WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?

by Jetset Alejandro

Aringay is a sleepy town in the province of La Union, Philippines. It is located in Northwestern Luzon. It is bordered by the towns of Caba and Burgos in the north, Agoo in the South, Tubao and Pugo in the Southeast and the foothills of the Cordillera central mountain range to the east and the South China Sea to the west. The town’s economy is primarily based on agriculture producing rice, tobacco and fruit crops.

Despite being described as a sleepy locality – quiet and dull, it boasts of its esteemed history. It has never been that boring whenever we talk of Aringay’s history. It has a highly regarded history of people and even beauty title holder’s history.

In 1969, Aringay’s collective memory was centered on a Filipina’s victory in Miami, Florida. She was crowned Miss Universe of 1969 and the people of the Philippines rejoiced about this conquest. Every newspaper and magazine publication was triumphantly telling everyone that a Filipina conquered the universe. Who would not be proud anyway?

But Aringay was much prouder because when Miss Gloria Diaz arrived in the Philippines and after her courtesy calls in Manila, she then travelled to La Union, the home province of her father Jaime “Jimmy” Diaz to pay respect to the other half of her heritage. After a courtesy call to the Provincial Governor, she was feted with a victory caravan in her father’s hometown, Aringay, La Union. She was met by then Mayor Moises Dulay who by Aringay’s history was the longest staying mayor of the town. Since then, whenever the town would have its beauty pageant, there is always a reference to repeating the feat of what Gloria Diaz had down in the world of beauty pageants.

Some Aringay beauties tried following her footsteps. Sheryl Lou Dacanay Franco entered the semi-finalists circle of the Binibining Pilipinas in 2001. She was crowned Miss Philippines-Water in the Miss Philippines-Earth Beauty Pageant in 2003. She later represented the Philippines in the Miss Tourism-World Beauty Pageant in Zimbabwe in 2004 where she won Best in National Costume and one of the semi-finalists. Truly, Aringay is underscoring the fact that it had beautiful girls of international beauty caliber.

Just recently, debates on the new fame of the recently crowned Miss Universe Philippines Janine R. Tugonon grew rabidly. What is the point of the discussion? Balanga, Bataan or Aringay, La Union? There is no point of discussion really. The Filipino people in general had its penchant for owning everyone even if they slightest relationship with the person. Well, as for Aringayeños, they accept the fact the Janine was born and grew up in Bataan as her mother hails from Bataan. That is a real fact. But Janine’s half of heritage is rooted down in Aringay since his father hails from the place. His father comes from the Dulay clan and a direct descendant from former Mayor Moises Dulay who gave a grand celebration for Gloria Diaz after she was crowned Miss Universe of 1969. Will Janine acknowledge this part of her heritage? The Aringayeños hope so very much.

There are already parallelisms being made. And what are these? Gloria Diaz father is from the Diaz clan of  Aringay. Janine Tugonon’s father is from the Dulay clan of Aringay. Gloria is known for her wit and intelligence. Janine is known for her ardor and intelligence. Gloria competed in Miami Florida and Janine is competing also in Florida. Gloria came out victorious. Will Janine repeat history after 43 years? The people of Aringay hopes so and they are wishing upon the stars.

Photo Credits: Google Maps, Feelingphotographer.blogspot.com, gloriadiaz1969.tripod.com, juliusnoora.blogspot.com, nakupotheydidnt.livejournal.com, philippineheritage.com, infofashion.ro, skycrapercity.com, Ron B. Titular

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