pageant_news

MISS PHILIPPINES
Beyond 2000

News Watch Pageant News Watch Pageant News

F
I
L
I
P
I
N
A

B
E
A
U
T
Y

Q
U
E
E
N
S

S
T
I
L
L

H
U
G
G
I
N
G

T
H
E

H
E
A
D
L
I
N
E
S

!

Yesterday's Memories Today's News

Article appeared at the Lifestyle Section of the Philippine Star, November 5, 2000
by Mons Romulo-Tantoco

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE
AS A BEAUTY QUEEN?

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Peachy Sacasas-Alimurong, 1981 Binibining Pilipinas International : "I had two un-forgettable experiences. One was when I won, and the previous winner (Diana Jean Chiong), didn't like me, for what reason I didn't know. So when she passed the crown that night to me, I said, 'Aren't you going to kiss me?' She just looked at me and said a bad word in Tagalog. It hurt me but then I really didn't give it a second thought because anyway I was the winner."

Heimlich says : "Diana, outgoing queen, what a sour grape you were! Unhappy that your reign was over? Come on, you should be happy for other people's success! Don't be the wicked stepmother!"

"The other experience I had during our time was when we were in our swimsuits when the winners were announced and when backstage, all my gowns and things were lost. But...I had to be dressed right away because we had to go to the house of Mrs. Stella Araneta for a party with all the ambas-sadors and guests waiting for us and I was supposed to be seated at the presidential table. But thru the kindness of Pitoy Moreno, who wasn't even my mentor but was part of the pageant, he lent me one of his gowns and so I was able to attend the party at the Araneta's 'White House.' "

Heimlich says : "Unbelievable! What some girls will do just to get even! A classic case of 'loser's jealousy.' I bet Peachy's stuff was trashed by some sourgraping Binibini-Wanna-Be who couldn't face Mom, Dad and the rest of the neighborhood for going home empty handed. Oh come on!"

SHE'S GOT THE LOOK, SHE'S GOT THE FISH

Simonette de los Reyes-Ferraren, 1970 Binibining Pilipinas Universe : "After I won, I had to maintain a 'look,' that of all being made up and fixed all the time. But I'm ba-sically a simple person with no make-up, so one day I decided to go to Cartimar (which was the place to go then), wearing curlers, bandana and no make-up. I felt so good being myself without anyone noticing me. Then in a street there was this wo-

man selling 'tinapang bangus' (smoked fish). I ordered three pieces, then she pulled out a magazine then opened it 'para ipambalot sa tinapang bangus' (to use it to wrap the fish). On the magazine
was my picture and I wanted to tell her to stop and just give me the magazine, but it was too late!"

Heimlich says : "Simonette, I'm sure she read the magazine first before she decided to recycle it!"

STAYING ALIVE!

Anna Melissa Veneracion, 1977 Mutya of the Philippines World : "I guess it's the time when I went to represent our country for the Miss World Pageant in London, 1977. I did not realize that I was one of the favorites of the press until one time there was a press conference. We, the candidates, were asked to stand on top of the tables which were all around the ballroom to give the press the chance to choose what they

call the ' Nine Wonders of the World,' the ones who stood out among the candidates. I didn't even notice they had called my name until my chaperone, Joji Felix Velarde, told me that I was chosen one of the nine. The press took our pictures and these came out in all the papers in London. At that time there was betting as to who would win and my odds were getting lower and lower. Until the day before the pageant, the Philippine Embassy in London called and said I had to withdraw in support of the Philippines' stand against the apartheid issue in South Africa. And so did all the other Asian contestants. It was as if the title was so near and yet so far. I was devastated. At the night of the pageant I watched at the Royal Albert Hall and I was crying. When I told the organizers I was withdrawing due to the orders of Secretary Ingles they told me to do otherwise because they felt I had a big chance of winning. At that time, no Asian country (except India) had won so they were asking me to go on. I felt like pushing through but I also thought it would be okay if I had won; but if I didn't make it, I might not be able to go back to our country."

Heimlich says : "Politics and pageants should never mix. Apartheid is a political issue that needs to be addressed through other means. Good heavens, Secretary Ingles, this was a beauty pageant! You should have allowed her to compete! Her withdrawal from the competition was far from voluntary. Whatever happened to democracy? Oooppss...I forgot, this was 1977, MARTIAL LAW years!"

SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST

Cita Avecilla Roman, 1970 Binibining Pilipinas Young International : "In Japan, du- ring the contest, when they were calling the 15 finalists, I felt bad when they didn't call my name. Prior to the big event, I felt that I was a favorite because my pictures would always be on the cover of Japanese magazines and if there were contestants interviewed, I was always one of them. Apparently, they only called 14 names and it

was the crowd that noticed it so the emcee suddenly apologized and when he called the name of the 15th finalist, it was me! It's an experience I would recall to my children. I would tell them that I know the feeling of being left out and forgotten. It really was a very unique experience I will never ever forget!"

Heimlich says : "Left out and forgotten? Hardly. What the emcee forgot, the public did not. The viewers can never be cheated. Nothing escapes their notice. What the judges did not see, the public did."

WEAR A BATHING SUIT? FORGET IT!

Nini Ramos-Licaros, 1968 Binibining Pilipinas International : "I didn't want to join the Miss Philippines contest and go to the Miss Universe Pageant because I was reluctant to wear a bathing suit in front of thousands of people at the Araneta Coliseum. When I was con-
vinced to join the pageant to represent the country at the Miss International, I was happy when I was told that the contest would be held in the ballroom of the Manila Hilton."

Heimlich says : "What's a beauty pageant without the swimsuit competition? This was 32 years ago, Nini is excused. Today, this is faux pas. A beauty pageant without delegates in swimwear is like a bowl of salad without the dressing...or better still, your computer hard drive without the modem!"

SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY

Margie Moran-Floirendo, 1973 Miss Universe : "My most memorable and unforgettable moment was facing the American media because I acknowledged President Richard Nixon
as my model of a great man when the Watergate scandal broke out. I became very famous in the USA and President Richard Nixon wrote me a personal letter to thank me for my support."

Heimlich says : "Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. A true beauty queen is willing to take the risk of saying 'yes,' even if the rest of the whole world says otherwise. It's not so much of what your view is, but more of : 'Are you willing to stand by with what you believe in?' This is exactly who Margie Moran is, a woman of strong convictions, very stable and not disturbed by passing trends or fleeting fads."

LIFE AFTER MISS PHILIPPINES

Myrna Panlilio-Borromeo, 1964 Binibining Pilipinas Universe : "Winning the title was one whole memorable experience for me because my life was never the same after that. I can-not even pinpoint one simple unforgettable or happy moment during my reign as Binibining Pilipinas Universe in 1964. I have memories to last me a lifetime! It was my first time to travel abroad. I appeared at the Steve Allen show, I attended the Democratic Convention

at the Cow Palace in San Francisco where I also met Shirley Temple. I was also at the New York World's Fair. From then until now, my having been a beauty queen has opened doors for me, offering perks that would otherwise, be not so easy to attain.

It was not only an opportunity to show the world who the Filipina is and what she is capable of, but it also served as an avenue towards my personal growth and achievements. With my present job as Executive Director of Nayong Pilipino, I still attribute the success of my projects, and lately, my having been asked
to be one of the hosts of Ricky Reyes' TV program, to my being a beauty queen, once upon a time."

Heimlich says : "This is how a beauty queen should age, gracefully! Myrna, I believe, is fully aware that the title of Miss Philippines carries with it a tremendous responsibility. Not just a name good only for a year, but rather, a title for life. More than just a crown, but a legacy to hand down to your children."

BORN TO WIN

Chiqui Brosas-Hahn, 1975 Binibining Pilipinas Universe & 4th Runner-up, Miss Universe : "Although my grandmother, the late Estella Singson, had already entered my name in the Binibining Pilipinas contest, it wasn't until the day of the press presentation itself that I joined the other 52 Filipina candidates. That was the same day I arrived from New York, USA, where I modeled for the newly opened Philippine Center and where I studied

social graces at John Robert Powers. The press voted me as Miss Photogenic and Best in Swimsuit.
What surprised me was the fact that practically all the candidates wanted to boycott against me. They
held a general meeting without me and wanted to backout if I continued to join. All the while I was
unaware of what was happening! My motto at that time was, 'Expect the least, hope for the best.' "

Heimlich says : "Bravo, Chiqui, bravo! The main reason why all the other contestants wanted to walk out was simple : they were intimidated by who they recognize was an obvious threat! Good for you, Chiqui, you just beat them all and went on to place as 4th Runner-up in Miss Universe! You can never put a born winner down! Moral of the story: 'We sometimes tend to hate those who we know are better than us.' "

TO BE OR NOT TO BE

Joy Conde-Cruz, 1976 Miss Republic of the Philippines World : "The 1976 Miss World contest, held in London, which included all activities, such as parties, taping for the nation-al costume presentation, and rehearsals lasted for 16 days. In the morning of November 18, 1976, just eight hours before the finals, all 89 candidates were at the Royal Albert Hall rehearsing for the coronation night when a consul of the Philippine Embassy in London

came to bring me a bouquet of flowers and a letter from then Secretary Jose D. Ingles of the department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, instructing me to withdraw from the contest in support of our country's stand against South Africa's apartheid policy. South Africa sent two delegates, one white, one black.

I had no choice but to comply with the instructions, which left me with mixed emotions. I was sad that I lost my chance to compete, but glad I was able to do something for the interest of my country. Perhaps to assuage their disappointment, the 11 candidates who were made to withdraw from the contest (mostly from Third World countries) were given special front seats to witness the coronation even as international press people were fussing over them for having boycotted the contest. To our surprise, the boycott gar-
nered more space in the front pages of the newspapers than the Miss World herself. My mom and I went shopping the following day and I saw the newspapers on the sidewalk. At first glance I didn't notice that it was my picture at the front page until I looked at it and realized it was me. Being the last candidate to withdraw and it being a big issue then, my picture was so big, up to now I still have that newspaper.

The experience gave me a different title - the first Miss Philippines to withdraw from an international com-petition. Nowadays, South Africa no longer sends two delegates, just one."

Heimlich says : "I just don't get it!... 'Instructing me to withdraw from the contest....' Instructed or was 'forced to oblige?' This was simply so undemocratic! Joy should have been given the choice whether she wanted to withdraw or not. The way I see it, that choice was never there in the first place to begin with.
They knew fully well they were not going to allow Miss Philippines to compete, so why wait for the day of the coronation itself to break the bad news? Why not the moment she arrived? This was simply devas- tating! Imagine, after all the efforts put in by Joy, all those grueling hours of rehearsals, all for nothing!
But again, this was the 70's, when Martial Law had strictly forbidden freedom of speech!"

BACK TO PREVIOUS
PAGEANT NEWS

WHERE DO YOU WANNA GO?

BACK TO HOMEPAGE
CLICK ON ARROW

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws