Amparo Muñoz will be sorely missed

When the Miss Universe pageant is held here for the third time on Jan. 30, 2017, India’s Sushmita Sen will surely be invited as a special guest. Sushmita (featured in Danny Dolor’s Remember When column last Sunday, Aug. 7) won the crown when the pageant was held here for the second time (in 1994). But Spain’s Amparo Muñoz, who won in 1974 the first time the pageant was held here, will be sorely missed. An actress before and after she won, Amparo died on Feb. 27, 2011.

Here’s a misty-eyed look on the 1974 Miss U pageant with interesting trivia, compiled by Celso De Guzman Caparas who was a junior at the Victorino Mapa High School where he was a member of the dance troupe that participated in the Kasaysayan ng Lahi parade as part of the pageant activities.

• The Folk Arts Theater, venue of the pageant, was built in a record 77 days on an area reclaimed from Manila Bay. 

• The National Artificial Rain Stimulation Committee of the Philippine Air Force was tasked by First Lady Imelda Marcos to seed the clouds from July 3 to July 21 to whisk away the rains brought by Typhoon Iliang (Ivy). The typhoon battered seven provinces in Central Luzon and signal No. 2 was hoisted over Greater Manila Area. It exited on July 20, a day before the finals.

• The legendary and flamboyant sarimanok was the Miss Universe emblem symbolizing prosperity and affluence.

• Philippine Music: A Salute to the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, a commemorative long-playing album with 1973 Miss Universe Margi Moran on the cover, was released under Villar Records. Jun Polistico interpreted Universal Lady and Miss Universe specially composed by E. Munji and J. Tengco for the pageant.

• The Miss Universe throne, 58” high and 30” wide and weighing 100 kilos, was made of narra, was designed by architect Arthur Soriano. A five-man team of carvers finished it in 10 days.

• Some 141 usherettes underwent a rigid four-month training in social graces, dance, music, history under Conchitina Sevilla-Bernardo of Karilagan Finishing School, Prof. Andrea Veneracion of the University of the Philippines and Chito Grajo of Bayanihan Dance Troupe. Among them were Chiqui Brosas, Jaye Murphy and Debbie Enriquez (who later became Bb. Pilipinas); Lilibeth Ranillo and Blossom Nuyda who all made a name in modeling world after the event.   

• The candidates were adopted by various barangays of four cities and 12 municipalities on July 8, dubbed as Anak ng Barangay. Pres. Ferdinand Marcos declared July 15-21 as Linggo ng Pakikipag-ibigan (or Universal Friendship Week) under Proclamation No. 1280. The candidates presented gifts to the Filipino people and in turn each received a capiz medallion bearing the official Miss Universe zeal and a handmade jewelry box from Tourism Sec. Jose D. Aspiras. 

• Former Miss Universe winners Armi Kuusela-Hilario of Finland (1952), Sylvia Hitchcock-Carson of USA (1967) and Gloria Diaz (1969) graced the event. The international panel of  judges included former UN General Assembly president Carlos P. Romulo, LA Lakers cager-coach Jerry West, 1968 Olympics gold medalist figure skater Peggy Fleming, Spanish flamenco dancer Jose Graco, American actress-singer Leslie Marian Uggams, legendary British racing driver Stirling Moss and American journalist Earl Wilson. Hosts were Bob Barker and Helen O’Connell.  

• Amparo’s runners-up were Elizabeth Helen Morgan of Wales (first), Riita Johanna Raunio of Finland (also Miss Photogenic, second), Ella Cecilia Escandon Palacios of Colombia (third) and Maureen Ava Vieira of Aruba (fourth). 

• Amparo’s final question was, “If you become Miss Universe, how do you think being an international celebrity will change you?”  Her reply: “My sentiments will not change, I will continue to love my fellowmen. I will change in some ways but my basic sentiments will not change towards people.”

• Helen would later be crowned 1974 Miss World on Nov. 22, 1974, while Johanna was named second runner-up in 1974 Miss International on Oct. 9, 1974. Morgan was dethroned after she was revealed to have a child.

• Amparo, Helen, Johanna and Maureen came back to do movies. In 1983, Amparo co-starred with Gloria  and Vic Vargas in Hayop sa Ganda. In 1976, Helen did Isang Gabi sa Buhay ng Isang Babae (with Joseph Sytangco, Lito Legaspi and Anita Linda) in 1976. Johanna did Lorelei (with Raul Roa and Chiquito), Balakyot (with Ramon Revilla and Gloria), Kumander Agimat (with Ramon Revilla and Liza Lorena) and Postcards from China (with Pilar Pilapil, Dante Rivero and Boots Anson-Roa), all in 1975. 

• Maureen married Philip Ysmael but the marriage didn’t last long. She did four movies in 1975: Miss Aruba Went To Town (with Francis Arnaiz), Sa Pagitan ng Dalawang Langit (with Dante Rivero and Gina Pareño), Jack and Jill and John (with Dolphy) and Nasa Lupa Ang Langit at Impiyerno (with Vic, Gloria Romero and Eddie Garcia). 

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