The Golden Crown

Will I wake up tomorrow morning with the crown on my head?

For sure, that was what the 50 aspirants for the Golden Crown had in mind Sunday (April 14) last week as they competed with each other, beauty against beauty, brains against brains, at the 50th anniversary of the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant, still the country’s most prestigious beauty contest that has produced five universal-international queens — Gloria Diaz and Margie Moran, Misses Universe 1969 and 1973, respectively; and Misses International Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979) and Precious Lara Quigaman (2005) — and dozens of runners-up and special awardees (in the Misses Universe, International and World contests).

Take a bow, Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta (head of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc., herself an international title-holder, the first Miss International in 1960) for a job well done.

Three did wake up with their dreams coming true:

•  Ariella Arida, 24, from Laguna, a B.S. Chemistry graduate from UP Los Baños, Miss Universe-Philippines;
•  Bea Rose Santiago, 23, from Masbate (named 2011 Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Community), a Communication student majoring in Public Relations at York University in Toronto, Bb. Pilipinas-International; and
• Joanna Cindy Miranda, 20, from Nueva Ecija, who was Janine Tugonon’s first runner-up at the Miss Ideal Thomasian Personality pageant held in UST a few years ago, Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism.

Without much ado, let’s go straight to the crucial Q&A, with 10 former Binibinis requested to ask the “golden binibinis” one question each.

From Ruffa Gutierrez (1993 Bb. Pilipinas-World): How would you change the world if you were to play God for a day?

Ariella: I would listen to the prayer of all the people and grant their wishes.

Bea: I wouldn’t change anything because God has a purpose for everything. Just like me. I wouldn’t be able to stand up or be as confident as I am now if I wasn’t hurt or if I wasn’t rejected many times.

Cindy: Siguro babaguhin ko ang ugali ng lahat ng tao. Gagawin silang mapagpakumbaba at mapagbigay.

From Janine Tugonon (2012 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe/Miss Universe First Runner-Up): Our economy is continuously improving. What do you think should the government and the people do for it to continue?

Ariella: Just continue what they’re doing right now. It’s the task not only of the government but of everybody. The government and the people should work together to make this country progressive.

Bea: The government should motivate everybody to keep the economy going. Dapat palakasin ang loob ng mga tao.

Cindy: Maintain the discipline, kasi kulang ng discipline naman talaga ang dahilan sa pagbaba ng economy natin, eh. It should start with everyone of us, lalo na ‘yung mga nasa posisyon, para lahat gumaya at magkaroon ng domino effect.

From Marina Benipayo (1992 Bb. Pilipinas-Maja, promoted to represent the country in that year’s Miss World contest): What do you consider as a good role model for aspiring beauty queens?

Ariella: Just be yourself…be an inspiration to everyone. People look up to beauty queens so dapat we should set a good example.

Bea: A good role model is one who loves herself in order for others to love you. So, why shouldn’t I please myself first before I try to please others?

Cindy: Somebody who can inspire people, especially the young, to improve their lives.

From Dang Cecilio (1979 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe): If you could be great at one thing, what would it be and why?

Ariella: Handling money. I’d see to it that, if I have money, I would help as many people as I could. Poverty is a problem not only in our country but also in other countries, so money can do a lot in improving the lot of the poor.

Bea: Just being myself. If I were to change, it had to be for the better but I would still be as humble as I am. I would never forget where I came from. As my mom told me, “Bloom where you were planted.” That’s why I came here because I want to bloom here.

Cindy: Inspiring people. When I co-hosted a noontime show (Wil Time Bigtime, with Willie Revillame), I guess naka-inspire ako ng mga tao kahit paano. Feeling ko, when I inspire people, para bang nakakapag-pabago ako ng kanilang buhay.

From Alice Dixson (1986 Bb. Pilipinas-International): If you had a chance to change something significant in your life or in this world, what should it be and why?

Ariella: Siguro my childhood days when I used to fight with my sister. Alam kong nasaktan ko siya kasi nakapag-salita ako ng hindi maganda, so if I could turn back the hands of time I would treat my sister in a better way. After all, she’s the only sister that I have.

Bea: As I said, for myself, nothing. For the world, I think all we have to do is pray and expect for the best.

Cindy: I think ‘yung disiplina ko sa sarili. I think, sarili ko lang ang kalaban ko sa lahat ng bagay. I should be more disciplined so I can help not only myself and my family but other people as well.

From Pilar Pilapil (1967 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe): What do you think made you win, and what do you plan to do with your title?

Ariella: ‘Yung focus ko. I don’t over-think things, I don’t over-analyze. All I do is enjoy what I’m doing. People will know if you’re just enjoying the experience. But I worked hard for the pageant. I really focused on it. Also, there’s a line from a Rihanna song, “I came to hear, to fight, to conquer….” ‘Yan ang naging mantra ko. I’ll do my best and then bahala na si Lord kung ano ang ibibigay niya sa akin.

Bea: The support of my family and my province. Masbate is parang tago, but when I started shouting “I’m from Masbate and I’m proud of it!” bigla na lang parang sumabog ang pride nila. You know, “Uy, Masbateño din ako!” And the others followed, “Ako din, ako din!” I was so touched by their support. Some of them took the RoRo to Manila. The capacity was only 80 persons but 100 came. They had T-shirts and balloons made. All three districts of Masbate really united for me. I was so overwhelmed; I cried.

Cindy: My being natural. I never change anything in my body…you know, hindi ako nagpa-tan. Lahat sila nakikita ko may tanning spray pero sabi ko, ipapakita ko lang ang tunay kong sarili. Magpapaka-totoo ako.

From Nini Ramos (1968 Bb. Pilipinas-International): Why do you think the Q&A portion plays a significant role in beauty contests?

Ariella: It’s important. Because when you are chosen as a semi-finalist, it’s understood that in the eyes of the judges, all of you semi-finalists have the beauty, figure, etc. It’s the Q&A that separates you from the rest…how you are as a woman of substance.

Bea: ‘Yan ang tumatatak sa isip ng mga tao. No matter how amazing you are, how nicely you walk and how beautiful your body is, the audience kind of looks forward to the Q&A portion and not so much what gown you wear.

Cindy: Kasi for me, ang pagiging beauty queen kailangan balanced ka. It’s not only about physical beauty and confidence, you have to be intelligent. Hindi ka naman mannequin, so kailangan mayroon ka rin, you know, brains.

From Desiree Verdadero (1984 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe): Give me three words to describe a real beauty queen.

Ariella: More than just three words. A real beauty queen is someone who has a pure heart. Oh, three words: Modern (Filipina), great (mind) and pure (heart).

Bea: Elegant, beautiful and smart.

Cindy: Dedicated, determined, disciplined.

From Venus Raj (2010 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and 2010 Miss Universe Fourth Runner-Up): Why did you have to join a beauty contest?

Ariella: I want to prove that dreams do come true if you really work hard for it. It’s been my dream to be a beauty queen. A beauty pageant is a learning experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make you a better version of yourself.

Bea: I don’t have to but it’s a dream not only of mine but my mother’s and my lola’s. I thought hindi ko makakaya. I talked to Venus Raj and she opened my eyes. She also came from the province (in Bicol). Sabi niya, “If I can do it, you can do it, too.” Kasi, you know, I grew up shy; I opened up only to my family but not to other people. I couldn’t even look at other people’s eyes. Venus encouraged me.

Cindy: You know, ang tingin ng mga tao before sa beauty pageant ay hindi ganoon kaganda. They asked, “Why do you have to join a beauty pageant…just to be famous?” I joined a beauty pageant so I can prove to them that a beauty queen is not only beautiful but also intelligent, na nasa kanya na lahat.

From Margie Moran (1973 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe/Miss Universe): If you have a chance to champion a cause in your area, what would it be, why and how would you pursue it?

Ariella: If I could do one thing for my town (Alaminos, Pangasinan), I would help my townmates in the agricultural area. Like, we can turn waste material into bio-mass, which can be used as gasoline in organic or natural way. I can also help them in livelihood programs. I’m a technical food executive and my clients are all into the food industry.

Bea: I think I already did it. I made my province united. And for the first time in history, we all cheered for one person and that’s me. Parang lumabas kami sa lungga. Nag-effort talaga ang mga taga-Masbate. I’m already a champion in their eyes. By the way, I’m a Gawad Kalinga ambassador and my next project is Gawad Kalinga Masbate. For me ha, mas maganda ang Masbate sa Boracay o Palawan. Ang ganda ng white sands d’un! Did you know that some resort in Boracay would even buy white sand in Masbate?

Cindy: I want to help my town have the facilities so that the children will not go to other places to study. Like me, I had to go to school in another town.

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