My issues with Miss Universe 2011

Let me begin by saying that I agree with Miss Angola Leila Lopes' win at the Miss Universe Coronation Night last Tuesday at Sao Paulo, Brazil. Many, especially Filipinos, voiced out their disappointment with her being the Miss Universe 2011 but I actually like her and believe she deserves the title. 


I'm not belittling our own representative, Shamcey Supsup. She is definitely a Pinoy proud when she delivered her answer, quick, sensible and straight from her heart. However, I believe she fell short in the other categories. I must say--my opinion spare me for saying this--that she did not stand out during the Swimsuit and the Long Gown portions. 


Unlike Miss Angola, her dark skin, already a shout among her fair companions, plus her grace and confidence, and angelic features. And she did not give a bad answer during the question and answer portion too. 


So my verdict, it was not enough that Shamcey topped the Q&A. Still, I ADMIRE her BIGTIME I swear! :)


OK so much for the long intro. I have no issues with the pageant's result whatsoever but I have issues on my own regarding what happened to the news feature that I wrote for our newspaper's frontpage to be used for the the day after the pageant issue.


Well, I finished the article and in my opinion I did it justice. But then I saw my byline in a Miss Universe story that does not include a single paragraph I wrote. 


There was a tagline "WITH AFP." So I reckoned then that the story was the one from AFP, maybe tweaked a little, I really don't know. 


But my point here is that, THAT was not the story I wrote. I wanted to say to the new news editor that she could just remove my name there since I didn't have any say. But I backed out because she might think I'm too proud of myself. Or maybe that byline was for the effort I gave. SO I just let it be. 


I don't understand why the new news editor did that though. Did she not like the story I wrote? I'm not claiming I'm a good writer, but I write with the style I developed as a Lifestyle reporter. 


I wrote that news feature with how our section would have wrote that. If my editor read that story I know she would publish it in our page. Plus, I've been submitting features to the news pages and they used it without removing my soul and style to the article. 


I didn't even plan to publicize about this because it's not gonna do our paper good in any way. BUT when I found out that the wrong information AFP said in their story, "Ninety-eight young women took part in the contest..." (I even posted this mistake in my FB page while I was researching for my article! What turn of events!)


I just can't keep quiet anymore. Well I deserve to give myself justice. And I've always voiced my concerns and issues here in my blog. So if I don't do this, I'm lying to myself when I say I'm a writer. 


I'm not saying I don't make mistakes, but wth, that mistake was put under my name and when I even did not commit it! And when I think that my original story said '89 women represented their countries'!


They could put an erratum if they want to but it will only clean the newspaper's mistake, NOT the mistake that was put under my name. 


SO this blog, is my ERRATUM FOR MYSELF. 


***
I know everything I said here should be told instead to the person involved but if they ever come across with this, I hope they understand. 


If you want to read the TRUE story I wrote go here! :)


***
On a lighter note, enough with my grievances! My lovely Lifestyle editor gave birth to a healthy second son on September 14. So happy for her! :)

Leila Lopes crowned as first Miss Universe for Angola

Philippine’s Shamcey Supsup finished 3rd runner up

Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was crowned Miss Universe 2011 as the world’s most beautiful night concluded on Tuesday in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Tuesday morning in Manila). Miss Angola, the only dark-skinned contender that made the final16, 10 and 5 cuts, was the Sao Paolo crowd favorite topping even Brazil’s own representative. 

Lopes, the first woman to bring home the Miss Universe diamond crown to Angola, replaces 2010’s winner Ximena Navarrete of Mexico. 


Miss Philippines’ Shamcey Supsup from General Santos City, finished the pageant as third runner up. Completing the top 5 were Ukraine’s Olesia Stefanko as first, Brazil’s Priscila Machado, and China’s Luo Zilin, fourth runners up.


Twenty-five-year-old Lopes, with her dark skin, was a standout throughout the pageant—from the contrasting bright yellow bikini she wore in the swimsuit portion and the strapless cream gown in the long gown competition.


She then picked Filipina judge Lea Salonga’s question for the most-feared Q&A portion. Salonga’s question to the Miss Universe 2011 winner was: “If you could change one of your personal characteristics, which one would it be and why?”


“Thank God, I’m very well satisfied with the way God created me and I would not change a thing,” was Miss Angola’s expected response.


She added, “I consider myself a woman with inner beauty. I have my principles. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I plan to follow this through the rest of my life.”


Supsup, for her part, was the only one who answered without the help of a translator. She delivered the most honest answer in the pageant.


Asked by Vivica Fox, “Would you change your religious belief to marry the person that you love?” Supsup responded, “I would not marry the person I love because the first person I love is my God and [if] the person loves me, he should also love my God.”


Millions witnessed the world’s biggest pageant worldwide as it was aired live by the NBC network and distributed into different live streams. It was hosted by he pageant, NBC Today anchor Natalie Morales and the Bravo network’s Andy Cohen.


Viewers participated in an online fan voting and ranking held simultaneously throughout the pageant.


Filipinos made their presence and support for Supsup known as she topped the online fan voting among the top 5 and second in the swimsuit and evening gown competitions.


Miss Universe 2011 also celebrated pageant’s 60th anniversary. Sao Paolo set as the perfect venue as the stage was brought to life with lively music, colorful performances and the beauty of 89 women who represented their countries.


Live commentaries were brought by Shandi Finnessy, Miss USA 2004, and Jeannie Mai, Vietnamese fashion expert, make up artist and TV personality. The two lauded Angola for putting the crowd to a frenzy and Supsup for her humility.