Our Philippine
representative to the Miss Universe 2012 almost made it as the new Miss
Universe but she was denied by Miss USA Olivia Culpo in a glittering pageant
ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada. Janine was clearly a standout from the beginning
into the end and it seemed like, she was going to be the 3rd Miss
Universe for the Philippines and the 2nd with an Aringay, La Union
heritage. Miss Gloria Diaz was the first Philippine Miss Universe and her
father Jaime Diaz hails from the town. Janine could have followed the streak as
her father Jose Mari Tugonon comes from the entrenched Dulay-Ysip clan of
Aringay. It would have been a rapturous
occurrence for the Aringayenos as this would have underscored the fact that the
fabled story of the town may have a grain of truth after all - the beautiful maiden “Aring” as its origin.
It is really very
difficult to predict who will be the Miss Universe’ panel’s choice would be as
year after year, the question and answer portion has become to be not the basis
of the final choice of the winner. Let us try a rundown of the winners in the
last 6 years. In 2007 in Mexico City, Riyo Mori of Japan won over Natalia
Guimares of Brazil. It was a classic case of a not so beautiful but fashionable
girl over just a beautiful girl. In 2008, however, Miss Venezuela eclipsed Miss
Colombia who was the clear front-runner because she buckled in her answer. In 2009, the year when Stefania Fernandez won
the crown in Bahamas, Miss Australia Rachel Flinch gave the best answer to the
question but she ended up as third runner-up with Kosovo eclipsing her for the
second runner-up position. In 2010 where the pageant was held again in Las
Vegas, Nevada, Ximena Navarette of
Mexico stole the thunder from Yendi Phillips of Jamaica although Jesinta
Campbell of Australia gave the best answer to the questions thrown by the
judges whom they have picked. In 2011, the more superior answer of Shamcey
Supsup over the other candidates landed her the 3rd runner-up
position. It was all the same this year.
Janine gave the best and most qualified answer compared to Miss USA who
had to give herself some moments to think about her answer and to rattle the
judges with her round and round in circles answer.
With Janine’s feat, she
would again be the epitome of young girls’ dream. Janine joined the Binibining
Pilipinas Beauty Pageant in 2011 and she wounded up as First Runner-Up. With
her first runner-up win, many rambunctious pageant aficionados questioned her
runner-up finish. When she rejoined the pageant the year after that, the more
rumblings occurred but in all fairness, there was not a word of dismay that
came from her. She just came out exemplary, stunning and roaring during the
finals night and she was everyone’s winner. And truly, she was every inch a
queen but was denied the final outcome by the judges’ or the Miss Universe
organization.
Janine’s answer to the
question given her by Nigel Barker was quintessential. It opened a gate of
discussions to the very much talked about topic of Philippine candidates
speaking using their national tongue during the Question and Answer portion of the
Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. Pageant fans are always saying that the
Philippines is at a disadvantaged since other countries use interpreters during
the portion and it gives them the time to think and compose their answers in
their language and the interpreters help them by giving them a better
translation of their answers. Nigel Barker’s question was asked in this way: "As an international ambassador, do you believe
that speaking English be a prerequisite for being Miss Universe? Why or why
not?"
And
Janine answered in a very relaxed and intelligent manner, a scene that
was repeated all over the world as she gave that most famous answer : “The Miss
Universe title is not just about knowing how to speak a specific language. It
is about being able to influence and inspire other people. If you have a heart
to serve and a strong mind to show people, then you can be Miss Universe!”
Indeed, with her answer, despite being first
runner-up, she has eclipsed the victory of Miss USA and became the Miss
Universe of so many people of all walks of life.
Photo Courtesy: missuniverse.com
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