The country’s name is always on the top list of any beauty pageant. So the question in everybody’s lips is: “Why Filipina?”
History told us that there were women who joined the fight with men in defending the country when women are suppose to be at home, quiet and soft. This is proof that even before, a Filipina doesn’t just go with the flow, she speaks her mind. She believes that physical beauty is not enough and that as a woman she is the first to influence man. She is composed with her thoughts and doesn’t give in easily. Pakipot kumbaga.
This exotic beauty defined our culture and history. When Spaniards came and stayed for three centuries, they produced fair skinned and freckled offspring that’s why we have mestizas. Japanese came, influenced their rich culture and give chinitas to our country. We also got blond or blue eyed babies from the Uncle Sam. We have the honey-colored skin of morenas. Pure or half blood over the years, the beauty evolved that is now noticeable and shines to the world.
According to Jose Wendell Capili, a professor at University of the Philippines, beauty pageants were brought by Americans and became popular in the first half of 20th century. Yearly, we have three Binibining Pilipinas, one Mutya ng Pilipinas and Five Miss Philippines to represent the country for international beauty pageants. Beauty pageants that happen during fiestas, school programs, charity, and even office fun day are not included. Filipinos tradition of bayanihan– the spirit of communal unity and cooperation is showcased. In an international competition, every Filipino is in television supporting whoever is competing for the name of the country, thus, the crime rate decreases. For a moment, the social status, the economy, and even the debt from suking sari sari store doesn’t matter. Former Binibining Pilipinas Miss Universe Joyce Burton Titular said, “Pageants are like a marriage of our fiesta culture with our love for gorgeous women. At the same time, I have to admit that we have high expectations of our beauty queens. They have to be smart and good examples. When they are not, then we love to criticize them. That I believe is another reason why we love pageants. In general, Pinoys love and respect their beauty queens and find pride in them,”
Philippines conquered not just the world but the universe too.
The country’s name was called out last December 5 (Morning, December 6 in the Philippines) as the pride of Iloilo, Angelia Ong, crowned as Miss World 2015. The pageant was held at Vienna, Austria with 86 candidates competing for the crown. Her advocacy is for restoration, reforestation and minimizing carbon through ecotourism. She was asked to make a slogan for the next 15 years and it was. “We will, because we can”. “I want to let everybody know that all things are possible and all things are feasible if we work together. We will, because we can,” as she explained.
The Philippines trended worldwide as Pia Wurtzbach, represent the country and was crowned as Miss Universe 2015. The pageant became controversial as the host, Steve Harvey, mistakenly announced Miss Columbia to be the grand winner. Harvey apologized to Miss Colombia and Miss Philippines during the pageant. Miss Philippines was crowned and made the traditional first walk as Miss Universe.
We love to see our ladies shine and stand for something because we truly believe in what a Filipina can do. We never underestimate the power of women instead we develop them.
REFERENCES:
http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/specials/36518-missosology-study-beauty-pageants
http://philippinereporter.com/2009/07/16/beauty-contests-filipino-culture-or-mad-tradition/#sthash.6emicuok.4nrTjhGA.dpuf
http://groups.csail.mit.edu/cag/bayanihan/bayanword.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-25550425
http://filipinotimes.ae/top-stories/2015/12/17/how-filipinas-conquer-world-pageants/
http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/12/06/who-is-miss-earth-2015-angelia-ong-facts/
http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/specials/miss-earth/115050-philippines-angelia-ong-miss-earth-2015-pageant-winner
(written by Karen Llacuna, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)