By Rudy M. Viernes
Once again a Filipina beauty is on top of the world as the most beautiful having been crowned “Miss World 2013.” She is Filipino-American beauty Megan Lynne Young, 23, besting other 126 candidates from countries all over the world in ceremonies held in Bali, Indonesia recently. In fact Megan made history as the first Filipina winner of the title since the Philippines joined the pageant in 1966.
Three other Filipina beauties came close to winning the diadem earlier notably Evangeline Pascual who was 1st runner-up in 1973, Ruffa Gutierrez, 2nd runner-up in 1993 and the most recent Gwendoline Ruais, also second place in 2011.
Megan who stands 1.73 meters looked radiant in a pale pink gown as she received her tiara from Yu Wenxia, last year’s Miss world title holder. Megan was born in the United States to an Amercian father but moved at age 10 to Olongapo City where she was raised by her Filipino mother. She started appearing on screen since she was 15, starring in films, TV shows like Kapamilya and as TV presenter. She holds dual American and Filipino citizenships. She studied Digital Filmmaking at De La Salle University and has ambitions to be a film director someday.
Almost all of these Filipino candidates who represent the country in world beauty contests are mestizas. They have the tisay, good looks.
Filipinos have a checkered heritage. For 377 years of Spanish rule and 46 years of American, except a forgettable four years of Japanese, it’s not surprising if many Filipinos seem to look more Latin than Asian. Add a bit of Chinese, Indian, British, Arabian influences and you got a country endowed with a rich history, culture, language, arts and above all “hybridized” people (mixed blood.).
Filipinos are of Malay origin whose skin is dusky-brown which accounts for the joke: the Caucasian is half-cooked, the African is over-cooked, the Filipino is medium-cooked.
When the Creole friars from Spain came to the country in the 16th century after it was discovered by Magellan some skin became fairer, especially the women’s. The Filipino woman was the colonizer’s delight for her virginal innocence and naivete. She, too, looked up to the friars in awe and reverence and fresh as a daisy she proved to be too tempting a morsel to be seduced. Their progenies were half-breed or mestiza, or anak pare, with Castillian features. The most prominent example was Maria Clara, believed to have been sired by Fr. Damaso and mentioned in Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. Maria Clara was pure and demure whose dress code required that shoulders and navels are covered.
Many years later the Filipino-Spanish beauty was enhanced further when the Thomasites came. These were young American educators sent to the Philippines after the Spanish-American war to introduce English, to replace Spanish, in the schools. In no time the Filipino became literate in English (93.9%) and English became the lingua franca in legislation, in the courts, in trade and commerce, in diplomacy, and in formal gatherings.
Many of these young Americans got married to local spouses. Result: smooth-hewn facial features, soft hair, thin lips, thin noses. And almost always the result of these mixed marriages became movie stars, the likes of Gloria Romero, Amalia Fuentes, Susan Roces who were the prologues, and Marian Rivera, Bea Alonzo, Kim Chiu of the present tense. They have fair features and obvious hybrid good looks.
The Peace Corps volunteers initiated by President Kennedy also came. Many also settled in the country after their stint. They got married to Filipino spouses. And this added further to the mix. Since then the Philippines has become a favorite destination of these volunteers because of the fabled warmth, hospitality and loving care of the Filipinos. And the intermarriages go on to this day and the genetic line improves.
Since the Philippines started sending candidates to world beauty pageants there have been countless Filipina beauties who have won beauty titltes, or as runners-up. They come in various names, the first and most famous is Miss Universe. The others are Miss International, Miss World, Miss Earth. Miss Asia, Miss Tourism. These are recognizable names: Gloria Diaz, Gemma Cruz, Aurora Pijuan, Melanie Marquez, Margie Moran, Precious Lara Quigaman, Pilar Pilapil, Lalaine Bennett, Charlene Gonzales, Venus Raj, Chamcey Supsup.
According to beauty organizers a beauty contestant should have the embodiment of the total package: beauty of face, intelligence and good breeding. She must also be judged in swimsuit and in evening gown. All our Filipina beauties have ALL.
Upon their return where they competed they are welcomed as celebrities, the red carpet rolled out for them. Their life will never be the same again. They are thrashed into the limelight. They soon are offered opportunities galore–as movie actresses (whether they can act or not as they have prety faces to start with), grace fashion ramps, become product endorsees, or bag rich and famous husbands.
Winning a beauty title sure paves a clear path to staples of fame and fortune and unending horizon.
Usapang Pinay.