By Alex Y. Vergara
For Binibining 20, Catriona Elisa Gray, the contest seemed over, but for the crowning. Before Sunday night slipped into the wee hours of Monday, one of the most popular and most widely cheered candidate in Binibining Pilipinas’ 55-year history ran away with almost every available special award from pageant sponsors, judges and organizers—from Ever Bilena to Jag Jeans, Best in Swimsuit to Best in Long Gown.
The 25-year-old Filipino-Aussie beauty queen—her Pinoy mother hails from Oas, Albay—began her winning streak early on by beating nine other hopefuls to bag the Pitoy Moreno Best in National Costume award, thanks to a deluge of online votes from enthusiastic fans, many of whom also trooped to the Araneta Coliseum hours before gates opened to cheer her on.
Wearing canary yellow shirts printed with the number 20 and carrying humungous letters that form their idol’s name, CATRIONA, her diehard fans erupted into thunderous cheers every time her name was called.
Pageant veteran
But Catriona, who, despite her youth, was already considered a pageant veteran, wasn’t there to win just any special award. The former Miss World Philippines was out to add a bigger, more prestigious prize to her collection of trophies and triumphs. Those of you who are aware of her backstory knew from the beginning what her real goal for joining was.
The 5’10” model, singer and TV host was a woman on a mission, something she hasn’t admitted publicly, though, to avenge the seeming oversight she experienced in the hands of people who make up London-based Miss World in 2016.
By winning Miss Universe Philippines (MUP), the top crown every wannabe Binibining Pilipinas had been dreaming of since they made the cut during the first screening last January, Catriona is on her way, at least in her fans’ minds, as she takes care of some unfinished business.
In fact, she could have come up with a non-answer to the make-or-break question and answer round, and still emerged on top. But she was able to ace even a relatively easy, but politically tricky question—especially in these polarized times—to cruise to a sure win.
Message to Marawi women
Asked by US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim what her “message to the young women of Marawi” was now that the war-torn city is on its way to recovery, a confident Catriona, wearing a gold gown with a thigh-high slit by Mak Tumang, said: “My answer and message to the women [of Marawi] is to be strong. As women, we are the head of the household. And we have amazing influence not only [on] our own families, as mothers, sisters and friends, but also [on] our community. If we could get the women to stay strong and be that image of strength for the children and the people around them, once rebuilding is complete, the morale of the community with stay strong and high. Thank you.”
What a difference a year or two make. Heavily tipped by pageant fans and betting sites two years ago to win for the Philippines its second Miss World crown, Catriona, after reaching the finals, didn’t even place as runner-up to the eventual winner from Puerto Rico. Not a few Filipino pageant fans cried “we wuz robbed!”
Well, Catriona is on her way to right whatever wrong she and, by extension, the rest of her die-hard fans felt by representing the country later this year in Miss Universe, without a doubt the biggest and most prestigious “beau con” (that’s beauty contest, for you) in the entire planet, er, universe, rather, as far as pageant-fanatic Pinoys are concerned.
Threat from Michelle
For a time, champion volleyball player-turned-beauty queen Michelle Gumabao, daughter of former actor Dennis Roldan and former model Loli Imperial, posed some serious competition to Catriona’s bid for the top crown.
Equally statuesque and blessed with the gift of gab (as well as an athlete’s never-say-die spirit), Michelle, Binibining 19, was touted by not a few pageant observers as the likely candidate who could derail Catriona’s best-laid plans. In the end, Michelle, who also came up with a solid answer, had to settle for Binibining Pilipinas Globe, arguably the least prestigious of the six crowns up for grabs.
But not a few attentive members of the audience, especially journalists, were displeased by Michelle’s take on fake news and how traditional media outlets should not only lead the way in helping eradicate it, but should also carry some of the blame for spreading it. Say that again?
“I know that fake news is very rampant nowadays, but in order to fight these, we must first know what we are reporting, know what we are reading at the same time, be accountable for what we say, especially online,” said the occasional courtside commentator. “And I hope that media always filter their news, their resources to always deliver truth and authentic news.”
A veteran beauty pageant journalist even attributes Michelle’s low ranking to her “unclear” answer: “She should be thankful she won a crown. It seems the judges were unable to fully comprehend her answer, especially the last part.”
Murky to navigate
For the uninitiated, the world of Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI), the organization behind the annual local beauty pageant led by Colombian-born Stella Marquez Araneta, the first woman to win Miss International in 1960, can appear quite murky to navigate.
Although it technically offers six lucky women the chance to win any of the six crowns up for grabs every year, everyone—from the candidates to their mentors and screaming fans—has her eye out on just one crown—MUP.
The rest, including the once equally prestigious Binibining Pilipinas International title (How many of you have set aside the day’s chores to watch online the Tokyo-based Miss International, a contest that’s not only overly long, but also impervious to change, lately?), are considered by many as mere consolation prizes—pampalubag loob—to those not fierce or lucky or striking enough to win MUP.
Parrot?
Not a few people in the audience think Eva Psychee Patalinjug, newly crowned Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, was too perfect and too rehearsed for comfort during Q and A. That isn’t to say she knew the question in advance.
Timing seemed to be on her side, as she was able to somehow weave a cohesive answer riddled with motherhood statements from her arsenal of memorized views on “the role beauty queens play in the pursuit of the country’s economic success, if any.” Unlike a relaxed Catriona and Gumabao, Eva looked deep in thought, even pained while parroting her answer.
“A role of the beauty queen is a voice. I am here to make a message to all of you. In these times of uncertainty…taking over our country, we have remained steadfast and have faith in all of its challenges. As a united nation, what we should do is to set aside our political differences. Let our love and loyalty to our country rise above all, in the hopes of making a peaceful country. Thank you.”
Nadine’s take
By Monday afternoon, a more direct version of Eva’s answer allegedly given by actress Nadine Lustre for a glossy magazine’s Independence Day special last year was already circulating on the Internet.
“In these times when fear and uncertainty have seemingly taken over, as a united nation, we remain steadfast and unfazed in the midst of challenges. I believe what we need as one nation now is Unity. As we celebrate our country’s independence, let us march forward towards the future, in the hopes of building a better nation…,” Nadine wrote in her Facebook post.
In an era of fake news, it’s difficult to give credence to such an online material, but Nadine’s thought, including a number of key words she used, was uncannily similar to Eva’s. We leave you to be the ultimate judge.
Dreaded glass bowl
The glass bowl containing questions prepared in advance by organizers, and which judges were later asked to read, offered a mixed bag of surprises ranging from current events like environmental problems in Boracay to more personal ones like how should beauty queens respond to criticism.
One candidate, instead of trying to fake it by sounding articulate and profound, immediately threw in the towel by admitting that she had no “insights” to share regarding the government’s “build, build, build” program and its likely effects. Nada! Honesty isn’t always the best policy, as the former frontrunner went home that morning empty-handed.
“The insights of the government’s ‘build, build, build’ program. Actually, I studied so much for this Q&A, but suddenly that’s something I really don’t know much about. But, at least, I’m here trying to answer a good question. Thank you,” she said.
It was with no small amount of irony that the contestant claimed to be conversant in five languages. For some reason, she failed to grasp the essence of such a common English word as build.
Asked if she agrees that a third restroom should be built for transgenders, another contestant who spent a considerable part of her youth in an English-speaking country had to this to say: “I definitely agree there should be a third restroom for transgender because us women would like a privacy and also with men, and we have a separate room for the transgender. It just serves as an equality and privatization. Thank you.”
Privatization? With just one word, she made such a private matter like answering nature’s call sound like a government transaction. For some strange reason, and despite earning boos from certain members of the heavily gay audience, she managed to earn a place in the winners’ circle. The judges obviously liked her look that night. Let’s see how certain gay and transgendered members of her glam squad deal with her from hereon.
