Chop the pork and beauty pageant gaffe

• Angry but peaceful anti-pork protest held in Bohol

• Latest beauty pageant gaffe in America goes viral

Last week’s highlights and surprises:

Surprise: On Miley Cyrus' twerking performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, many find it awkward. We were surprised to see her tongue constantly sticking out, grabbing her crotch, molesting a dancer's butt and grinding aggressively against Robin Thicke and sucking a foam finger! Looking at the audience reaction that awarding night, most of them were dumbfounded. Many didn’t find it sexy including my nephews and cousins who liked her during her Hannah Montana days.)

Highlight: In Bohol, less than 200 concerned citizens and taxpayers came to Plaza Rizal in Tagbilaran City to join the nationwide Million March Protest, demanding an end to the alleged misuse of public funds.

Spotted in the event was former provincial administrator Antonio Amora who joined the crowd in giving burning insights about the pressing issue.

Marianito Luspo came to protest the pork barrel misuse.

Environmental activist  Zenaida Darunday, who came with friends Adelia Dela Serna, Rosemarie Schwartz, Winston Bolo, Novis Lagunay, Dr. Virgie Bube, Roebert Varquez, Bert Gacera, Celio Tomoc, said they attended the event to show their outrage on the pork barrel system of the government.

Angry but peaceful Million March anti-pork protest was held in Bohol last Monday banding people from different walks of life and many sectors of society.- LPU

 

Doris Dinorog-Obena was there as one of the volunteers who “organized” the citizen-driven activity.

“We are here to signify our sentiments to scrap the pork and any form, our stand is not to be resurrected in any form,” said Dinorog-Obena.

There were also Mitzi Ibaya, teacher DenDen Calope, Lope Hubac, Atty. Alma Aparece with former CM-SCA Secretariat members, Fr. Dennis Salazar, Pat Ruiz, Dr. Zaldy Buac, Ric Ramasola, Engr. James Uy and Noel Uy.

Miko Cañares was also at the Plaza Rizal to show support to the people's demand for transparency and accountability from our government officials. His wife Arlene Salgados and kid were also there.

Mytee Palo shared the sentiment of the people. There were also NGO people like Alvin Acuzar and his two kids, Emie Roslinda, Joy Balane, Regina Estorba-Macalandag and Liza Macalandag.

There were also Jeff Bernasor, A. Hontanosas, Doy Bantugan, Rey Anthony Chiu, Judith Sumatra-Uy, Ric Obedencio, Paul Vistal, Nobet Bolo and some BCBP members.

During the mass at the St. Joseph Cathedral, there were Atty. Myrna Pagsuberon, Marissa Tuazon of Pakisama,  Suki Plaza Cyrus Lobrigas, Ruben Balistoy, Inting Loquellano and Msgr. Nalzaro.

The participants also agreed to ask the former congressmen who are allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam to explain to the Boholano people.

 “Nagkasinabot sab mi sa among tapuk karun nga manawagan sa kanhi congressmen nga naapil sa mga congresman nga nagahatag sa grupo ni Napoles,” said Acuzar. “Ihatag nila ang responsibilidad nga masabtan sa lalawigang Bol-anon kung giunsa, ug asa ug kinsa ang gitagaan sa maong pondo. Tungod kay mituo ta nga ang kausaban sa panawagan sa maong abolition sa PDAF magsugod diri sa atong lokal.”

After the Million March, the fugitive Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged brains of the P10-billion pork barrel scam, surprised the whole nation when, after hiding for two weeks, suddenly surrendered to Pres. Aquino.

Stay tuned: The night Napoles surrendered, the pork barrel scam saga is far from over.

***

I bet you didn’t know that a Filipina is probably the most well-known pageant contestant right now.

After US-based Boholano socialite Mikey Gatal uploaded the video of the QnA portion of the Miss Philippines-USA 2013 held in California, it has gone viral, appearing on multiple news sites such as the E! News, Huffington Post, Daily Mail and CNN.

Candidate Number 13 Joanlia Lising was asked by a presenter which of the “five senses” (vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch) she would pick if she could only choose one.

Joanlia Lising's nervous answer was: “Thank you for that wonderful question."If I have to pick out of the five senses, I would pick seeing, because seeing is the best sense that we can ever see, because seeing is believing, and believing into what you see is perfect... and... um... out of all those senses... seeing... would really be wonderful... thank you... that will be it.”

What?!?

The Miss Philippines USA 2013 candidate’s cringe-inducing Q&A answer becomes a viral video hit. –Screenshot from CNN

Everyone was confused.

I’d asked Mikey (who was one of those behind the search) for his comment.

“First of all, thanks for your great understanding, about the pageant thing, I really felt so bad about the whole situation, I did not mean to hurt Joanlia Lising, I just did my part to blog all candidates Q and A, didn't expect this will become a big issue and it went viral,” said Mikey.

In my opinion, Lising was probably overly nervous.

Remember, it is not easy to be onstage. Ask any candidate and she would agree. Right Raul?

The interview portion is always the most dreaded segment in a beauty pageant. It is in this segment that we love to hear how smart and eloquent the candidates are. Most of the time, in beauty contest you can't easily find a perfect mix-up of beauty and brains.

Meanwhile, the annual charity project of Mikey (thru his Mikey Gatal Charity Inc.  in cooperation with Guindulman Association of California,Southern Area or GACSA)  was held on August 24 in Barangay Canhaway, Guindulman. 

Mikey gave out slippers to children too poor to afford them.

Mikey came out with the idea years ago during her vacation in Bohol.  He had realized the extent of the need for slippers, which is something a lot of people take for granted.

“More than 300 kids have received new and nice slippers they can use,” said Nikki Gatal-Quintia who supervised the activity.

***

Thank God, it’s September 1!

Do you smell Christmas in the air? Welcome the “ber” months!

The start of September also means that Christmas is just around the corner as the world’s longest Christmas season unfolds in the Philippines.

Never mind if the whole country just got shaken by the pork barrel scam, the Filipinos’ enduring spirit could never be shut down.

Today, radio programs begin playing holiday tunes. It can’t be denied that Christmas songs can help lift our moods.  And the thought of Christmas decor and Christmas bonus make the “Ber” months more exciting!

Now that the “Ber” month is finally upon us, the mornings are expected to get colder in the coming days.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Note: As you read this paper, I already sent my Christmas greetings to my high school classmate and VDT-LC principal Elaine Joy Auza. We have had our contest of “Who Can Greet First Merry Christmas on September 1” since we’re in high school. As expected, I won for the nth time!

***

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Latest beauty pageant gaffe in America goes viral

CNN has featured the answer and embarrassing video of the recently concluded Miss Philippines-USA 2013 that goes viral.

The Miss Philippines-USA 2013 was held on August 18, 2013 at the La Mirada Theatre and Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California.

During the pageant night, candidate Number 13 Joanlia Lising was asked by a presenter which of the “five senses” (vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch) she would pick if she could only choose one.

Joanlia Lising's nervous answer was: 'Thank you for that wonderful question."If I have to pick out of the five senses, I would pick seeing, because seeing is the best sense that we can ever see, because seeing is believing, and believing into what you see is perfect... and... um... out of all those senses... seeing... would really be wonderful... thank you... that will be it.”

What?!?

Everyone was confused.

I have contacted my friend Mikey Gatal who uploaded the video to ask his side if what is his feeling right now that his video went viral.

He is totally blank.

Mikey Gatal said, “First of all, thanks for your great understanding, about the pageant thing, I really felt so bad about the whole situation, I did not mean to hurt Joanlia Lising, I just did my part to blog all candidates Q and A, didn't expect this will become a big issue and it went viral!”

In my opinion, Lising was probably overly nervous.

Remember, it is not easy to be onstage. Ask any candidate and she would agree.
 

Mikey Gatal and Joanlia Lising

The interview portion is always the most dreaded segment in a beauty pageant. It is in this segment that we love to hear how smart and eloquent the candidates are. Most of the time, in beauty contest you can't easily find a perfect mix-up of beauty and brains.

In my coverage on beauty pageants, personal questions and sometimes intimate details about the life of the candidates gets difficult answer. But there are those national issues and simple questions that can get a hard time for the candidate to think of an answer.

Beauty pageant gaffe not only happens in local pageants but even in prestigious pageants like Miss USA and Miss Teen USA that candidates give fluffed or terrible answers.

Remember Miss Teen USA contestant Lauren Caitlin Upton, who in 2007 eloquently reminded the nation why some Americans can’t locate their own country on a map? That was worst answer.

Miss Utah, Marissa Powell had also her own gaffe. She was asked a question about a report which found that although women are the primary earners in 40 per cent of American families with children, they continue to earn less than men.

"What does this say about society?" the judge asked.

"I think we can relate this back to education," Powell began, beaming. "And how we are continuing to try to strive to figure out how to create jobs right now. hat is the biggest problem. And I think, especially the men are ... seen as the leaders of this and so we need to see how to … create education better. So that we can solve this problem. Thank you."

And how about Miss California 2009 Carrie Prejean whose answer created a commotion.

When asked about legalizing same sex marriage in America, she hailed the United States as a land of choice. "It's great that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage."
 

Joanlia Lising

The concept of beauty has evolved from mere physical attributes. Even if it is a beauty contests, intelligence and wit have become part of the package. Winners become ambassadors of goodwill and spokespersons in charitable organizations. To become one means being able to express herself clearly and sensibly.

For me in order to stop the blunder, ladies should be comfortable on stage and enjoy the event. In the Q&A portion, they should speak from the heart and express what they truly feel about a subject or issue. Speak to express not to impress!