Beauty is the Purpose
Meet the 2008 batch of Bb. Pilipinas:
• JENNIFER BARRIENTOS (Universe) — A BS Tourism graduate from UST, 22, 5’7.5", 109 lbs., 32.5-24-35, Capricorn (Jan. 10, 1986), from a conservative family (with only one sibling, a sister), a Born-again Christian, initially wanted to be a flight stewardess because she wanted to travel abroad. No plan to join the movies but may want to try TV-hosting. Will compete in the Miss Universe Pageant in
• PATRICIA FERNANDEZ (International) — A Speech & Communication graduate from UP, 22, 5’6", 112 lbs., 34-24-34, Scorpio (Nov. 5, 1985), from a family (with two sisters) “supportive of whatever I want to pursue,” competed in the 2006 Mutya ng Pilipinas and 2006 Miss Quezon City search. Will compete in the Miss International pageant in
• JANINA SAN MIGUEL (World) — A Broadcast Communication freshman at UE, 17, Scorpio (Nov. 14, 1980), 5’10.5", 99 lbs., 36-26-36, eldest of three children in a conservative middle-class family, wanted to be a professional broadcaster. Will compete in the Miss World contest in
Of the three, Janina is the most controversial without her meaning nor wanting to, but quite by accident when she got nervous during the grand finals at the Big Dome Saturday last week and bungled her answer when asked by judge Vivienne Tan, What role did your family play for you as candidate to the BB. Pilipinas (pageant)? Alternately laughing and giggling nervously, Janina, a first-timer in a beauty contest, answered: “Well, my family’s role for me is so important...because...there was the...there...they was the one whose...very...Hahaha! Am sorry, guys, because this was really my first pageant ever...because I’m only 17 years old and, aha, I didn’t expect that I came from one of the Top 10. Hmmmm...But I said that my family is the most important persons in my life. Thank you!
Janina kept her cool and her poise amid catcalls from an unkind audience that reacted as if the ability to speak English is the be-all and the end-all in a beauty contest, forgetting that other contestants (some from Latin countries or even Japan and China) actually bring home the bacon even if they are not proficient in the King’s Language but speak sense. Well, not to go any farther, our very own Melanie Marquez (who has good-naturedly lived up to her title as “Miss Malaprop,” even to the extent of making fun of her Erap-type English) has proven the hecklers wrong by running away with the Miss International crown in 1979 and, a few years later, the first runner-up honors in the Supermodel search.
“I didn’t hear the question very clearly,” Janina said during this Conversation-pictorial at the Oasis of the Gateway Mall in
Asked how she would answer the same question now, away from the, grrr, mob, Janina smiled. “My family is my inspiration.” (The San Miguels live in a compound and not in a slum area, as some tabs reported; Janina’s father is a jeepney driver and her mother, a housewife.)
For a change, your Conversationalist didn’t draw up the list of questions. Instead, he invited 10 former binibinis to ask one question each.
Janina asked if she could answer in Taglish. Request granted.
From Melanie Marquez, 1979 Bb. Pilipinas-International and Miss International (same year): What preparations are you doing to be a worthy representative of the country?
Jennifer: I go to the gym, I’m on a diet, we have speech training. I pray along with a lot of other people praying for me. Prayer helps.
Patricia: I’m also on a diet. From now on, I’ll start working out. I’m reading a lot more.
Janina: Right now po, nag-aaral kami ng English language. Yes. Siempre, naggo-Gold’s Gym po kami to be physically fit. ‘Yon lang po.
From Charlene Gonzalez, 1994 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and one of the Miss U Top 6 (same year): What can you say about the youth of
Jennifer: Young Asians today are very creative and receptive of new ideas and this attitude helps open new opportunities for them.
Patricia: I think the youth today, and not only Asians, are open to globalization. Although open to new ideas, the young people of
Janina: Basta huwag lang po sila panghihinaan ng loob, mayroon silang mararating. At saka, advice ko sa kanila, “Be yourself palagi.”
From Precious Lara Quigaman, 2005 Bb. Pilipinas-International and Miss International (same year): How would you convince the Filipino people that speaking English fluently is not necessary in a beauty contest?
Jennifer: Speaking in English is not necessary as long as you’re speaking from the heart, and you’re sincere. What comes from the heart is more important than what’s coming from your mind or from your mouth.
Patricia: It’s important for you to be fluent in your native tongue and it helps if you speak English especially if you’re competing in an international contest. What counts is if you are able to express what you feel and what you think in any language you are comfortable in.
Janina: Kasi po, tayo po mga Filipino naman po tayo kaya kailangan ipagmalaki po natin ang ating sariling lenguahe. So, hindi lang po ‘yung palaging banyaga, kagaya nga po ng English which is pinaka-common na language.
From Gloria Diaz, 1969 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and Miss Universe (same year, the first Filipina to bring home the crown, followed by Margie Moran in 1973): Now that you have the title, think back. What do you think made you win and how will you use them (the winning qualities) during your reign and beyond?
Jennifer: I think what helped me win were the people who prayed for me. There were lots of them — my mom, my relatives, my friends. My victory is not mine alone but also of those who supported me. My testimony will speak for me; whatever I experienced in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant will help me when I compete in the Miss Universe pageant.
Patricia: I have achieved inner peace and that I think helped me win. I’m not trying to put them down but some girls, I think, smile “artificially” during a pageant. I can say that when I smile, I do it with sincerity, from within, from the heart. During the Miss International contest, I hope to show them that we Filipinos are warm and friendly.
Janina: I guess ‘yung pagiging humble ko, kasi sa simula’t-simula pa ng competition na ‘to hindi po ako nang-apak ng kahit na sinong tao. Lagi pong nasa isip ko na ako ‘to at gagawin ko ang lahat ng makakaya ko para patunayan na kaya ko kahit bata pa po ako. So, ‘yon po.
From Myrna Panlilio, 1964 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe: Abroad, what will you say or do to impress the people of that country about the beauty of the
Jennifer: I will not try so hard to impress them; I will just be myself. That also helped me win — just by being myself.
Patricia: I will try to look my best. I will be natural. I will see to it that by looking at me, they will see the beauty of our country.
Janina: Siempre po, unique ang mga Filipina hindi lang po sa ganda kundi sa paguugali. Marunong po tayo makisama sa tao at kaya po nating patunayan na mayroon din tayong mararating kahit paano.
From Anna Theresa Licaros, 2007 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe: What will you give up your crown for?
Jennifer: Since I don’t have a boyfriend, I won’t give up my crown for a man. Hahahahaha! I think I will be spending less and less time with my family. After the coronation night, we have been very busy with pictorials, interviews, TV guestings and so many other things.
Patricia: No, I won’t give up my crown for anything. I already gave up many things for the contest, I worked hard for the contest, and now that I’m a winner, why would I give up my crown? After all, I will reign for only one year. Yes, I have a boyfriend; he’s an engineer who is secure with himself. He was the one pa nga who organized a cheering squad during the pageant.
Janina: Ay, hindi ko po igi-give up; hinding-hindi po. For now, wala naman pong dahilan para i-give up ang aking crown. Boyfriend? Wala pa po. I never had a boyfriend.
From Carlene Aguilar, 2005 Bb. Pilipinas-World: Do you believe you deserve the title? How will you prove it?
Jennifer: Yes, I am. I have such faith in God and I believe that He put me here for a purpose.
Patricia: Of course, I do! Like the rest of the girls, I worked hard for this. I like to think that the judges were convinced that I am worthy as the country’s representative in an international pageant.
Janina: Siguro naman po hindi magbibigay ‘yung mga judge ng maling decision. So nirirespeto ko po ‘yung naging decision nila at siguro naman po karapat-dapat ako bilang representative sa Miss World contest.
From Pilar Pilapil, 1967 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe: As a Binibini, how are you going to pursue your purpose?
Jennifer: With my title, I believe I will be an effective instrument for evangelism. I plan to help spread the word of God.
Patricia: I believe that my purpose in life is to bring out the best in people. I want to inspire other people and I think I can achieve this purpose with the Bb. Pilipinas title as platform.
Janina: Kagaya ko po, sa age ko, pinagsikapan ko pong makuha ang titulo na ‘to. So dapat po, tumulong tayo sa mga nangangailangan... sa mga charity, sa mga tao at sa buong Pilipinas.
From Ruffa Gutierrez, 1993 Bb. Pilipinas-World and Miss World Second Princess (Third Placer, same year): Which of the problems in our country today is the most difficult, and how could you be of help?
Jennifer: The lack of equal opportunities for our people. Which is a pity because Filipinos are intelligent and hard-working. I could help by inspiring them and giving them my testimony in life.
Patricia: It’s hard to pinpoint which one because our country is confronted by so many problems. I agree with Jennifer. Not everybody is given enough opportunity to shine and to make use of what they learn in school. The government should create more jobs. I’d like to put up my own business so I can provide jobs in my own little way.
Janina: Siguro po, kahit na gaano kadami ang problema, lahat naman po ng problema may solusyon. At
From Miriam Quiambao, 1999 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and first runner-up in the Miss U pageant (same year): If you win a P1,000,000 jackpot, what will you do with it?
Jennifer: Part of it I will give to the church and the rest I will share with my family.
Patricia: Some of it I would donate to charity and whatever is left I will use as down payment for a car.
Janina: Lahat po ‘yon gagastusin ko sa pamilya. Sila muna ang aasikasuhin ko bago ang sarili ko.
(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])
- Latest
- Trending
Exclusive