“IF Not Now, Then When?” is the favorite motto of Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel as the newly crowned Miss Universe 2022.
Coincidentally, it is the English translation of “Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?” slogan of Abraham “Ditto” Sarmiento, Jr. who was the editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian in 1975-1976.
The motto is visibly printed on the back of the orange cape Gabriel used during the swimwear competition, which she created using recyclable materials, specifically plastic bottles.
In her Instagram, she said that she transformed the cape to showcase how art can be made out of what is perceived as trash.
“I designed this swimsuit cape inspired by the story of the Phoenix Rising, who emerged from adversity to become stronger, smarter and more powerful,” Gabriel said. “Setbacks will always happen in life but we can choose whether to let them bring us down or use them as fuel to rise.”
During the final round, Gabriel was asked how she would work to demonstrate Miss Universe is “an empowering and progressive organization”.
“I would use it to be a transformational leader,” she responded, citing her work using recycled materials in her fashion design and teaching sewing to survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence.
“It is so important to invest in others, invest in our community and use your unique talent to make a difference,” Gabriel continued. “We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds to other people in our life, we transform them, and we use that as a vehicle for change.”
Gabriel is a fashion designer, model and sewing instructor, and is the first Filipino American to win Miss USA and eventually Miss Universe.
Gabriel’s motto is a familiar line to those who were involved in the student movement.
As one of the most famous front page of the Philippine Collegian, the slogan “Kung hindi tayo kikibo, sino ang kikibo? Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?” was lifted from Sarmiento’s 1976 editorial.
The English translation is “If we don’t fight back, who will? If we don’t do anything, who will? If we don’t do it now, when will it happen?”
The Philippine Collegian is the official weekly student publication of the University of the Philippines Diliman and commonly known as Kulê.
During Martial Law, Kule defied the media blackout by going underground. Student newspapers served as voice of defiance and became part of the “mosquito press.”
Sarmiento fought martial law, not with brute force, but through the power of the pen.
In January 1976, Sarmiento was arrested by the Marcos regime and told to tone down his criticism of the dictatorship in exchange for his release. He refused.
His health deteriorated during his imprisonment for seven months and seven days.
Sadly, he died due to heart attack at the age of 27 a little over a year after being released from prison.
For speaking out against the Marcos regime, the Kule head was harassed and thrown in prison, which led to his death.
It was on my third year in college that I became part of the UP student movement as the photographer for the Philippine Collegian and later as a member of the Sandigan Para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan.
UP also produced beauty queens, including Paz de los Reyes (1929, Law), Maita Gomez (1967, MA Economics), Nelia Sancho (1969). Elizabeth de Padua (1976, Biology), Maria Isabel Lopez (1982, Fine Arts, Sara Jane Paez (1989), Zorayda Andam (2001, Economics, Law), Karla Bautista (2004, Mass Communication), Catherine Untalan (2006, Psychology), Lia Andrea Ramos (2006 , Political Science), Theresa Licaros (2007, Broadcast Communication, Law), Venus Raj (2010, MA Community Development), Shamcey Supsup (2011, Architecture), Ariella Arida (2013, Chemistry), Patch Magtanong (2019, Economics, Law), and Jerelleen Rodriguez (2022, Accounting, Law).
In 1969, while still a student, Nelia Sancho joined Binibining Pilipinas and finished first runner-up to Gloria Diaz, who became the country’s first Miss Universe titleholder. Two years later, she represented the country at the Queen of the Pacific and won the title.
Sancho became a student activist and later joined the underground after Martial Law was declared. She was arrested during a raid in Cagayan de Oro City and spent over two years in prison, from 1976 to 1978. She later became a familiar face in women’s right movement as co-founder of Gabriela along with Maita Gomez.
Before her death on September 1, 2022, I had the chance to work with Sancho on the comfort women campaign for the victims of sexual slavery and violence during World War 2.
With Gabriel’s motto “If Not Now, Then When?,” the new Miss Universe hopefully will personify the famous beauty pageant tagline “beauty with a purpose.”
Peyups is the moniker of Philippine Collegian. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.