I [Feel] So Sorry

I missed the telecast of this year’s Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) coronation night; the first time in years. I was disappointed upon learning from my cousin that she had watched it the night before. It seems to me that the event lacked publicity – that is before it was held.

I was bugged by my curiosity regarding its outcome until the evening news featured former winner of the pageant-turned-actress and host Ruffa Guttierez commenting on the win of Janina San Miguel. That fueled my curiosity more thus the following day, I searched for a clip of its coverage. [Watch video]

I can’t hold back my laughs as I tried to comprehend what she was saying and how she tried to amuse herself out of her situation.

Unfortunately, I can’t find other video clips that could show me how the other candidates of the Top 10 performed in the interview portion hence I have no basis whether the others did better than her (i.e., she might be just be bad and somebody else is worse). Yet, I do not find Janina’s answer fit of a beauty queen especially that Bb. Pilipinas is one of the most prestigious pageants in the country.

Further, I was looking for the proper speech and manners expected of most beauty queens. Agent Gracie Heart (Sandra Bullock – Miss Congeniality) had been corrected by her mentor for Ms. United States when she used “yeah” instead of “yes”. Didn’t Janina used “guys” to refer to the audience? Honestly, I find something unnatural and funny with her facial expressions; I’m so sorry, they’re really was (error intended)

It makes me think therefore that if Janina could win, the standards of BPCI may have declined to a level of being too forgiving to its recruits or maybe, the weights of the criteria might be imbalanced.

Further, I wonder why it seemed that Bb. Pilipinas-World is given better regard than Bb. Pilipinas-Universe. Although we know that the three titles of Binibini are of equal rank because all its bearers get to compete in the international arena, throughout the years, BPCI had established the impression that Ms. Universe is regarded best among the other two hence when the 1999 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Janelle Bautista was dethroned due to other issues, then Bb. Pilipnas-World Miriam Quiambao took-over and represented the country in the Ms.Universe pageant in Trinidad and Tobago were she finished 1^st Runner-up. This year though, Bb. Pilipinas-World was announced last and Janina even stood in between the two other titlists.

I have to agree with Ruffa that Janina should take the challenge to improve her weaknesses in preparation for Ms. World pageant. It seems that the only way she could redeem herself is to bring home the crown and be Philippine’s first-ever Miss World.

I never thought we would have our own equivalent of Miss Teen South Carolina 2007 a year after Lauren Caitlin Upton created waves in America. Anyway, they both finished in the top 5 and were applauded in the swimsuit competitions.

Hah! Imagine them meeting everywhere such as and talking about maps and families. I’m so sorry, I don’t mean to be mean. (Pun intended)

Say What?!?

Out of boredom from being confined at home for several days due to cold, I went to watch the pre-pageant of a personality contest which is among the features of the Subic Freeport Christmas bazaar. Laughter is indeed the best medicine and I had a dose of it during the casual Q&A portion where some of the candidates’ answers are almost lethal.

Note: To be more interesting and to reach to more readers, some of these were translated to English while some were quoted quite exactly how the candidates attempted to express it.

Q: What 3 words best describe you?
A: I-Am-God-Fearing
[Granting that God-fearing counts as one word but aren’t there any words other than “I” and “Am” that describe you better?]

Q: What is your best asset?
A: I show you all my best so whatever you see is my best, it’s you who could tell what is my best asset… [ Uh, forgive the idiot judges for not realizing what your best asset is] … but for me, my best asset are my eyebrows. Thank you [There you go!]

Q: If in case you’ll not win this contest, what do you think is the reason?
A: If I will not win, maybe because I can’t do my best. Thank you
[Yeah right. It’s YOUR best yet you can’t – as in CANNOT – still do it yourself? Poor fella]

Q: What (remarkable) qualities do you possess?
A: I always give my best…
[Similar answer with the candidate’s who was asked why he should win the contest]

Q: What is FSC? (Freeport Service Corporation)
A (quickly): For me, FSC means “Future, Secured, and Cared for”. Future because what we want to achieve in the future, we have to do it now as we know, whatever we do in the present is connected to the future. Thank you
[Uh, did I just miss the part asking “In your own words”? Maybe there could have been a follow-up question to this should you just have given the original meaning. Anyway, your brain’s processing speed is impressive. But what happened to the “secured” and “cared for”? The present is connected to the future but your justification isn’t well connected to the question]

Q: After this contest, what other competitions do you plan to join?
A: After this, I plan to continue my studies at school. Before I graduate, I have to finish my studies. Maybe I’ll do part-time modeling. But before that, I have to go back to school…
[PROBLEM: What n^th order is he going to continue his studies? TRIVIA: Schooling is a contest if you vie to receive an academic award]

Q: If you may speak to the President, the Pope, or to your favorite celebrity, who would you talk to and what will you say?
A: I will talk to the Pope because as Pope *pause* he can do *pause* Christianism *pause*
(Somebody from the audience yells, “Just speak in Tagalog!”)
(Candidate becomes irritated)
As you wish!
(Candidate continues in Tagalog pointlessly and with more pauses)
[Why not ask the Pope to pray for your salvation from embarrassment?]

Q: What is your best quality and why?
A: I am intelligent because I had finished my studies and that proves my intelligence.
[Kill the worthless honor students who claim to be the only intelligent ones!]

Oh well, see you in the finals night!