A beautiful Christmas package

Five days before Christmas, Bicolana beauty Michelle Cueva Reyes won yet another international title for the Philippines, as Miss Tourism World 2002 in Turkey, and what could be a more beautiful Christmas package her country could ever hope to receive in this merry but bleak Christmas season?

Here’s a report from Funfare’s new "beauty correspondent" Gerry Diaz (of Mabuhay Beauties Message Board):

In a spectacular twin pageant in Ankara, Turkey, the Miss Tourism World 2002 and Model of The Universe 2002 World saw Michelle Cueva Reyes of the Philippines winning the Miss Tourism World crown. Model of The Universe Russia Marina Tarakhovich who Michelle felt was her closest competitor was named Model of The Universe 2002. The final competitions took place at the Dedeman Buyuk Anadolu Otel.

Michelle impressed the judges and pulled an overwhelming victory. The previous night, she won the Asia title at the Miss Tourism World Fashion and Beauty Awards. She had earlier been chosen as Miss Tourism World Armada by one of the pageant sponsors who owns a big commercial complex in Turkey.

A favorite from Day One, Michelle was a natural winner with the elegance, good looks, poise and personality needed to win the prestigious Miss Tourism World 2002 World competition.

A practising nurse with a B.S. Bachelor of Nursing degree, Michelle was described by the organizers as a warm, caring and compassionate young lady with a perfect figure and charming smile.

The competition was very tough with 74 of the world’s most beautiful women taking part in the Miss Tourism World 2002.

Michelle first got into the pageant world when she was discovered by film director Jeffrey Jeturian as she was boarding a jeepney in España after her night shift at the UST Hospital. She went on to become first runner-up to Zora Andam’s batch in the 2001 Bb. Pilipinas Beauty Pageant. Later that year, she got her first taste of international competition when she joined and won the 2001 Miss Tourism International title, also in Turkey.

Miss Turkey was first runner-up in the Miss Tourism World Pageant, while Miss Croatia Darjana Iljkic was second runner-up. Miss Croatia was also picked Miss Teen Tourism World 2002.

Model of the Universe Marina Tarakhovick of Russia is a professional model with good looks, great stage presence and a unique catwalk modeling style. First runner-up was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Suzana Marjanovic and second runner-up was Slovakia’s Jana Vitazkova.

Other awards handed out included:

Miss Tourism World Europe-Romania, Ana Alexandra Stoain; Miss Tourism World Asia-Thailand, Titaporn Sornplaeng; Miss Tourism World Africa won by Miss Tourism World Ghana, Beverly Asamoah Jecty (who was Miss Earth Ghana 2002); Miss Tourism World South America-Uruguay, Dieiny Gonzalez; Miss Tourism World Central America-Puerto Rico, Elisadel Figueroa; Miss Tourism World Platinum Model-Kenya, Vivien Maina and Miss Tourism World Best National Costume-Cayman Islands, Naidelys Eden.

Oh, yes, it’s Mister Donut

Meanwhile, here’s a letter correcting a recent Funfare item, from Ting S. Bongco, Account Director of TBWA/Santiago Mangada-Puno:

Dear Mr. Lo,

Greetings! We would like to congratulate you for the level of entertainment journalism that you have been displaying primarily through your column, Funfare, in The Philippine STAR. Your credibility, skill, and adherence to complete and correct information are well known and very much admired.

We read your Funfare column entitled Jose Mari Chan in Our Hearts published in The Philippine STAR Entertainment Section (pages E-4 to E-5) last Dec. 14, 2002, Saturday. Thank you for taking note of a currently-airing Miriam Quaimbao TV commercial. In light of this, please allow us to point out a mistake in the article, where a phrase states:

"... to Beautiful Girl (background music for the Dunkin’ Donuts TV commercial starring Miriam Quiambao)..."

The advertising you were referring to is Mister Donut’s Missed Universe TV commercial featuring its great-tasting Twist Donut product line. It is the company that introduced this donut variety which has become even more popular, has been received very positively by consumers, and has created a phenomenon in the industry in light of the TV commercial featuring Miriam Quiambao. The TVC has been developed/produced by our advertising agency, TBWA/Santiago Mangada Puno in very close collaboration with Food Fest, Inc., franchise holder of Mister Donut in the Philippines.

By the way, TBWA/Santiago Mangada Puno is the incumbent advertising agency of The Philippine STAR; and we are the team which has been working on the soon-to-be released campaign for your publication.

We, TBWA/and Food Fest, Inc., would greatly appreciate it if you could correct this mistake in your column.

Our best regards,
– Ting S. Bong Co
Account Director TBWA/SANTIAGO MANGADA PUNO