6 Philippine Showbiz Today
6 Philippine Showbiz Today
January 22- February 7 , 2017 Jan . 22-Feb . 7 , 2015
There will be no Filipinos in the panel of judges for the
65th Miss Universe pageant .
According to news report of ABS-CBN , Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo told the press that the Miss Universe Organization is in charge of choosing the judges for the show .
“ Walang Filipino . Gusto nga sana namin si Presidente ( Rodrigo Duterte ), pero wala talaga . Hindi pwede . Kasi let ’ s say ang nanalo is from the Philippines , sasabihin nilang lutong macau ( rigged ).”
At this point in time , DOT has no idea yet who the judges will be , except that some of the judges are past winners .
Six Filipinos have been tapped to sit in the judges ’ panel in the history of the Miss Universe pageant : UN General Assembly Carlos P . Romulo in 1974 in Manila ; Josie Cruz-Natori in 1989 in Cancun , Mexico ; Kuh Ledesma in 1991 in Las Vegas , Nevada ; Dr . Emilio T . Yap in 1994 in Manila ; Lea Salonga in 2011 in Sao Paolo , Brazil ; and Manny Pacquiao in 2014 in Doral , Miami .
Miss Universe Colombia 2016 Andrea Tovar does not have any ill feelings toward the Philippines , despite the infamous gaffe that marred last year ’ s edition of the Miss Universe competition .
In 1963 , 19-year-old doll-faced Lalaine Betia Bennett was crowned Miss Philippines and represented the country at the Miss Universe pageant in Miami Beach , Florida . A favorite and widely tipped to win the title , the 5-foot-9 former Miss Bayombong ( Nueva Vizcaya ) failed to win the crown but was named third runner up among 49 contestants from all over the world , the first time Philippines landed on the pageant ’ s finalists .
Then , Gloria Diaz , in 1969 , became the first Filipino and second Asian woman to win the Miss Universe title .
Bennett , a pretty American mestiza , made several movies before and after she competed in Miss Universe beauty pageant . She was introduced in the movie Ligaw na Daigdig in 1962 opposite Ronald Remy and Willlie Sotelo . Her performance in a dual role of an heiress and bandit earned her a Famas best actress nomination in 1963 .
Bennett also starred in two 1963 war-action movies directed by natio-
No Filipino judge in Miss Universe panel
If one could recall , Ariadna Gutierrez , Colombia ’ s candidate last year , was erroneously declared as the winner . Pia Wurtzbach , Miss Universe 2015 , was eventually handed the crown , sparking outrage from some Colombians .
Everything ’ s now water under the bridge . American Steve Harvey , who will again host the pageant , has already begged for forgiveness from both candidates
Miss Philippines Universe Maxine Medina
Tovar seems to agree that the past should remain in the past . “ I love the Philippines ,” she told reporters shortly after arriving in Manila . “ It ’ s a big opportunity to be here in this amazing country . I am so excited for the pageant ! And I want to know your culture , including your food .”
Miss Universe Colombia is one of the favorites to take home the crown ,
Lalaine Bennett , first Filipina finalist in ‘ 63 Miss Universe
Bennett ( 2nd from right ), 3rd runner-up in 1963
nal artist Lamberto V . Avellana , Death Was a Stranger , The Hunters ’ RO- TC Guerrilla Story and No Way Out , alongside Miss Universe Venezuela Mariam Habach , Miss Universe Brazil Raissa Santana , and the Philippines ’ very own Maxine Medina , according to pageant website Missosology
The 65th Miss Universe coronation night is o be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 30 .
Sixteen Ms . Universe candidates arrived in Boracay last Saturday morning to take part in activities showcasing local culture
Miss Universe delegates from Poland , Mexico , Honduras , US Virgin Islands , Namibia , Chile , Ecuador , Belize , Malta , Guyana , Myanmar , Australia , Costa Rica , Turkey , Nicaragua , and Argentina took part in a swimsuit photo shoot .
Half of the group participated in a traditional weaving activity , while the other half learned how fish houses were made .
The candidates left the paradise island and flew back to Manila that afternoon .
a first co-production between Philippines and South Korea with Leopoldo Salcedo . Her life story was made into a musical film in 1964 in Armando De Guzman ’ s Lalaine , Mahal Kita , which also starred Mario Montenegro .
Her other movies included Bilis sa Bilis opposite Cesar Ramirez and Dear Eddie with Charito Solis and Eddie Ilarde . After she relinquished her crown to Myrna Panlilio in 1964 , Bennett decided to leave her flourishing movie career when she married Felix Skievasky , a Polish-Filipino officer in the United States Navy , whom she met when he served as her official escort during the Miss Universe pageant . They lived first in Honolulu , Hawaii before moving to Seattle , Washington where Bennett remained presently based even after the tragic death of her husband in a plane crash in 1973 .
Bennett , despite her American
For the first time since 1994 , the Miss Universe competition will be held in the Philippines .
For many of the candidates , this is a great opportunity to learn more about the country ’ s culture and visit its pristine beaches .
For Tania Dawson of New Zealnd , however , it ’ s a chance to spend some time with her relatives . On her Instagram account , Dawson shared photos of her visit to Pangasinan , the hometown of her Filipina mother .
“ Before arriving in Manila today I went and saw my family in Pangasinan ,” she captioned a photo taken at the Urdaneta Garden Resort
In a previous interview with ABS-CBN News ’ MJ Felipe , Dawson said that she loves coming to the Philippines .
“ It really brings out the Filipina in me and it ’ s great to be learning all about the culture and really getting in touch with who I am by blood ,” she related . ●
- J . M . Felipe , Malaya
2016 Miss Universe candidates in Boracay for a swimsuit photoshoot ( phoio from Rappler )
roots , took pride in her Filipino heritage during the Miss Universe finals when she opened her speech in her native tongue .
In her speech , Bennett said , “ Maligayang bati sa inyong lahat . Alam kong ang buong Pilipinas ay ngayo ’ y nasisiyahan sa gabing ito . As a child , I have always wanted to come , to visit the native land of my grandfather who was one of the first American teachers who came to help educate my people . Through this pageant , my dream has been fulfilled . America has helped the Philippines , taught us how to stand on our own two feet and in 1946 , gave us a most wonderful gift , the gift of freedom . For this , I , together with my people , will forever be grateful . Please accept our sincerest thanks , United States of America . Thank you .”
It would be fitting to bring back Bennett at the 65th Miss Universe in Manila to acknowledge and honor her distinction as the first ever Filipina to place in the Miss Universe pageant . ●
- Loreto Concepcion , MS