As a child growing up in suburban Manila, my dream was to be a queen someday. Not a royal queen though but a beauty queen. I grew up admiring beauties like Gloria Diaz, Melanie Marquez, Tetchie Agbayani, Alice Dixson....etc. Beauty queens who becam movie stars. I would enjoy glancing at their photos in showbiz magazines. My favorite is Alice Dixson. She starred in the film adaptation of Mars Ravelos' Dyesebel (also portrayed by the likes Vilma Santos, Alma Moreno, Rio Locsin, Edna Luna....in earlier films). She was also part of a TV sitcom, Okay Ka Fairy Ko (essaying the role of Fae, the fairy wife of Enteng Kabisote). She was made famous via the TV commercial of Palmolive soap (I can feel it). She made several movies with Regal films and also starred in her own TV Drama. Her most challenging role would be that of "The Jesica Alfaro Story". She has now retired from showbiz (temporarily) and is living a comfortable life in the US.
My being a beauty pageant fan started early in my childhood years, I remeber enjoying watching pageants like the Miss Universe. Miss America, and the likes. Though at that time, i wasn't really aware of what "beauty" was. I was just simply mesmerized by the beautiful costumes of the candidates during the opening number. Seeing the ladies parade in their native costumes, introducing themselves in their native tongue and describing their countries with cliche slogans (like "the pearl of the orient - PHILIPPINES!!!!") really made my day. After watching these shows, I will mimic the candidates in front of a mirror. With the aid of towels, fans (abaniko), blankets and other stuffs, I transform myself into Misses Venezuela, India, Japan......,etc..
My craziness for beauty pageants increased more when Ruffa Guttierez represented our country in the Miss World pageant in 1993. I was not really a fan of Ruffa but knowing that she previously competed for Elite Model Look makes me interested in what she can do in Miss World. Besides, during that time, Ruffa's name was making a lot of noises as she was dragged into the "Bruneiyuki Scandal". (A group of women, models and entertainers, apparently went to Brunei to entertain the Royal prince. What did they do? nobody knows except the girls.) Because of the nasty intrigues, Ruffa thought of backing-out from the competition. Fortunately, with the continues urging and support of the people surrounding her, she push through with the competition. The whole country rejoiced when she brought home the Miss World 2nd princess title. Though some argued that she should have been the winner.
The pageant fever increased as the Miss Universe pageant was staged in our country the following year. As early as April, the delegates started arriving for the May Finals. The beauties were paraded in different tourist spots in the country. They did a grand "Santa Cruzan" at the Luneta Park, with Filipinana gowns designed by our local designers. One particular candidate's (forgot the country) gown was critized by the public for being "flesh baring and unFilipino". "It's an expression of art" defended the disgner. As usual, the Latinas were picked as favorites by the local people with the exception of Miss Belgium who was fantisize by all men, young and old alike, because of her virgin like image. Her pictures sold like hotcakes on the streets, peddled by vendors who found instant money-making business by selling Miss Universe souvenir items (legal and illegal). On the final's night, the world was shocked as India's Sushmita Sen won the title over Minorka Mercado of Venezuela. All along people were shouting "Venezuela!!!Venezuela!!", but it was the witty Miss India who bagged the crown. Philippines' Charlene Gonzales places 4th. Her co-Bb Pilipinas winners all did well in their respective international pageants. Alma Concepcion won the Miss Friendship award together with her semifinal placement in Miss International. Caroline Subijano, on the other hand, was named one of the top 10 during the Miss World Finals.
But why are we so enthralled by beauty pageants? What does it have that made us go gaga? Well, no definite answer for that question, I guess? For me, I just enjoy it. I want to be a queen and that is all that matter. There's no harm in dreaming. If you can dream it then you can do it.
"A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep...............and even if you're grieving, if you keep on believing then the dream that you wish will come true."
