After giving an exclusive interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), former Bb. Pilipinas-World 2008 Janina San Miguel made her first public appearance on Showbiz Central last Sunday, December 14. (Click here to read related article.)
This was her first TV interview after she decided to pass on the crown to first runner-up Danielle Castaño, who represented the country in the recently-concluded Miss World beauty pageant in Johannesburg, South Africa. Danielle failed in her bid to win the elusive Miss World title, which was won by Miss Russia.
Janina reiterated that she chose to give up the coveted beauty title because of the death of her grandfather.
"Untimely nga po, e, kasi po hanggang ngayon, masakit pa rin po sa akin ang pagkamatay ng lolo ko," said Janina to host Pia Guanio.
She explained, "Kasi ho, simula bata pa ako, sila po ang parang nag-aalaga sa akin, sila 'yong gumagabay sa akin—na ako ganito, ganyan, huwag kang magiging masamang impluwensiya, parang ganun. As in pinalaki nila ako nang maayos na maayos kaya masakit sa akin ang pagkamatay ng mahal ko talaga."
Pia then asked her why she decided to quit when she still had almost two months to prepare for the competition.
Janina, trying to veer away from the topic, said, "Bukod po doon, mayroon pa pong mga personal na reasons. Hindi ko po kasi puwedeng sabihin sa media."
The 18-year-old former beauty titleholder took this opportunity to defend herself from the intrigues that came out after her unexpected resignation.
First, she contradicted reports that she was unprofessional during the trainings.
Janina said, "Actually, ang mga trainings po namin is from Quezon City to Makati, so 15 minutes pa lang. Dahil gustung-gusto ko po talagang mag-training, ang ginagawa ko, sumasakay na lang po ako ng MRT. Beauty queen ka, sasakay ka ng MRT? Taxi, bus, lahat po sinasakyan namin para lang maka-attend kami sa training. Tapos sasabihin pa, iintriga pang ganyan? Ang sakit po no'n."
How about the issue that she got pregnant?
She smiled and said, "Paano po 'yon mangyayari, e, wala pa nga po akong boyfriend? Talagang ang sakit sa family ko no'n kasi kilala nila ako, e."
Despite losing the title, Janina said that she did not regret her decision. "Kasi po, kung papipiliin ako between family and pageant na 'yon, family."
She narrated one incident during the last days of her grandfather.
"Kasi ganito po ang nangyari diyan, nakakulong po ako sa Araneta. So, puro training, training, ganyan. E, bigla pong mayroong lumabas na balita sa akin tungkol sa lolo ko na malapit na raw pong mamatay. E, ayaw po talaga nila akong palabasin, as in, ‘Dito ka lang, mag-training ka lang dito.' Ang ginawa ko lang, iyak lang talaga ako nang iyak, nagmamakaawa ako para palabasin nila ako. So, thankful po ako na pinalabas po nila ako para makita ang lolo ko na nag-aagaw buhay na."
PASSING THE CROWN TO DANIELLE. When Janina passed the crown to the first runner-up, she believed that Danielle could do better than herself in representing the country.
"Actually, si Dannie po, alam kong willing na willing siyang sumali ng mga competition," Janine said. "Ready po siya kasi mayroon na po siyang agency before na tumutulong sa kanya sa lahat ng trainings, hindi katulad ko na ako lang talaga ang pumunta.
"Si Dannie, bago pa po siya sumali sa Binibining Pilipinas, mayroon na pong nagtre-train sa kanya, so professional na siya. Actually, pumunta lang po siya dito—kasi po Fil-Am siya, doon po siya lumaki sa States—pumunta lang po siya dito to compete for the title."
Unfortunately, Danielle failed to make it even in the semifinals. The title was won by Kseniya Sukhinova of Russia. (Click here to read related article )
GRAND DEBUT FOR JANINA. Despite her decision to give up the Bb. Pilipinas-World title, Janina was given a grand debut party by Stella Marquez-Araneta of Binibining Pilipinas Charity Inc. (BPCI).
"Gift po 'yon sa akin ni Madam dahil ang pagkamatay nga po ng lolo ko, talagang masakit sa akin. So, ang ginawa po niya, gift na lang po niya ang grand debut. Beside that, mayroon pa po akong mga debut na hindi ipinakita sa TV na produced naman ng family ko.
"Thankful po ako sa Araneta, kasi hindi po nila ako pinabayaan, hindi nila ako pinasama, na sobrang pressured ako dahil nga sa nangyari sa lolo ko. Basta thankful po ako sa kanila, siyempre sa family ko, sa lahat."
What did she do during the time she was avoiding the media?
Janina said that the BPCI family and her relatives helped her get away from depression and stress caused by the death of her grandfather.
Janina narrated, "Talagang tina-try po nila na maalis sa akin 'yong depression and stress. So, ang ginawa po nila, 'yong first month ng kaka-resign ko, ayaw po nila akong ipa-interview. Kasi baka ano nga naman ang itanong-tanong sa akin, kung anu-anong intriga.
"So, ang ginawa ko na lang po, nag-prepare po ako para sa debut ko. After po ng debut ko, parang may vacation treat na regalo sa akin ng family ko, so nag-tour po kami. So, ngayon, at least nakasagot na po ako dito pagbalik ko."
After everything that happened, Janina said there's no need for her to join another beauty contest. "Hindi ko na po kailangang mag-try kasi nakuha ko na major hope ko," she said.
She did not answer if she would join the local showbiz in the future. However, she told Pia that she will be focusing on her modeling career and will continue her studies next year.