great meal!” Food questions aside, we wondered what race, metaphorically speaking, Tisha is going to run next. “Now that Amazing Race is over, I want to do it all over again and have been living off watching reruns!” she laughs.
“Right now, I’m taking some time off after having been working for the past seven years―enjoying this beautiful country, and spending quality time with friends.” “Future plans? Why plan? Everything in my life has been a totally unplanned, and so far it’s worked for me,” she smiles. “It seemed whenever I would try to plan something before, something would always come up and get in the way. So expect the unexpected! Although, my main priority is to spend more time with my parents so that they can come to know the person that their daughter has become in the past ten years. I think they would find that I’ve changed a lot.” Considering the unexpected arcs her life has taken, that’s not hard to believe.
And that makes her next destination all the more open to possibilities. “I’m off to wherever life brings me next.”
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Gorgeous girl.
crush ko siya dati when she used to host a morning show. then nawala siya. then naging crush ko ulit siya sa amazing race but only for her looks.
[...] overnight process but a lot of the new things are starting to take form in April’s issue with Tisha Silang on the cover. Inside we also have Cesca Litton and sportscaster Miakka Lim. Curious? I highly suggest picking up [...]
Tisha Silang is sssooo hot in this spread.
And I’m a woman!
(So you know that this comment is sincere and not just hormone driven)
it should be noted that the whole issue was photographed by JA Tadena. All three girls (Miakka, Cesca and Tisha) at least. He’s also one of the country’s top cinematographers whose recent credits include the latest Manny Pacquiao ads.
wow! ang gand ang concept! maka bili nga, yan din ba yung issue na kasama si cesca litton?
a lot better than manual mag. congrats!Will grap 1 or 2 off the stand…specially the pole dancing wat a grip!
why do you have to shoot her like that about to eat that sandwqich in such a provoking pose. too much porn in the head I guess? j/k
super cool to finally see a morena beauty on the cover for a change
EX GF. ni Paolo Bediones if Im not mistaken..Sayang ganda pa nman nya pinakawalan pa!!! Nanalo ba sya sa Amazing Race with her real life bf?
Astonishing shots… on really Gorgeous Tisha…
makes me hungry just by looking at your pics.grrr..
mannn… whattta cover…. really smokinnn hot…
one word…. HOT!
rockin’ cover!
The party was the bomb!
Nothing short of good vibes, beautiful people, and a rockin’ party. If this is what Uno is about, then F**K THAT SH*T, i’m pickin’ up a monthly subscription! More readers & more power to ya’ll!
Peace. Love.
nice sharp and clear pics!