What is the real deal?
This is the deeper question to the reported backing out of Janina San Miguel, Philippine representative to the Miss World 2008 pageant to be held in South Africa later this year.
Janina became a household name when she humbled herself during her national pageant, Binibining Pilipinas, for "murdering the English language" at the final question and answer portion. She buckled and totally gave in to the unadaptive audience. It was probably the lowest point of her life but she managed to stand up.
Janina won the top honor by grabbing the top crown in the pageant, the Bibinibing Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) - World in March 2008. She was supposed to compete in South Africa this September but yesterday, it was announced she quit the title. The reason is because of the death of her grandfather.
The first runner up, Danielle Castano, will replace Janina.
This could have been the best opportunity for Janina to redeem herself during the Miss World pageant. By watching her videos and photos, this girl has what it takes to become a winner. Her beauty is exotic and with proper training she could have nailed down the competition.
What makes me sick is the reality that her people was never supportive of her instead they lambasted the poor girl 24/7. No doubt, the experience was a traumatic for Janina. The criticism is too much too handle for a 17 year old lady. Instead of helping her, she is figuratively pulled down by torturing her mentally, spiritually and psychologically.
I strongly believe Janina could have thought of using the opportunity to strike revenge by proving to the Filipino people she can deliver. At one time she was determined but the constant name calling from abusive beauty pageants fans put her down. She was beaten up - psychologically. She gave up. She succumbed under pressure. She got something that will forever haunt her - an incident that demoralized not only her but also her whole family.
I don't understand why the Filipino people put emphasis too much on the English language. Speaking the language fluently is a not a basis of intelligence. Janina is a Filipino who does speak not English but her mother tongue. So what is the big deal of requiring her to speak in English if she speaks Tagalog?
I feel for Janina. I fully understand her but I will not understand people who see putting a pinch of salt in an open wound something funny. May I ask the detractors of Janina. Can you speak Japanese or German or French or Afrikaans? Most of you don't but the world is not laughing at you. The world understands you. Why can't you give the same respect to a 17 year lady who does not speak English?
But what is the real deal here? Did Janina really quit or she was forced to resign. Did Janina really give in to pressure or is it the organizer who gave in to the pressure?
Whatever the real score is, something is clear here. There is a deeper reason other than the loss of a grandfather.
I am including a news on this which I copied from
this link.
Bb. Pilipinas-World 2008 Janina San Miguel has decided to quit as the Philippines' representative to the Miss World 2008 beauty pageant that will be held on December 14 at Johannesburg, South Africa.
In a statement sent to the press by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) earlier tonight, September 29, San Miguel cited the recent death of her grandfather as the reason of her decision to back out from the competition.
The statement read: "The untimely demise of her grandfather, among other personal reasons, has caused her undue stress, thus hindering her from fulfilling her duties for the said title... BPCI wishes to express its gratitude to Ms. San Miguel for this act of graciousness and concern for the country. They also wish her well in her future endeavors."
As per the rules and regulations of the BPCI, Binibining Pilipinas 2008 first runner-up Danielle Castaño will take over Janina's duties as the country's representative to the Miss World 2008.
Janina made the headlines earlier this year during the Bb. Pilipinas competition when she fumbled in the question-and-answer portion. The critics lambasted her for "murdering the English language" while some found enjoyment watching the video of that particular moment in YouTube. But in the end, she still went home with the Bb. Pilipinas-World crown.
The Philippines has yet to win the Miss World crown. The closest we got to the crown was when Evangeline Pascual placed 1st runner-up in 1973. Actress Ruffa Gutierrez became 2nd runner-up in 1993.
What is the real deal?
I am so sorry Janina has finally gave in to the unprecedented brutal attacks and verbal abuse simply because she failed her English language skills. I wrote an article in my column in the Philippine Fiesta Newspaper homebased in Sacramento, California defending her freudian slip.
ReplyDeleteFor God sake she is a Filipina and should be expected to be fluent in Tagalog not English. Have you all forgotten you are Filipinos? Are you on denial of who you are? Hello.
Many world beauties have enterpreters during the pageants because they do not speak English per se.
I have lived in America for well over half a century and speak English like a native, but I would never belittle or insult especially my own people for not having command of the language. To do so, what would it acheive but big ego. We don't need that. English is a second language for Filipinos unless born in America. It is not right to demonize anyone like Janina. That would be presumptious at best.
In this scenario the attackers are the ignoramuses who dismissed their identities to pretentiously feel uppity; but not so in this instance. Their phoney colors were exposed. We should be proud of who we are and our golden skin. We are Brown Filipinos not White. Hello again. Remember that pride should start from us...in our hearts.
We are all losers. The wrong forces prevailed
I have travelled the world over and made sure to those I meet my etchnicity is Filipino. Period.
Oscar Apostol
Rocklin, Ca.
Hi Oscar,
ReplyDeleteI am so honoured to have you in my blog. I totally agree on what you've said. I would like to commend you also for that article defending our girl Janina.
I,myself, don't agree that the basis of intelligence is how you command the English language. That's not true.
I also wanted our beauty queens to have their own translator if they feel like they want to have one. There's nothing wrong on that.
I just hope, the whole Filipino community will stop verbally abusing people for broken English.
I really feel sad for Janina.
While it is Janina's poor English skills that got the most attention of critics and viewers, it is her lack of critical analysis, or worse, common sense that people find funny - or sad - or both. She did not answer the question given to her. Most people will forgive grammar slips (examples: forgetting or not even knowing subject-verb agreement, or using a wrong tense or aspect of the verb), but not being clueless or being way off with answers. And there's no excuse for cracking under pressure - if one does, then she is not a beauty pageant winner material. Many gorgeous contestants from all over the world, whether they speak English or not, have failed to take the crown because another contestant had given a better answer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, no doubt she could have been Miss World 2008
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. I don't think Janina will defeat Miss World 2008 from Russia or the one from Ukraine. She would still end up as a loser.
ReplyDelete