Thank You,MJ Lastimosa! Mabuhay Ka!

Much has been said about the recently held Miss Universe pageant and how our rep Miss Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa continued the semi-finalist streak of the Philippines for five consecutive years now. I still remember how the Philippines experienced a ten-year Miss Universe drought from the year 2000 with Nina Ricci Alagao up to Bianca Manalo’s Bahamas stint in 2009. The following year, Venus Raj paved the way for the Philippine delegates to take center stage in the Miss Universe pageant yet again with Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon and Ariella Ariella following her footsteps in the succeeding years – all with runners-up finish.

This year’s pageant is definitely one of the toughest editions to judge and one of the strongest batches to date (along with 2008 and 2010). It’s no surprise that anyone from the Top 15 semifinalists could easily win the title. With MJ failing to advance into the Top 5, most of us (Pinoy pageant fans and pundits) were disappointed of course (including moi) and has probably blamed her horrendous evening gown (which I did and that’s just for me when I said that BPCI’s choice of evening gown was horrendous). And since what’s done is done, we have to remember that what MJ accomplished is no mean feat. Guys, she just bested 78 other ladies in the competition and she made every pinoy pageant fans and pundits extremely proud of her on that stage. With that being said, I just want to express my heartfelt gratitude and respect to the girl who not only showed the world how beautiful and gracious Filipinas are but also for her sheer determination that is truly awe-inspiring.

MJ, Salamat sa iyong kahanga-hangang pagpapakita ng kagandahan ng isang Filipina at sa pagpapamalas mo ng halimbawa sa bawat Pilipino dito sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo na kapag may nagpursige ka, hindi malayong maabot mo rin ang iyong pinapangarap. After your heartbreaking loss in 2012 – you didn’t give up on your dreams of representing the country in the Miss Universe pageant. You came back stronger than ever at sa pagkapanalo mo, you inspired not only your fellow beauty queens but the rest of the Filipino people! Maraming Salamat! Ikaw ang aking Miss Universe – ikaw an gaming Miss Universe 2014!