I wasn’t able to watch the Grand Coronation Night of Binibining Pilpinas 2008 live over GMA-7. But I was able to catch at Youtube and at various showbiz news the most talked about interview with Miss Janina San Miguel, hailed as the Bb. Pilipinas World 2008. Here is the excerpt of that Q & A portion:
Paolo Bediones: Janina, how are you?
Janina San Miguel: Fine.
Paolo Bediones: Alright, so you won two of the major awards – Best in Long Gown, Best in Swimsuit, do you feel any pressure right now?
Janina San Miguel: No, I don’t feel any pressure right now.
Paolo Bediones: Confident! Alright! Please choose a name of the judge.
Paolo Bediones: We have Miss Vivian Tan.
Vivian Tan: Good Evening.
Janina San Miguel: Good Evening.
Vivian Tan: The question is, what role did your family play to you as candidate to Binibining Pilinas?
Janina San Miguel: “Well, my family’s role for me is so important b’coz there was the wa- they’re, they was the one who’s… very… Hahahaha… Oh I’m so sorry, Ahhmm… My pamily… My family… Oh my god.. I’m… Ok, I’m so sorry… I… I told you that I’m so confident… Eto, Ahhmm, Wait… Hahahaha, Ahmmm, Sorry guys because this was really my first pageant ever b’coz I’m only 17 years old and ahahaha I, I did not expect that I came from, I came from one of the top 10. Hmmm, so… but I said that my family is the most important persons in my life. Thank you“.
Kuya Jessie’s entries on the pageant’s results has been bombarded with vehement comments from non-bloggers and bloggers alike. It amazed me how Filipinos could react with such hostility to their fellow Filipinos. So much has been said about that interview that I think it already grew out of proportion. In my opinion, the judges decision is final. Janina San Miguel, Jennifer Barrientos, and Patricia Fernandez will be representing the Philippines for Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss International respectively. They came out the victors in that pageant and we have to live with that. As for Janina, true, she needs to learn lots of things in order for her not to add more shame to our country’s name. Let us give her a chance. She just have to double the effort in learning poise and grace, confidence, speech and grammar, thought organization and everything that she needs to hone to have that x-factor in the most coveted Miss World title.
While it’s true that our country is known to be very proficient in speaking English, it is not the only thing that will bring us the crown. Look at other countries- Japan, Venezuela, and Mexico just to name a few. Their representatives can not even speak a single English word! They always bring their interpreters with them. But look at how Venezuela fared in different pageants: it won Miss World 5 times (1955, 1981, 1984, 1991 & 1995), 4 Miss Universe titles (1979, 1981, 1986, & 1996), and 5 Miss International titles (1985, 1997, 2000, 2003, & 2006).
To my fellow Filipinos, I understand your sentiments and disappointments. We need not say words that will add more shame, disgrace and insult to the Filipino’s name. Instead, let us hope for the best- that Janina will learn quick wit and better English in such short a time.
General Santos Time
8 Comments
March 11th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
hehe Leyn, ganina ko lang nakita sa tv patrol ang news about ms world ba..maayo nalang nag post ka sa details dre, hehe! naa ko pangutana Leyn, diba common naman dinhi sa Pinas na kung walang brain(including wrong grammar), d madaug?..how come nadaog cia? giluto?pila iyang gibayad sa judge?murag first time man oi na ana, ug sa major pageant pa jud.wonder ko y cia daog..dapat mag dala nalang cia interpreter inig ms world na..naa bitaw dala ang uban…kaysa naman mag “was,is, fine, thank u ” cia sa stage sa ms world.
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March 11th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
@ TWERLYN: Yep, it’s common Lermz. I do not know what lies behind the judges decisions. There could be some flaws for all we know. But as u have seen in the news today, the Bb. Pilipinas Charities has issued an official statement. The unanimous and final decision of the judges will prevail. Bringing an interpreter in the Miss World pageant could be one of the options, kung kulangon na jud si Janine sa time magtuon ug English, hahaha!
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March 12th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I think Janina is the candidate to watch in the Miss World Competition.. Certainly, we can see a more challenged and improved Janina.. I believe she can make it in the international arena..
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March 12th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
It was disappointing to hear such answer from a very beautiful girl. There’s no denying naman talga na maganda sya. Well I think, with the help of rigid training, she’d improve.
Honestly, I was really dismayed when I heard her answer but then again, we should not be too harsh on her. It’s not her fault that the judges chose her. Maybe they saw a potential in her or whatever. Sana lang ma-train sya lalo kung saan dapat sya i-improve.
Isa pa beauty contest nga naman yun hindi quiz bee hehe (joke lang! wag violent reaction hehe) I know that the candidate who should represent the country must be well-rounded, dapat balance ang beauty at intelligence.
I hope she could prove us wrong about our “negative” impression of her. I hope….
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March 13th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
hi! pretty girl napanuod ko rin un at un nga parang nahiya me kc nga d ba mostly pag ganyan matatalino yes maganda xa sexy lahat na yun nga lang nakakadismaya answer nya,pero later on naisip ko rin alang perpekto at alam ko sooner mag i explore xa yun lang naman kulang tsaka baka kabado rin yun sa dami ba namang tao Im sure dun xa magpupukos sori sa kanya kc nauna ung bad comments ko hehehe,sana balang araw mapanuod rin xa ng maraming tao ang malaking pagbabago
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March 14th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
@ JOLIBER: I am hoping she will have a great improvement, too Joliber… All she need is a chance to prove her worth.
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March 14th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
@ ELAINE: THanks for your insights, tukayo. Yeah, u are right. But you know what? I think other nationalities are laughing at us coz we are putting down our fellow Filipino. We are so Filipino, really! Judging a person’s intelligence by the way one speaks English. Basically, actually and anyways, let’s admit that in order for one to be smart, he should have a good command of the language. That’s where we base intelligence. Would that mean all other beauty titlist who brought with them their interpreters, those who can not speak one single English word are all dumb!???
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March 15th, 2008 at 9:50 am
http://doycinco.blogspot.com/search?q=wikang+busabos
In fairness to Janina…. baka makatulong ang 2 kapirasong artikulong ito…..?
Ang Kapangyarihan ng Wika, Ang Wika ng Kapangyarihan
ni Conrado de Quiros
Walang duda na kailangan natin ng Ingles. Walang duda na mahalaga ang Ingles. Subalit, dito man ay marami nang mga maling akala tungkol sa kahalagahan ng Ingles. Isa sa mga maling akalang ito ay ang paniniwalang ang Ingles ay ang susi sa kaunlarang pang-ekonomiya. Ito ang paboritong argumento ng mga nagtataguyod ng Philippines 2000.
Pinabubulaanan ito ng Thailand (lalo na sa Japan at China). Mahirap kumilos sa Bangkok hindi lamang dahil sa ang sulat dito ay sulat-bulate, ayon nga sa isang kaibigan, kundi dahil iilan lamang ang marunong mag-Ingles. Iba pa kung paano nila bigkasin ang Ingles, na talaga namang papawisan ka ng dugo bago mo maintindihan. Kahit na hotel clerks ay hindi makapag-Ingles ng diretso. Ang pinakamadaling paraan para makapagtalastasan sa taxi driver at tindero ay sign language.
Pero gayumpaman, ang Thailand ay isang tigre, samantalang tayo, na ipinangangalandakan ang ating Ingles, ay isang basang-sisiw lamang. Ayon kay Peter Limqueco, isang kaibigan na nag-eedit ng isang diyaryo sa Bangkok. Pumapangalawa lamang ang Thailand sa Japan sa computer technology sa Southeast at South Asia. Makikita ang ebidensiya ng kaunlaran sa Bangkok—sa mga gusali, sa mga skyway, sa mga pagawaan. Ang kaunlaran dito, ayon kay Peter, ay hindi sinusukat sa taon kundi sa buwan. Mawala ka lang ng ilang buwan at nagbago na ang itsura ng lugar.
Bale ba, bagama’t hindi marunong mag-Ingles ang mga Thai ay higit na malaki ang kanilang turismo kaysa atin. Ihambing mo ang turismo nila at turismo natin at parang pinaghahambing mo ang daga at elepante. Ang bilang ng mga turistang pumapasok sa atin sa isang taon ay ang bilang ng turistang pumapasok sa Thailand sa isang buwan. Malinaw na ang mga tao ay bumibisita sa ibang bansa hindi dahil sa kaalaman ng mga mamamayan doon ng Ingles.
Subalit hindi pa ito ang problema sa Ingles. Sapagkat gaya ng nasabi ko kanina, hindi lamang isang paraan ng komunikasyon ang wika. Lalong-lalo na ang Ingles. Lalong-lalo na sa bansang ito. Ang Ingles ay hindi lamang isang paraan para makapag-usap; ito ay isa ring paraan para makapaghari. Hindi lamang ito isang susi sa impormasyon; isang susi ito sa kapangyarihan. Ang Ingles ay kapangyarihan sa isang paraan na higit pa sa karaniwang kahulugan na kapag matatas kang magsalita ay may kapangyarihan ka sa kaligiran mo. Kapangyarihan ang Ingles sa isang payak o literal na paraan. Marunong kang mag-Ingles, makararating ka sa itaas. Hindi ka marunong mag-Ingles, mauuwi ka sa pagiging kargador.
Sa bansang ito, hindi lamang salita ang Ingles kundi orasyon, na pinanghahawakan ng isang kaparian. Ano man ang sabihin mo, matino man o hindi, kapag sinabi mo sa Ingles ay nagkakaroon ng bigat, o halaga. Ang “marunong mag-Ingles” ay hindi lamang palatandaan ng kagalingan sa lengguwahe. Palatandaan ito ng kaalaman, ng pagkakaroon ng “class,” ng pagkakaiba sa karaniwang mamamayan. Kapag sinabi mo ang isang bagay sa Ingles ay tila pinag-isipan mo ito ng malalim.
Ang buod ng ARTIKULO: http://www.sawikaan.net/wika_ng_kapangyarihan.html
Globalization and National Language
by Mario I. Miclat
IN THE ERA OF GLOBALIZATION, is there a need for a national language? Does embracing an international language as its own make a nation more globally competitive? If language is the repository of knowledge and culture, what disadvantages do we want to redress and what benefits do we want to achieve, in trying to embrace one language over another?
I need not mention here how UNESCO has proven in many studies that the best way to impart basic knowledge to children is by means of their native tongue.
The complete piece is at: http://www.sawikaan.net/globalization.html
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