Moms and Dads

Lara Quigaman on Moving Abroad, Changing Careers, and Trusting God

by Alexa Villano
June 25, 2025

From beauty queen to classroom teacher, Lara shares how faith and family led her to a new calling in Canada

Precious Lara Quigaman-Alcaraz is remembered by pageant fans as the country’s fourth Filipina to win the Miss International title in 2005. She later became an actress and served as a member of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. executive committee. But behind the lights of showbiz, another dream quietly grew.

Amid a strong entertainment career in Manila, Lara and her husband, actor Marco Alcaraz, made the life-altering decision to start anew. They packed up their life in the Philippines and moved to Canada with their children, trading the familiar comforts of home for the unknowns of a new country.

Recently, Lara marked a major milestone: earning her diploma in Childhood Education. She posted a heartfelt update showing her marching in a toga alongside her classmates—this time not as a celebrity, but as a teacher.

Grateful to Work With Kids

On Instagram, Lara shared her reflections on the unexpected yet fulfilling turn her journey has taken.

“I remember doing an ad 20 years ago where I said, “I want to have 12 children!” Well, guess what? Now I have over 70+—and that’s not even including my own!”

Her gratitude radiated through every word.

“God truly gives more than we ask for or could ever imagine. I’m so, so grateful that I get to do what I love—work with children, help shape their lives, and point them to Jesus.”

From beauty queen to classroom teacher, Lara shares how faith and family led her to a new calling in Canada — Photo from laraquigaman

Along with her graduation photo, she posted a short video of her convocation ceremony—walking across the stage not as Miss International, but as Teacher Lara.

“Follow a Dream That Has Been in Our Hearts”

In a separate post, Lara opened up about the journey that led her family to this moment and the prayers that carried them through.

“Our family has always prayed that God would lead us to a place where we could be closer to one another and to Him—wherever that may be, no matter how difficult the path,” she wrote.

“Today, as I attended my convocation ceremony, we also celebrate His goodness and faithfulness. I’m teary-eyed typing this because today is the beautiful result of every sacrifice and challenge we’ve faced and overcome by His grace.”

Leaving behind established careers wasn’t easy. But for Lara and Marco, pursuing a dream planted in their hearts long before their sons were born became more important than maintaining status or comfort.

“God has not only answered that prayer—He has done far more than we could have imagined, and He continues to work in us and through us.”

And it’s not just Lara celebrating new beginnings—her youngest son, Moses, is starting Kindergarten in September.

The Decisions That Paid Off

For some couples, comfort means staying the course. For others, it means taking a leap of faith. Lara and Marco took the risk of leaving behind good careers, a tight-knit network, and a life of relative ease to pursue something more meaningful for their family.

It hasn’t always been smooth—finding work and adjusting to a new culture are real challenges. But today, Lara stands in front of a classroom full of children, doing what she loves, while her family thrives in their new environment.

Her story is a quiet but powerful reminder – sometimes, the biggest transformations happen when we choose faith over fear. Reinvention doesn’t end with motherhood—it often begins with it.