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 Gloria’s achievement in the 18th Annual Miss Universe Beauty Pageant was a very memorable victory to all of us, Filipinos. It surpassed the hardships and simple lifestyles that most of us led. That same week, President Nixon said in his letter, “When America conquered the moon, the Philippines conquered the Universe!” The said pageant was replayed almost every afternoon on Philippine television right after “siesta”. Almost all Filipino girls and effeminate boys in grade schools wished to become like her. Her winning not only solidified, but also reinforced and strengthened the Filipino’s passionate love for beauty pageants. It was almost like a “cult” where we, the “quasi-religious group”, heralded her as an “icon” or a “goddess”. It rejuvenated everyone’s love for Filipino beauty. Every “sitio”, “barrio”, “baranggay”, local town and city held and conducted its own beauty pageants with better sponsorships, and more zeal and participation from local townsfolk than ever before so as just to ape that “life-imitating” art of Gloria’s victory. That night in Miami Beach, Gloria did not only bring home the bacon. She also brought home the legacy of a true Filipino.
Today, we see the many facets and faces of Gloria Diaz. We witness the “highs-and-lows” of her professional life as an actor, and her personal life as a single parent.  As an actor, she has her own share of box-office hit movies and forgettable, flopped gigs. Who can ever forget her Celso Ad Castillo film entitled, “Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop Sa Balat Ng Lupa”, but who can remember “Hayop Sa Ganda” despite her sharing an equal billing with Amparo Munoz, another Miss Universe? She also teaches us that change is a constant process in improving one’s craft. We see this proof of evidence in her URIAN best supporting role for the movie, “Rizal”. As an individual, we regret to see her being separated from Bong Daza and having to live as a single parent to three wonderful kids. But whichever angle we look at Gloria’s prism, the same answer still resonates and beckons to all of us. We see the resilience of her beauty, the serenity of her soul, and the triumph of her spirit amidst all troubles and obstacles. We rejoice in her victories and lament in her defeats and yet, in the midst of all these, we still see her as someone who is high on life. She always sees life as a colorful circle when everyone sees it as a flat and vapid straight line. She continues to convey us a message that beauty is more than skin-deep. It is a multi-faceted piece of gem that values inner strength and great wisdom that goes with age.
The universe is one big spectacle of life for Gloria. It remains a stage full of colors, surprises and challenges that are yet to be conquered. Yes, she may always be a delegate in her own universe but one thing remains clear and certain: Gloria Diaz will always emerge as a winner!
~END~
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