THE MISS UNIVERSE SAGA – THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE (SERIES 4 OF 5)

2001 – 2010 THE YEARS OF STRUGGLE

by Rolando Rafael

THE CEREBRAL CHOICES: The most common denominator of this period is that majority of choices are cerebral candidates. This can be seen in 2001 (Andam), 2002 (Agustin), 2005 (Cabrera), 2006 (Ramos), 2007 (Licaros) and 2009 (Manalo). Among these winners of the Bb. Pilipinas Universe title, 3 are from UP (Andam, Ramos and Licaros), 1 from University of Asia and Pacific (Cabrera), 1 from AMA Computer University (Agustin) and 1 from Assumption College (Manalo). These candidates are known to be the intelligent types and that their selection was practically based from the experience that we almost made it in 1999 and that we lost because our candidate bombed out in the question and answer portion.

THE VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENT: Also during this decade, after the debacle in 2000 where our candidate was not sent to any training program because she was said to be the perfect candidate. We have to lick our wounds as we realize that we have gone full circle. Our winner in 2001 was sent to Venezuela but with less encouraging results. So in 2002, there was a sudden turnaround and another experiment was hatched – the Colombian experiment.

THE COLOMBIAN EXPERIMENT:  There seem to be a big question when the Philippine franchise holder for Miss Universe shifted her gears and took her winners for Colombian training only after 2 tries. First it was Mirriam Quiambao who almost made it and second was Zorayda Ruth Andam who was only triumphant as a first runner-up in the National Costume category. After Zorayda, succeeding candidates were sent to Colombia (Karen, Carla, Maricar, Giona, Lia, Anna Teresa, Jennifer and Pamela) for training. There were questions asked? Why Colombia? Why not pursue Venezuela instead? Reasons like, Venezuelan training is very expensive and that Filipina winners are not ready for the surgical enhancement programs of Venezuela. Although eventually, Venezuela stopped training foreign girls when Amelia Vega, Miss Dominican Republic who trained under Osmel Souza won Miss Universe in 2003. Then why Colombia? Colombia has not produced a winner for so long and that their golden period was not 1992-1994 did not produce a winner. While Venezuela was churning out runner-ups and title holders and is competing with the United States in terms of the number of winners. What was the common denominator for Karen, Carla, Maricar, Giona, Lia and Anna Teresa as a result of their Colombian preparation? They were cooked! Karen was cooked just enough. Carla was neither here nor there. Maricar lost her radiance and zest. Giona looked like she’s in a daze and had always a bad hair day. Lia was practically “mulattized” (pardon the term – it was derived from the word mulatto!). This period was labeled by a blogger (Bragitto) as TRIPLE C – Colombia, Cumbia and Cubao. Colombia where the training was held and Alfredo Barraza helped in the training and dressing the girls. It is alleged that he dresses the girls with poorly designed and made gowns and styles them very badly so that the Colombian candidates will shine over our candidates. Cumbia refers to those gowns and dresses worn by the candidates from the dress boutique of the Aranetas where there is nothing fashionable about it and lastly Cubao refers to BPCI and Madam Stella Araneta and her staff who are said to be caught in a time warp.  Pamela was again sent to Colombia but this time, there was no “mulattization” done. She was said to have undergone some slimming sessions and pasarela training. And again, the dreadful 3 C’s were very apparent and pageant fans were roaring when they saw her in an uninspired gift wrapper concept gown.

THE RIGHT BUT CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE: The year 2010 selected Maria Venus Raj, a Filipino-Indian beauty who was disqualified after discrepancies in her public pronouncements and what was written her birth certificate surfaced. It was the very first time the “pageantlandia” went up in arms and gave her a resounding support and thus, the first time the organization was nudged from their earlier decision. Venus was not sent to Colombia. A local team trained her.  Venus Raj went on to charm the people in Las Vegas even getting some comments from Osmel Souza of Venezuela that the Philippines sent a strong girl this time. The pageant fans went gaga over this girl most especially when she was chosen to be in the Top 5. After her debacle however in the question and answer portion, she was again back into the bashing board but Venus practically closed the decade with hope and more hope and probably more changes.  

MISS UNIVERSE 1994 – A LESSON IN HISTORY

THE RECURRING AND CONTINUING THEMES

 (Series 3 of 4)

By Rolando Rafael

In my Miss Universe history lessons in 1993, I suggested that had Miss Colombia answered with something about the children and the future she would have clinched the title instead of Miss Puerto Rico. In the 1994 edition, I cannot help but notice that the prevailing thoughts and aspirations of those times were of peace, children, education and the future. There was also a concern on environment albeit taken only sparingly.

On Peace:

 Sushmita Sen talked about multiculturalism of India and yet there is peace amongst its people of varied cultures, religions and languages during her preliminary interview. And on the Top 6 interview, Minorka Mercado of Venezuela answered in response to a question of Mona Grudt of what is the revelance of the Miss Universe pageant to woman at that time answered about peace. She said that Miss Universe is a way to send the message of love and peace to all humanity by bringing all the nations together in one pageant.

On Children:

In the last 2 pageants (1992 and 1993), Michelle Mclean and Dayanara Torres won their respective pageants with answers relating the children as the hope and the future themselves. In the preliminary interview of this years’ Top 10, Miss Switzerland tried to use this possible connection of her loving kids very much and thus she hoped to become a pediatrician someday and her concern is to support the needs of the children because they are the future. On the other hand, Miss Italy wants to become a teacher because she loves being with children, short of saying that they are the future of the world too.

On the other hand, Miss Slovak Republic cannot escape the topic about young people. Miss Slovak Republic’s discussion on the young as the hope of the future takes on a deeper as she talked about how she was part of the young people who made a mark on social change for her country. She said she joined street protests with other students to help liberate her country from the shackles of communism. She would rather again comeback on answering a question about women being unfulfilled if they do not have children. If at the outset during the preliminary interview she was a libertarian, she showed conservatism when she gave an answer that a woman should have children to become fulfilled and she looks forward to being one.

Even Sushmita Sen of India cannot help but take a dig on the issue about children. When she was asked a question by Florence LaRue on what was the greatest adventure she would embark upon if she had the means to do so? She remarked that it would be about children because she enjoys the adventure that comes with them.

On a related front, when Miss Colombia Carolina Gomez was asked during the Top 6 competition of the question what was the biggest problem facing young people, she retorted that it was the lack of security in them. In order to learn how to be secure, they should look up to the older generation because of the wisdom they have acquired through the years.  As such she is telling everyone that although the young is the future, they should learn from the experiences of the past.

On Education:

The issue on education seemed like a variant on the topic of the young as the future of the world. Take for example, Miss USA advocating Helping All Teens Survive in her program. In the same way, Miss Colombia talked about supporting young women. They talked about teenage and unwanted pregnancies and the need to educate them. Miss USA further stressed during the Top 6 interview that she would focus on disadvantaged kids and trying to make a difference in their lives. Don’t you think therefore that this is a variant in helping the kids to be more productive citizens of the world?

On the Environment:

Miss Sweden talked about the beauty of her place in Northern Sweden. She talked about the beauty of her surroundings, the northern lights, the midnight sun and the beauty of nature. She did a very nice description of her place of origin and we are just waiting for her to say that we must preserve it.

The Final Question:

What is the essence of a woman?

All three candidates to the Top 3 answered adequately and that anyone of them can be Miss Universe 1994. If we dissect the answers of the three, their answers revolved on 4 topics – Love, Children, Femininity and Motherhood. All the candidates talked about love for their children. Sushmita touched about love for their men too. They talk about giving birth to children, living their lives and the joys of motherhood. The winner therefore was the candidate that delivered the best spiel among them and that morning (night in other parts of the globe), the winner was Miss Sushmita Sen from India.

Final Note:

It seemed like the candidates for the Miss Universe 1994 edition had learned their lessons by watching previous pageants. They tried to go the way of peace, children, family, love and hope. However, they did not expect that there others who thought of the same route too. What mattered in the end is the crowning of the girl who had still one ace up in her sleeves.

Photo Credits:

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-05-29/news-interviews/27272988_1_miss-universe-sushmita-sen-beautiful-woman

http://beautypageantpredictor.blogspot.com/2011/03/shoulda-been-miss-universe-1994.html

http://kaw.stb.s-msn.com/i/31/64789E92CD55AEAEA8C67F0EDA0E3.jpg

www.missosology.info

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

 http://www.chasingglennbeck.com/storage/education.jpg

MISS UNIVERSE 2012 DELEGATES FROM SOUTH AMERICA

Bolivia debuted at Miss Universe pageant in 1959. They have so far, 2 finalists and 1 semi-finalist. The recent placement of Bolivia in the semifinals was in 2006 by Desiree Duran who made it to the Top 10. Their representative to this year's pageant is the 23 years old, Yessica Mouton who stands at 5 feet and 7 1/2 inches tall. Will Yessica bring her country back to the semifinals this year?

Colombia debuted at Miss Universe pageant in 1958 and at the same year won the crown through Luz Marina Zuluaga. Since then Colombia has yet to win their second Miss Universe crown, they tried to win the Miss Universe crown four times (1992-1994 and 2008) but ended up first runner-up to the eventual winners of that year. Colombia has been successful at Miss Universe aside from one winner they have 11 runner-ups and 18 semi-finalists. Their representative to this year's pageant is the 23 years old Daniella Alvarez who stands at 5 feet and 8 inches tall. Will Daniella become successful this year just like her Colombian predecessors who made it to the semi-finals?

Ecuador debuted at Miss Universe pageant in 1955. They only have produced two semi-finalists in this pageant, the last one was in 2004 with Susana Rivadeneira placing in the Top 10. Last year they have been successful in getting the two Grand Slam international pageant crowns with Maria Fernanda Cornejo winning Miss International and Olga Alava winning the Miss Earth crown. Will they continue their streak this year at Miss Universe with their representative, Carolina Aguirre who is 19 years old and stands at 5 feet and 10 inches tall.