If I were a judge, I would choose those candidates that would best represent our country internationally. Primarily based on the actual physiological beauty, which is really evident in photos and upon close scrutiny of how these delegates carry themselves on stage. We know that the face has to be symmetrical; the teeth pearly white, hair must be healthy and styled, the body must be proportionate, and skin must be free from scars and irregardless of color must be aglow and evenly smooth, also given that they must be taller than the average woman. Then how they walk on stage and how confident they are in presenting themselves in public. Then another element is that they must have something in them that sets them apart, maybe a special skill or talent, academic achievement, or involvement in politically correct organizations.

While in the past, pageant winners were chosen based heavily on the actual physical appearance and not really asked critical questions in the finals. Now, pageant applicants are no different than someone seeking employment. In fact, being a winner actually manifests that they are the ones that best qualify for the job, so not necessarily the most physiologically beautiful nor the one intellectually stimulating but possibly a combination of both. This perhaps is the fundamental change how most international pageants have made it appear.

To address these changes in the international pageant system, Bb. Pilipinas also set forth new changes. The organizers of the pageant have changed the platform of the coronation and selection process. Until 1989, the pageant winners were crowned in their official swimwear. In the past, where couturiers field their models to establish a name in the fashion world, this was also lucrative opportunity for them to earn not just from the fame that comes with dressing up winners locally but when they are sent abroad. In 1984, Desiree Verdadero was always dolled-up and dressed in Renee Salud creations. Dusky Dess was often asked about where she had her clothes made, and her malong inspired evening wear was a brave deviation from the usual terno. Although in 1980, Renee was quoted to have shelled out his own personal resources to ensure Chat Silayan’s wardrobe is competitive. Now, we all know Renee had his share of losses, like in 1986 (Violeta Nalus), 1987 (Lourdes Geraldine Edith Asis), 1988 (Prefida Limpin) where top winners were dressed by Louie Mamengo. Only to be regained by Renee again in 1989 (Sara Jane Paez), 1990 (Germelinah Leah Padilla), 1991 (All four of the five top winners – Anjanette Abayari, Patricia Betita, Lourdes Gonzales and Jeanette Fernando). In 1992, the dramatic change – both Renee’s and Louie’s wards ended up with minor titles (Marina Pura Benipayo clinched the Maja crown and Marilen Espino the first ever Bb. Pilipinas World crown) Incidentally, Marilen’s predecessor was Gemith Gemparo, another of Louie’s talents. 

Speaking of changes, 1991 was the third year that Bb. Pilipinas finally listened to the clamor of pageant fans on the evening wear segment’s poor designs. The organizers then went on to stage the coronation night with designer wear but with a design motif. In 1989 the girls were strictly dressed in black, white and/or silver in staging its 25th year. In 1990, designs were not really restricted but in 1991, designers were instructed to take flowers for inspiration, in 1992 jewels, 1993 Muslim dresses, 1994 pearl, 1995 mineral colors, 1996 orange, magenta and red, 1997 gold and white. In other years these were not really well defined to pageant fans who were fashion neophytes.

In my opinion, the best motif to date was in 2003 where all the girls were dressed in the hue of Ruby, in celebration of its 40th year. The stage was also simply designed that the audience focus on the girls rather than the set. Though, nearly half of these gowns were heavily recycled. The eventual evening wear winner, was in a red bustier gown used by Sheila Marie Dizon (Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 1994) in her farewell walk, Sasha Cruzette Benito in 2001 These changes also proved, at least even to TV audiences, that Filipino fashion designs are more than just creative and in non-fashionista’s terms …wearable. It was also in that year, 2003, when Carla Gay Balingit defied the odds and walked her luck through the final question and may I honestly say finished better than more deserving contenders. Carla may have won the local pageant, but as it turned out, pageant fans were right, though much improved in her Colombia training, she was destined to fail. 

A year after in 2004, the selection of five candidates to face a final round that was first introduced in 1995 was aptly reverted. And who could forget how the results surprisingly changed after the final round in 2001? The runners-up were initially leading contenders in the initial round, only to be sidelined after a judging process with one final question that is not necessarily indicative of their intelligence or character. Eventually, the runners-up Maricar Balagtas and Michelle Reyes were sent to international competitions and went back with Miss Globe and Miss Tourism International crowns. And so Bb. Pilipinas organizers learnt their lessons well, and made welcome changes. 

Perhaps the most evident change, one that feminists continue to protest is the swimsuits. Without a doubt, the Bb. Pilipinas swimwears are the best in any pageant. Catalina designs are not only innovative and flattering, but they use the best quality of materials. Up until 1989, Bb. Pilipinas stuck to the single colored one piece design in shades of either pink, blue and red. Although the striped swimwear used in 1989 was not entirely new, a year earlier this was sported by Miss Mexico Amanda Olivares the swimsuit video in Taiwan. Surprisingly, in 1991 and 1992, Catalina sent samples of their designs for the Miss Universe pageant in advance. In fact, Lourdes Gonzales would don the same design of skimpy swimwear in Las Vegas as she did in the local pageant, ditto with Liza Berroya in Bangkok but not the blue colored one she wore in big dome but the orchid-pink colored one was used in the finals in Queen Sirikit stadium. The beautiful black swimsuit used in the Mexico finals in 1993 was used in Bb. Pilipinas 1994.there’s no surprise that the Araneta group of companies own the franchise and distribution rights of Catalina swimwear and sports wear. Miss Universe then used the Jantzen designs in 1996. In recent years, Miss Universe shifted from Jantzen to Endless Sun. In the recent pageant in Bangkok, Miss Universe Organization awarded the rights to a local Thai swim wear company. Bb. Pilipinas also started to shift from Catalina and used the Israeli owned Gottex Company in the swimsuit presentation in 1996. Miss World contenders Daisy Reyes, Kristine Florendo, Rachel Soriano all wore Gottex designed swim wears in their finals. It was only in 2000 that Bb. Pilipinas presented the girls in bikinis. Although, five years earlier in 1995, Joanne Santos wore a two-piece floral ensemble in the taped segments. For the record, when judges scores in the swimsuit round were shown on TV, this segment was our delegate’s waterloo in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. Ironically, all these delegates won the swimsuit round in the local pageant! 

Of course, the most dramatic changes are happening in the international competitions. In the past Miss Universe admires exotic beauties. This is where Renee Salud was admiringly successful. Chat Silayan was a hit in Korea because of her Asian features, disturbing pout and Renee trained her to demand attention wherever she goes. Chat started the trend of greeting locales in their native dialect. The same formula worked with Desiree Verdadero. Dess also distributed images of Sto. Nino to the judges during the one-on-one interview, requesting for prayer for our then economically challenged country in 1984. Lately, even Renee would admit that the Miss Universe Organization go for the Hollywood glamour and look. Of course, the pageants have become very competitive, especially with Latin American girls leading the pack. To be honest, with these changes, the Philippines will have a hard time to compete. The Miss Universe organization has become one of Donald Trump’s cash register. They are looking to the interest of the pageant’s sponsors and lost its ideals of the glory years.

Then, of course, I do not believe the Bb. Pilipinas will effect the same change as Miss Universe did. Nor will I say, its glory years are over. Bb. Pilipinas produced the best Miss World delegates we had over the years, since it acquired the franchise 15 years ago, it landed in the finals six times (1993, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) and a special award for Daisy Reyes in 1996 as Miss Personality. Then there’s Precious Lara Quigaman finally clinching the Miss International crown last September 2004, quite unexpectedly, although we have landed in the semi-finals for five years from 1994 to 1998.

My easy picks this year– Lia Andrea Ramos (Global Queen semi-finalist in 2001 with Karen Agustin, the right smile, impressive background, tall and really pleasing and she can strut well on stage, though already 25, a disadvantage), Ana Maris Igpit (Miss Bohol Sandugo, Miss Mandaue, Miss Kawasan Falls, etc, her rich pageant experience is an asset and have proven to be an advantage in all pageants), Denille Lou Valmonte (perfect bone structure and a very engaging conversationalist, exotic, olive skinned and looks ready and prepared) Vanessa Kibanoff (Mutya ning Kapampangan runner-up, the photogenic face is noticeable in a sea of pretty girls), Louise Dianne Navera (niece of Laura Angela Navera, Bb. Candidate in 1994, shy, regal bearing), Mary Pilar Gorostiza (beautiful skin, can really talk), Joanna Tolentino (though have bad angles but have really good shots) Sheila Pineda (pretty face but may be short by international standards), Mayumi Keller (another pretty face but short), Jenny Yu, Marie Ann Umali. Marel Ates, Jessica Coria, Fionna Marie Lava.

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In retrospect, the annual international beauty competitions have indeed become tougher with the quality of participating delegates improving after every year. The number of participating hopefuls has grown too through the years and with that the chances for a finalist slot by an aspiring delegate has significantly diminished in the process. In an effort to grab the limelight, a host of countries that have had no prior history of winning but are keen on acing the first chance have started to redefine their search methodologies thus far. In many countries the world over these new search measures have paid off and resulted to a choice of better looking delegate each year compared to the titleholder of the preceding year. Even the traditional beauty superpowers Venezuela or Puerto Rico or Colombia have not ceased in ways to improve, otherwise employ what means sustainable that guarantee surefire results.

Homegrown “beauty queen” personalities with the inclination to win abound in the Philippines. There are those born and raised in other lands either of Filipino extraction or of inter-racial lineage. Some of these girls are gifted to hug the limelight but many have gone on to other levels of pursuit that have a promise of a long-term benefit for self-actualization. Why? Because more than the crown itself, it would take more than just the prize (in real values!) to attract these privileged few to join the national search. 

A package of incentives must be put in place by the national search organizers to sustain the prospective titlists’ interest and enthusiasm in local beauty pageants. So much so that even after the euphoria of winning has subsided, there remains that extra “magic” for the national winner to latch on to her title. There must be something more for the winner in anticipation of a year of reign where other beneficial opportunities are given up in order to pursue the reasons of her crown. What does a beauty queen have after her year of reign is over? Practically nothing! Her youth and looks are at best “passing” and that momentary gust of fame and honor has such a quick cycle that will sooner fade into oblivion. The winner(s) may not even be beholden to the crown. 

In addition to the absolute gain in prize money, which in the case of Bb Pilipinas is a little too low, other forms of incentives or deliverables must be put in place by the BPCI for the benefit of the national titleholders. Incentives in the form of the “intangibles” i.e. scholarship endowments, international modeling stints, foreign travel to a country of the winner’s choice, membership in national organizations of good repute, lifetime club privileges, speech lessons and therapies, a house and a lot, a car, etc. etc. 

Give our girls the motivation and they will conquer if the avenues are open to pursue. Provide them winners the sophistication of foreign travel to enhance self-confidence. Expose the winner(s) to the cultural milieus of a foreign environment. Fund the organization enough to enable the girls to obtain as much training, provide them with impeccable consultants who will polish their innate capabilities. Increase the absolute amount of prize money that in real values the prospective winner will find hard to ignore.

The season of national beauty pageants has just begun. Something concrete must be done in a concerted national effort by the organizers to correct the mistakes of the past. In our quest for the next major international titleholder, a breath of fresh ideas, concepts and innovation are largely due; otherwise if the old criteria were to remain, it will look like the status quo of failure is right here to stay.

National search organizations, the BPCI in particular, need to fine-tune search methodologies and re-focus the inherent qualities of the candidates as opposed to the belabored yet unreliable results of an attempted but failed makeovers (i.e. candidates sourced nationwide from better schools, naturally inclined to win with faultless communication skills, raised in social background with pedigree); embark on a campaign of image re-building like never before (calling Lions, Rotary Int’l, campus organizations), revise organizational hierarchies of the Bb Pilipinas Org and place the right personalities with the best qualifications for the job; enlist the assistance and advice of well meaning individuals and organizations (the designers, make-up artists, professional photographers) similarly involved in these line of activities; install support structures for the tasks of micro-managing even raw potential to polished achievers in a continuous process of re-training, re-educating and re-inventing the individual titleholders (move the contest at a earlier date to allow sufficient time to immerse the candidate in her designated role).

In the case of the Bb Pilipinas Organization, the traditional beauty queen approach being the core criterion used in selecting a national representative to her international competition does need a refill of fresh air to reinvigorate the national selection process. In the wake of Lara’s win (and sadly Carlene and Gionna’s loss), it becomes imperative that BPCI need to have to adopt realistic responsive changes in the national selection process. While the competing national organizations in other countries have seen a redefinition in their search criteria, each had seen to it that the contest objectives are in line accordingly, say, with the mission and vision of the MUO or MWO for that matter. 

For instance, a national beauty titleholder deemed to be a potentially effective presenter, or promoter, or endorser of MU or MW business objectives (in exceptional circumstances regardless of language skills) may have more chances at reaching the semifinal slot than the typical run-of-the-mill beauty queen material in the making. It goes without saying; MU and MW, even MI and ME though premised in the context of a beauty competition, are primarily profit-centered business enterprises. Each of these organizations has to have a host of sponsors to stay operational, cover their cost over-runs, generate plus revenues to remain afloat, and achieve the set targets of profitability and for growth. A national beauty aspirant that lacks the pre-requisite attributes and capability to help promote and attain these business objectives will have no place in the roster of winners in her country’s beauty contest organization.

This may seem like a tall order for a fledgling ill–prepared, traditionally inclined beauty pageant enthusiast or organization. In hindsight however, we have had over the years enough of the lesser substitute; if the end justifies the means, then by all means let’s all go for it.

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Let's take a closer look... 
Author: Raymond Blue