What we need is patience in beauty contests

This year’s Bb. Pilipinas Universe Karen Loren Agustin may not have made it in the recently-concluded Miss Universe in San Juan, Puerto Rico but I think we should give her credit for trying the best she could.

It’s a shame that we revile and almost always totally ignore our losing candidates like they were wanton women who depend on the kindness of the shadows of trees in Quezon Avenue during wild, hot nights. This isn’t fair.

It is not a crime not to win a major international title. Was it Gloria (Diaz) or Margie (Moran) who said it is about getting the approval of a group of judges who decides who the winner is? It’s being in the right place at the right time.

It’s basically about luck. After all, most of our beauty queens go to international competitions well prepared. Like Karen and the two other winners, Katherine Ann Manalo (Bb. Pilipinas World) and Kristine Alzar (Bb. Pilipinas International), who went to Colombia to undergo training.

The three girls, now known as the KKK, were trained by Javier Murillo of Colombia. Murillo is a world-famous trainer of international beauty queens. Bb. Pilipinas Charities must also be credited for investing in programs that prepare Bb. Pilipinas winners for international beauty Olympics. Karen Agustin’s gown, the famous manton de Manila was designed by Oscar Barraza of Colombia. Barraza has the record of having created 26 long evening gowns that won in international beauty pageants. Last year, our Miss Universe representative, Zora Andam, also wore a Barraza creation. Zora was first runner-up in the long gown competition.

I know this beauty contest-crazy nation has gotten really irritable and impatient, having lost in all major international beauty contests in the past decades, considering that we pay attention to beauty contests more than we honor our national heroes.

And I think everybody is trying hard: the girls, the beauty contest organizers, the Filipino nation, that is not shy to vote for its own candidates for Miss Photogenic in the Miss Universe contest via the Internet many times over.

Perhaps, it is not just our time yet. And we must be patient. And we should not treat our beauty queens rudely as we will discourage potential winners. Let’s just enjoy the journey until one Filipino brings home that $250,000 Mikimoto crown, just like in 1969 and 1973.

Meanwhile, welcome home Karen! And thank you for representing the Philippines to the best of your ability. If the Miss Universe crown went to the drop-dead gorgeous Miss Russia, then you’re probably meant for other things, other victories. You deserve our gratitude.

A new face on Lunchbreak

Jobert Sucaldito sent me photos of a new show he’s not promoting but one that he is part of. Lunchbreak is a noontime show (11 to 12:30 p.m.) aired on IBC 13 from Mondays to Saturdays. Lunchbreak is also Jobert’s biggest television outing so far. In the past, I saw him (in his trademark long hair which is hot-oiled courtesy of my sister, Kris Aquino) fighting every Tom, Dick and now Madame Auring over Alberto de Esteban. Jobert has never been shy lashing out at anyone in sight who provokes him to a fight or one who maligns him because he wears pedal pushers and sandals like he is Coco Chanel.

Jobert and another good friend (Cristinelli Fermin) do celebrity interviews everyday on Lunchbreak. If only for Cristy, and Jobert, I would switch channels once in a while to catch them indulge in verbal aerobics with their guests. I’m also very happy to see Cristinelli back on TV. The show should be fun to watch.

Rachel Harrison is an old friend from my Metropolitan Theater days. Rachel was a Karilagan model. She was pretty and kind. We’ve lost contact with each other. She got married to Keith and has been based abroad for many years now. But every time she gets a chance, Rachel stays in touch via letters which always make me feel good – about friends who have stayed in my heart through good and bad times.

"I’d be home for three days to attend a wedding: do you think we can meet-up for a drink? Would love to catch up with you," she wrote in her last e-mail.

I’m looking forward to seeing Rachel and laughing with her in wild abandon just like the good old days when supreme joy was a dinner of adobo and steamed rice in Ata’s turo-turo that moved from one tree to another in the magical, divine Mehan Garden – just like the gays who would play hide and seek with policemen in glorious, wild Mehan!