Promising replacement for Janina San Miguel

The announcement that Janina San Miguel quit as the country’s bet

to the Miss World pageant this coming December in South Africa

is a big surprise to pageant fanatics in the country. Why not when everybody thought all along that Janina was very much ready for the international derby considering it was supposed to take place in Ukraine this October?

A month prior to the announcement, me and my editor Nathalie Tomada was in the company of reliable sources who squealed that Janina was not yet ready for Ms. World because she was yet to plant it in her mind that the said pageant is no ordinary pageant but a very huge one. Janina was likened by sources to a little girl who just thought that Ms. World is just child’s play wherein she just needed to be there and then it’s over. Actually the term used was “pasaway.” Yes, Janina was reportedly “pasaway” in her trainings and workshops. She was reportedly uncooperative and a major headache to the Bb. Pilipinas people. Therefore the postponement of the pageant due to the war between Georgia and Russia, which are just near Ukraine, was a blessing in disguise.

But really, I did not expect the ending to be like this, especially with reports that Janina never resigned but was actually fired. Whatever the real score is, my heart bleeds for Janina not only because she lost a chance of a better life knowing that she comes from a poor family, but also because with what happened to her, critics have been proven right—that she should not have won in the first place. However, cliché as this could sound, but I’m using my favorite line again for this story: “Everything happens for a reason.”

On a positive note, it seems that we have a promising replacement in the person of Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up Danielle Kirsten Muriel Castaño who during the national pageant garnered the most number of minor awards such as Miss Photogenic, Miss Poise & Grace, Miss Bacchus Energy Drink, Miss Philippine Air Lines and Miss Ever Bilena. In fact, many predicted that she would either snatch the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe or World crown. Many were also disappointed after the 18-year-old Castaño failed to win a title. Apparently, destiny has another plan for this Fil-Canadian lass and I’m so excited to find out what is really destined for her in the pageant world.

However, Danielle needs a little boost to her morale because if I’m not mistaken she was the one who cried during the final interview. Her question then was, “What is the biggest problem you’ve ever faced and how did you solve it?” Her answer was, “The biggest problem I’ve ever faced is when my family separated, my parents separated. I felt really bad, and I, I was, I felt sorrow, deep sorrow, that at the end, I realized that if, that didn’t happen, I wouldn’t be a strong person, a content person of how I am, and...thank you!.”

Anyhow, the good thing with Danielle’s status is that there is not much pressure on her shoulders because she has been appointed as replacement barely three months before the international pageant. If she wins, that would a very sweet victory and if she loses, that would be an acceptable defeat. Whatever would be the outcome, I say good luck not only to Danielle but to Janina as well.

Big thanks to Ms. Press Freedom supporters

As president of E-Group (Entertainment Group) let me extend my deepest gratitude to the management of Formo, especially to the gracious Jaja Chiongbian-Rama for supporting this year’s staging of Ms. Freedom. Formo was the perfect venue and the food served was sumptuous. Thank you also to the ever-supportive Psalmstre Enterprises for the gift packs, the flowers, sash and the crown. Psalmstre has been our partner for two years now. I must thank TJ Yuri of “Istayl Nato” for choreographing the event; “Istayl Nato” host Anna Maris Igpit and TF copy editor and my friend Jobert Ocao for the energetic hosting; my editor Nathalie Tomada and community editor Divine Sanchez for facilitating everything, and of course, our lifestyle executive editor Madam Mayen Tan for the guidance and enormous support. To the entire E-Group family, thanks a lot.

I must say Ms. Press Freedom pageant has evolved a lot since it was started four years ago. The annual staging is getting better and better, with this year’s batch of candidates, I would say, is the best in the history of the said beauty contest. For they are not only beautiful, they are all gifted with wit and spontaneity, too. Congratulations to Miss Press Freedom Katrina Balmaceda of Sunstar Daily. If only she would say yes to calls for her to join Ms. Cebu, I can see her winning the title. Personally, thank you to my friend and one of the most sought-after designers in town Dexter Alazas for lending a beautiful gown to our representative Marigold Lebumfacil and the same goes to mamah Ramil Solis for Marigold’s make-up. Of course, thank you to Marigold for giving her best and making us proud with her performance. To Pinoy Dream Academy scholar Apple Abarquez, for rendering two songs for free, and to everybody, who in one way or another, supported this year’s Miss Press Freedom, thank you so much. Congratulations to all of us because with God’s guidance, Miss Press Freedom 2008 was a gigantic success!

Celebrities galore in Gaisano stores

By the way congratulations also to A.D. (Dexter Alazas) Models’ Nikki Taylor and Jam Libatog for having been chosen to grace the catwalk of the upcoming Philippine Fashion Week in Manila very soon. On the other hand, watch out for the upcoming Mr. and Ms. Gaisano Fiesta Mall 2008 this coming October 27 in Tabunok, that is after the first-ever Mr. Cebu search at the Waterfront Lahug this coming Friday October 10.

See Melissa Ricks and Matt Evans in Gaisano Fiesta Mall today at 2:30 pm and tomorrow, Yeng Constatino. I’ll also be hosting both events. Also tomorrow, Kapamilya stars Empress Schuck and Jason Abalos will be in Gaisano Balamban at 2:30 pm and in Gaisano Countrymall at 8:30 pm. Empress and Jason’s presence in Cebu would serve as the opening salvo of Gaisano Country Mall’s 15th Anniversary month-long celebration.

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