Clayford Manuel: Too Young ... Too Soon?

photo # 1 (Thanks to Clayford Manuel and his websites)photo # 2photo # 3photo # 4photo # 5photo # 6photo # 7photo # 8photo # 9photo # 10photo # 11Clayford Manuel is a Political science student of St Louie University in La Union when he joined Ginoong Filipinas in 1997. He was under the wings of able and indefatigable Mother Childe who seemed to give similar impact alongside buddies Roger Salinas of Pangasinan, Pocholo Paul dela Pena of Baguio, Ronorick Ballesteros of Malasiqui Pangasinan, Ronald Cortez of La Union, and Jason Murillo and Glenn Maglinong of Pangasinan. He ended up as one of the semifinalists and a lot of people in the know, said he was relegated only in the side as older candidates were given more push up. He was only 18 then and was a little skinny and lanky for Ginoong Filipinas standard. Old pageant kibitzers said Clayford is "bubot na bunga" and should have waited 2 or 3 more years before he could attain full steam ahead of his peers and command real attention to his direction. A case of being too young ... and too soon? Sayang!Photo Credits: Edwin Tan -All photos are copyright to its rightful owners.