MISS PHILIPPINES’ JANINE TUGONON ALMOST MADE IT

by Jetset Alejandro

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 3^rd Miss Universe for the Philippines and the 2^nd 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 3^rd 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

EDITORIAL: BLISSFUL MAY

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

VISITA IGLESIA : A LENTEN TRADITION

By Jetset Alejandro

Philippine summer is never complete without the Holy week celebration. Seven years ago prior to accepting a foreign post, I was a part of throngs and throngs of Catholic laities who visited different churches during the Lenten season. In other countries, they only visit 7 churches to signify the 7 Last words of Jesus. But for me in the Philippines, we usually visit 14 churches in reference to the 14 Stations of the Cross. Each church corresponds to one station of the Cross.


My Philippine residence is in the second district of La Union and I live in a town called Aringay, La Union. It is around 45 minutes to Baguio City traversing the Marcos Highway by use of a personal car. It will take around an hour and a half if you commute from Baguio City. Being from Aringay, we usually take a southern route for our Visita Iglesia. Although we have already done a northern route, we find the southern route much more efficient since it is a circuitous route and thus the last station ends up with our town.

Our Lady of Charity Church in Agoo, La Union

We usually hit the road at 6:00 AM in the morning. Our first stop is the Basilica of Nuestra Senora de Caridad in Agoo, La Union. Nuestra Senora de Caridad means Our Lady of Charity. The church is a Minor Basilica and it had a gothic architecture. The church interior is so grand most especially the altar. Agoo is famous for the site where a supposedly miracle of our Lady happened. After church-led investigation was made, the miracle was deemed inauthentic and thus no religious activities on the supposed site was made from thereon. But nevertheless, the Basilica is favorite site for pilgrimages not only because of the grandeur of the church but because of the perceived holiness of the church and after all, one does not need a resounding miracle in the nearby mountains of Agoo because the Nuestra Senora de Caridad is already a miraculous one and attracts a lot of devotees from surrounding provinces and municipalities. It is in this church that we made our introductory prayers for the Station of the Cross and did the first station.

Our Lady Protector of those Lost in the Sea Church
in Sto. Tomas, La Union

Our second station is at the Holy Guardian Angels Parish also known as Nuestra Señora Birjen del Mar Cuativa Parish in Sto. Tomas, La Union. From Agoo, La Union, after a 10-15 minutes road trip, we see the sign that tells us to turn to the right following the western side and finally approaching the main community of Sto. Tomas. The church’s name is translated as Our Lady Protector of those Lost in the Sea. It also underscores the municipality as a fishing community. There is an interesting tale about the Virgin of the Church and because of its chronicle, it became a site for pilgrimage in the province.

Enroute to the third station, we followed the route back to the national highway. In some cases, we go directly traversing the coastal road and we pass by the Don Mariano Marcos State University School of Fisheries until we got out of the road towards the national highway leading to Damortis, Sto. Tomas, La Union. The third stop is at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church. It is at the side of the forked road that forms a triangle. One side of the triangle is the national highway that leads to Rosario, La Union. The other side is the road that leads to San Fabian,Pangasinan. The base of the triangle is the front side of the church. The church was constructed to serve the needs of the burgeoning population of Damortis, a barangay of Sto. Tomas, La Union which had become very progressive because it is the melting pot of a lot people in the area.

San Fabian Church in San Fabian, Pangasinan

Our next station is the church of St. Fabian, Pope and the Martyr in San Fabian, Pangasinan. It is one of the oldest churches in Pangasinan and one could see the old catacombs that Spanish Friars used to bury their dead. It is one good place to feel the ambiance of yesteryears and the how it blended with the present times.

St. Thomas Parish Church in Mangaldan, Pangasinan

The fifth station is a travel towards the south and the next town is Mangaldan, Pangasinan. The church we are visiting is the St. Thomas Parish Church. It is quite ironic because 2 towns away from Mangaldan is Sto. Tomas, La Union that has the Virgin of the Shipwrecked or Lost in the Sea as its Patroness and yet it does not carry the namesake Saint for the town. But it is Mangaldan that had St. Thomas as the patronal saint The town church is very simple. On the pilgrimage to the church one cannot miss the factory for Romana’s Peanut brittle because it is just located beside the highway at the side of the church. After the pilgrims homage to the church, they go to the factory outlet and buy their peanut brittle for distribution to friends.

St. Hyacinth Church in San Jacinto, Pangasinan

Our next stop which is our 6th Station of the Cross is the church of St. Hyacinth in the town of San Jacinto, Pangasinan. The church ground is a combination of the ambiance of history as the rectory is basically Spanish in character. On the other hand, the main church building is contemporary in architecture.

Our Lady of Manaoag Church in Manaoag, Pangasinan

The 7th station of the Cross is at the Our Lady of Manaoag Church in Manaoag, Pangasinan. The “Our Lady of Manaoag “ Shrine is a pilgrimage area where almost every day, thousands pay homage to the miraculous virgin. It is administered by the Dominican Order under the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. The Our Lady of Manaoag is one of the most venerated Marian images in the Philippines and is the patroness of the sick, the needy and the helpless. Currently, only the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag holds this title of papal affiliation in the Philippines. This is in recognition of the innumerable miracles and supernatural events that have occurred within the over 400 years timeline of the shrine inspiring greater devotion to Our Lady of Manaoag. One cannot control the urge to buy the Calasiao rice cakes being sold in the stalls surrounding the church. So many native delicacies are being peddled at stalls and although this is the time for abstinence, the sudden impulse to buy something from Manaoag is a reality.


Our next stop is the Laoac Church. The church is not as grand as the other churches in Pangasinan owing probably to the fact the Laoac is the youngest municipality of Pangasinan and it is very near Manaoag which attracts all pilgrims through the Philippines. This is our 8th stop reflecting the 8th station of the Cross.

St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan

On the 9th station, we visited the Pozorrubio Church wherein the patron is St. Jude Thaddeus. Pozorrubio is a municipality where the Poblacion is located central and away from the main highway. We followed a connecting road from Laoac to Pozorrubio and we see a church that showed grandeur of the past.

Parish Church in Sison, Pangasinan

The 10th station is the church in Sison, Pangasinan . The town of Sison is another interior town wherein you have to get into the access road so that you can enter the main town. The church is located in a hilly terrain and it showed the grandeur of its past just like the Pozorrubio church. By the time we reach Sison for our 10th station it is almost midday and the silence of the Holy Week can be felt in this eerie church.

Immaculate Conception Church in Rosario, La Union

Our 11th station is the Immaculate Conception church of Rosario, La Union. The church is located at the eastern side fronting the National Highway and the Municipal Building. It has an access road to the Rosario-Pugo-Baguio Road. We followed this road to lead us to our 12th station where the Holy Family Church is located in Pugo, La Union. The Church has just celebrated its Centennial in 2009 and thus it is 102 years old as of 2011. After our intentions, we travelled the Marcos Highway down to Tubao, La Union and had our 13th station stop at the St. Isidore Parish Church. It is a church that has the trappings of the Notre Dame Cathedral of Baguio City but it is smaller in its scale.

St. Isidore Parish Church in Tubao, La Union

St. Lucy Parish Church in Aringay, La Union

Finally after 6 hours on the road we are back to our hometown, Aringay, La Union. From Tubao, we followed the Tubao-Aringay road which would come out at the national highway near the Aringay Bridge. The St. Lucy Parish Church is now a new church as the more than 500 years old church went down because of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the town and its vicinity last 1990. The grandeur of history concerning the old church cannot be preserved as a force majeure caused it to say goodbye in the midst of the new generation. We prayed the last station and did our closing prayers. It is time to go home and rest and be ready for the 6-o-clock procession for the Holy Week. The procession is another story in itself by the way.