IN the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, the golden era of pageantry, two beauty institutions battled it out to attract the fairest, de buena familia Filipinas of the land to join its competitions: Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Republic of the Philippines. While the former remains the Philippines’s most prestigious tilt, the latter was relegated to the nostalgic bins of pageant trivia after 1976.
Call the move maudlin or mushy, but when socialite-philanthropist Lynette Padolina decided to revive the Miss Republic of the Philippines, the news was met with euphoria among old-time pageant fans. After all, this was the contest that produced
Arene Cecilia “Pinky” Amabuyok (1968); Margarita Gomez, Onelia Jose (1972) and Miss Luzon Elizabeth Freeman Oropeza; Evangeline Reyes (1973); Evangeline Pascual (Miss World First runner-up); Suzanne
Gonzalez and her famous court: Miss Luzon Anabelle Aquino Bayle (Anna Bayle) and Miss Visayas Elizabeth “Beth” Bautista; and 1977 Miss Visayas Maria Blesilda “Bessie” Badilla.
But amid the excitement of sending off one Binibini after another for their international campaigns, I had little idea of this new development. Until maverick designer Eddie Baddeo invited me to attend the prepageant terno competition at the Bayview Suites and the coronation night at The Theatre at Solaire in Solaire Resort and Casino a few days after, hosted by Paolo Bediones and Venus Raj. Baddeo’s muse, socialite-philanthropist Marcott Almeda, was the event’s vice chairman.
The pageant, as Padolina emphasized, is a celebration of the “beauty and brains of the Filipina, not only in the Philippines but all over the world.” It goes “beyond physical beauty and glamour, and embodies the image of a modern Filipino woman who is intelligent, self-assured and empowered.” The winner will also be active in promoting education, sociocivic programs and tourism.
But unlike in the past, where the winner was sent to compete at Miss World, she will not represent the country at any global pageant. She, however, wins P100,000 in cash, a one-year management contract from the Miss Republic of the Philippines Organization, and a four-year college scholarship from Informatics College.
At the onset, two contestants emerged as front-runners: Miss Cavite and Miss Zambales. They divided the sponsors’ spoils and major awards between them. Fermira Dianne Ramos of Zambales, a Miss Philippines Earth 2012 candidate, won the coveted Best in Terno award in an Edwin Uy creation. Miss Cavite, Joselle Mariano, a Mutya ng Pilipinas 2013 Top 10 contender, won Best in Swimsuit in a Ricky Abad one-piece. Before the winners were announced, the mood at the theater became misty and sentimental as the last Miss Republic of the Philippines, Josephine “Joy” Salazar Conde, emerged onstage with a crown and gold collar. After 39 years, she was finally able to relinquish her title after a tumultuous reign that saw her withdraw from the 1976 Miss World competition as a protest against the then-apartheid regime of South Africa.
“As my reign ends tonight, I can say I enjoyed more than my share of fame and controversies. God is kind and generous. I will cherish my past memories for as long as I live,” Conde, now 62, relayed in her farewell speech. In the end, Miss Zambales was crowned because of her winning answer to the question posted on social media: “In this day and age, is it OK for a woman to express her love to the man she loves?” The 5’8″ BS Business Management graduate of AMA Computer University-Olongapo replied: “Yes. I will base it on the upbringing of my family. Actually, coming from a very traditional, supportive but very broadminded family, it is OK to express our love to the man we love as long as we show it with integrity, self-respect and high moral values, because that is the most important thing.”
In a new twist, the revitalized contest awarded a coequal title, Miss Republic of the Philippines-International 2015, won by Beatrice Ortega Valente, 22, a 5’9″ Filipino-Italian stunner, who was Miss Earth Italy 2014, and represented Italy at Miss Earth 2014 but didn’t place. She wore a terno by Jontie Martinez.
On a side note, Miss Mindanao 1971, Eleanor Almario, wrote to pageant historian Tony Paat of veestarz.com: “After the five finalists were chosen, Minerva Cagatao was voted as Miss Republic of the Philippines and the rest of the finalists drew lots as to who would be Misses Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Manila. The rationale behind this was to show that all the regions were of equal importance.”
Back then the runner-up rankings were equal but this time, the judges clearly didn’t think along those lines. Miss Luzon, or first runner-up, was given to the runaway favorite Miss Cavite (in a June Pugat terno). Miss Visayas, or second runner-up, was given to the refreshing Miss Valenzuela Sheila Marie D. Reyes (in a Simon Ariel Vasquez terno). Miss Mindanao, or third runner-up, was given to the confident Miss Santa Rosa Kristie Rose D. Cequeña (in a Nicky Martinez terno).
All the winners wore crowns by Mila Imson of Kitsilver Jewelries. The unassuming woman, whom I was able to talk to at her makeshift selling table outside the venue, has been winning design awards at trade shows abroad. And, she said without any hint of conceit, “I will have a private show of my jewels for Michelle Obama when she comes here for the Apec summit.” Flotus, apparently, has been her fan since they met at a Miami trade fair back when Obama was still a senator from Chicago. At a postpageant dinner hosted by another Baddeo muse, Elaine Rojas Villar, I expressed my observations to Marcott Almeda, the Miss RP vice chairman. The staging was relatively smooth, lively and entertaining. But hype about the pageant, with its legacy and heritage, over traditional and social media were inadequate, resulting in a half-filled theater where rabid and rambunctious fans and supporters were sorely needed. The organizers, too, could have reached out to past alumni, most famously Evangeline Pascual, to grace the event as judges or special guests. As it was, the judging panel lacked star quality if not for former Miss Earth Philippines Angelee de los Reyes. And there was a dearth of towering contestants.
“During the various screenings at cities and provinces and Filipino communities abroad [Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia], we placed a higher premium on intelligence, which was 50 percent of the criteria. As long as the applicants met the minimum height requirement of 5 feet 4 inches, they were qualified to join the pageant,” Almeda explained. “Miss Republic of the Philippines is about the scholarship prize, just like Miss America.”
- Miss Republic of the Philippines coronation night will air at 10 pm on November 21 on GMA News TV.
Image credits: COLLIN YAP/MISS RP FACEBOOK PAGE