Why Lea Salonga chose Miss Angola over Shamcey

PHIL STAR:

As is our wont after a competition, whether political or beauty-related, we cry “Harang!” especially when our bet doesn’t win or ends up a runner-up or an also-ran. Admit it, we are a nation of gripers.

Case in point: The recent Miss Universe Pageant held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where our bet, Shamcey Supsup, finished third runner-up (fourth placer) to Miss Angola Leila Lopes (a hands-down winner), before Miss China (fifth) and after Miss Ukraine (second) and Miss Brazil (third).

I understand why some of us protested (suspecting “hometown decision”) that Shamcey, instead of Miss Brazil, should have placed third, basing our decision on the answers of the Top 5 in the final judging. Yes, I would say that Shamcey gave the best answer (about not changing her religious beliefs to marry the man she loves because her first love is God) and she was the only one who didn’t need an interpreter.

One sore-loser Binibini even hinted in a TV interview that “politics “ comes into play in the pageant and that during her time there was prejudice against the Asian bets so no Asian made it to the finals. The sad truth is that she ended up a “thank you, girl” simply because she didn’t measure up to the pageant’s criteria. Quiet ka na lang ha, iha!

In a text interview with Funfare Update, Lea Salonga, the fifth Filipino to sit as Miss U judge, said, “I picked Miss Angola to win. I’m not sure what the other judges did. As for why Shamcey didn’t win, it isn’t anything she did wrong. It’s just that taking overall impact into consideration, from where we were sitting, Leila Lopes was just above and beyond everyone else.”

It was Lea who asked Miss Angola the crucial question: If you could change one of your physical characteristics, what would it be and why?

Miss Angola answered in Portuguese, aided by an interpreter who kept interrupting her, making Miss Angola break into a sweet, winsome smile instead of frowning: “I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life.”

Popular winner Leila Lopes of Angola.

Some quarters criticized Lea for that kind of question but Lea and the other judges for that matter really had no choice. The questions were prepared by the Miss Universe organizers.

Added Lea, “If we weren’t unanimous in picking the winner, we almost were. Many of us were in agreement that Miss Angola should win. It’s how we each ranked the runners-up that differed. I ranked Shamcey 2nd. But another judge may have ranked her 4th or 5th. I was happy though with how Shamcey did. That 4th place out of 89. Pretty darn good, I thought.”

CONTINUE READING FROM ORIGINAL [SOURCE] 
Information Courtesy of Phil Star / Ricky Lo

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Why Lea Salonga chose Miss Angola over Shamcey

PHIL STAR:

As is our wont after a competition, whether political or beauty-related, we cry “Harang!” especially when our bet doesn’t win or ends up a runner-up or an also-ran. Admit it, we are a nation of gripers.

Case in point: The recent Miss Universe Pageant held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where our bet, Shamcey Supsup, finished third runner-up (fourth placer) to Miss Angola Leila Lopes (a hands-down winner), before Miss China (fifth) and after Miss Ukraine (second) and Miss Brazil (third).

I understand why some of us protested (suspecting “hometown decision”) that Shamcey, instead of Miss Brazil, should have placed third, basing our decision on the answers of the Top 5 in the final judging. Yes, I would say that Shamcey gave the best answer (about not changing her religious beliefs to marry the man she loves because her first love is God) and she was the only one who didn’t need an interpreter.

One sore-loser Binibini even hinted in a TV interview that “politics “ comes into play in the pageant and that during her time there was prejudice against the Asian bets so no Asian made it to the finals. The sad truth is that she ended up a “thank you, girl” simply because she didn’t measure up to the pageant’s criteria. Quiet ka na lang ha, iha!

In a text interview with Funfare Update, Lea Salonga, the fifth Filipino to sit as Miss U judge, said, “I picked Miss Angola to win. I’m not sure what the other judges did. As for why Shamcey didn’t win, it isn’t anything she did wrong. It’s just that taking overall impact into consideration, from where we were sitting, Leila Lopes was just above and beyond everyone else.”

It was Lea who asked Miss Angola the crucial question: If you could change one of your physical characteristics, what would it be and why?

Miss Angola answered in Portuguese, aided by an interpreter who kept interrupting her, making Miss Angola break into a sweet, winsome smile instead of frowning: “I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life.”

Popular winner Leila Lopes of Angola.

Some quarters criticized Lea for that kind of question but Lea and the other judges for that matter really had no choice. The questions were prepared by the Miss Universe organizers.

Added Lea, “If we weren’t unanimous in picking the winner, we almost were. Many of us were in agreement that Miss Angola should win. It’s how we each ranked the runners-up that differed. I ranked Shamcey 2nd. But another judge may have ranked her 4th or 5th. I was happy though with how Shamcey did. That 4th place out of 89. Pretty darn good, I thought.”

CONTINUE READING FROM ORIGINAL [SOURCE] 
Information Courtesy of Phil Star / Ricky Lo

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Lea Salonga named as one of the judges of Miss Universe 2011

PEP:

In-announce na ng Miss Universe Organization, spearheaded by its president Paula M. Shugart and NBC Universal head Donald J. Trump, ang celebrities and experts na uupo bilang mga judge sa 60th Miss Universe pageant.

Kabilang sa mga hurado this year ang Pinay international theater actress and singer na si Lea Salonga.

Kasama ni Lea sa judges' panel sina Helio Castroneves, three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500; Connie Chung, US broadcast legend; Isabeli Fontana, Brazilian supermodel; Vivica Fox, actress and television producer; Adrienne Maloof of Bravo's hit series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills; at Amelia Vega, Miss Universe 2003.

Nakilala si Lea Salonga sa buong mundo dahil sa pagganap niya bilang Kim sa hit stage musical na Miss Saigon noong 1989.

She went on to win numerous theater awards (for best actress in a musical) mula sa Lawrence Olivier Award ng West End, London hanggang sa prestigious Tony Awards in Broadway.

Si Lea ang pang-limang Pinoy na napiling maging judge sa Miss Universe.

Ang unang Pinoy na nag-judge sa prestihiyosong beauty pageant na ito ay si Carlos P. Romulo. He was the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs sa mga administrasyon nina President Elpidio Quirino, President Diosdado Macapagal, at President Ferdinand Marcos.

He sat as judge sa 1974 Miss Universe held here in the Philippines. Ang nanalo that year ay si Amparo Muñoz ng Spain.

Pangalawang Pinoy na naging judge sa Miss Universe ay ang international Filipino designer at founder ng The Natori Company na si Josie Cruz-Natori.

Naging judge siya sa 1989 Miss Universe held in Cancun, Mexico. Angela Visser of Holland won the crown that year.

Ang Pop Diva naman na si Kuh Ledesma ang ikatlong Pinoy na naging judge ng Miss Universe held in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991. Si Lupita Jones ng bansang Mexico ang siyang nag-uwi ng korona that year.

Ang ika-apat ay ang Chinese-Filipino businessman na si Dr. Emilio T. Yap during the 1994 Miss Universe, na ginanap dito sa Manila, kunsaan nanalo si Sushmita Sen of India.

CONTINUE READING FROM ORIGINAL [SOURCE] 
Information Courtesy of PEP / Ruel J. Mendoza

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Lea Salonga named as one of the judges of Miss Universe 2011

PEP:

In-announce na ng Miss Universe Organization, spearheaded by its president Paula M. Shugart and NBC Universal head Donald J. Trump, ang celebrities and experts na uupo bilang mga judge sa 60th Miss Universe pageant.

Kabilang sa mga hurado this year ang Pinay international theater actress and singer na si Lea Salonga.

Kasama ni Lea sa judges' panel sina Helio Castroneves, three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500; Connie Chung, US broadcast legend; Isabeli Fontana, Brazilian supermodel; Vivica Fox, actress and television producer; Adrienne Maloof of Bravo's hit series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills; at Amelia Vega, Miss Universe 2003.

Nakilala si Lea Salonga sa buong mundo dahil sa pagganap niya bilang Kim sa hit stage musical na Miss Saigon noong 1989.

She went on to win numerous theater awards (for best actress in a musical) mula sa Lawrence Olivier Award ng West End, London hanggang sa prestigious Tony Awards in Broadway.

Si Lea ang pang-limang Pinoy na napiling maging judge sa Miss Universe.

Ang unang Pinoy na nag-judge sa prestihiyosong beauty pageant na ito ay si Carlos P. Romulo. He was the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs sa mga administrasyon nina President Elpidio Quirino, President Diosdado Macapagal, at President Ferdinand Marcos.

He sat as judge sa 1974 Miss Universe held here in the Philippines. Ang nanalo that year ay si Amparo Muñoz ng Spain.

Pangalawang Pinoy na naging judge sa Miss Universe ay ang international Filipino designer at founder ng The Natori Company na si Josie Cruz-Natori.

Naging judge siya sa 1989 Miss Universe held in Cancun, Mexico. Angela Visser of Holland won the crown that year.

Ang Pop Diva naman na si Kuh Ledesma ang ikatlong Pinoy na naging judge ng Miss Universe held in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991. Si Lupita Jones ng bansang Mexico ang siyang nag-uwi ng korona that year.

Ang ika-apat ay ang Chinese-Filipino businessman na si Dr. Emilio T. Yap during the 1994 Miss Universe, na ginanap dito sa Manila, kunsaan nanalo si Sushmita Sen of India.

CONTINUE READING FROM ORIGINAL [SOURCE] 
Information Courtesy of PEP / Ruel J. Mendoza

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