Miss Universe 2012 Results: RIGGED

Janine Tugonon, 23, Philippines

It took me awhile to blog on how I feel after being disappointed by the results of the recently concluded Miss Universe 2012.  It would have been easier to accept defeat if Janine Tugonon, our nations representative made a blunder during the interview competition.  However, no matter how many times I watched it on YouTube, her execution was just flawless.  She should have been crowned that night.

My own ranking of the winners would be: Philippines (Miss Universe), Australia (1^st Runner up), USA (2^nd Runner up), Venezuela (3^rd Runner up) and Brazil (4^th Runner up).  The results of the Miss Universe competition I’m afraid is final.  Olivia Culpo, will go down the history as the most underserving Miss Universe ever. 

To Janine Tugonon, you made us all proud.  To us, you are the 2012 Miss Universe.  

What’s Sup?

Leila Lopes - Angola
Miss Universe 2011

Just like the Filipino nation, I’m also proud of Shamcey Supsup’s achievement in the recently concluded Miss Universe 2011 Pageant. Placing 3rd Runner up is not an easy task. Countries with strong delegates such as Venezuela, Colombia, and the USA did not even made it to the top 10. I was also delighted to learn that Shamcey Supsup earned the finalist slot through hard work and not through online voting. It was Portugal who won the online voting.

Shamcey was born an achiever. She graduated with honors and even topped the 2010 Architectural licensure examination. Binibining Pilipinas Pageant was her first and she won the right to represent our country in the Miss Universe Pageant. She made us all proud.

I know that there will be critics out there who will never be satisfied by Shamcey’s placement. To you guys, be thankful of Shamcey’s placement. It is not often that a Philippine delegate is given a chance to be in the Semi Finals. Let’s celebrate her winning and be proud of her. Let’s give her the love that we gave Venus Raj.

Filipinos are divided by religion, political belief and by regional affiliation. It’s not often that one Filipino can unite the nation. It used to be Manny Pacquiao, Venus Raj and now it’s Shamcey’s turn.

Congratulations to Shamcey Supsup, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2011 and to Ms. Lea Salonga for being in the celebrity panel of judges.

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Shamcey Supsup
Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2011



Brazil is positioning themselves as the world leader in staging international events. They’ve spent millions of dollars in staging the Miss Universe 2011 Pageant. They’re scheduled to host the Olympic and the World Cup in the coming years.

Skinny and anorexic ladies were left out this year. I think the judges went to women with curves.

Shamcey Supsup is definitely a total package, beauty and brain.

Carbon Footprints

Yesterday, swarm of emails on the recent winners of Miss Earth Philippines pageant flooded my inbox. I wasn’t at all too happy to receive them since I’ve already read the news the moment I logged on to my PC. I was never a fan of Miss Earth Philippines since it started. It’s because of its very hypocritical advocacy. Don’t get me wrong. I support clean and renewable energy and anything green. What I don’t like is when a profit focused organization claims to be green for the sake of making money.

I haven’t watched the broadcast of the pageant but it was criticized by people who watched it. Just like the recently concluded Bb. Pilipinas 2011 Pageant, the organizers focused too much on the Q&A. May I remind the organizers that MEP is not a quiz bee? It’s still and forever will be a beauty pageant. The most beautiful woman should win regardless.

As for the organizers advocacy on nature, I don’t buy it. I haven’t seen anything worth mentioning in the reigns of their former queens. Even the winners of the ME doesn’t do much either. In the end, it would still boil down to money (sponsorship fee, etc.). If they're serious, can they please tell us the carbon footprints for staging the event?

Major Accomplishment

Hours after the hostage taking, Philippine’s bet for Miss Universe 2010 made it to top 5. She was later proclaimed as 4th Runner up. My friend D who underwent a major operation at the St. Paul’s University Hospital in Iloilo on that day sent me a text message before going to the OR saying that Raj did not get the crown because of P-AbNoynoy’s mishandling of the hostage crisis. The message was funny but if you’re the president, you’ll be blamed for a lot of things. I think that P-AbNoynoy should take all the blame just like how his predecessor took all the blames. Though some of the blames were ridiculous the then PGMA took it all. In short, mas may bayag pa si Gloria kesa kay AbNoynoy.

Despite Raj’s placement, Pinoy’s are not satisfied and went even to the extent of blaming Raj’s blunder and her inability to answer her question. They haven’t realized that Raj’s the first Filipino woman who made it to the semi finals in eleven (11) years. They’ve (BPCI) sent several intellectuals before. Some are from UP Diliman but they weren’t even called to the semi’s. So, mga kababayan, be contented and be happy for what Raj has brought the Philippines.

As for the BPCI, you’ve already discovered the formula on what kind of girl who will make the semi finals. I think MUO’s looking for that exotic Filipino woman, skinny as in bone skin (anorexic beauty), supermodel potential and of course very tall.

Beauty, Madness and Politics

I bet all of you know the Bicolana beauty Ms. Maria Venus Raj who won the Bb. Pilipinas Universe crown in early March of this year. Filipinos the world over were surprised when the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc., the local holder of the Miss Universe franchise decided to dethrone Maria Venus Raj on the grounds that she has inconsistencies in her birth record. They then announced that the Cabalen Helen Nicolette Henson would replace Maria Venus Raj’s place. The BPCI think that it’s that simple. They never realized that the dethronement was wrong timing. It never occurred to them that its election season and those opportunistic politicians would do anything and everything just to gain media mileage. If you noticed, Liza Masa, Loren Legarda, CHR Chairman Leila de Lima, Albay Governor Joey Salceda joined the chorus of other people in media and Venus fans in myspace and facebook asking BPCI for her reinstatement.

The BPCI was put in a vulnerable position so they decided to give back the crown that I think Maria Venus Raj deserved. I read an article at the Philippine daily inquirer regarding Venus’ dethronement. She was allegedly asked to sign a resignation letter by the BPCI. BPCI said that it would be better if she resigns instead of being dethroned because she’ll be subjected to ridicule all her life. Venus apparently refused to sign the document without her lawyers and after 8 hours of deliberation, BPCI decided to strip her of her crown.

I can’t for certain verify the authenticity and the credibility of the write up that I read. But if that’s what BPCI did to Venus, then there’s a possibility that Janina San Miguel’s resignation back in 2008 was also initiated by the BPCI. It bothers me until now why Janina San Miguel decided to resign. Bb. Pilipinas, being the country’s premier beauty title is sought after by millions of Filipino women. She (Janina) already had it but she just threw it away. If the allegation of the Inquirer correspondent was accurate, then Janina San Miguel may have been forced to resign her title. I know, she had English blunder on the national stage but she won the crown fair and square. She was forced to sign the resignation document and being only 17 years old at that time, she may not have thought about calling a lawyer.

On Maria Venus Raj’s case, I think that the BPCI do not like her that they went out of their way to remove her. It’s obvious that they’re rooting for Helen Nicolette Henson. They may have also thought that since Venus comes from a very poor and farming family, they can easily get rid of her. Siguro iniisip nila na since pobre naman ito, madali lang itong dispatsahin. Pero they’re on the wrong side. They got away with Janina San Miguel but not this time.

I think that Maria Venus Raj’s handlers and PROs did very well. They photograph her walking in the rice paddies in her village in Bicol. It sort of humanized her and Filipinos were able to relate to her. They were able to empathize on the pain that a poor person has to go through in achiever his/her dreams. Aside from that, it’s election season. Daming pa poging politico na gustong mapag usapan at gustong makisawsaw. It also depicted Madam Stella de Araneta and BPCI as evils.

I think nothing will stop her (MVR) in achieving her dreams anymore. Win or lose in the upcoming Miss Universe contest, she’d already proved to be a good example to us all. She taught us not to give up on our dreams no matter how hard the obstacles are.

Cabalen lost in her bid for Bb. Pilipinas 2010 tilt because of Politics

Helen Nicolette Henson, Candidate No. 18 of the recently concluded annual Bb. Pilipinas search lost not because she’s ugly but because of politics. As you all know, The BPCI is owned by the Aranetas and KuriMar Roxas’ mother is an Araneta. KuriMar Roxas’ disgust of another Cabalen, PGMA is the only reason why Henson lost. She won a lot of awards yet they did not give her one of the crowns. Instead, they crowned Candidate No. 21 Czarina Catherine Gatbon-whatever who could not even communicate in English (the Bb. Pilipinas – World crown). I have no question about the placement of Maria Venus Raj (Bicol Region) for the Bb. Pilipinas – Universe since she’s perfect for MU pageant. Her model figure and catwalk skills will truly shine in the Universal stage. Krista Mae Kleiner’s crown on the other hand was an exchange deal with GMA7 and the BPCI since Kleiner is a GMA Talent.

Disgusting huh? All through the years, the Aranetas control in the annual pageant resulted to poor performance in the international tilts. The organizers dealt too much on internal politicking that made their organization doomed. Now, they even succumb to the pressure of KuriMar Roxas not to crown Helen Nicolette Henson just because she’s a Cabalen! It’s too bad that Nicolette Henson joined in the election year. Since she’s still young, she can try her luck next year or in the years to come.

As for the Aranetas, Roxas and the BPCI, Good Luck. I say good luck since according to my friend A, the Donald may take away from MU franchise from the Aranetas next year.

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Thanks to Bella, a Cabalen who gave me this info through email. Ito yong sinasabi na totoong pulso ng mga Cabalen na hindi ninyo mababasa sa mga tabloid.

Janina San Miguel Renounces her Crown

Who could ever forget Janina San Miguel? She’s the infamous girl who walked away with the coveted Bb Pilipinas World crown in March despite her English grammar setback in the interview competition.

Reports say that Janina’s reason for renouncing her crown was the untimely demise of her grandfather. Talaga lang ha? A lot of Filipinos raised their eyebrows of Janina’s reason for resigning. Come on, thousands of young ladies would die to have a Bb Pilipinas title. Nasa sa iyo na, pinakawalan mo pa! Janina may have been pressured to resign by the BPCI. She’s probably too dumb and too difficult to train.

Well, Janina’s loss is Danielle Castaños gain. Castaño, though born and raised in the US has some English blunder too. She was quoted as saying “I'm very proud that I was choosed (sic) by Mrs. Araneta." In her interview with GMA7 Castaño sounded guilty. I think she knows that she’ll be replacing Janina and that she didn’t get the crown fair and square.

I’m still confused about the BPCIs succession process. In 1998, Tisha Silang resigned and the first runner up Jewel May Lobaton (Bacolod City) was crowned Bb Pilipinas Universe. The following year (1999), Janelle Bautista was dethroned and was replaced by Miriam Quiambao (Originally, Bb Pilipinas World), moved Lalaine Edson from Bb Pilipinas International to Bb Pilipinas World. They then crowned Georgina Sandico as Bb Pilipinas International. Sandico was not even a runner up in the 1999 Bb Pilipinas Pageant.

Today there’s another vacancy but surprise! Surprise!, BPCI did not moved Bb Pilipinas International to Miss World. Danielle Castaño should only get the Bb Pilipinas International crown and not the Bb Pilipinas World.

Anyways, let’s just look forward to the 58th Edition of Miss World in South Africa. Let’s support our newly crowned Bb Pilipinas World – Danielle Castaño.

Venezuela is Miss Universe 2008!

Riyo Mori’s (JAPAN) reign ended with a bang! (Not because she was slapped by Miss Egypt Yara Naoum) It’s the first time in the MUO’s history that the outgoing queen did not wear a gown. Instead, she wore a tuxedo, a signatured tuxedo of course! Riyo Mori will forever remain as one of the most beautiful Miss Universe ever! (Let’s not forget Jennifer Hawkins of Australia).

Ever since Dayana Mendoza won the Miss Venezuela 2007 pageant, she was bookmarked to win the Miss Universe 2008 crown. She previously competed in the 2001 Elite Model contest in France and eventually became a professional model sashaying the runways of Paris, Milan, NY and Tokyo. Dayana is the right girl that MUO is looking for: A model, fresh and vibrant.

I never thought that the MUO would crown a Venezuelan after the headache that Alicia Machado (Miss Universe 1996) caused them that it’s impossible to even think of Dayana Mendoza winning. Since 1996, Venezuela produced 4 First Runners Up (1997,1998, 2000,2003), 1 Second Runner up (2007), 1 Third Runner up (2001), 2 Fourth Runner up (2002, 2005), 1 Top 5 (1999) and 2 Non Semi Finalist Placements (2004, 2006). Dayana’s victory means 5 Miss Universe crowns for Venezuela (tied with Puerto Rico).

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The Jennifer Barrientos, Philippine delegate for Miss Universe did not place in the pageant. For the first time in the Miss Universe history, the Miss Photogenic was not awarded. Jennifer Barrientos could have easily won it with the help of her overzealous compatriots. The three C’s (Colombia, Cumbia and Cubao) according to the pageant analysts are the factors to be blamed for the non placement of our delegates in the international scene. Colombia (helps train Filipina beauty queens) and Alfredo Barraza (Evening gown and National Costume designer) are allegedly sabotaging the chances of our delegates by giving them wrong packaging and ugly gowns. Cumbia boutique’s (Owned by the Aranetas) array of gowns and cocktail dresses are not exactly fashionable. Most of their (Cumbia) dresses have been used by previous queens in other pageants. Cubao (refers to BPCI and Madam Stella) needs young blood and needs to change. Stella Marquez de Araneta, Pitoy Moreno and the oldies in the BPCI board should step down. We need somebody like Inez Ligron (National Director of MUJ) to change BPCI.

Janina San Miguel

Janina San Miguel became an overnight sensation in the Philippines, youtube and the whole world after her English blunder at the Interview Competition of the recently concluded 2008 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant. Ironically, Janina won the Bb. Pilipinas – World crown to the shock of many. Since last year, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI), the organizer of the pageant that owns the franchises to Miss International, Miss Universe and Miss World pageants gives the title Bb. Pilipinas – World to the delegate with the highest scores during the pageant. This simply means that Janina was the grand winner of that night despite her setback in the Interview competition.

I had the chance to watch the whole show just today and I must admit that the production was one of the best that I’ve seen in the recent years. I was just dismayed that despite the quality of production, Janina’s booboos happened.

Filipinos from all over the world condemned Janina San Miguel for her English. They said that she is an embarrassment to Filipinos who clamed to be the third largest English speaker in the world. Many even called to give up her crown.

If there are people that are not happy with the winning of Janina, there are also those that support her. They said that it was traumatic for a 17 year old girl to be at the center stage of Araneta.

If Janina San Miguel is only joining a Mutya ng Barangay contest, I wouldn’t have minded her English blunder. However, she’s joining the Binibining Pilipinas Pageant that happens to be the most prestigious pageant in the land. As the winner of the Bb. Pilipinas – World title, she earned the right to represent the Philippines in the Miss World Pageant. Many fear that she’ll make a mess of herself at Miss World.

Janina’s English would surely kill Mrs. Sonia Galila, my high school English teacher at Sun Yat Sen High School of embarrassment. Part of Janina’s blunder can be blamed to the Philippines' educational system. There are lawyers that speak Janina San Miguel’s brand of English. The worst thing is, even our teachers could not even speak grammatically correct English.

Janina has at least 7 months to prepare for the Miss World Pageant. I just hope that she can polish her English with proper training. Who knows, she’ll bring home the first Miss World crown for the Philippines.

MW 2007 Review

The below review was posted in Critical Beauty and was selected as one of the best letters to the webmaster. Big thanks for Rafa of Critical Beauty.

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The pageant was very boring. The choreographed dance number of the delegates in swimsuit was rehash, they did it in previous Miss World Pageants. A lot of people are condemning Scott Grossman but Scott's Miss Universe is much better in terms of production value and excitement. Duncan James' is very handsome but singing in a large stage with only four dancers feel like the stage is very empty. Angela Chow keeps on shouting her spills and her co host is very old. Tim Vincent would have been better. There was no real judging and they do not even have an official tabulator. Miss Universe has Ernst and Young but Miss World only has Julia Morley.

Miss China is beautiful but her victory is very questionable. It's like they handed the crown to her because she wanted to be a bridge between Miss World and Olympics Committee. Miss Angola would have been a better Miss World, she placed top 10 in the 2007 Miss Universe.