Gwendoline's asset may be her liability

Her height, which she carries with natural gracefulness (no need for any “crash course” in poise, thank you!), no doubt helped Gwendoline Ruais (pronounced Ru-wé, silent “s;” she’s half-French/half-Filipina) clinch first runner-up honors at the recent 2011 Miss World pageant in London won by Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela, the highest finish in the only prestigious world beauty contest not won by a Filipina (after Evangeline Pascual also won first runner-up to USA’s Marjorie Wallace in 1973).

But that asset might prove to be Gwendoline’s liability if ever, as planned, she joins showbiz. At 5’11” (almost 6’5” on heels), the shortest among three siblings (her older sister Gwenaelle, 2010 Miss Philippines-Earth Fire, stands 6’2” and her brother Thibaut is also a six-footer), she will have difficulty finding a leading man as tall as, but better still, taller than she is. The few who “qualify” include Dingdong Dantes, Richard Gutierrez, Mikael Daez and Zanjoe Marudo…but definitely not Aljur Abrenica who is said to be her “crush” (being matched with Gwendoline by Cory Quirino, national director of Miss World Philippines).

Somebody suggested in jest that if she ever ventures into acting, Gwendoline’s movie debut should be titled Dwarfino, with her towering over her leading man (candidate: John Prats who’s fond of girls far taller than he is, like former Miss Earth Karla Henry and Bianca Manalo). Or what about a remake of Agatona, the movie Melanie Marquez starred in after she won Miss International in 1979.

Luckily, so far Gwendoline doesn’t aspire to be an actress, thank you (again!).

“I’d love to be a talk-show host,” she told Funfare during a brief chat last Saturday when she guested on Startalk, barely 24 hours after she flew in from Paris (where Gwenaelle lives by her lonesome) where she took a much-needed vacation after the Miss World pageant. “I guess that’s where I best fit in.”

Asked if her boyfriend doesn’t feel insecure with her Miss World victory, Gwendoline, 21, said, “I don’t have a boyfriend. I haven’t had one.”

Besides being articulate and intelligent (she finished college at Southville Foreign University), Gwendoline handily wins people with her being down-to-earth, unaffected by her overnight stardom unlike some beauty queens who easily get intoxicated with the first taste of fame.

In 2010, she finished one of the Top 10 in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant won by Venus Raj (named fourth runner-up in that year’s Miss Universe pageant). Asked if she felt vindicated by winning first runner-up in the Miss World contest (the highest honor earned by a Filipina this year), the oldest in the world with 113 competing this year (as compared to the 83 who joined this year’s Miss Universe pageant, second only in size and scope), Gwendoline smiled, her voice devoid of bitterness when she answered.

“‘Vindicated’ is not the right word,” she said.

Blessing in disguise then?

“Yes,” she agreed, “it’s more like a blessing in disguise. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have won Miss World Philippines and not gone to London for the Miss World pageant.”

Gwendoline was given a rousing welcome at the Midas Hotel (official home of the Miss World Philippines contestants) where she proceeded Friday night upon her arrival from Paris, home country of her father, Monsieur Vincent Ruais, a deadringer for Australian actor Geoffrey Rush, who used to work for Air France (he’s retired). Her mother, Malou Ramos, used to be a model. Gwendoline’s parents met in Paris.

“Gwendoline was greeted with fireworks when she arrived at the Midas Hotel,” reported Celso de Guzman Caparas, Funfare’s “other beauty expert.” Present were Gwendoline’s parents, siblings and executives of GMA 7 (which aired the Miss World Philippines and the Miss World pageants), SMDC (which donated one of the major prizes), students from Gwendoline’s alma mater and Cory Quirino who escorted Gwendoline on the red carpet rolled out at the lobby.

Added Celso, “Gwendoline said that it was in the Talent Fast Track that she had a hard time but she did her best in the Beach Beauty and Top Model Fast Tracks where she was one of the finalists. She was also among the Top 10 in the coveted Beauty with a Purpose competition. Asked if she was disappointed that she didn’t win, she said, ‘No, not at all, because to be one of the semi-finalists among the 113 contestants is already an achievement, what more being named First Princess’.”

After New Year, Gwen will travel with other Miss World winners to different parts of the globe to carry out the undertakings of Julia Morley’s Beauty with a Purpose program. Among the beauties whom she bonded well were Miss Thailand Patcharida Julieanna Blatchford and Miss Peru Odilia Pamela Garcia Pineda. She aspires to become a television host if ever she will enter the show business.

Today after guesting on the GMA early-morning show Unang Hirit, Gwendoline will grace a parade around the city. Then, she will make a courtesy call on Congress, the Office of the Vice President and possibly the Office of the President.

Incidentally, the Miss World pageant might be held in the Philippines for the first time in 2013. That is, if Cory Quirino wins the bid. Miss World 2012 will be held in Inner Mongolia.

Pinay beauty queen Best Actress in Manhattan Int’l Film Festival

While we are at it, here’s good news about a former beauty queen who has just won honors for the country in another field — acting — as reported by Felix Manuel, one of Funfare’s “beauty experts.”

Mutya ng Pilipinas 2001 runner-up and 2007 Miss Philippines-Earth finalist Liza Diño received the lone acting award at the 2011 International Film Festival Manhattan during the Awards Night held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Consulate in New York City last Nov. 18. She won for her pivotal role in the movie Compound directed by Will Fredo.

Felix noted that Liza is an accomplished Flamenco dancer who has done numerous indie films while she was living in Manila. In 2008, she moved to California and finished a course at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles and is presently working at Spago in Beverly Hills. Whenever she travels to the Philippines, she tries to continue her passion for acting.

Reported Felix, “The former GMA network artist was overwhelmed when her name was announced. Said Liza, ‘I never expected this. There are numerous brilliant actors that participated this year and I feel so blessed to have been chosen to receive the Achievement in Acting Award. This is my very first time to win an award for acting and I share the glory with every Filipino.’” 

Many Fil-Americans trooped to watch the event despite the cold weather. Many were surprised to see actor Emilio Garcia who presented an award during the ceremony. He is cast in the Joel Lamangan film Sagrada Familia which was also featured in the festival.

International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) featured a quality selection of world-class films that were showcased in downtown Manhattan at the historic Quad Cinemas. The program covered different genres — narrative features, documentaries, shorts and student films from all over the world. IFFM also focused on social relevance as part of its programming and goals.

Here are the other winners:

• Best Global Narrative: Liberacion; Director: Rodolfo Alix Jr. (Philippines/Japan)

• Best US Narrative: Downtown — A Street Tale; Director: Rafael Zielinski

• Best Global Documentary: Forgotten Soldiers; Director: Donald Plata

• Best US Documentary: Big in Bollywood; Directors: Bill Knowles and Kenny Meehan

• Best Short Film: Uguisu; Director: Kosuke Furukawa (Japan)

• Best Music Video: Louder; Director: Tim Cruz (USA)

• Box Office Hit: Cinema Nights

• Best of the Fest: Big in Bollywood (USA)

Briefly noted

• Miss Universe 2010 fourth runner-up Venus Raj officially joined as World Hunger Relief Volunteer of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Nov. 17.  Venus, who was recently appointed as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Ambassador for Poor Children’s Rights and Welfare, hopes the Christmas season will further invigorate the spirit of giving among Filipinos to unselfishly support the noble endeavor of WFP. Venus went around and sold cards to customers and autographed them. Christmas cards are available in all Pizza Hut and Taco Bell outlets.

The campaign, launched at the Pizza Hut Restaurant at SM Araneta Center, was also attended by WFP Philippines Country Director and Representative Stephen Anderson, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Philippines Chief Operating Officer Lars Peterson and Pizza Hut Asia Pacific Marketing Director Michael Tang.

In the Philippines, more than 165 Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants are raising money during the campaign to help the WFP which, in partnership with the DSWD and the Department of Education (DepEd), provides nutritious meals to 80,000 elementary school students in conflict-affected areas of Central Mindanao. Earlier this year, Pizza Hut turned over P4.5M to WFP to support its School Feeding Programme in Central Mindanao, which generated about 450,000 meals for the 80,000 school children WFP has been assisting.” — Reported by Celso De Guzman Caparas

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