Pinoys in Moscow going all out for Ariella

MOSCOW – Filipinos in Russia are rooting for Ariella Arida, the Philippines’ candidate in the 62nd Miss Universe beauty pageant, which will be held at the Crocus City Hall here at 10 p.m. on Nov. 9 (2 a.m. Nov. 10 Manila time).

Since her arrival here last week, Arida has been greeted by cheering supporters from the Filipino community.

Arida’s Facebook page is filled with photos with her kababayans who were able to catch her during the Miss Universe candidates’ city tour and other pre-pageant events.

Even the strict security and closed-door regulations could not stop Filipinos from manifesting their support.

During the Miss Universe National Gift Charity Auction Dinner last Oct. 30, a large group of Filipinos stationed themselves by the gates of the Crocus City Mall with large banners and flags of the Philippines.

An official of the Miss Universe organization soon let Dr. Cesar Dalida, president of the Filipino Association in Russia, into the cordoned hall.

“It was a blessing. I got to meet so many candidates and I was also able to interview Miss Philippines who is so sweet and beautiful,” Dalida said.

He reminded his fellow Filipinos to vote online for Arida.

The official Miss Universe Fan Vote (www.missuniverse.com) is ongoing until Nov. 8. The winner of the poll automatically advances to the semifinal round of the pageant.

“We will again be cheering our hearts out for Ariella during the National Costume Show on Sunday,” Dalida said.

Another group of Filipinos in Russia, the Bayanihan ni Juan, is also rallying behind Arida.

“Many of us Filipinos here in Moscow will watch the pageant on Nov. 9. We are fully behind our candidate and our country,” wrote a Bayanihan ni Juan member on Arida’s Facebook page.

Another Filipino posted that it would be best if Filipinos would comprise half of the pageant’s audience on Nov. 9.

Dalida said that although filling the 7,500-seat capacity Crocus City Hall may sound too ambitious, more than 200 tickets have been bought by Filipinos for the pageant finals and “many more are buying.”

There are around 2,000 Filipinos in Moscow, among them former Soviet Union scholars who have found employment in private establishments and foreign embassies, household service workers, chefs and finance specialists.

Shining moments

Out of 86 Miss Universe hopefuls, Arida and 26 others were chosen to take part in the Tony Ward Couture Fashion show last week.

Arida was also selected to be part of a Mercedes-Benz television commercial along with four other Miss Universe candidates.

Eighteen bets were also picked to participate in the Yamamay Swimwear Show and model the official swimwear for the pageant.

While participation in these events will not affect the scoring of the pageant, the chosen candidates were nevertheless given significant exposure to the public and the media.

Final week

The preliminary round will be held on Nov. 5 where 16 semifinalists will be chosen.

The two-hour final competition on Nov. 9, which will be telecast live from Moscow, will be hosted by MSNBC Live’s anchor Thomas Roberts and America’s Got Talent judge Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls singing group.

An estimated one billion viewers across 190 nations are expected to tune in.