She won’t give up crown for BF

MANILA, Philippines - “Nothing and no one can make me give up the crown. I really worked hard for it. I believe that it has been planned by Him. If I give up the crown, para ko na ring ginive-up ang plan Niya for me.”

That was what Janine Mari Tugonon, 23, said last April after she was chosen as 2012 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe.

“I worked hard for this title,” she added, referring to her second try at the pageant after becoming first runner-up in 2011 to Shamcey Supsup, who went on to place third runner-up (fourth place) in that year’s Miss Universe pageant won by Leila Lopes of Angola.

In a phone patch interview with GMA News TV yesterday, hours after she finished second to Miss USA Olivia Culpo in the 61st Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, Janine said she would remain faithful to her boyfriend, identified as Jaypee Santos who, according to STAR sources, she met while they were working at an Information Technology company, he as software engineer and she as a pharmacist (Janine graduated B.S. Pharmacy cum laude from UST). They started going steady only in April last year after Janine bagged the Binibini crown.

Janine wowed the Las Vegas crowd when she was asked the final question by judge Nigel Barker: “As an international ambassador, do you think that speaking English should be prerequisite for Miss Universe? Why or why not?”

And she answered, “For me, it is not about speaking a specific language, it is about being able to influence and inspire other people. No matter what language you have as long as you have the heart and a strong mind, you can be Miss Universe.”

While most of Janine’s relatives, led by her mom, were in Las Vegas to give her moral support, Jaypee wasn’t able to be with them because he was refused a US visa.

“So I just watched the pageant on TV,” Jaypee told The STAR, adding that, unlike most Filipinos, he wasn’t disappointed that Janine was only first runner-up. “She deserved it because sobrang hirap ang dinaanan niya (it was a very difficult road for her). When she was called among the Top 5, I thought it was already a big achievement.”

Since her Miss U finish will surely turn Janine into an overnight star, just like it did to Venus Raj (2010, fourth runner-up) and Shamcey Supsup (2011, third runner-up), isn’t Jaypee worried or insecure that she might change?

“I don’t think she will,” said Jaypee with certainty. “She’s the kind of person whose feet will remain firmly planted on the ground. Lagi siyang nakatapak sa lupa kahit saan makarating at kahit ano ang marating (She’s down to earth no matter what she achieves or where she goes).”

Asked if he would offer Janine marriage after her reign as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, Jaypee said no.

“She still has so many plans,” explained Jaypee. “She doesn’t feel complete yet. She wants to take up a course in business.”

And how would Jaypee describe Janine in three words?

“Simple, kind and sweet.”