Miss Universe: A Personal Holiday

"Once a year, I try to sleep early on a Sunday night just to have full energy the following morning because somewhere on Earth, someone will be crowned as the new queen of the universe."

Pero iba ang nangyari kagabi, nakatulog ako eh 03:00AM na. Bakit? Dahil sa kakapanuod ng Hot Picks ng ibat-ibang pageant channels sa YouTube. I thought it was a great way para mas maintindihan ko kung bakit pwedeng manalo si ganito from this country. But deep inside, alam kong hinahanap ko lang talaga ang mga masasabi nila tungkol kay Miss Philippines. And yes, masaya ako whenever I heard positive things about her, that she'd make it to the Top 20. Aaminin ko, umasa talaga ako na may chance na mag-back-to-back ang Pilipinas with Gazini on the stage.

With all the things na napanuod, narinig, at nabasa ko online, I thought malakas talaga ang laban niya. Si ate gurl, aminin natin, magaling siyang rumampa. I think it's the model in her that just made me thought na kayang-kaya niya, that she could slay all the way. Hanga ako sa performance niya during the preliminary swimsuit and evening gown competition. Isama mo pa ang bonggang-bongga niyang national costume.

But some of the videos na napanuod ko last night made me realized na baka hindi rin kayanin ni ate gurl. Pero dahil alas-tres na eh natulog na lang ako and didn't think of those things anymore. So nag-alarm ako ng 07:30AM para may time pa akong mag-prepare bago magsimula ang live telecast.

And 08:00AM came, sigaw ako nang sigaw ng "Philippines!" sa apartment ko kahit na solo lang ako. Maybe some of my neighbors heard me pero keri na, basta sisigaw ako. Even my groupchat in Telegram with my officemates eh ang ingay-ingay. Then, came the announcement of the semi-finalists from Africa and Asia-Pacific. I died inside when Philippines was never called. Sa isip-isip ko, baka magaya 'to kay Rachel Peters. But I was relieved when she was called first during the wild cards announcement.

I smiled when Steve Harvey was interviewing her, she looked so relaxed. But I think kinabahan na siya during the opening statement, with all the other candidates na nauna nang nagsalita like Indonesia and Mexico na super ganda at klaro ng speech template and delivery. Sa unang rinig ko sa sinabi nya, may parts na halos hindi ko talaga naintindihan. So, I searched and re-watched her speech on YouTube, and here's what she said:

“The world is aging and my grandparents raised me, and I worked in an organization that was supporting elderly care. I realized that there’s this stigma between ageism, poverty, exclusivity and invincibility. It is rightful for us to remember that they were the ones who paved the way for us and we should reciprocate that love and no one should ever be left behind. Thank you!”

I think it's her way of delivery kaya hindi ko gaanong naintindihan ang speech niya, she sounded so rehearsed, not to mention na nag-stutter din siya. You may or may not agree on this, pero mas nakaka-move talaga ang isang speech kapag ramdam mo ang puso at sincerity ng speaker. Also, parang ang daming nangyayari sa speech niya. I think a brief and concise story of her advocacy would have been enough. Kung ako siguro ang gumawa ng speech niya, I would have made it this way:

"I was raised by my grandparents and through the years, I've observed and realized that there's a stigma around ageism. I believe that we, the younger generations, should always give love and compassion to our beloved elders. That's why I've been dedicating my time and have been working with an organization that has been supporting elderly care. Thank you!"

Sa lahat ng mga narinig at nabasa ko about public speaking, it's always effective to tell a story using simple words, words that when you hear you could readily paint a picture in your mind.

Anyway, the moment na natawag na si Mexico, tinanggap ko na sa isip ko na hindi na makakaabante ang Pilipinas, though sumigaw pa rin ako ng "Philippines" hanggang tawagin na ang Thailand. Then came Olivia Culpo. Naalala ko na naman ang nangyari kay Janine, hanggang ngayon eh naiinis pa rin ako na hindi siya ang nanalo noong 2012. Mas lalo tuloy akong nalungkot. Kaya after ng unang paglabas ni Cat, pinatay ko na kaagad ang TV ko and tried to sleep the loneliness away. Also, below were some of the other things that were in my mind while watching the pageant:

• Magaling magsalita si USA, Indonesia, at Mexico.

• Sana si Indonesia ang manalo kung sakaling makapasok si Thailand at hindi na umabante si Philippines.

• Eh hindi nakasama sa Top 5 si Indonesia, Mexico at South Africa na.

• Gustong-gusto kong makita ang evening gown ni Gazini pero hindi na siya ulit nahagip ng camera bago ko i-turn off ang TV.

Dahil nga tinulugan ko na ang crowning, I had to watch every segment na hindi ko napanuod on Twitter. At iba din talaga ang kalibre ng Top 3 this year pagdating sa public speaking, lahat nangangain ng mic. Very commendable ang sagot ni South Africa sa final question. Pero tumatak din ang final statement ni Puerto Rico. Talking about making a statement, she really nailed that part. And I think hindi rin makakapasok ang Pilipinas sa Top 3 given how the announced Top 3 performed.

Last na 'to, I was so relieved na hindi Thailand ang nanalo. Don't ask we why, hindi ko din alam kung bakit. Hahaha.