POSTSCRIPT TO THE BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2006 BEAUTY PAGEANT

By Jetset Alejandro , March 7, 2006

In a wild frenzy of passion that accompanied the Binibining Pilipinas 2006 beauty pageant, speculations on who will win the three titles varied from one persuasion to the other. But when the winners were announced the choices were quite predictable. Even the choice for the winner of the Binibining Pilipinas-International deserved as well based on pundits lists. This has left one of the leading contenders eating the dust so to speak. If we are to remember, Candidate Number 13’s look-alike, Ana Marie Falcon who was touted to be possible winner in a Binibini edition three years ago was also a dud in the Q and A portion, a segment of the pageant that matters most. Marie Ann Umali did just that and she kissed away her chances from winning one of the coveted titles.

It makes me wonder really of the many striking similarities of this girl from her predecessor. They have their names originating from the same name-derivate. They are both tall, Falcon is 5’11” and Umali about 5’10”. They were both called last among the semi-finalists. And they both bombed out in their answers with very simple questions. A lot of people are still debating if their answers were worth it. Well, for a grain of salt, the issue here is not really the answer. It is the way you answer the question. It is the way you have answered with confidence and gusto. If they did just that, it would have been a different ballgame.

This years’ judges of course had to face this problem. That’s why after the Question and Answer portion, they retreated to a room and discussed all the possibilities on who should be the rightful winners. Shall they give the chance to a novice? Or shall they give the title to someone who has satisfied the requisites of a particular crown. The contention for selecting the 10 semifinalists would be that these ladies who made it will all be on equal footing as to beauty, poise and personality. What separates the chaff from the grains is what is in their grey matters. Of course there are exceptions to the rule. Unfortunately for Umali, there is no person in the board who could have insisted for her inclusion in the winning circle. Unlike in the past the likes of Gloria Diaz fought tooth and sinker for the placement of Melanie Marquez as the Binibining Pilipinas - International during her time. And look what happened to Melanie. It is now part of pageant history.

Every year, the pageant becomes more and more competitive. Each girl comes prepared for the pageant. And contests like this subscribe to the prevailing contention of Darwin’s Natural Selection Principle- “Survival of the Fittest” and therefore elimination of the unfit. This just goes to show that front-runner Candidate Number 13 did not do her homework. Tall, willowy and very pretty and with a spunk that would be noticed in an international pageant, Umali failed to score where it matters most and it cost her a Binibining Pilinas crown.

As an observer to various pageants, from barangay to municipality, provincial to regional and from national to international, this is a painful learning process for Umali. Having landed 3rd runner-up in the Miss Batangas Contest where she was the most beautiful, hands down should have taken a cue from here and her handlers should have prepared her to train her sights in bigger pageant contests like the Binibini. What if they call you pageant patty? You may join all the pageants which are available for the taking. This would be a very good venue for training, for getting numb and also for getting criticized. In effect you learn from your lessons from every pageant to another pageant. You develop self-confidence in facing and meeting people. Gone are the days when joining the Binibini at first try can make you win the crown at once. Gone are those days. We are now in a globally competitive world and we must keep pace with that change. Unfortunately, Umali and her handlers failed to take this into consideration. She still has the pretty chance. What should she do? Well, go back to the drawing board. Train , undergo more training and train some more. In the next 2 or 3 years, Umali would have blossomed into a more mature and much more beautiful woman. I hope she does not follow the route of Anna Marie Falcon who is now a Francine Prieto. (Although, Francine has proven her worth in the acting arena in her recent outings.)

Lia Andrea Ramos, is another breed. Following in the footsteps of Nina and Zora (all are from UP), Lia is just like other countries’ delegate who had joined the pageant when they have already a profession to speak of. And mind you she is already an accomplished woman when she stepped into the pageant arena. She is already a woman who is completely in control of what she wants for herself. It is very obvious that Lia is training her sight to the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe crown. Most underpinnings say that she is not qualified for the Bb. Pilipinas-World title because of her age. And of course, her beauty is allegedly not fitted to the Miss International pageant. Be it an intentional thing or just purely coincidence, this woman with an enviable personality had shown what the real meaning of self-confidence. From the time she appeared into the pageant arena, she was all over. From the press presentation till pageant night, she was IT. She was the queen and no one can refute that now that she is crowned. When I say all over, I mean that even without wanting to, she always gets the attention of people. Her personality rubs on you and whether you like it or not, you are going to love this girl.

I refuse to say however, that Lia is in the mold of Nina and Zora. Or even Maricar Balagtas at that. I also refuse further the connotations that Lia is exotic, ethnic and Filipina looking. We are very fond of labeling our own countrymen. Will a Filipina who is a mestiza be not called a Filipino? These are just semantics and the Filipino just suffers from semantic communication. Lia is but a charming and enigmatic Filipina ready to conquer the Miss Universe 2006 Beauty Pageant. And I hope she gets pretty enough success in her participation as she faces formidable competition from other countries.

Ana Maris Igpit’s performance at this pageant is nothing but spectacular. She is a transformed into a vixen on the stage. There were many criticisms lodged against this girl as someone who does not deserve to win but come pageant night, she exudes an aura of sheer might and confidence. Hence, she could not be denied of a title. Had Lia been qualified for the Bb. Pilipinas-World crown, Igpit could have her take of the Universe title. Again, let me make myself clear, words like exotic, ethnic and the like are basically creating a sense of prejudice among our countrymen. It is divisive and could have prejudicial slurs among the indigenous peoples in our country. Ana Maris’ experience in the pageant circle had helped her a lot. This girl is transformed into a Goddess when she takes the center stage. Truly, her winning the different local pageants is not a fluke. Winning the region’s title is one very good reason she won. But further training honed by her new manager Rodgil added more significance. And more to this, the Karen Agustin factor seeped in. Ana Maris’ obvious confidence, oblivious to the brickbats is a very good point in case for this woman. And with the qualities of this woman, she may yet wow the judges in Poland. This time however, Ana Maris’ should learn a lesson from Karen that in every activity – be it a breakfast, lunch or dinner – those simple one’s and of course the major activities, you have to look your best. You have to be queenly all the time. And hopefully, Ana Maris’ would do us proud in Poland.

If Ana Maris’ banks on experience, training and sheer intelligence, Denille Valmonte has a vavavoom history. A product of bikini opens; she won Miss Bikini in 2003 with a 22-inch whistle bait figure trouncing all other wannabees in the sexy body arena. And yet this lady is not content of having just a sexy body. In preparation for a greater ambition, Denille enrolled at the John Robert Powers in Makati to hone her personality and develop her communication and language skills. Add to this, Denille’s facial features have greatly improved compared to her Bikini heydays. She may or she may not have undergone the knife to improve her facial appearance but what I am pointing out, this girl had made great preparations for the pageant and she absolutely made inroads immensely by winning the Bb. Pilipinas-International 2006 crown.

What are the lessons of the Bb. Pilipinas 2006 beauty pageant? Obviously, the lady who comes prepared usually wins the title. A beautiful deserving lady may be sidelined because other candidates, though not as beautiful as her may have more endearing qualities that she obviously lacks. Secondly, proper timing is one key to winning. Honed from the rigors of beauty pageant life, skilled by a serious trainer whose aim is for you to focus on a title, learning from the experiences in the past – these elements may not be a sure-fire formula to win a title in the Bb. Pilipinas, but surely it will equip you with much more things in handling life – the joys and pains that go with victories; the sufferings and humiliations that go with losing; the lessons we learned from tears; the tears of joy and the tears of failure. Be it a winner or a loser, one should learn from the experience. One should look at the experience as a continuous learning. I advice Umali to dream some more dreams and set her eyes further. I advice her to hone her skills further. For one day, she will find her own place under the bright sun of the universe.