ARE we not suckers for beauty pageants? From Mutya ng Barangay, Mutya ng Lungsod, Binibining Pilipinas, Miss Earth, Miss International, Miss World, Miss anything and the ultimate, Miss Universe. How we gaze at the sight of beauties in eye-popping modern national costumes, elegant gowns and stunning swimsuits. How we become instant judges in interview portions. How we cheer for our bets.
So imagine the euphoria of us hosting the Miss Universe this year. Imagine the 87 beauties from 87 countries stepping to our Third World haven of sun, beaches, food, indigenous dances, and fashion.
Imagining that thrill is great. But experiencing it live is not without the hitches.
In the Davao pre-pageant events last Thursday, school kids made to wait for hours with flags in hand to welcome some 20 contestants arriving at Eden Nature Park in Toril. The scheduled arrival was 10 a.m., they actually arrived around 3 p.m. The kids waited under the sun and rain with no food. Imagine how the organizers failed to prepare for their food.
A taxi driver I asked said he brought passengers to the park but they were barred from entering the road to Eden. Security was thick to keep onlookers at bay.
“Only those people in big vehicles were allowed to go in. Only they got to see the beautiful contestants up close,” the driver said.
The fashion show later that night at SMX Convention Center was announced as a showcase of Mindanao's indigenous culture. But they didn’t ramp on stage in pure indigenous costume, but rather of a fusion of indigenous fabrics in modern designs.
Cultural artist Bejay Absin commented that this fusion “simply grafts a local craft into a colonial, repressive silhouette. It does not even reflect the struggles of the people behind the weaving loom.” Does it reflect the Mindanao culture or history of the lumads who are victims of militarization and marginalization? He asked.
Event organizers said the candidates got to see Mindanao's culture. But actually, all candidates were backstage dressing up when cultural intermissions took place.
So much for the hype of making the Miss Universe event an exposure to our culture. If anything, the attention of pageants is on the beauties themselves and we are just the platform. It's kind of hard to find the rationale of Miss U where we live in a planet of diverse colors, race, cultures, histories and gender roles. What's the criteria of judging who's the most beautiful in the world, or as they claim the most beautiful in the universe?
Is it the svelte figure, the pearly-white smiles, or the wittiest remarks? If the last is the case, we are in trouble. Netizens are moaning how our bet Maxine Medina is incoherent in interviews. Is it the language? Is it the content? When has English become a medium of smartness? Can't Ms. Philippines speak in Tagalog in our home turf?
But we're not supposed to take this pageant and tourism bonanza seriously, as the first Filipina Miss Universe Gloria Diaz said, “This is not a brain contest.”
So there. We should just enjoy the spectacle. Distract ourselves from the killings in the streets and Duterte’s mouth. Let's focus on beauties talk about world peace while government and communist fighters struggle with the peace talks this week in Rome.
If they talk of women's rights, why not join the Gabriela organization, a critique of beauty pageants, if you want to be an advocate? My friend asks.
Indeed, two beauty queens, the late Maita Gomez and Nelia Sancho, turned activists during Martial Law and they made a big difference.
Should we be happy about Miss Universe? I remember back in 1994, when we hosted Miss Universe. Activists rallied at Central Bank where the candidates held a fashion show.
The rally was quietly shooed away by police, an elderly woman marched away shouting, “Ibagsak! Ibagsak ang Universe!”
Not seriously, that’s a good slogan for equality and world peace.
tyvelez@gmail.com
