50 years with the Miss U Pageant - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

On Saturday, May 12, starting at 9 a.m., RPN 9 will telecast "live" from Puerto Rico the 50th anniversary presentation of the Miss Universe Pageant, with our very own Zorayda Ruth Andam competing with 76 other beauties from around the universe for the coveted title.

As usual, here are Funfare’s "beauty experts" Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping, Francis Calubaquib and Felix Manuel (now based in London) with a special report:

Fifty years ago, an 18-year old blonde, blue-eyed lass from Muhos, Finland, named Armi Helena Kyre Kuusela became the first Miss Universe (1952) at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California. She bested 29 other international beauties, including our very own Miss Philippines Teresita Torralba Sanchez, a 20-year-old UST medical student from Bulacan.

In 1953, Armi was invited to the Philippines as a special guest of the Philippine International Fair in Manila. She met a dashing Filipino bachelor named Virgilio "Gil" Hilario, a 25-year-old Columbia University graduate and an assistant accountant at the New York office of the Philippine National Bank. Armi did not finish her reign because after a whirlwind romance she married Gil. She remained as Miss Universe of 1952.

In 1954, Ma. Candida Blesilda "Bessie" Mueler Ocampo, a UST architecture freshman, was the first Filipina to land among the 15 semi-finalists. She was in London as part of her prize for winning the Boys Town Miss Philippines contest when she was asked to represent the country in the 1954 Miss Universe Pageant.

A 5’9" tall starlet who measured an impressive 35-23-36, Lalaine "Bing-Bing" Betia Bennett, a 19-year-old American mestiza from Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya, won third runner-up in the 1963 Miss Universe Pageant.

In 1965, another American mestiza from Iloilo, Louise Aurelio Vail, competed in the Miss Universe Pageant in Miami Beach, Florida. She joined Bb. Pilipinas contest and the Miss Universe Pageant as Louise Vail Aurelio in an attempt to Filipinize her name. That year, another Asian woman was crowned as Miss Universe, Apasra Hungsakula of Thailand (the first Asian to win the crown, in 1959, was Akiko Kojima of Japan). Louise was a semi-finalist.

A nursing student from Barrio Aniban in Bacoor, Cavite, Maria Clarinda "Arlin" Garces Soriano, was named Bb. Pilipinas-Universe in 1966. The 20-year-old UE nursing student, who slightly resembled the First Lady, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, was a semi-finalist in the Miss Universe Pageant.

In 1969, the year man (Apollo 11) conquered the moon, an 18-year-old student and model from Parañaque, Rizal, Gloria Aspillera Diaz, conquered the Universe. The 5’5" tall Gloria, whose well-proportioned body of 34-24-34 was enhanced by the proper amount of sex appeal and smartness, finally captured the elusive Miss Universe crown for the Philippines. She was the third woman from Asia and the first for the Philippines to win the Miss Unvierse title.

Before Martial Law was proclaimed in 1972, Armi Barbara Quiray Crespo was selected as one of the 12 semi-finalists in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The following year (1973), Ma. Margarita "Margie" Moran, a 19-year-old Business student at Maryknoll College (now known as Miriam College) bagged our second Miss Universe crown in an ancient open-air Herod Atticus theater in Athens, Greece. Margie is the granddaughter of the late President Manuel Roxas Her outstanding Spanish-French-Filipina features also earned for her the Miss Photogenic title.

In 1974, the Miss Universe Pageant was held in Manila. Our candidate, Guadalupe "Guada" Cuerva Sanchez, a 17-year-old I.S. student, was among the 12 semi-finalists.

Rosemarie "Chiqui" Singson Brosas, an 18-year-old model, was our bet in the 1975 Miss Universe Pageant held in San Salvador, El Salvador. She won 4th runner-up.

In 1980, Seoul, South Korea hosted the Miss Universe Pageant, the second Asian country to do so. Ma. Rosario "Chat" Rivera Silayan, a 21 year-old college graduate and model, was our bet. Chat, the daughter of veteran movie actor Vic Silayan, won 3rd runner-up to Miss USA Shawn Nichols Weatherly.

Three years after, a 5’7"-tall dusky model from Laguna, Ma. Desiree "Dess" Ereso Verdadero, a Bb. Pilipinas second timer (she was first runner-up in 1982 to Ma. Isabel Lopez), won third runner-up in the 1984 Miss Universe Pageant held in Miami Beach, Florida.

In 1987, 5’9" tall Caucasian beauty Geraldine Edith "Pebbles" Villaruz Asis was the top contender in Singapore where the 1987 Miss Universe Pageant was held. She was No. 6 in the rank.

In 1994, the Philippines hosted the Miss Universe Pageant for the second time. Our bet was Charlene Mae Gonzalez Bonnin, a 19-year UST student and the daughter of action star Bernard "Palos" Bonnin and former beauty queen Elvira Pamintuan Gonzalez. She was among the six finalists, voted as Best in National Costume.

The last Bb. Pilipinas to finish as semi-finalist was Miriam "Am" Redito Quiambao, a 22-year-old UST physical therapy graduate who tripped on the stage during the preliminary evening-gown competition. She won first runner-up to Miss Botswana; she also bagged the Miss Clairol award.

In the ongoing pageant, how will our bet, Zorayda Ruth "Zora" Blanco Andam, fare? Zora, 24, is a junior UP law student. The 5’8" tall lass from Baguio, who measures a lean 34-24-35, won earlier as 2nd Best in National Costume (Miss Korea Sa-La Kim won first place). Miss Puerto Rico Denise Quinose, a 20-year-old journalism student, won as Miss Photogenic.

Here’s the roster of Philippine bets to the Miss U Pageant and how they fared:

* 1952, Teresita Torralba Sanchez — None

* 1953, Cristina Monson Pacheco — None

* 1954, Ma. Candida Blesilda "Bessie" Mueler Ocampo — Semi-finalist

* 1955, Yvonne Berenguer delos Reyes — None

* 1956, Edith Noble Nakpil — Withdrew

* Isabel Escobar Rodriguez — None

* 1957, Mary Ann "Annie" Phillips Corrales – None

* 1958, Carmen "Chuchay" Tuason — Withdrew

* 1959, Cristina "Tinay" Matias — Withdrew

* 1960, No candidate

* 1961, No candidate

* 1962, Josephine Estrada Brown — None

* 1963, Lalaine Betia Bennett — 3rd Runner-up

* 1964, Ma. Myrna Cecile Sese Panlilio — None

* 1965, Louise Aurelio Vail — Semi-finalist

* 1966, Ma. Clarinda "Arlin" Garces Soriano — Semi-finalist

* 1967, Pilar Delilah Veloso Pilapil — None

* 1968, Charina Rosello Zaragoza — None

* 1969, Gloria Maria "Glory" Aspillera Diaz — Miss Univrse (Best in Swimsuit)

* 1970, Simonette "Monette" Berenguer delos Reyes — None

* 1971, Vida Valentina Fernandez Doria — Miss Photogenic

* 1972, Armi Barbara Quiray Crespo — Semi-finalist

* 1973, Ma. Margarita "Margie " Roxas Moran — Miss Universe (Miss Photogenic)

* 1974, Guadalupe "Guada" Cuerva Sanchez — Semi-finalist

* 1975, Rosemarie "Chiqui" Singson Brosas — 4th Runner-up

* 1976, Lizbeth Samson de Padua — None

* 1977, Anna Lorraine Tomas Kier — None

* 1978, Jennifer "Jenny" Mitzchek Cortez — None

* 1979, Cresilda "Dang" Flores Cecilio — None

* 1980, Ma. Rosario "Chat" Rivera Silayan — 3rd Runner-up

* 1981, Marie Caroline "Maricar" de Vera Mendoza — None

* 1982, Ma. Isabel "Maribel" Pagunsan Lopez — None

* 1983, Rosita "Cita" Cornell Capuyon — None

* 1984, Ma. Desiree "Dess" Ereso Verdadero — 3rd Runner-up

* 1985, Joyce Ann Fellosas Burton — None

* 1986, Violeta Asela Enriquez Naluz — None

* 1987, Geraldine Edith "Pebble" Villaruz Asis — Semi-finalist

* 1988, Perfida "Perlee" Reyes Limpin — None

* 1989, Sarah Jane Davis Paez — None

* 1990, Germelina "Gem" Leah Banal Padilla — None

* 1991, Anjanette "AJ" Palencia Abayari — (Resigned)

* 1991, Ma. Lourdes "Alu" Talam Gonzales — None

* 1992, Elizabeth "Lisa" Garcia Berroya — None

* 1993, Melinda Joanna "Dindi" Tanseco Gallardo — None

* 1994, Charlene Mae Gonzalez Bonnin — Finalist (Best in National Costume)

* 1995, Joanne Zapanta Santos — None

* 1996, Aileen Leng Marfori Damiles — Miss Photogenic (Internet)

* 1997, Abbygale "Abby" Williamson Arenas — Miss Photogenic (Internet)

* 1998, Olivia Teresa "Tisha" de Carlos Silang — Resigned

* 1988, Jewel May Colmenares Lobaton — None

* 1999, Janelle Joy Delfin Bautista — Resigned

* 1999, Miriam "Am" Redito Quiambao — 1st Runner-up (Miss Clairol)

* 2000, Nina Ricci Caldo Alagao — None

* 2001, Zorayda Ruth Blanco Andam... ?