Beauty queens in politics

Oh yes, of course!

This year’s campaign trail, like in past years, is studded with showbiz stars. The road paved by Rogelio dela Rosa (the first actor to aspire for the presidency) is a crowded avenue today.

So you think that only showbiz stars heed the Pied Piper call to the political arena? Think again.

Beauty queens are, too.

Two of them are reigning Miss Philippines-Fire Francis Dianne Cervantes who’s running for councilor in a Bulacan town, and Maricel Morales (1995 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific and 2001 Mrs. World runner-up) for an undisclosed position in her hometown. (Trivia: Former Miss Universe Irene Saez was elected mayor of a city in her native Venezuela. She didn’t push through with her plan to run against Hugo Chavez for president of Venezuela.)

"A beauty gets into politics by birth, by marriage or by choice," a beauty queen told Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib who came up with the following list of beauty queens "who have added glamour and glitter to the political arena:"

• Pura Villanueva — The first Filipina beauty queen who reigned during the 1908 Manila Carnival, she married statesman Teodoro Kalaw. Their daughter, Maria Kalaw became Carnival Queen in 1931 and was elected senator in 1961. She also served as MTRCB chief.

• Trinidad De Leon Roxas — Carnival Queen of 1920, she was the first beauty queen to become first lady when her husband, Manuel Roxas, assumed the country’s presidency.

• Virginia Llamas — 1922 Carnival Queen, she later married her escort, Jose P. Romulo, a noted statesman and one-time president of the United Nations General Assembly.

• Mercedes Montilla — 1936 Carnival Queen. Her father was Gil Montilla, the first speaker of the Philippine Assembly. She later ran for mayor in Sipalay, Negros, to replace her husband who was killed before the elections.

• Imelda Romualdez-Marcos — Muse of Manila 1953. She was the second beauty queen to become a first lady. She was Minister of Human Settlements and Governor of Metro Manila. She ran for president. She also became Leyte’s congressional representative in 1995.

• Cristina Castaner — 1956 La Flor De Manila. She married Juan Ponce Enrile, a noted lawyer who was Secretary of Justice (1968-1970), Defense Minister during the Marcos administration and elected senator in 1987.

• Edith Nakpil Rabat — 1956 Miss Philippines. She forfeited her right to compete in that year’s Miss Universe pageant. She married a famous cager who later became the governor of Davao.

• Elsa Payumo — Miss Caltex 1963, one-time councilor of Makati

• Gemma Cruz — Miss International 1964. She was appointed Director of the National Museum in 1968 and became a member of the National Historical Commission. She was Tourism Secretary during the Erap administration.

• Pilar Pilapil — Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1967. She ran for the Senate (but withdrew) in 2004. She now heads the Pilar Pilapil Foundation.

• Clavel Assas Martinez — Miss Caltex finalist 1967. In 1998, she was elected member of the Philippine Congress representing the fourth district of Cebu.

• Nini Ramos Licaros — Bb. Pilipinas-International 1968, one-time councilor of Makati.

• Aurora Pijuan — Miss International 1970. She ran for congressman in Makati.

• Nelia Sancho — 1969 Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up and 1971 Queen of the Pacific. A political detainee during the Martial Law years, she ran for the Senate in 1987.

• Margarita Moran — Miss Universe 1973. Her husband, Tony Floirendo Jr., was elected congressman of the second district of Davao del Norte in 1998.

• Rio Diaz — 1977 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific. She was elected vice mayor of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, in 1998.

•Star Singson Querubin — Mutya ng Pilipinas-World 1989, she comes from the political clan in Northern Philippines; was elected Manila councilor.

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