In a novelist’s fertile imagination there’s a “Dead Poets Society.” In a mad poet’s searching mind he can ask: If there are Beauty Contests, why can’t there be an “Ugly Contest”? The poet after all is not afraid to write there is also beauty in ugliness. So also is the writer who proved Ugly Betty is not really ugly but pretty in looks, talents and the fistful of dollars the box office puts into her Gucci bag.
A beauty contest is one neat way of stacking up the beauties in the human pyramid . Those closest to physical perfection gets to the top of the heap. Which does not necessarily mean those below them are ugly. A Beauty contest is a measure of human distinction of the beautiful, pleasant and wholesome extra-ordinariness. Just like in the academe, distinction is pyramidal. Topmost are the summa cum laudes, followed by the magnas, then the plain cum laudes. Which absolutely do not mean that the rest of the graduates are dumdums or nincompoops. OR LESS SEXY.
When beauty contests all started, sexiness, sensuality or just being sexy was not a primordial criterion. Even now a contestant’s figure or magnetism for desire arousal may not be an explicit measure to choose the winners. Where before natural beauty may have been sufficient to win the title of Miss Something, nowadays it is BEAUTY PLUS (natural or scientifically enhanced) that counts. The PLUS (bathing suits, interviews, shape enhancement, etc.) spells out the rigors of the modern feminine combat for the crown.
In the beginning beauty contests became part of International Fair and Carnivals. The first Miss Universe contest established in 1952 had its first winner graced the first (and may be the only) Manila International Fair in 1952. First Miss Universe Armi Kuusela of Finland came to Manila as the honored guest of the 1952 Manila International Fair. I was first year in high school and had seen her in a street parade and in the Fair.
Because at the time contestants were considered untampered by commercially aggressive cosmetology and their beauties very natural, crowned beauties like Miss Armi seemed unsurpassed to this day. As far as I know two Filipinos contested for her heart. A Mr. De Las Alas and Mr. Virgilio Hilario. After an international wooing and relentless amorous pursuit, Mr. Virgilio Hilario, a low profile Filipino Romeo won Miss Armi’s heart and hand. From the very little that I know, Mrs. Armi Kuusela-Hilario had remained all her life an exemplary low profile celebrity, away from the harsh limelight, uncontroversial, a good Fin-Filipino citizen.
If the above musings are shadows of beauty contests, the contests too have their underbelly. Which will in general refer to the “subways” of the contest that lead to controversies, hurt feelings, broken friendships and unnecessary misunderstanding; which occur less among the beauty contenders and afflict more the organizers or event managers.
To hold a beauty contest is to do a project; to plan and manage a project is the more precise statement. There is no better or more rational way. It is not just an activity or event. A beauty contest is many activities and many events. It is special, like a special kind of investment as determined by the contest’s purpose or objective. In short, its desired outcome. Is the contest to generate goodwill and cultural cohesion? participation and unity in the community? A cultural showcase? or a tribute to the vitality of the youth? Or first and foremost for CHARITY FUND RAISING OR CASH COW? The clarity of purpose dictates the kind and quality of resources required for successful project completion.
The project budget is the UNDERBELLY of a beauty contest. Without a budget, the project is an expensive joke. Haphazardly prepared or whimsically executed, the project budget is a little better than a joke of Russell Peters. It becomes a document of cost slippage or cost over runs. That’s why a beauty contest has definite beginnings and endings to show starts and stops of cash inflows and cash outflows. Accountants and auditors know their crucial importance when they manufacture (excuse this word) or examine the three project financial statements namely: sources and application of funds, profit and loss (income) statement and where applicable, the balance sheet. The law anywhere and elsewhere protects the integrity and therefore survival of businesses through regulations of these three financial statements.
It is NOT UNIQUE to the Filipino culture alone but that in most contest like the annual movie selection of best pictures, best actress, best actor and best whatever; the non winners and their fans or supporters always, like unfailing sunrise and sunset have complaints that cast doubts into the impartiality and fairness of judges.
In beauty contests, the magnifying glass is focus on the personnel in the kitchen to find out if they have soot in their fingers. “I am sorry, I can’t explained it. It is so complicated,” so says a penitent husband to his wife. The whole matter is as complicated as when a cheating husband caught by the wife in flagrante delicto explains his infidelity was caused by pure love. So the thing continues to happen among married couples and continually in beauty contests.
As I gathered from BALITA Toronto there is for several weeks now what I deemed as mild controversy simmering in the great city of Toronto among very few kababayans. The controversy SEEMS (note capitalized) about money. In a community where barter and not money effect the exchange of goods and goodwill and friendship, money is no cause for either disgrace or greed. Money replacing barter should produce the same effects even if controversies arise. The point is there are many solutions that can provide a good way out of the controversy without the need to put on the dock or investigate the personalities now under the spotlight. However, doing nothing is not one of them.
The Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) members with a given: the presumption of being able and willing to discharge their duties, can without doubt do more than the routine. They can MAKE THE GAME CHANGE without publicly opening closets; without investigating or punishing anyone. HOW? Really, HOW? It is what a council means, in ideas, action and wisdom. It feels like looking for a better road not exactly tuwid na daan, but something constant and consistently lasting. Something world class or Canadian.