2013: A Lucky Year for the Philippines

2013 was indeed a lucky year for Philippines in the international pageant arena. Lucky, not because our representatives brought home crowns left and right but because we have achieved a certain level of brand stability.     

When judges make a shortlist of Final candidates (placers), they make it a point that the final list is balanced in terms of culture, race, geographical location, potential market for sponsors, and most of all, a story which could sensationalize the win.

Having said that, there are countries which define the competition. In the case of Miss Universe; Venezuela, USA, Colombia, Australia, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. India achieved the same status in the 90's but after the Miss Universe pageant was reformatted in 2001, India's performance has been very dismal for failure to re-brand their candidates too. Philippines was once a powerhouse in the 70's too. But when latinas were considered IN, Philippines lost it's ground and took awhile to regain it.

Whilst most of the time the ladies from these countries do not emerge as winners, they always make the cut and help define the dimension of the competition. Take the case of Venezuela who placed 2nd Runner Up consecutively in 1993 and 1994, while Colombia making a three-peat as 1st Runner Up in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

This simply means that, comes deliberation on the final round, there's always a contestant who stands out amidst these powerhouse countries ready to snag the crown. In the event that this stand-out or early favorite fails to sustain the competition, that is when an accidental winner is chosen -- Gabriela Isler, Miss Universe 2013 and Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 among them.

What's the common ground between Miriam Quiambao and Ariella Arida then? The hesitation in the eyes when answering the question. The question and answer portion is not about who speaks better English than another. It's all about taking on the challenge wholeheartedly without hesitation. This holds true with other international beauty pageants.

International beauty pageant winners in the past and even the most recent have the same pattern and strategy in answering the question - being conversational and exuding confidence and grace amidst pressure. Melanie Marquez,Chelsea Smith, Alicia Machado, Brooke Mahealani Lee, Mpule Kwelagobe, Lara Dutta, Riyo Mori and Olivia Culpo. If their names don't ring a bell, look them up on Youtube and see for yourself how an eventual winner acts and looks like.

Hopefully, we stop the argument that just because our representative is making it to the Top 5 (especially in Miss Universe) is already good enough. We have to the make sure that in the event the dimension of the competition changes from how they look to how they talk, we can take up the challenge and bring home our third Miss Universe crown.

English, please?

The past few days, social media activities were mostly about the communication skills of the Philippines entry to the Miss Universe 2013 Ariela "Ara" Arida. Those who openly criticized her communication skills specifically her fluency in the English language were tagged as bash-ers by Ariella's supporters. With the discussion transitioned to the premise that supporters would always defend and  that bash-ers would always criticize, the conversation went rowdy and out of hand.

As a beauty fanatic myself, I tried to take note of some of the points raised on the forum about the importance of the English language in an international beauty competition like a Miss Universe.
 

1. That being articulate in English is a plus.


First, we'll start with defining the dimension of the Miss Universe competition. For a candidate to be crowned Miss Universe, she has to go through the preliminaries which involves  the Swimsuit, Gown and Interview portion. The scores earned from these 3 competitions are summed up or averaged to get a possible score of 9.99. This is judged by preliminary judges who are just named a few days prior to the preliminary competition. However, since Day 1, these judges are already there to observe and spot possible winners. Although they based their scores on how a candidate fares on these competitions, their decision is most of the time influenced by the impression they observe off-cam. 

So being articulate in English like Janine Tugunon and Olivia Culpo is an advantage as they are the ones being sent to be the face of the Miss Universe competition. In the Miss Universe 2012 pageant Philippines and USA had the most number of appearances in both TV and radio stations in promoting the pageant. That's the same advantage Venus Raj and Shamcey Supsup enjoyed in their respective Miss Universe pageant years.

2.) That confidence goes hand in hand with fluency in English.

Let me point out that whilst Ariella Arida's communication skills in English is not that excellent, it's not that bad either. Of course, she graduated from University of the Philippines (UP). One brand that a UP alumni is very consistent of, is being able to converse in English with ease. 

The reason why her English is being criticized is because of the upward trend of Philippines' placement in the Miss Universe pageant. Venus almost grabbed the crown had she not avoided answering the question the "major, major" way. That's the reason why Shamcey Supsup was picked over other candidates in the Bb. Pilipinas 2011 pageant. Her ease in conversational English would justify Venus' blunder the previous year. The same reason why Janine was conditioned to come back the next year and represent the country to the Miss Universe 2012 pageant. 

So technically, Philippines winning brand/signature for the past 3 years is being articulate in English. Again, whilst Ariella Arida's English might be fair under normal circumstances, it would require her to be of the same level with Venus, Shamcey or Janine to win the Miss Universe crown.

3.) That Latinas win international crowns without being able to speak English.

Contrary to popular notion, Latina candidates are trained and can converse in English. Speaking in Spanish is on purpose. Spanish words have sound-like endings -- which when used in a Speech, or during the Final Question and Answer portion brings about a certain artistic degree which can be easily associated with being smart. It's just like listening to song with lyrics rhyming at the end.

The only time Latina candidates speak English is when another non-English speaking country candidate like another Latina opt to speak in English.

In the Miss Universe 1993 pageant, the early favorite from Venezuela Milka Chulina only ranked 2nd Runner Up when Dayanara Torres opted to answer the question raised in Spanish without having to translate it in English. Once crowned, Dayanara Torres turned out to be very fluent in the English language.

Also, in 2005, four Latina candidates made it to the Top 5; Venezuela, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, the other finalist being Miss Canada. With the Latina candidates knowing that Miss Puerto Rico finished her Political Science degree Summa Cum Laude, and being very good in English, all the four Latina finalists were compelled to speak in English. Apparently, Puerto Rico's supposedly edge became Miss Canada's advantage being a natural English speaker herself.

That means that speaking English is for them just an option and is only being used when the need arises. Venezuela's Irene Esser last year was compelled to speak English knowing that Philippines, Australia and USA are fluent in English. She must have thought that the dimension of the competition at that point is being able to speak and converse in English. On a side note, had she opted to answer the question in Spanish, the results of the competition would have changed to her advantage.

4.) That Melanie Marquez won Miss International 1979 despite her English.

What we need to consider here is the format of the pageant. With due respect to Gemma Cruz Araneta, Aurora Pijuan, Lara Precious Quigman, the way a Miss International pageant is being judged is not based on the final question at all. Even in the Miss World pageant. Once a candidate has been perceived by the organizers to being able to embody the qualities they are looking for as a Miss International (or a Miss World), the contest is over. 

Also, Melanie Marquez' confidence level is so infectious that she set the mood of the competition by that time. Ariella Arida doesn't have the same confidence level.

5.) That the Miss Universe pageant is not a call center with an English-only-policy.

Being in a call center industry myself for almost a decade, it saddens me that the need to speak English becomes just an option to us. We don't have to work in a call center just to be good in English. Conversely, we don't have to be good in English just to work in a call center.

More than the facade of speaking English, we should focus more in using this as a tool to better convey our thoughts and message across. Ariella was quoted the wrong way when she said that "Latina representatives win crowns even they don't speak English" when all she wanted to say was that "Latina representatives win crowns without having to speak English". What we say can be conceived in another way with just a wrong word choice.

There's no need to work in a call center just to learn English and join Miss Universe in the same way that by simply working in a call center means being a potential Miss Universe. 



English is a language and is a tool we use to communicate. Whilst being and not being able to speak in English doesn't define us for who we are, it's very important for us to take pride in being comfortable using it to communicate. As to Ariella not being that comfortable in English, let us all respect that by being objective with our criticism. It wouldn't help our country highlighting the bad stuff without offering a resolution or an alternative. No matter what we say, Ariella is now in the midst of the competition. It would be better if we support her at this point. If she doesn't win because of her English, then we have somehow made our point across. Hopefully, it's an area that the Miss Universe Philippines training team would focus on in the future. If she wins, whether we admit it or not, we would take pride in being Filipinos for sure.

Just like what Janine Tugunon answered last year, "Being a Miss Universe is not about being able to speak a specific language. It's all about influencing and motivating other people. So long as your heart is to serve and you have a strong mind to show to others, you can become Miss Universe."

A Miss World and Miss Universe Back to Back Crown

Although Miss Earth and Miss International are considered part of the Big 4 of the international pageants -- with Miss Supranational emerging as a major pageant as well -- in terms of prestige and patronage, the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants are considered to be most coveted.

But because of the difference between the vision of the pageant organizers, it rarely happened that a country bags both Miss World and Miss Universe pageant title in the same year. One possible explanation for this is because of the difference with the pageant format. Another reason is a possible conflict of interest. When a Miss Universe or a Miss World is crowned, most of the charity projects they have are poured in to the winning country itself.

Also, the Miss World pageant is run by Julia Morley with its headquarters based in England. Looking at the pageant history, the panel of judges pick the winner form a third-world country if not from a pageant powerhouse country. Most of the winners are from Asia, or black representatives from Jamaica and Africa. Venezuela of course is an exception as candidates from this country, almost and if not always define and set the dimension the competition in a beauty pageant.

Miss Universe on the other hand is based in USA. Whilst the pageant is consistent with it's format, the judges' decision is based on the merit of the competition.That means that it's anybody's ball game as the competition goes along.

But comes deliberation, it seems it's an unspoken rule that there should be no Miss Universe and a Miss World from the same country for the same year.

Miss World started in 1951 while Miss Universe in 1952. With it's more than 60 years of pageantry, there are only 5 instances that both a Miss World and a Miss Universe hailed from the same country.

First was France in 1953. Christiane Martel was crowned Miss Universe on July 17 while Denise Perrier became Miss World on October 19.

Second was Australia in 1972. Kerry Ann Wells became Miss Universe on July 29, while Belinda Green was crowned Miss World on December 1.

Third was Venezuela who made it back to back in 1981. Irene Saez was crowned Miss Universe on July 20, while Pilin Leon became Miss World on November 12.

Then India who made it twice in 1994 and 2000. Miss Universe Sushsmita Sen on May 20, and Miss World Aishwarya Rai on November 19, 1994. In 2000, Lara Dutta became Miss Universe on May 12, while Priyanka Chopra was adjudged Miss World on November 30.

It's interesting to note that India garnered the Miss World crown 4 times in a span of seven years; 1994, 1997, 1999 and year 2000.

Philippines almost had the same feat in 1973. Margarita Moran was crowned Miss Universe on July 21 while Evangeline Pascual became the 1st Runner Up in Miss World on November 23.

On that year however, whilst a lot were expecting for that pattern, a different trend happened. Philippines' 1st Runner Up in the Miss Universe 1973 pageant was USA's Amanda Jones, while Miss World 1973 Marjorie Wallace's 1st Runner Up was Philippines Evangeline Pascual.

It's also on this year that the Miss World was dethroned but the title was not offered to the 1st Runner-Up. Evangeline Pascual was offered the function and the responsibilities, but not the title itself. When she declined the offer, Jamaica's Patricia Teresa Yuen Leung took over, being the 2nd Runner-Up. Had the crown been offered,  it would have been a back-to-back title for the Philippines that year.

Now, what's the point I'm raising all these? Philippines has been associated with the Miss Universe pageant which means that there's no point for Miss World to choose Philippines for the title as it wouldn't be that sensational. But with Philippines trailing behind for the crown the past 3 years, isn't it coincidental that the Miss World 2013 pageant was held ahead of the Miss Universe pageant, which in past history always held in November? Isn't it providential that this is to pave the way for Miss Universe Organization to give Philippines it's long awaited 3rd Miss Universe crown?

Or, could it be that Philippines chance for the 3rd Miss Universe crown has been diminished because of the us getting the elusive Miss World crown earlier on?

Well these are just analyses based on patterns in the past. If in fact these coincidences in the past has a semblance of that happening in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant, hopefully it would be for the best of Ariella Arida. I was right with my forecast of a first Miss World crown by Megan Young this year. Getting it right with a possible back-to-back this time might be another feat.

Miss Philippines - Universe or Miss Philippines - Earth.

Based on experience, beauty queens who humbly claimed they lost in a beauty pageant prior to winning another national pageant title did great in their international crown bid.

Take the case of Karla Henry who just made it to the Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Top 10 (semi-finals). She joined Miss Earth Philippines and eventually became Miss Earth 2008.

Venus Raj was Karla Henry's runner-up in the Miss Earth Philippines 2008 before she became 4th Runner Up in the Miss Universe 2010.

Gwendoline Ruais didn't deny the fact that she just made it until the Top 10 of the Binibining Pilipinas 2010 prior to joining Miss World Philippines and becoming Miss World 2011 First Princess.



In the international scene, Stella Marquez never denied that she was just a semi-finalist in the Miss Universe 1960 prior to snagging the first Miss International crown in 1960 Crown. In the same way that Dayanara Torres didn't deny the fact that she was just a Miss International 1992 semi-finalist prior to being declared Miss Universe 1993.

Ariella Arida on the other hand claimed that Binibining Pilipinas 2013 was her first major beauty pageant when it's a public knowledge that she joined Miss Earth Philippines 2012. Unless of course, she doesn't consider Miss Earth Philippines a major beauty pageant.

Do First Runners-Up really take over?

The line "the role of the first runner up is very important as in any event the queen could not complete her reign for any reason", might already appear as a cliche in beauty pageants. Although a First Runner-Up is an achievement in itself, at the end of the day, nothing is left to the First Runner-Up but to live up the expectation that she is the next in line should the winner not fulfill her obligations.

In the Miss Universe pageant history, there have been a total of sixty-one (61) First Runners-Up declared alongside the Miss Universes. Out of those 61 First Runners-Up, only one was able to take over as the Miss Universe. That is Justine Pacek from Panama who emerged from being a runner-up to become Miss Universe 2002 after Russia's Oxana Fedorova was stripped off the title for reasons not disclosed to the public.

Of course, two of those 61 runners-up are from the Philippines. Miriam Redito Quiambao in 1999 and recently Janine Tugunon in 2012.

Whilst the whole country, Philippines is hopeful that the upward progression of the Miss Universe - Philippines placement the past three years would eventually end up towards winning the elusive 3rd Miss Universe crown, we tried to look back at the Miss Universe history as to the performance of the subsequent representative for countries who made it as First Runner-Up the previous years.

Out of the 61 First Runners-Up, only five (5) instances that the succeeding delegate was able to win the crown. These are: USA, Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico and Japan.
 
1st runner-up                                                     Miss Universe


1953:     USA - Myrna Hansen                                1954:      USA - Miriam Stevenson
1971:    Australia - Toni Rayward                           1972:      Australia - Kerry Anne Wells
1981:    Canada - Dominique Dufour                      1982:      Canada - Karen Dianne Baldwin
2005    Puerto Rico - Cynthia Olavarría                  2005:      Puerto Rico - Zuleyka Rivera
2006:   Japan - Kurara Chibana                               2006:      Japan - Riyo Mori

Only four instances that the next year's representative get to retain the same placement, with Colombia bagging the same runner-up position for three (3) straight years in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

1957:     Brazil - Teresinha Gonçalves Morango     1958:  Brazil - Adalgisa Colombo
1992:    Colombia - Paola Turbay                            1993:  Colombia - Paula Andrea Betancourt
1993:    Colombia - Paula Andrea Betancourt          1994:  Colombia - Carolina Gomez
1997:    Venezuela - Marena Bencomo                     1998:  Venezuela - Veruska Ramirez
 
The rest of the next year's representatives weren't able to sustain their predecessor's placement. USA's 1987 candidate went down a notch in winning 2nd Runner-Up. Three went on to become 3rd Runners-Up. Those were Finland in 1967 and Venezuela in 1968 and 2001. Germany went on to become 4th Runner Up the next year in 1957, Brazil in 1959.

Most of them went on to place in the semi-finals; Top 15; Brazil in 1955, Norway in 1960, and Panama in 2003. Top 12; USA in 1971, Brazil in 1973, USA in 1974 and 1979, Venezuela in 1976. Top 10; USA in 1984 and 2004, and Colombia in 1995. Three ladies made it to the Top 6; USA in 1991, Netherlands in 1992 and Venezuela in 1999.

However, almost half of the next year's bet were not able to place with the exception of Haiti who did not send their representative in 1976.

The question now is, given these trends, how do you think Ariella Arida would fare in this year's Miss Universe pageant? Would she be the sixth lady to escalate her predecessor's accomplishment by winning the crown, sustain the First Runner-Up spot, still make it to the semi-finals, or disappoint the Filipino beauty pageant fanatics for breaking the 3 year winning, progressing streak of the Philippines?

Let's find out on November 09, 2013.......