Push Admin

Pinoys hold pageants from barangays to the universe

Article (news)

Ana Margarita Palma, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/01/29/candidates.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Miss Universe 2016 candidates riding a floral float receive a warm welcome in Baguio City. <cite>Photo courtesy of: Voltaire Domingo, NPPA Images</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Filipino fans from different walks of life have a fascination with beauty pageants that is arguably distinct among other nationalities.</p><p>From grand international pageants to the local “Mister and Miss Barangay” competitions, Pinoys would always throw their all-out support to their respective bets.</p><p>And now that the Miss Universe fever is on, discussions about it are everywhere — from households to salons, stores, coffees shops —and in this digital age, on mobile phones, websites and social media.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/27/17/pageant-crazy-philippines-where-fans-worship-the-crown"><strong>READ:</strong> Pageant-crazy Philippines: Where fans worship the crown</a></li></ul><p>UP Diliman professor Jose Wendell Capili, who wrote a book on Philippine pageantry, linked this fascination on pageants to the Filipinos&#x27; festive nature.</p><p>“In many parts of the country, meron tayong festivals. So pageants are being seen as extensions of these festivals,” he said.</p><p>Capili added that even the most popular and unique Philippine festivals like Bacolod City&#x27;s MassKara Festival, Cebu’s Sinulog and Baguio’s Panagbenga have pageants of their own.</p><p>In fact, he pointed out that even before Miss Universe, which started in 1952, the Philippines already had the Carnival Queen.</p><p>“We had the Carnival Queen before the war. Nagkakaroon ng pagkakataon na ‘yung mga nananalo kino-cover sila widely ng media and they&#x27;ve become women of stature and success,” he said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1458394" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>After World War II, Filipinas would go on to win international competitions like Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss International.</p><div><strong>A SOURCE OF PRIDE AND INSPIRATION</strong></div><p>As more Filipinas win pageants internationally, the popularity of pageants rose to new heights across the country.s a result, UP Diliman Professor Rolando Tolentino said pageants became embedded in the consciousness of even common Pinoys who get to see these kinds of events even at an early age.</p><p>&quot;Bata pa lang, may mga sinasama na sa mga parada or sinasakay sa tricycle tapos umiikot na sa bayan bilang &#x27;princess&#x27; or pagtanda.&#x27; Meronng mga lola beauty pageants, gay beauty pageants,&quot; he said.</p><p>Tolentino said this tradition even reached overseas as Filipino workers brought this fascination for pageants abroad, as shown in the Metro Manila Film Festival 2016 best picture winner, &quot;Sunday Beauty Queen.&quot;</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1458387" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>“Dito kasi nakakalimutan nila &#x27;yung mundane-ness of the everyday life — &#x27;yung boredom, monotony ng trabaho, tensions with regards sa family sa homeland… medyo napapagaan,” he said.</p><p>But beyond entertainment, pageants have also become aspirational for Filipinos, said Tolentino, especially because in this field, there is a history of victory.</p><p>“Umaakyat tayo, lalo na sa women, sa pamamagitan nitong pride activity. Ibig sabihin, &#x27;pag nanalo sila medyo umaangat ang tingin natin as a nation,” he said.</p><p>Tolentino said Pinays competing and winning in international beauty pageants also bring a sense of national pride to Filipinos.</p><p>&quot;Ang tagumpay ng kandidato, tulad kay Manny Pacquiao sa sports, ay tagumpay ng ating bansa sa isang mundo na kung saan ay naeetsa-puwera tayo dahil hindi naman tayo lubos na maunlad pa,&quot; he said.</p><p>Capili also pointed out that most of Filipina beauty queens—both pageant winners and losers—have been successful in their post-pageant careers.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_3_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_3" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1458389" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>“Filipinos look at them because first, it&#x27;s a source entertainment—it&#x27;s a show—but at the same time you see them blossoming of a person from the time she becomes a contestant, she wins and later on she relinquishes the title,” said Capili.</p><div><strong>DO PAGEANTS ‘COMMODIFY’ WOMEN?</strong></div><p>While pageants can have a positive reinforcement in our pride as a nation, some progressive groups, especially Gabriela party-list, are not fans of how these events represent women.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/11/17/miss-universe-pageant-is-deceptive-manipulative-gabriela">READ: Miss Universe pageant is &#x27;deceptive, manipulative&#x27;: Gabriela</a></li></ul><p>Tolentino conceded that pageants do tend to commodify women given that a candidate needs to have a &quot;certain kind of look, a certain kind of beauty&quot; to compete internationally.</p><p>&quot;Para bang may certain kind of template ang puwedeng pumasok dito, at &#x27;yung template na &#x27;yun ay may kind of global recognition. Ito &#x27;yung idea of beauty in the world arena,&quot; he said.</p><p>But in the Philippines, Tolentino said, there are &quot;alternative pageants&quot; which tend to value the talent and distinct beauty that do not fit in international pageants.</p><p>Examples of these are those for couples, homosexuals and even young girls.</p><p>&quot;At least dito sa alternative beauty pageants, puwede kang mamayagpag e dahil nga umaangat &#x27;yung talent mo dahil mas magaling kang sumagot ng tanong kesa sa kahanay mo dito sa contest na &#x27;to,&quot; he said.</p><p>For Capili, comments from progressive groups like Gabriela are important for checks and balances in these beauty searches.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_4_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_4" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1458392" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>&quot;May punto rin sila. So kung sa tingin ng mga organizers ng beauty contests, hindi sila exploitative enough, then prove it,&quot; he said. <strong>--with reports from Patrick Quintos, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>Filipino fans from different walks of life have a fascination with beauty pageants that is arguably distinct among other nationalities.</p>

Filipino fans from different walks of life have a fascination with beauty pageants that is arguably distinct among other nationalities.

Pinoys hold pageants from barangays to the universe

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Lifestyle

Pinoys hold pageants from barangays to the universe

Ana Margarita Palma,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 29, 2017 05:34 PM PHT

|

Updated Jan 29, 2017 08:36 PM PHT

Read More:

beauty pageant

beauty queen

miss universe

fans

Filipinos

miss universe 2016

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.