It’s easy to talk about happiness when life is good. But for 23-year-old Kristine Joy Semillia, joy isn’t something she stumbled upon—it’s something she rebuilt, one day at a time, from the wreckage of unimaginable loss.
Kristine was just eight years old when Typhoon Pepeng ripped through Barangay Loacan, Itogon, Benguet in 2009. The resulting landslide buried her childhood and shattered her world, claiming the lives of her parents, her sister, and nine other relatives. In an instant, Kristine was no longer just a child—she was a survivor, a witness, and an orphan left to navigate grief too heavy for someone her age.
But that moment didn’t define her. What did, however, was everything that came after.
With the help of her remaining family, her community, and an unwavering faith in God, Kristine chose not to let trauma have the final say. Instead, she began to find her voice—first as a young girl learning to smile again, then as a student determined to study psychology and understand the mind’s complex paths to healing.
She later joined the Naval Reserve Command, standing not only as a symbol of national service but also of personal triumph. She became a youth leader, a motivational speaker, and most importantly, a safe space for others carrying invisible wounds. In every room she enters, she brings with her not just the memory of what she lost—but the strength of what she’s found.
That’s the spirit the Search for the Happiest Itogonian was created to honor.
Organized by the Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI) in partnership with the Municipality of Itogon and the Itogon Indigenous Peoples Organization (IIPO), the local search is a community-based spin-off of the nationwide Happiest Pinoy initiative. At a time when mental health, resilience, and positivity are more important than ever—especially for Gen Zs navigating the aftershocks of a pandemic and a constantly shifting world—the program sought to highlight stories of real grit, grace, and gladness.
Kristine emerged as the first overall winner, crowned during an emotional awarding ceremony at the Fianza Memorial Gymnasium. But before her name was called, she had already won in the ways that mattered most.
“I am not just a survivor—I am a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and community,” she said in her speech. And the crowd felt it. This wasn’t just a line for the cameras. It was her truth, lived daily.
The search recognized five sectoral winners—everyday champions in Women, PWD, LGBTQIA+, Public Servants, and Youth categories. Among them were a dialysis patient offering spiritual guidance, a single mother-turned-health officer, a magna cum laude graduate caring for his sick mom while pushing for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a teacher going above and beyond for students with special needs. Each story underscored a simple truth: happiness isn’t a privilege—it’s a decision.
For Kristine, that decision started with choosing to speak. About her grief. About her healing. About how one can move forward with broken parts and still glow.
Her award—₱20,000 and a commemorative plaque—wasn’t just a trophy for her shelf. It was a loud affirmation for young people everywhere that your past doesn’t have to dim your future, that scars can be symbols of light, not shame.
The movement doesn’t end in Itogon. This local search feeds into the larger Global Search for the Happiest Pinoy, which continues to grow more inclusive with each iteration. Among the categories in this year’s national edition: Masayahing Gen Z, Happy at 60, No Way Kapansanan, Proud as Pride, and Creative Pinoy, among others. Even the indigenous communities now have their own spotlight under the Katutubo category—because joy, like identity, isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Jean Henri Lhuillier, PJ Lhuillier Inc. President and CEO, said it best: “Happiness is not the absence of hardship, but the triumph of spirit.” And in Kristine, that triumph is as clear as sunlight after a storm.
Itogon Mayor Bernard Waclin called the initiative “a tribute to everyday heroes.” And perhaps that’s what makes Kristine’s story resonate with a younger generation increasingly drawn to authenticity over filters, to real stories over highlight reels.
She didn’t set out to be crowned anything. She simply chose joy—even when life gave her every reason not to.
And in doing so, Kristine Joy Semillia became not just the First Happiest Itogonian, but a symbol of what it truly means to rise.
To learn more about the ongoing search and how to nominate a deserving individual, visit www.happiest-pinoy.com.
