Happy to be a Binibining Pilipinas reject

Sandra Inez Seifert

MANILA, Philippines—Miss Philippines-Earth 2009 Sandra Inez Seifert sympathizes with Maria Venus Raj, the embattled beauty queen whose Binibining Pilipinas-Universe crown still hangs in the balance.

“I can relate 100 percent to what she is going through,” said Seifert, a Filipino-German model and nursing graduate. “I wish [Venus’ case] had been handled another way.”

Last year, contest organizer Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) had disqualified Sandra from the competition two days before pageant night in March, due to her photos that appeared in a men’s magazine in 2007.

Venus was stripped of her title last month due to alleged misrepresentation—specifically, inconsistencies in her official birth records.

Both girls have claimed they were not given time to answer the accusations against them.

“It’s tough, what [Venus] is going through,” Sandra told Inquirer. “I had a very strong support group; I hope Venus had that kind of help around her,” she added.

Sandra said she hoped BPCI also learned from the experience. In hindsight, she admitted she is grateful for her disqualification, since it paved the way for her joining the rival Miss Philippines-Earth pageant. “As ‘Miss Philippines-Earth,’” she said, “I was able to touch many lives.”

Close second

Her victory as Miss Philippines-Earth led to her participation in the Miss Earth pageant in Boracay, against some 80 international delegates. She placed second to Brazil’s Larissa Ramos and also won the “Miss Earth-Air” title.

A new Miss Philippines-Earth will be crowned tomorrow night in a water-theme pageant to be held at the Manila Ocean Park.

Catherine Untalan, executive director of the Miss Earth Foundation, said the pageant is looking for “a well-rounded person, someone worth looking up to.”

The Miss Philippines-Earth pageant will be telecast April 25, 10 p.m. on ABS-CBN.

Featured Article: Happy to be a Binibining Pilipinas reject originally appeared on inquirer.net on 22:14:00 04/22/2010

Lissome Lia

Bb. Pilipinas - Universe 2006
Lia Andrea Ramos

The most remarkable thing about Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2006 Lia Ramos is not her reed-thin figure, dusky skin and lovely face. What stands out is this UP grad’s down-to-earth attitude about everything that has come her way. Discovered by Jonas Gaffud (present head of Mercatel Modeling Agency) during her college days, Lia was asked to join the university pageant. Although she did not win this contest, Gaffud would call Lia every year and encourage her to participate in more pageants.

“Jonas convinced me to enter the Bb. Pilipinas contest and I was fortunate enough to win,” Lia shares. “Life changed dramatically after that. Because of the title, I have gotten exposed to several national events, my modeling career has blossomed and I have learned so much about life as a whole.”

Asked what she has learned during her stint, the Davao-born beauty recounts, “I learned how important it was to be disciplined and focused in order to achieve much in life. When I participated in the Miss Universe competition in Los Angeles, I had to interact with several of the contestants. I learned that for many of them, the pageant was a ticket out of poverty. Many of them wanted to be actresses and models.

Oftentimes, the contestants’ families would rely on them for a better future for all.”
“I made many friends during my LA stay. Misses Colombia, Uruguay and Puerto Rico were wonderful. Right now, I have a two-month commercial and print modeling gig in Cape Town, South Africa, thanks to Miss Nigeria who sent my photos to her agency,” Lia adds.

Right after winning Bb. Pilipinas, Lia was flown to Colombia where she entered a beauty pageant boot camp where she trained for three weeks. Before this, she had undergone strict training and diet under Pilates instructor John Cuay.

For two months, Lia shares, she worked out for up to three hours a day and went on a low carb-high protein diet. She did cardio exercises like dancing and cycling and toned her body through weight-training. Now that she’s no longer competing, her workouts are less hectic.

Asked about her plans for the future, Lia shares, “I would like to continue modeling for as long as I can and do a lot of traveling. I also would like to be involved with advocacies that support child welfare and the environment. Being known as a beauty queen, one is subject to being stereotyped. But I realized that how I deal with this is entirely up to me.”

Spoken like a truly “un-stereotypical” beauty!

Featured Article: Lissome Lia originally appeared on Philstar.com on 04 November 2007 12:00 AM.

Giving Up French Fries for World Peace

Bb. Pilipinas - Universe 2006
Lia Andrea Ramos

“To whom much is given, much is expected,” my boss and good friend Atty. Carol Mercado wrote me the day after I won the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe title. These, I thought, are words I could live by the rest of my life.

My joining the pageant came as a pleasant surprise to my family and friends. As a political science graduate of the University of the Philippines, Diliman, I’ve always dreamt of entering the foreign service and becoming a diplomat.

But the persistence of Jonas Gaffud, a geography graduate of UP, who had spotted my graduation picture in 2001, finally won out. He had been convincing me to join the contest year after year, but my exact reply was: “I don’t think I’m cut out to be a beauty queen.”

So why did I change my mind five years later? I remember walking along Central Park in New York some time after New Year, and musing about where my life was going. I was turning 25 in nine days and had this strong desire to make things happen for me in 2006. I had a gut feeling that this was going to be my year.

Inner voice

Interestingly enough, when I flew back to Manila some days later, the idea of joining Binibining Pilipinas popped into my head. There was this inner voice that told me I would win, and I thought, why not? Better not let any opportunity slip by than wonder all my life about what could have been.

And indeed, it was an opportunity to expand my sphere of influence. I was already involved in development work with Asia Foundation, an international non-governmental organization. As part of a team implementing a program on legal accountability and dispute resolution, I thought a beauty title could help me reach out to more people and promote personal advocacies, particularly women’s and children’s welfare.

It wasn’t as easy as I thought. I barely knew how to put on make-up and wear high heels. Remember the movie, “Miss Congeniality”? I felt I fit that stereotype, right down to the “world peace” joke. But in a span of one month, Jonas managed to transform this NGO employee into beauty queen material.

I’ve always thought that my strong Filipina features, self-confidence and spontaneity were an advantage, but I realized that my biggest edge over the 23 other candidates was my experience and commitment to development work. During the preliminaries, I felt that the judges saw the passion I have for my work. I hope they saw me as I perceived myself: a modern day Filipina who is independent, articulate and driven.

Grace and poise

The other candidates, a lot of them professionals in their own fields, earned my respect, as well. It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to stay in the game. Walking in four-inch heels and looking poised in a two-piece bikini isn’t that easy. It takes a woman who is comfortable in her own skin to display grace and poise under public scrutiny.

Winning the title completely changed my life. My choice of putting myself in the public eye also meant embracing a life where I had to project a beautiful image all the time. I realized I had another choice to make: I had to make sure that beauty in my case becomes a means to an end, a way to gain more influence over people. Beauty queens must face the challenge of breaking the stereotype that limits a beautiful woman to being an object of adornment.

Preparing for the Miss Universe contest was another matter altogether. I’ve never channeled all my energies with such intensity as I did when I prepared myself physically, mentally and emotionally for the pageant. Fortunately, I found a good trainer and supportive friend in John Cuay of Gold’s Gym, who pushed me hard every single day. I had to discipline my diet, giving up pizza, pasta and french fries in the name of, well, “world peace.”

Colombia classes

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) was supportive of my training here in Manila, and provided me with the opportunity to prepare further in Colombia. The past queens were equally generous in sharing their expertise. In Bogota, where I had to take up classes on catwalk, hair and makeup, culture, current events, dance, and so on, for three weeks, I had to struggle to mold myself into a woman of elegance and style without sacrificing my individuality.

But meeting a lot of interesting people made it all worthwhile. Colombians are such happy people. They live in a culture that celebrates life in song, dance and laughter. Similarly colonized by Spain for centuries, the Colombians have common sensibilities with those of Filipinos, in how they value family ties and in their ability to laugh in the face of economic and political problems.
Armed with ample training and desire to bring home the crown, I flew to Los Angeles fueled by high hopes and positive energy. Having a lot of relatives in LA gave me a home court advantage. And it probably helped, because I won the Miss Photogenic award, thanks mainly to text votes.

Pageant luck

Luck plays a major part in everything in life, and that includes competing in beauty pageants. At rehearsals, I looked around and saw a room filled with gorgeous and fascinating women. I thought anyone could be Miss Universe. It all depended on what package the judges were looking for. Beauty is indeed subjective.

Not getting into the top 20 was a disappointment to me. However, I don’t regret the entire experience because I know that I represented the country well, and that the quest for the crown has enriched my life in so many ways. The Miss Photogenic award was icing on the cake!

To say that I had an amazing experience at the Miss Universe pageant is an understatement. Meeting girls from 85 other countries and learning about cultures is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It still amazes me that despite the language barrier, we were able to make sincere connections among us. Equipped with my very basic and flawed Spanish, I easily made friends with the Latinas. Establishing ties with the Asians and Africans came naturally.

It was also worth getting to know the real people behind the thick foundation and false eyelashes who had their own stories to tell. One said it had always been her dream to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, while another took this route because it was a way out of poverty. We all had different reasons for being there. What we become out of the entire experience is another story.

Relevant beauty

Some people might ask how relevant a beauty pageant is, when terrorism, economic woes and fuel prices hog the headlines. I think it is precisely because there is so much conflict in societies today that we need it. Given the social and cultural differences around the world, a pageant provides a venue where people can co-exist and create an understanding. In my case, it provided us a means with which to share our values and beliefs and learn from each other. We may not have been gathered to resolve conflicts, but I can see how beauty queens can be instruments of diplomacy.

As a modern and independent woman, I see the pageant as an arena where women can speak out their mind on any issue. Moreover, it provides women an opportunity to represent certain advocacies, like combating the AIDS epidemic in the case of Miss Universe.

For someone who’s never traded on her looks, it can be difficult to maintain an image of elegance and refinement when I’ve always dreamt of going backpacking across continents and sleeping in the deserts of Morocco. But I have learned not to be afraid to use beauty and femininity to be in a position of greater responsibility.

And that’s where my beauty title has put me. As a public figure, I am given the license to move people to action. This has certainly changed my life. As someone who hopes to effect change in society, I believe I’ve taken a defining first step to make a difference.

Featured Article: Giving Up French Fries for World Peace originally appeared on Inquirer.net.

My Bb. Pilipinas Experience

Regina Brosas Hahn

MANILA, Philippines - My mother, Chiqui Brosas, was a former beauty queen (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe). A very gregarious and outgoing person, she placed fourth in the 1975 Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador. I grew up quite the opposite.

I was timid and shy. Following in my mother’s footsteps was never in my plans. I knew my strengths so I chose to concentrate on my studies. I graduated as a dean’s lister in 2004 from Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Computer Science. In five years, I went from being a programmer, to a project manager for a large telecommunications company, to an I.T. consultant for an international firm.

Needless to say, being an I.T. programmer and a beauty queen were on completely opposite poles. I must admit I had never watched a beauty pageant, even my mother’s. I had almost no modeling experience. My world was different from the glitz and glamour of Bb. Pilipinas, but I did not let that stop me. I wanted to try and I wasn’t going to let my inexperience discourage me.

The pageant was not without challenge. I was constantly asked whether I was pressured by my mom’s legacy. Strong competition surrounded me and there were expectations to do well in the question and answer portion due to my “bookish” background. Without focus, it could have been very easy to lose confidence and be overcome with anxiety. But I did not allow myself to become distracted. This for me was a competition against myself.

I worked hard to learn the ins and outs of being a beauty queen. Many sleepless nights were spent “YouTube-ing” past pageants. I read up and wrote down my thoughts on almost every world issue. I learned to put on make-up by watching the artists paint my face.

I experimented with different hairstyles to see what best suited me. Despite the initial awkwardness, I found the courage to go out in my swimsuit and strut my stuff in front of millions of viewers. I swallowed my fear of tripping on my very long gown and learned how to walk down the stage with the confidence of a pro. I smiled like a winner every day despite the lack of sleep, an aching back and painful throbbing feet. To me, success was measured by my ability to bring out the best in myself, to lose all inhibitions, fears, and insecurities. I stood there and gave it everything I had. I knew I did my best, and with that alone, I felt that I had won.

The night before the pageant, every contestant was dreading the Q&A portion. Standing in the spotlight at Araneta Coliseum and on national television, dressed in a two-piece swimsuit, expected to think quickly and speak sensibly was no easy task. As with every other night, I read one chapter of my Bible before going to bed.

It so happened that that night I was on Exodus, Chapter 4, Verse 12 (Exo.4:12) reads, “I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” I was overwhelmed. Right then and there, I knew that He was with me. Come pageant night, I lifted my eyes in prayer and dedicated the competition to Him. True enough, He carried me through. My prayer always was that His will be done in my life. I knew that any outcome was part of His perfect plan for me. Now I am excited to see where this will lead me.

I’ve learned from this experience that anything is possible with determination, hard work and prayer. I want my story to be an inspiration for Filipinos to believe the same. We are a very gifted and talented people. We can succeed as a nation if only we learn to believe in our own potential and unite to work towards a common goal.

Let us stop looking to others for salvation, but instead act within our capacity to contribute to the betterment of our country. So stand up and do something. Do not be afraid to try. Start that business you’ve been dreaming of. Stop corruption.

Restore your family. Encourage your children. Instill in them good morals and values. Recycle. Excel in every good thing that you do. There are many ways to contribute. Now is the time to act. Our country’s future is in our hands, if we would only try.

Featured Article: My Bb. Pilipinas Experience originally appeared on Philstar on 19 March 2009 12:00 AM.

Miss Earth 2004 Priscilla Meirelles Wedding

Filipino actor John Estrada and Brazilian beauty queen/model Priscilla Meirelles exchanged I do's last February 26, in a beach wedding at La Union, Philippines.


Photos: NicePrint

A Tribute To Miss Earth Pageant

After establishing a track record in mounting world-class beauty pageants over the last decade, Carousel Productions Inc. decided to reinvent and improve the concept of beauty competitions for the new millennium.

Because many people admire and aspire to be a beauty queen, Carousel Productions, Inc. believed beauty queens would be a good and effective advocate of worthy causes. To give life to this vision, Carousel Productions Inc. organized and launched in 2001 the MISS EARTH Beauty Pageant, a beauty event whose raison d'etre was to have its candidates and winners actively promote and get involved in the preservation of the environment and the protection of Mother Earth.

Miss Universe 1994: Opening Song "Mabuhay"

Miss Universe 1994, the 43rd Miss Universe pageant, was held at the Philippine International Convention Center, in Manila, Philippines on May 20, 1994. It was Manila's second time to host the pageant, having hosted the Miss Universe 1974 pageant some twenty years earlier.

Here in the Philippines, they have a word.
A great way to start up each day,
When you want to say "Welcome, we wish you the best":
Just smile up a smile as you say,
Oh, oh, Mabuhay!
You're smilin', Mabuhay!
You're stylin', it's a great salutation, Mabuhay!
Mabuhay! Persuasion! Hello! You are delicious!
It's a one word flirtation, Mabuhay!
Won't you join us and try out this Philippine way,
To say welcome, we're glad that you came.
It's a neat little greeting to start up each day.
Just smile up a smile and exclaim,
Oh, oh, Mabuhay!
Hello there, Come join us.
Let's go there, Mabuhay!
God bless you, Mabuhay!
Mabuhay! you're singin',
Mabuhay! we're swingin',
May you have a wonderful day!
Well, there's one thing about it you can't live without!
Don't doubt it.
Just shout it.
Mabuhay!

Miss Universe Theme: "You are my star"

Miss Universe 1992, the 41st Miss Universe pageant, was held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand on May 8, 1992. 78 international beauties competed for the Miss Universe crown.

You are my star. You light my way.
You brighten all my nights and make my day.
You are my star, and even more,
You are the friend that I've been waiting for,
And if I start to lose my way,
I search the sky and find out where?you are.
Then I call on you to see me through
Because you are, because you are my star.

You are my star. I look at you
And feel my secret wish is coming true.
You are my star. I'm not alone
Now that I have one of my very own.
And even when the clouds appear
And cover all the other stars?there are.
I look up to you and you shine through
Because you are, because you are my star.

When you wish upon a star,
Makes no difference who you are.
Everything your heart desires
Will come to you.
When your heart is in your dreams
No request is too extreme.
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do.

Fate is kind, fate is kind.
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing.
Like a bolt, out of the blue,
Fate steps in and sees you through.
When you wish upon a star,
Your dreams, your dreams come true.

{break "la-la-la-la"}

Like a bolt, out of the blue,
Fate steps in and sees you through.
When you wish upon a star,
Your dreams (you light my way)
Come (you make my day)
True?.
You are my star. My secret wish is coming true.
You are my star.
You are my star.

Miss World 2000 - 2009: Face of The Decade

The Scorecards (Miss Universe 1990-1999)

Miss Universe 1999 Top 10

1999:

1. Sonia Raciti SOUTH AFRICA (9.68)
2. Miriam Quiambao PHILIPPINES (9.52)
3. Carolina Indriago VENEZUELA (9.49)
4. Gul Panag INDIA (9.47)
5. Mpule Kwelagobe BOTSWANA (9.47)
6. Nicole Haughton JAMAICA (9.42)
7. Diana Nogueira SPAIN (9.38)
8. Akuba Cudjoe GHANA (9.33)
9. Brenda Lopez PUERTO RICO (9.26)
10. Silvia Salgado MEXICO (9.25)
11. Jouraine Ricardo CURACAO (9.25)
12. Michelle Shead AUSTRALIA (9.25)
13. Mareva Galanter FRANCE (9.24)
14. Satomi Ogawa JAPAN (9.24)
15. Rana Raslan ISRAEL (9.24)
16. Glennis Knowles BAHAMAS (9.24)
17. Marisa Ferreira PORTUGAL (9.23)
18. Yamani Saied PANAMA (9.23)
19. Kimberly Pressler USA (9.23)
20. Gloria Bellicchi ITALY (9.17)

1998:

1. Wendy Fitzwilliams TRINIDAD/TOBAGO
2. Veruska Ramirez VENEZUELA
3. Shawnae Jebbia USA
4. Joyce Giraud PUERTO RICO
5. Silvia Fernanda Ortiz COLOMBIA
6. Michella Marchi BRAZIL
7. Lymaraina D'Souza INDIA
8. Anna Malova RUSSIA
9. Andrea Roche IRELAND
10. Kerishnie Naiker SOUTH AFRICA

1997:

1. Verna Vasquez CURACAO (9.410)
2. Lia Victoria Borrero PANAMA (9.333)
3. Brook Mahealani Lee USA (9.236)
4. Denny Mendez ITALY (9.170)
5. Margot Bourgeois TRINIDAD/TOBAGO (9.120)
6. Marena Bencomo VENEZUELA (9.083)
7. Kristiina Heinmets ESTONIA (9.060)
8. Victoria Lagerstrom SWEDEN (8.983)
9. Ana Rosa Brito PUERTO RICO (8.970)
10. Nafisa Joseph INDIA (8.966)
11. Abbygale Arenas PHILIPPINES (8.950)
12. Gabriela Aguilar COSTA RICA (8.943)
13. Laura Csortan AUSTRALIA (8.906)
14. Petra Minarova CZECH REPUBLIC (8.880)
15. Marina McCartney NEW ZEALAND (8.860)
16. Melanie Winiger SWITZERLAND (8.853)
17. Rebeca Tamez MEXICO (8.853)
18. Karita Tuomola FINLAND (8.850)
19. Solveig Gudmundsdottir ICELAND (8.823)
20. Claudia Elena Vasquez COLOMBIA (8.813)

1996:

1. Ali Landry USA (9.350)
2. Alicia Machado VENEZUELA (9.323
3. Ilmira Shamsutdinova RUSSIA (9.210)
4. Annika Duckmark SWEDEN (9.113)
5. Sandhya Chib INDIA (9.090)
6. Vanessa Guzman MEXICO (9.026)
7. Milena Mayorga EL SALVADOR (8.966)
8. Natali Sacco PERU (8.946)
9. Taryn Mansell ARUBA (8.943)
10. Lola Odusoga FINLAND (8.930)
11. Laure Belleville FRANCE (8.876)
12. Michelle Khan TRINIDAD/TOBAGO (8.856)
13. Carol Becker SOUTH AFRICA (8.843)
14. Veronique de Kock BELGIUM (8.833)
15. Andrea Deak HUNGARY (8.830)
16. Andrea L'Huillier CHILE (8.813)
17. Maria Jose Suarez SPAIN (8.783)
18. Aileen Damiles PHILIPPINES (8.770)
19. Maria Joana Parizotto BRAZIL (8.766)
20. Nina Georgala GREECE (8.736)

1995:

1. Chelsi Smith USA (9.343)
2. Desiree Lowry PUERTO RICO (9.333)
3. Tatiana Castro COLOMBIA (9.330)
4. Arlene Peterkin TRINIDAD/TOBAGO (9.313)
5. Denyse Floreano VENEZUELA (9.200)
6. Candida Lara DOMINICAN REP. (9.200)
7. Eleonora Carrillo EL SALVADOR (9.196)
8. Lana Buchberger CANADA (9.160)
9. Manpreet Brar INDIA (9.153)
10. Augustine Masilela SOUTH AFRICA (9.143)
11. Toyin Raji NIGERIA (9.090)
12. Yulia Alekseeva RUSSIA (9.083)
13. Maria Reyes SPAIN (9.046)
14. Pavadee Vicheinrut THAILAND (9.040)
15. Tarita Brown COOK ISLANDS (9.020)
16. Joanne Santos PHILIPPINES (9.013)
17. Sung Ju Han KOREA (9.013)
18. Michele Janette Sage PANAMA (8.990)
19. Alessandra Meloni ITALY (8.953)
20. Justine Willoughby JAMAICA (8.950)

1994:

1. Carolina Gomez COLOMBIA (9.268)
2. Rea Toutounzi GREECE (9.256)
3. Sushmita Sen INDIA (9.253)
4. Charlene Gonzales PHILIPPINES (9.225)
5. Frances Louise Parker USA (9.202)
6. Arianna David ITALY (9.159)
7. Minorka Mercado VENEZUELA (9.126)
8. Domenique Forsberg SWEDEN (9.000)
9. Patricia Faessler SWITZERLAND (8.973)
10. Silvia Lakatosova SLOVAK REPUBLIC (8.946)
11. Michelle Van Eimeren AUSTRALIA (8.926)
12. Inna Zobova RUSSIA (8.903)
13. Areeya Chumsai THAILAND (8.880)
14. Karina Calmet PERU (8.853)
15. Gitte Anderson DENMARK (8.840)
16. Fabiola Perez Rovirosa MEXICO (8.830)
17. Eva Maria Laan ESTONIA (8.830)
18. Valeria Melo Peris BRAZIL (8.816)
19. Joanna Brykczynska POLAND (8.793)
20. Katya Schoenstedt GUATEMALA (8.766)

1993:

1. Leila Schuster BRAZIL (9.286)
2. Milka Chulina VENEZUELA (9.240)
3. Kenya Summer Moore USA (9.236)
4. Paula Betancourt COLOMBIA (9.216)
5. Eugenia Santana SPAIN (9.200)
6. Tarja Smura FINLAND (9.180)
7. Voni Delfos AUSTRALIA (9.103)
8. Dayanara Torres PUERTO RICO (9.073)
9. Namrata Shirodkar INDIA (9.056)
10. Pavlina Baburkova CZECHOSLOVAKIA (8.996)
11. Deborah Souza-Peixoto PERU (8.936)
12. Angelina Gonzalez MEXICO (8.883)
13. Rachel Stuart JAMAICA (8.883)
14. Ma. Run Haflidadottir ICELAND (8.853)
15. Angelique Van Zalen NETHERLANDS (8.830)
16. Johanna Lind SWEDEN (8.813)
17. Savka Pollak CHILE (8.766)
18. Angelica Nicoara ROMANIA (8.743)
19. Maria Hirse DENMARK (8.683)
20. Luisa Amalia Urcuyo NICARAGUA (8.676)

1992:

1. Carolina Izsak VENEZUELA (9.477)
2. Michelle McLean NAMIBIA (9.147)
3. Anke Van Dermeersch BELGIUM (8.983)
4. Paola Turbay COLOMBIA (8.969)
5. Madhu Sapre INDIA (8.952)
6. Vivian Jansen NETHERLANDS (8.921)
7. Shannon Marketic USA (8.874)
8. Georgina Denahy AUSTRALIA (8.805)
9. Lisa de Montalk NEW ZEALAND (8.789)
10.Monica Brodd SWEDEN (8.773)
11. Svava Haraldsd ICELAND (8.773)
12. Elif Ilgaz TURKEY (8.743)
13. Cathy Mae Sitaram US VIRGIN ISLD (8.736)
14. Anne Sofie Galaen NORWAY (8.733)
15. Krisi Syrjanen FINLAND (8.716)
16. Monica Zuniga MEXICO (8.680)
17. Liza Gonzalez DOMINICAN REP. (8.656)
18. Fontella Chipman BAHAMAS (8.650)
19. Daisy Garcia PUERTO RICO (8.626)
20. Ornanong Panyawong THAILAND (8.606)

1991:

1. Lupita Jones MEXICO (9.006)
2. Kimberley Mais JAMAICA (8.986)
3. Yulia Lemigova USSR (8.864)
4. Kelli McCarty USA (8.834)
5. Natasha Pavlovic YUGOSLAVIA (8.774)
6. Jacqueline Krijger CURACAO (8.753)
7. Vivian Benitez PARAGUAY (8.719)
8. Jackeline Rodriguez VENEZUELA (8.719)
9. Mareva Georges FRANCE (8.706)
10. Paulien Huizinga NETHERLANDS (8.694)
11. Helen Upton UNITED KINGDOM (8.686)
12. Patricia Godoi BRAZIL (8.686)
13. Lene Maria Pedersen NORWAY (8.613)
14. Adriana Comas URUGUAY (8.596)
15. Tanja Vienon FINLAND (8.576)
16. Cecilia Alfaro CHILE (8.576)
17. Esther Bermudez SPAIN (8.563)
18. Katrin Richter GERMANY (8.526)
19. Siobhan McClafferty IRELAND (8.466)
20. Eileen Yeow Yin Yin SINGAPORE (8.446)

1990:

1. Mona Grudt NORWAY (8.683)
2. Andreina Goetz VENEZUELA (8.420)
3. Carole Gist USA (8.316)
4. Marile del Rosario MEXICO (8.316)
5. Liseth Mahecha COLOMBIA (8.313)
6. Suzanne Sabloak INDIA (8.280)
7. Rosario del Pilar BOLIVIA (8.256)
8. Urania Haltenhoss CHILE (8.206)
9. Jana Hronkova CZECHOSLOVAKIA (8.210)
10. Julide Ates TURKEY (8.090)
11. Tzui-Pin Wen TAIWAN ROC (8.070)
12. Germelina Padilla PHILIPPINES (8.056)
13. Jane Lloyd WALES (8.020)
14. Julieta Posla COSTA RICA (8.000)
15. Michele Hall JAMAICA (7.996)
16. Evia Stalbovska SOVIET UNION (7.946)
17. Tiina Vierto FINLAND (7.943)
18. Rosario del Carmen DOMINICAN REP. (7.940)
19. Sascha Nukaka GREENLAND (7.896)
20. Hildur Dungal ICELAND (7.893)

The day the Philippines conquered the universe

Miss Universe 1969
Gloria Diaz

Her answer came quick and easy, and she didn’t stammer nor hesitate at all, showing her presence of mind and grace under pressure.

Aboard Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, along with fellow Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, had just landed on the moon (“One small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind,” said Armstrong), the first man ever to accomplish that feat, and Miss Universe pageant host Bob Barker, euphoric like every human on earth, read the critical and decisive question to each of the five finalists, four of whom inside a sound-proof cubicle: If the man on the moon should come down to Earth and visit your hometown, what would you do to entertain him?

Unruffled, the 18-year-old petite Bb. Pilipinas-Universe answered, “Why, I guess I would do for him what I always do. Since he has been away on the moon for so long, he would want a change.”

That, among other winning qualities, helped Gloria Diaz clinch for the Philippines its first ever Miss Universe crown (followed four years later, in 1973, by Margie Moran in Greece).

Soon after, US Pres. Richard Nixon came for a visit and he mentioned in his speech, “America was conquered the moon but the Philippines conquered the universe.”

That was 40 years ago today (July 20 US Time) and history, as far as Filipinos are concerned, will forever put those two earth-shaking milestones — yes, conquests! — in tandem.

But did you know that Gloria first ended in a tie with Miss Finland Harriet Erickson, with 31 votes each? (Miss Finland would finish first runner-up, followed by Miss Australia Joanne Barrett, second runner-up; Miss Israel Chava Levy, third runner-up; and Miss Japan Kikuyo Ohsuka, fourth runner-up)?

Recalled journalist Gloria Garchitorena-Goloy (who chaperoned Gloria Diaz to Miami, Florida, where the 1969 Miss Universe pageant was held) in a series of articles she wrote for the Sunday Times magazine (included in her book At The Crossroads), “Since there could only be one Miss Universe, the judges went into a quick huddle to resolve the deadlock. Voting secretly again, they decided between the two. In the meantime, the ranking of the three other finalists was not divulged until after the judges had come up with the final official list. And they gave Miss Philippines seven votes and Miss Finland, five votes. Gloria Diaz had become Miss Universe of 1969!”

Gloria (in excelsis, according to Quijano de Manila in a glowing Free Press article) came home to a heroine’s welcome. And, as they would say, the rest is history.

“I remember that they were making so much fuss about moon landing,” said Gloria about that “moment in time” in an exclusive interview with Funfare, “and when I thought about it, it came like a deja vu.”

Asked what was on her mind when the crown was placed on her head, the irrepressible Gloria, now a mother of three, said, “You know, it’s funny. I was just telling my children that I realized that I had won only the day when I started to work. I went to sleep very late and the next day, they told me to be up by six o’clock. I wondered, ‘What are they talking about?’ Everything hadn’t sunk in yet. Remember, I was 18 and suddenly I was an adult. Before I knew it, I was signing contracts and all that. Well, I told myself, ‘A, okey, parang picnic!’ And I started to work na. It was only much, much later did I realize how much it would change my life.”

During her one-year reign, what Gloria considered most exciting was meeting heads of states and famous people. “And,” she added with a little wink, “goodlooking guys especially from South America.”

All too suddenly, she found herself on top of the world.

“I was an intern and I had never really met many guys. Suddenly, the whole world was opened for you. You travel and, with the money, you could buy nice dresses. For an 18-year-old, having a new dress is really something.”

And the most unpleasant part?

“I always had to sit with sponsors at dinner every night, instead of go home and watch TV or read magazines...and always having a chaperone.”

How did she feel when relinquished her crown to her successor (Marisol Malaret of Puerto Rico)?

“Right that very minute onstage, I realized that nothing was permanent and that you were really, really replaceable. How can I ever teach that to my children? I don’t know. It’s very hard to have that awakening. As soon as I gave up my crown, I lost my limousine to the new winner. It’s a good thing that my mother had arranged for somebody to take us back to the hotel. They were still very nice to me but I was given 24 hours to vacate my room.

“I guess that’s very interesting because even our presidents go through that. That’s why some of them hang on to power for dear life kasi it’s so nice. During your reign, nothing starts without you and you can kind of take your time. Within one year, you think the world couldn’t go on until you arrived.”

Gloria still has the replica of the Miss U crown but not her trophy which she left at the PAL office at a US airport due to excess poundage.

“I don’t know where it is, San Francisco or L.A. They said they shipped it back but I doubt if they ever did. I don’t know where it is. It’s big, as big as I am.”

Had she not become Miss Universe, what would she have been today?

“You know, I always think about that. Maybe I would have been a champion tennis player or a lawyer making millions. Or a politician. Those were my dreams. Or else I would be a plain housewife with many, many children.”

She has only three.

“Thank God,” she said.

Gloria has become one of the country’s finest actresses with an acting trophy to show for it.

How does she think the Miss Universe competition has changed?
”I could say that during my time, hindi pa uso ang mga retoke-retoke. At that time, I guess nothing was false about the contestants, except their eyelashes. Iba na ang laban ngayon. Everyone seems to be having some part enhanced, even having new boobs...including you-know-who.”

Asked if she would do the same if she were 18 again — you know, join the Bb. Pilipinas pageant and earn the right to compete in the Miss Universe contest, Gloria said, why not?

“It was good while it lasted.”

And a great honor to, you know, conquer the universe.

Featured Article: FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo, Philstar