OF PROBABILITIES AND POSSIBILITIES : A REJOINDER

by Arturo De La Paz

Up to now a lot of fans are not able to move on with the results of the Binibining Pilipinas 2012 Beauty Pageant. For them, there is something unimaginable that occurred when three of the finalists who made it to the winners' circle were not pageant favorites and that two of them did not do well in the question and answer portion. The answer of one of the winners was even labeled "pageant patty." What happened? Why is it that Miss Patricia Lae Ejercitado and Mary Jean Lastimosa were not included in the circle of winners? This writer does not want to sound and feel like a sour-graping fan but just to finally put closure on this topic that keeps on bewildering fans. Let us dissect the criteria of the slection and let us base it on probablities and possible outcomes.

Beauty of Face is 40 %. As to the beauty of face, both faces present the exotic Filipina features that are hits in the international pageant arena. Ejercitado had the expression and presentation of the beautiful brown Filipina. On the other hand, MJ is just the right mixture of Arab and Filipino genes. I highly rate them in this department.

I gave Patricia a score of 38 and MJ a score of 34.

As to beauty of body, these two girls have bodies to die for. Ejercitado has a whistle bait figure of 34-23-35. On the other hand, Lastimosa has an hour-glass figure of 34-22-34. So if I have to rate this two, Lastimosa would have a perfect score 30 and Ejercitado of 29.

Super vavavoom bodies

The personality department comprises 20% and is said to be judged during the evening gown competition. These two ladies are very personable and they are the most well-liked candidates. They are fans' favorites and thus I gave them perfect scores of 20.

Now people think that this criterion of Intelligence (10%) is the decisive factor. I believe this is not the case. However, it becomes only decisive if the scores are so close to each other and that the scores in this department will break ties or will eventually overhaul the small lead of presumed front-running candidates. If I were to rate Patricia's answer and apply the dictum of universality, she will just be given a passing score of 7.5. But in most cases, we have to admit, her answer has a "shock" value - culture and impact wise and if I were to rate her on this, I will give her a score of 9.9 which is an almost perfect score. As to MJ's answer, I find it very evasive. It talks about generalities and did not focus on the intent of the question. One may get overwhelmed with the scope of the question but a discerning person can easily limit its scale and make a more direct to the point answer. A school teacher will probably give her a score of 6.5 here.

The bone of contention here is that did these two girls showed adequate edge over the winning candidates to possibly be in the winners' circle? Let me illustrate using my rating for these girls. I will also include Angelee Claudette De Los Reyes (26) to demonstrate my points.

My personal scores for the candidates in question

So if we base our discussion on my rating for the candidates for illustration, Candidates 7, 29 and 9 will enter the Top 5. Candidate Number 7 will be the Binibining Pilipinas Tourism, Candidate Number 29 will be First Runner-Up and Candidate Number 9 will be Second Runner-up. Note that Candidate Number 29 was not able to answer the question and a failing grade score of 5 is given. I do not know if in the Binibini rules, there is a limit to the low scores. In this case for the Question and Answer Portion, the lowest score to be given is 5. So I gave 5 for candidate number 29 here. Or even she is given a "O" score here for faltering in the final stretch, she will still be a second runner-up in my scoring.

Now going further with our explanation, granting that the systematic error in the judging is (+/-) 4. Please don't ask me how I was able to derive this systematic error. It will take another article to write about getting into this topic. We will try to deduct 4 to the candidates that got the first 3 high scores in my list and the candidates with the lowest 4 scores in my list. Let us see how the possible winners will look like.

So in this scenario, Candidate 7 is still Bb. Pilipinas Tourism, Candidate 29 is First Runner-Up and Candidate Number 13 is second runner-up. In this situation, Candidate 9 will be eased out from the winner's circle. Now granted again that Candidate Number 7's answer will just get a passing score and the scores of Candidates 13 and 26 were given correction factors.

Why the correction factors? Well, pageant pundits say that Candidate 26 should get the highest score for personality since she was adjudged as the Best in Evening Gown and this is where the scores came in. On the other hand, Candidate 13 they said is very personable so we have to increase her scores too. Let us see the new configuration.

In this scenario again, we still have the same results as above. But if we use the corrective factor, and the margin of error, the eventual winner for the Binibining Pilipinas Tourism would be Candidate Number 26 and the first runner-up is Candidate Number 13 and second runner-up would be Candidate Number 7.

Things like these happen because the pageant does not explain their rating system to the pageant followers. These followers are thinking individuals too and that they will not just accept things as they are. Add to this is the growing patronage system where the winner of the top plum is coming from one camp only. This pageant edition alone showed three candidates going into the Magic circle from this camp.

It is very clear therefore that for these girls, it is anybody's ballgame. There are 12 judges and they may have their own personal choices. The illustration is based on my personal choices. Therefore, given that there are 12 judges, the margin of error will play a great role in the choices of the winners. The case in point here is that "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." Each judge do not see the candidate in the same light. They may argue about their choices but in the end, they make the choices.

Here are some of of the suggestions I can advance and if organizers are out there and can make a note or two:

1.) Transparent rating system - The criteria should be announced so that the viewers will have at a basis of how the winners are selected. If this had been announced I am sure the viewers will have a mental note how the scores will come out. It is therefore important that in this highly technical world, the Binibini is still doing the manual scoring and computer input and then computation mode. The judges' rating should be computerized and flashed onscreen. Develop also a mechanism that will not make the judges score very low or very high for certain candidates. In the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, there used to be a rule that the highest score and lowest score given to a candidate is eliminated in the computation. It will give a level playing field for all candidates.

2.) Since the organization is the franchise holder for sending the Philippine representative to the Miss Universe, then it would be appropriate that they follow the selection system of the Miss Universe Contest. They have a preliminary competition to select the Top 15 and 1 girl to join the selected candidates chosen by the voting public. Then the candidates parade and compete in their swimsuits. The Top 10 advances to the evening/long gown competition. Then the Top 5 advances to the Question and Answer portion where the BEST OF THE BESTS gets the plum prize.

3.) I don't believe in prototype candidates for a particular contest. No prototyping please. But what I believe is that we live in an ever-changing world where particular tastes can be changed or even molded through the years. It is practically hypocrisy to say that the three titles the organization is awarding have equal rankings. We all know that the Miss Universe Philippines title is the most coveted because the winner participates in the pageant of all pageants, the Miss Universe contest. They only say that these titles have equal ranks because it gives them a leeway to discuss the prototype issue and jumble the rankings of the Top 3 girls. As a further note, the present selection is prone to favoritism, manipulation and alteration.

4.) The candidates should compete using the gown of their own choices. In this case, the creativity and the ingenuity of the Filipino designer will be highlighted and underscored. The Filipino, time and again had shown that his creative designs are world class. This apparent snub to them should stop and let the word Pilipinas ring a bell true to form.

5.) If the suggestion above will be taken into consideration, it would be nice to see another contest after the pageant among fashion designers. A contest similar to Project Runway can be done and it would be entitled "DRESS YOUR QUEEN CONTEST." It will be a competition for creating the gown and the national costume for our representatives. Then our designers will have something to look forward to.

 

Note: Mr. Arturo de la Paz sent this article to our mail as part of his contribution to the continuing and never-ending debate on the results of the recently concluded Binibining Pilipinas 2012 beauty pageant. The views and opinions expressed in this article are purely his. As for other readers, we would also appreciate your contributing articles as long as it fits the editorial intent of our blog.

Photo Credits: Paul Cortes, RL Lacanienta, BPCI

MISS UNIVERSE 2012 DELEGATES FROM ASIA

Korea has been sending representatives to Miss Universe pageant since 1954 but has yet to win their first Miss Universe crown. The highest placement they got was in 1988 with a first runner-up placement. Their representative to this year's pageant in Miami, Florida, USA is Lee Seong-Hye, 22 years old and stands at 5 feet and 7 inches tall. Will she bring back Korea to the semi-finalists circle this year?

The Philippines has so far produced two Miss Universe winners, in 1969 with Gloria Diaz and 1973 with Margarita Moran. They also have seven runner-ups with the recent back to back runner-ups of Maria Venus Raj (4th Runner-up) in 2010 and Shamcey Supsup (3rd Runner-up) in 2011. Their representative to the Miss Universe pageant this year is the 22 years old Janine Mari Tugonon who stands at 5 feet and 8 inches tall. Will Janine continue the streak of the Philippines to the Top 5 finalists this year?

PHILIPPINES' BET TO MISS UNIVERSE CROWNED: MISS JANINE MARI TUGONON

by Rainier Abad-Santos

                                     “Truth is beauty, beauty is truth” - Plato

The beauty of a woman had been appreciated centuries and centuries ago. In the annals of archeology and history, there were definite evidences that beauty had been appreciated in women in various forms. In the Philippines, we can see this encompassing all cultural forms, the women are adorned to make them look more beautiful, dignified and adored. Although pageants with grand proportion were done through money raising and popularity during the early days of infancy of pageants, women from the alta sociedad class lord it over the indios or the lower class. Even in the last few decades of Philippine pageantry we see the participation of the abled class until this recent milieu where we now have the democratized participation of everyone. Beauty pageants have evolved and transformed and it has never been the same.  

The Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant is the most popular beauty pageant in the Philippines today not only because of its rich history of winners but because it handles the search for the representative of the country to the most popular international beauty pageant which is the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. Year in, year out, the choices were controversial in the sense that the results do not conform to the pageant fans preferences and even to some extent the options of the international observers. In this modern times when people becomes part of a community of pageant enthusiasts through the internet by social media, exchanges in ideas are just at the tip of the finger. In an instant, whatever that is happening in one part of the globe is being shared to all over the world.

In this recent edition of the beauty pageant, a cacophony of ideas and responses came out when the recent winners were declared. Because of this the The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. which is the organization that handles the pageant had come out of a statement saying that the candidates  went through the screening, selection, official events, pre-pageant and coronation night all with the same chances to win any crown. The 30 girls did work hard to pursue their dreams and fate had it that the winners were proclaimed because they were the judges’ choices.

The pageant’s focus of their ire is the selection of Janine Marie Tugonon, the first runner-up of last year who re-joined the competition this year and was lucky to be crowned as the new Miss Universe Philippines for 2012. Who by the way is Janine Mari Tugonon?

Janine Mari is a 22 year old young lady who stood 5’9” tall and is the daughter of Teresita Raymundo of Balanga, Bataan and Jose Mari Tugonon of Aringay, La Union. From her name alone, we see that her second name was lifted from the second name of her father. Janine however, grew up in Balanga and later transferred to Manila to further her studies.

She is a B.S. Pharmacy graduate of the University of Sto. Tomas and she graduated Cum Laude. She later took the board examination for Pharmacists in 2010 and she was one of the top-ranked passers that year. Janine is also a ballet dancer and has trained with Ballet Manila under the tutelage of prima ballerina Lisa Macuja. 

Janine is not new to the pageant circle. She was crowned Miss Thomasian Personality 2010 as she represented her college as Miss Pharmacy. Janine is not also new in come from behind victory. She was not the clear favorite during the Miss Thomasian Personality 2010 as one candidate (Joanna Cindy V. Miranda of Tourism and Hospitality Management) was lording over her in the special awards. But when the Question and Answer portion came, she gave a dignified answer that entrenched her to become the winner that night.

Janine as First Runner-up (far right) during last years' Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant as she joined (L-R) Mary Jean Lastimosa (2nd runner-up), Isabella Manjon (Miss Tourism Philippines), Shamcey Supsup (Miss Universe Philippines) and Dianne Necio (Miss International Philippines)

Fresh from those triumphs, Janine participated in last years’ Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant. Not in the list of possible winners, from out of nowhere, she stole the thunder of the brightest star that night, she landed a first runner-up position while MJ Lastimosa, a favorite of pageant fans, was only second runner-up.

Amidst bickering and debates among pageant fans, she was crowned as the new Miss Universe Philippines 2012 in a pageant of pomp and glamour. Janine was both competitive in the swimsuit and evening gown competition. Although pageant critics say that the swimsuit segment was her waterloo, she was not just in the middle of the pack but well within reach of those who possess the best bodies. In the evening gown segment, she glowed in her white gown and everyone admitted she is a force to reckon with that night.

“I believe that women have the right to choose between what they want. But for me, you have to go for what God has called you to do whatever it is between the two. You must do what’s your purpose in the world. Just have a childlike faith and matured obedience then everything will go smooth.” 

And when the question by Mr. Jose Manuel Romualdez was asked of her, she towered among all the 12 semi-finalists. The question that gave her the remarkable come from behind victory again was: “Many women nowadays will go a happy family life or a scucesful career. How do you feel about this? Janine answered in the following way: “I believe that women have the right to choose between what they want. But for me, you have to go for what God has called you to do whatever it is between the two. You must do what’s your purpose in the world. Just have a childlike faith and matured obedience then everything will go smooth.” She thanked the judge who gave the question and the audience.

There was no looking back for Candidate Number 18 as the night was hers. She was eventually crowned the best of all on April 15, 2012 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as the new Miss Universe Philippines.

Photo Credits: Ron Titular, Paul Cortes, BPCI, Rosemarie Tugonon, Pinoy Star Blog, James Manayon, ABS-CBN, ph.beuatymania.biz and missosology.info

THE PUZZLE CONTINUES

by Arden D. Bautista

The results of the Binibining Pilipinas 2012 baffled me until now. I believe there were only two candidates that were clearly deserving of the Top Award. I also stand by my thesis in my previous write-up that the one that really topped the pageant was candidate Number 8. She was really was shining through that night. She should have been the Miss PAL’s Sunniest Personality. But I agree with my editor that due to the requirements of the two international pageants, the winners in the Top 2 contest were interchanged so as to make the better chances of the organization to win in them.

Let me discuss therefore why are these candidates IN and OUT? 

1.)  Katrina Dimaranan (13) – I must give the pageant fans the benefit of the doubt. They like her. There are two probable reasons why this girl was chosen to win. First, she has that exotic appeal. She had this ersatz and sophistication that rub on the people’s senses. Second, Katrina is a good conversationalist. She can talk and she can expound her views on any questions thrown at her.

Then why do I say she must be OUT? Well, for all intents and purposes, the face of Katrina is not the kind of face that would launch a thousand ships in the Miss Tourism Queen International. Second, her movements are too exaggerated and they do not show finesse. And thirdly, her answer is so pageant patty and you could see that she tried to go around the bush just impress to the judges about this.

2.)  Elaine Kay Moll (15) -Why is she in? The girl has height and because of this she commands attention. She has a decent face and on the final night she did a remarkable appearance in the evening gown competition.

Then why do I say she is supposed to be OUT? Well, Elaine has a bland personality. She walks the runway with seeming disinterest. And because of her height and athleticism, her movements are quite mannish. And lastly she choked and crumbled on the final answer although she came out of a decent thought for the question.

3.) Analie Forbes (29) – I have no doubts that she should be in the Top 5. Our surveys showed it. She is beautiful. She is charming and talented. However, by standards of decency, dignity and integrity as one contestant puts in her answer during the question and answer portion, she should be out for greatly flubbing during the Question and Answer portion. The organization’s gesture of repeating the question for her during the pageant night and making a more sanitized presentation on TV showed favoritism. And this is the real reason why she is IN despite obviously being OUT.

WHO SHOULD BE IN BUT WENT OUT:

1.) Angelee De Los Reyes (26) – She is the effusive candidate. It is no wonder because she is a Nursing Instructor and thus can elaborate on any topic that is asked of her. She had the body. She had the complete qualities that should catapult her to the Top 5. The question is, why was she dumped in favor of Candidate Number 29 when during the Question and Answer portion, she was clearly 5 notches higher.

2.) MJ Lastimosa (9) –She is the brightest star that night. She was radiant and she has the sensuality that other candidates can equal. My big question is, did she do anything wrong to merit a snub in the winner’s circle? Did she fall out of grace from the organizers? She may not have given the best answer to the question but again my standard of comparison is Candidate Number 29 who fumbled and mumbled a collection of memorized answers to the question given her.

3.)  Patricia Lae Ejercitado (7) – there seems to be nothing going wrong with Candidate Number 7. She was exemplary in the swimsuit segment. Her twist and turn during the swimsuit round were clearly applauded. Her lady demeanor was very much appreciated. Where could have she gone wrong? Height? Or could it be her answer to the Question and answer portion? She delivered an impassioned answer that the greatest challenge that she faced is she almost lost faith in God. Answers like this may cause division among the judges as it is not only controversial but the height of maturity in terms of religious freedom and respect exceedingly differ among people. Many however appreciated her answer and yet she still came out wanting.

4.)   Sherilyn Gonzales (30) was all beauty and poise during the final night. She aced her interview in a very professional manner. How come she did not get into the Top 5 when we see uninspired answers coming from candidates 15 and 29?

The general comments about the candidates are that Candidates Number 30, 7, 26, 13, 18, 8 aced their interviews and yet this seemed not to have an impact on the final choices. These should be the candidates that should be considered for the Top 5. The only thing that I can think of is that the Top 12 are only there for a show. I feel that there is already a pre-determined list of winners and that they are the ones that were only considered for judging and deliberations. In this case, the pageant mechanics should follow the mechanics of the Miss Universe to avoid such disparity. A Top 15 is called and they parade in swimsuit and the lowest 5 is eliminated. The Top 10 goes to the evening gown competition and another 5 is eliminated and the remaining Top 5 is left to answer the questions. It would leave little space for disgust. It would also leave a little space for bickering among pageant fans.

Photos courtesy by: Paul Cortes

THE BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2012 PUZZLE: A PAGEANT REVIEW AND ANALYSIS

By Jetset Alejandro

Every year, I make predictions for the winners of the Binibini and when I do so, I intellectualize and analyze the candidates as well as the choices of others for me to make my enlightened choices. However, what usually comes out as the winners are what my heart desires. For this year, it was the my enlightened choices that won and yet when we at Queentessence came out of our Hotpicks, I insisted that we discuss them based on our individual choices and finally made our picks. Of course, when we made the choices, we were not given the chance to evaluate the candidates come pageant day since there were a lot of possible changes to the ranking.


Let us now evaluate the pageant as a whole.


THE STAGE:

I fully understood why this year, they have to trim down the candidates to 30 as the stage would not accommodate all 40 candidates. The 40 candidates would be cramped in the stage and the candidates would look like fishes in the ocean ready to be prepared into sardines. I believe the original 24 candidates would be much viable in this kind of stage. The stage design was a glittering silver motif with different designs of trapezoids and triangle like objects. At the right side of the stage is a design which is very much like the appliqués placed on evening gowns. It is also silvery in color but when light plays on it, it gives you the feeling that it is a shining emerald. Very nice effect indeed!


THE AUDIENCE:

The pageant audience is a mix of pomp and glamour and fans. The fans really did give life to the proceedings. They were there to spice the life of the candidates that they are supporting. Although there was too much uproar, it made the proceedings more fun.


PRODUCTION NUMBER:

The Brazilian number was a poor copy of the Brazilian production number of last year’s Miss Universe. The outfits were poor copies also. The candidates gyrated to the samba like sound and they were clad in three distinct color samba outfits. Candidates 1-10 were in orange outfit. Candidates 11-20 were in fuschia pink outfits and Candidates 21-30 were in yellow outfits. Interim to the production number is the presentation of the girls. They presented themselves stating their names, place of residence and age. After the presentation, the girls finished their production number to give way to the presentation of the pageant hosts and annotators.


PAGEANT HOSTS:

The pageant hosts were Xian Lim, Venus Raj, Iza Calzado and Georgina Wilson. The main hosts were Xian Lim and Iza Calzado with Venus Raj and Georgina Wilson interchangeably acting as co-hosts and pageant annotators. I must say that there is chemistry among the 4 hosts. Last year, the hosts seemed to be wooden. At least there is life among the 4 hosts this time. Although there were lapses but they were not too glaring enough to cause so much miscue.


The judges of the pageant were introduced and they are as follows:

1. Ashely Perguson, Avon Director for Marketing in Asia
2. Jose Manuel Romualdez- CEO of People Magazine
3. H.E. Ambassador Jorge Domecg – Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines
4. Precious Lara Quigaman – Miss International 2005 and Actress
5. Honorable Cesar V. Purisima – Secretary of Finance
6. John Martin Miller –Nestlé Philippines Inc. Chair and Chief Executive
7. Casimiro Yniguez Ynares – Governor of Rizal
8. Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel – Congresswoman
9. Oliver Gougeon – Chief Executive Officer, Singapore and South Asia, Société Générale
10. Richard Gomez – Actor
11. H.E. Harry K. Thomas Jr. – Ambassador of the United States of America to the Philippines
12. Phil Younghusband – Azkals football Player – Chairman of the Board of Judges

The pageant proceeded with the girls in their 2-piece swimsuits. During their press presentation and their photo shoots and also during the Parade of Beauties, the girls were in a 1-piece ensemble but now we are now shown how the girls are rated through their body physiques by donning the 2-piece swimsuits. Notable among the girls with good bodies are 7, 8, 9, 19, 26 and 30. Candidate Number 13 and 15 walks unimpressively. Candidate Number 14 has a very shy demeanor. Candidate Number 16 was unfit. I probably understood why she did not throw her body cover. She made it appear that it was part of the choreography. Candidate Number 25 was the most unfit of them all. She should have prepared more for the pageant. The swimsuit number was creating too much excitement as the fans cannot control their excitement with the DJ mixing the music for this portion, Australian DJ David Callum. The swimsuit number was in two sets but they came out individually by 5’s. In the second set, Candidate Number 23 Goldy Baroa almost slipped but gained back composure. She has a good body and poise that I noted.


After the swimsuit round, the Special Awards given were as follows:

Best In Swimsuit: Nicole Schmitz (8)
People’s Choice Award: Giselle Angelica Munoz (21)
Binibining Friendship: Chloe Zanardi (25)
Binibining Talent: Katrina Dimaranan (13)
Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice Award: Roxanne Tadique (20)
Best in National Costume : Nicole Schmitz (8)


At this juncture, I am given the impression that Nicole Schmitz the conspiracy theorists are saying the truth – that she is the girl that will win a lot of special awards but will go home crying because of birth certificate/passport issues. Hohohum……If to personally pick my choice for the Best in Swimsuit, my choice would be MJ Lastimosa (Candidate 9) for having a whistle bait figure that every lady dreams of. However, Nicole for her bubbly rendition is a good choice too.

Then the evening gown competition followed with Arnel Pineda performing for the first fifteen candidates. Almost all the candidates were wearing gowns of similar cuts and design. It is just that they are different in colors. Candidates who did well in the first 15 candidates were 8, 9 and 15. For the second set of 15 candidates, Candidates 18, 26 and 29 did well in their evening gown repertoire. Bamboo performed during this portion.


As a note, I just felt that the heightened frenzy among the fans cannot be equaled by the performers. Arnel Pineda and Bamboo are great performers but I just can’t feel their performance that night.


And after the evening gown, special awards were given and they are as followed:

Ms. PAL: MJ Lastimosa (9)
Ms. Avon: MJ Lastimosa (9)
Ms. Photogenic: Karen Galman (1)
Best In Evening Gown: Angelee De los Reyes (26)


Oh, oh….I was telling myself, the signs are here. It would be a Mary Jean Lastimosa victory tonight as it she garnered the most prestigious special award. The crown is already hers basing from historical data of previous pageants that whoever gets the Ms. PAL award gets at least a crown. My choice however for the evening gown is Candidate Number 18. I have no quarrel with Angelee as the Best in Gown but I believe, Janine carried her gown with more style and brilliance. Another girl that would probably give Janine the competition for the gown is MJ Lastimosa, Candidate Number 9.


It was now time to announce the Top 12 Candidates and they are as follows:



Sherlyn Gonzales (30) , Leizl Alcantara (16), Patricia Lae Ejercitado (7), Analie Forbes (29), Angeelee Claudette De los Reyes (26), Mary Jena Lastimosa (9), Katirna Janyne Dimaranan (13), Janine Tugonon (18), Elaine Kay Moll (15), Gina Joy Howell (14), Nicole Schmitz (8), Karen Gallman (1)



1.. Sherlyn Gonzales (30)

2. Liezl Alcantara (16)

3. Patricia Lae Ejercitado (7)

4. Annalie Forbes (29)

5. Angelee Claudett delos Reyes (26)

6. Mary Jean Lastimosa (9)

7. Katrina Jayne Dimaranan (13)

8. Janine Mari Tugonon (18)

9. Elaine Kay Moll (15)

10. Gina Joy Howell (14)

11. Nicole Schmitz (8)

12. Karen Gallman (1)

After hearing the list of the semi-finalists, I blurted out, the survey we did hit right to the nail. All the candidates that were possible entries to the semi-finalist circle qualified to the Top 12. It was fairly accurate. The survey predicted a 100% inclusion that is considering the three other candidates that could possibly get in to the Top 12. That is our margin of error. Our Queentessence picks got it 10/12 as well as our contributing writer Arden D. Bautista got it 10/12 also. Those picks are fairly accurate therefore. I can only smile in contention as we took extra effort in writing foreign nationalities to send us their choices.

Now it is the time for the Question and Answer Portion. The candidates were called to answer the Question as they were called by the order of the announcement of semi-finalists. The candidates are to be asked by a question by the judge who was selected through computer generation.

1. Sherlyn Gonzales (30) was asked Precious Lara Quigaman. And the question was “If you were to change an experience in your life, what would it be and why?”

I have to paraphrase the answers as I did not record them and it was impossible to write it as the candidates talked so fast since they have only 30 seconds to answer the question:

Sherlyn answered, she will not change anything since what happened to her in the past is something that had shaped her today and will probably shape her tomorrow and changing that experience will practically deny her the experience and learn the lessons from that experience.

A very good answer and there seem to have shades of the answer of Miss Angola when she won in the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant last year.

2. Leizl Alcantara(16) was asked by Oliver Gougen. The question was “How do you define happiness?”

This was not shown on TV. Initially Leizl did not answer the question correctly because the word happiness was mispronounced by the judge. She did not understand it well. So they repeated the Question and Answer portion and Leizl answered the question. When I watched the proceedings on TV this was not aired already as the edited segment was the one aired.

Leizl equated happiness to success and she blabbered a lot that pointed out just the same to being successful is to be happy.

3. Patricia Lae Ejercitado (7) was asked by Gov. Casimiro Yniguez Ynares III and the question was “What was the biggest obstacle that you had in your life and how you were able to go about it?”

Patricia answered that there was one time in her life that she questioned the existence of God. But because of her search for the meaning of her existence, she found the meaning of God in her heart. She realized that her doubts were God’s challenge to her and by being so steadfast in her faith, she was able to conquer all.

4. Annalie Forbes (29) was asked by H.E. Jorge Domecq and the question runs this way” “Social media has forever changed the world. What has it done to you and what do you think are its advantages in the changing world?”

Annalie was dumbfounded during this portion. She was probably stunned by the difficulty of the question. She cannot answer. However she was given a chance again so they asked her to answer the question the second time around. Apparently this was not shown on telecast. This portion was edited. You could just feel how the audience was reacting to this.

Annalie answered in a way that social media was able to encompass communication. And communication is a way to share life. And sharing like what Mother Teresa did like small things can become great things when it is shared.
Whew….what an answer….How did Mother Teresa get into the picture? Is the Carla Balingit charm present again here?

5. Angelee delos Reyes (26) was asked by H.E. Harry K. Thomas Jr. and the question was “How will you show to the rest of the world that it is more fun in the Philippines?”

Angelee was very loquacious even before the question was made. To the point that the Ambassador said that he may not ask a question anymore. When she answered the question, she said a mouthful about the country and the beautiful spots that we had most especially Zambales and the affirmation of that fun is the loving and beautiful people exemplified by her. Angelee really gave a very great answer and she was very conversant and very confident.

6. Mary Jean Lastimosa was asked by Ashley Ferguson and the question runs this way:” What to you is the most pressing problem that the world is facing now and how do you propose to solve it?”

MJ’s answer was about curiosity and that having too much curiosity gives too much problems and that we need to do peripheral listing so that we can curb the problem of curiosity.

I am really at a loss about MJ’s answer. If she is referring to curiosity among the youth and trying on sex and because of that there would more population. And this is peripheral listing? Channel endeavors to productive means instead of being curious? Hohohum….

7. Katrina Dimaranan (13) was asked by Richard Gomez the question: “If you were to be President of the Philippines in one day, what particular problem are you going to tackle?”

Katrina answered that she would promote education because there are a lot of children who lack education and that in education children will learn good morals, values and optimism.

8. Janine Tugonon (18) was asked by Mr. Jose Manuel Romualdez the question: “Many women nowadays will go a happy family life or a successful career. How do you feel about this?

She answered: I believe that women have the right to choose between what they want. But for me, you have to go for what God has called you to do, whatever it is, between the two. You must do what's your purpose in this world. Just have a childlike faith and matured obedience then everything will go smooth. Thank you.

9. Elaine Kay Moll (15) was asked by Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima the question: “If there is one thing you want to change in the Filipino culture, what would it be?”

Elaine hesitated a bit then recovered. She answered, she would like to correct the Filipino time and habit. Time is important and we must need to cooperate to do a lot more things to develop as a people. However she delivered it in a choking manner and she was not confident with her answers.

10. Gina Joy Howell (14) was asked by Rissa Hontiveros. Before she asked the question, she reassuringly said that the candidate can answer in the language she is comfortable with. The question is something like, if you are to choose between love and career what would it be?

Gina Joy seemed to be unnerved with the choice of speaking in the dialect or in English because this girl speaks English pretty well. When she started answering she was already tentative in her answer but she choose her career because according to her, if the man loves me, she will love all of me including her career.

11. Nicole Schmitz (8) was asked by John Miller the question: “How would you rather be, respected or loved?”

Nicole answered she would rather be respected because it connoted dignity and integrity. And when you have dignity and integrity you will be loved.

12. Karen Gallman was asked by Phil Younghusband the question, “how will you define defeat and victory?” Karen choked on her answer. She said it is not how you lost but it is how you fought to win. She said learn from your mistakes and God will help you.

If I have to base my selection on what happened live or even the edited telecast, I would choose the following candidates:

1. Schmitz (8)
2. Tugonon (18)
3. Ejercitado (7)

4. Delos Reyes (26)
5. Gonzales (30)

These 5 candidates had sufficiently answered the questions that were asked of them. But the winners were as follows:

1. Janine Tugonon - MUP
2. Nicole Schmitz -MIP
3. Katrina Jayne Dimaranan-MTP
4. Elaine Kay Moll – First Runner-up
5. Analie Forbes – Second Runner-up



I understand the placement of Tugonon vis-à-vis Schmitz. Schmitz may have topped the deliberations but her type of beauty is more a hit in the Miss International Beauty Pageant. Tugonon will go to the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant and will need to train more for that matter. I do not really know how Dimaranan eclipsed the other girls. I don’t understand the hype with her. Even the judges saw something in her. Moll is acceptable but Forbes really splattered everything during the Q and A. She was even surprised she was called second-runner up. It is the same thing with Moll. It really remained a mystery to me how they select the final winners in the Binibini.

Well another selection process is over. We have our new queens. What else can we do but to support them in their international endeavors since they represent our country and in so doing they are representing us – the Filipino people.

A supporting article from our contributor will come out next why he thinks the other candidates I enumerated above did not enter the magic circle.

Photo Credits: Paul Cortes, BPCI, Pawee (Misso), OPMB,UNO, PEP