GORGY RULA
Sa Sabado, Pebrero 18, 2023, ay pipiliin na ang official candidates sa Miss Universe Philippines 2023.
Unang napabalita ang pagsali muli ni Michelle Dee, at aminado ang Kapuso beauty queen-actress na hindi naman mawawala ang pressure sa pagsali niya muli sa naturang beauty pageant.
“Siyempre naman. May pressure naman dun. Hindi naman tayo puwedeng sumali na hindi kinakabahan. But yung pressure ko lang naman po is to be better than my last,” pakli ni Michelle nang nakatsikahan namin sa nakaraang mediacon ng Mga Lihim ni Urduja.
Ang isa pang nakapanayam ng PEP Troika na nagbabakasakali rin sa Miss Universe Philippines ay ang 27-year-old single mom na si Mary Eileen Gonzales.
Siya rin ang kauna-unahang single mom na nanalong Miss Global Philippines nung taong 2018.
Since open na ang Miss Universe sa mga babaeng may anak na at pati sa trans woman, natuwa si Mary Eileen dahil mabibigyan na siya ng pagkakataong makasali sa Miss Universe Philippines.
Ang mensaheng gustong iparating ni Mary Eileen sa pagsali niya, “Gusto kong iparating na being a single mom will not stop you from getting your dreams. Especially kung meron kang gustong i-share na makakatulong ka sa iba.
“Just continue, and live your dreams.”
Ang ama ng baby boy ni Mary Eileen ay ang dating taga-StarStruck at naging runner-up din sa Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up na si Johan Santos.
Six years old na ang kanilang anak, at okay naman daw sila ni Johan na hindi nakakalimot sa responsibilidad nito bilang ama ng kanilang anak.
“In terms of financial naman, nagbibigay naman siya sa school. Pero kunyari, kapag may ganito akong event, kakausapin ko siya kung puwede kunin niya si baby, kukunin naman niya.
“Meron kaming healthy co-parenting situation,” sabi ni Mary Eileen.
Puspusan ang pag-eensayo ni Mary Eileen sa Kagandahang Flores, at pasabog daw ang inihanda niyang gown na gagamitin sa screening. Isusuot daw niya ang gown na yari sa mga basahan sa Payatas.
NOEL FERRER
Natuwa rin daw si Mary Eileen nang nalaman niyang sumali muli si Michelle Dee.
“Actually, excited nga akong makita si Michelle Dee. Ang super pretty niya. Pero sabi ko nga na we have different stories. So, naka-focus ako sa kung ano ang gusto kong i-share.
“Michelle has her own din. Sa akin, lahat galing sa own experience ko din. I’m speaking my truth. Iyon ang makukuha nila dito. Ang truth lang din from my own experience,” pahayag ni Mary Eileen.
JERRY OLEA
Wow! Hindi pa man officially napipili sina Michelle at Mary Eileen ay may hanash na sila sa Miss Universe Philippines.
Sakaling mag-qualify sila… sila kaya ang mahigpit na maglalaban sa korona, setro at/o kapa? Ano kaya kung kabugin sila ng trans woman?
Speaking of beauty pageants, wagas ang recent hanash ng Miss Planet International 2023 na si Maria Luisa Varela (Philippines) sa Facebook page ng nasabing timpalak.
Read: Pagkapanalo ng Pilipinas sa Miss Planet International, bayad?
Aniya, “Last Thursday, my family and I visited the recent fire victims of my hometown, Brgy. NBBN, Navotas City. With the help and support of Quiapo Church, we donated sacks of rice & canned goods for the 254 families affected. Quiapo provided enough for 175 families and my team and I made up the difference.
“When I arrived there, I immediately felt the love and support that they gave to me during my Miss Planet International journey. Tents lined the basketball courts and rooms for the surviving families. Extension cords and cables criss-crossed the floor with a mix of children and hot plates.
“Water was organized in barrels and thermoses along the back for portioning. Occasionally, you would see the remnants of what survived their home: Malibu Barbie cars without any Barbie, laundry and hangers hanging from the basketball hoop rims, quarter-filled boxes and containers that could be for rice or other consumables or clothing stacked in towers, thermoses and tumblers of soups for various meals of the day.
“Despite this new reality and their recent calamity, they still celebrated and showed their pride in me that I am humbly honored by and thankful for. If a crown, sash and a walk can remind and bring attention and aid from others to our neighbors' plights, I shall embrace this responsibility with vigor.
“One of the moments that struck a personal chord with me was when I met with a blind, elderly 84-year old mother who also lost the use of her legs. Lola was very happy and filled with hope and joy when I visited her inside her tent. She and her family had lived in their home for forty-three years prior to the fire. Her daughter mentioned that she had been very supportive of me for quite some time up through winning Miss Planet International 2023.
“Later, I saw a one-month old baby who had survived the fire incident. He was 14-days old during that time and luckily he and his mother were fortunate to have escaped the fire. This triggered a memory of my own. On May 21, 2018, our family homes had suffered from a fire too.
“I experienced sleeping on the street with my whole family including my 5-month old niece. My heart was filled with a mixture of defeat, shame, loss, disappointment, love, compassion, forgiveness, and aimlessness. A hero emerged to make sense of it all and bring order, comfort and hope to my family and me -- my mother, Luisa.
“A few months after, my mother had passed away due to breast cancer and subsequent severe pneumonia. One of the triggers for exacerbating cancer is stress and I can't help but always wonder how much weight she had to carry and hide in those ensuing days since the fire.
“I lost a house. I lost a mother. But I did not lose hope. My mother lives on through my father, my siblings, myself, my nieces and nephews and everyone else near and dear to her. Every decision I make and every experience I have is now and forever seen through her eyes and felt with her heart and hands.
“I am eternally grateful for having witness all the people's smiles because I know that I gave them hope. All the difficulties, challenges and distractions that we have had to endure - all worth it. For this. For these moments to make a substantive impact on human lives and livelihoods -- our fellow neighbors and reflections of ourselves.
“That no matter what has and will transpire, there is still inspiration and drive that can be found in ourselves and sometimes, all our fellow man or woman needs is the gentle push and reminder to rediscover within themself that ‘Life must go on.’
“We cannot just be a passenger, passively watching as the other cars pass by. We must also put ourselves behind the wheel. Never give up. We are the inheritors of our neighbors and parents' struggles. We owe it to them and their memories.
“I would like to thank My Papa Samuel Varela Sr & My Brother Samuel Varela Jr for organizing this event, and to Brgy. Nbbn officials (esp Kagawad Noel Aviles & Kagawad Maeng De Leon) for their guidance and support. Iam honored and blessed to represent the people of Navotas City.”
May kuda pa rin kaugnay sa timpalak na ito si Wilbert Tolentino, ang manager ni Herlene Budol aka Hipon Girl.
“Money for the crown!” hirit ni Wilbert sa isang FB post ng timpalak.
May link doon sa FB account niya kung saan mabangis at naghuhumiyaw ang kanyang salaysay sa video at post, “FULL STORY ETO KUNG PANO BINILI ANG KORONA NG MPI!!
“GINAWA KO ETONG PARODY PARA INDI KAYO MABAGOT HABANG NANONOOD AT KUMAKAIN KAYO NG POPCORN OR NUGGETS!! PERO ANDYAN ANG BUONG KWENTO!! AT SA KORTE NALANG PO SILA MAG PAPALIWANAG! THANK U IN ADVANCE SA MGA NAG LIKE AND SHARE!!
“AGAIN, I AM STILL THE CURRENT NATIONAL DIRECTOR FOR MISS PLANET PHILIPPINES FOR 3 YEARS! MARAMING SALAMAT SA MGA TAONG SUMUSUPPORTA AT MGA TAONG MAG WITNESS SA KORTE.
“AND TO MISS PHILIPPINES NA NANALO SA MPI. PLEASE BE TRUE TO YOURSELF! PANGAKO KO SAYO INDI KA MAKAKATULOG GABI GABI SA PANLOLOKO MO SA TAO. HUWAG KANG MAG LALABAS NG FAKE NEWS SA SOCIAL MEDIA! KASAMA NARIN YUNG KUPAL MONG NATIONAL DIRECTOR MO SI MIKI BIHON!! GAMITIN NATIN ANG SOCIAL MEDIA SA TAMA AT SA TOTOO LANG TAYO!!”