BAGUIO BLOOMS FOR Miss Universe
“I GUESS ALL THE FREE TRAVELS,” GUSHED THE REIGNING MISS UNIVERSE, OUR VERY OWN PIA ALONZO Wurtzbach, when I asked her what she would miss most after she relinquishes her year-long title to the next lucky lady at Miss Universe pageant on Jan. 30.
“But I will still be able to pursue my advocacies such as disaster relief, HIV awareness and fight against cyber bullying, and I will definitely continue to be in touch with the Miss Universe Organization, which has evolved as an important part of my life,” she added with a wide, truly winning smile.
Last Wednesday, Baguio opened its arms – and heart – as 28 international beauties, accompanied by the prime mover of this year’s competition, LCS Group president, now councilor but always “gov,” Luis “Chavit” Singson and president of the Miss Universe Organization Paula Shugart – descended in three private planes at the spiffed up – after a 20-year hiatus – Baguio Loakan Airport and were welcomed by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Baguio Country Club (BCC) general manager Anthony de Leon.
As traditional dancers performed to the rhythmic cadence of gongs, the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) officers in full gala uniform drew their sabers, as the young ladies were escorted through a canopy of crossed swords.
A high-precision Silent Drill performed in absolute synchronization by the country’s future armed forces leaders, followed by a wellapplauded seemingly out-ofcharacter whimsical dance number, welcomed the guests, ending with the cadets offering a long-stem rose to each visitor, a gentlemanly gesture which touched many a heart.
An ideal day awaited – not a cloud in the blue sky, as a chilly breeze occasionally swept by – as the parade kicked off from Upper Session Road, which echoed the upcoming spectacle Panagbenga Flower Festival scheduled for the last weekend of February. It’s the Philippines’ most beautiful fiesta, re-created for the first-time exclusively to honor the most beautiful women in the universe.
Four floats were meticulously decorated with huge assortments of home grown aromatic and colorful blooms – roses, chrysanthemums, daisies, anthuriums, mums, dendrobiums, astroemerias, liliums, stargazers and casablanca lilies, to name but a few.
The three keystone mobile stages represented the three major island clusters of the country -- Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – while the final Baguio Country Club float was solely for the present Filipina title holder.
Escorted by booming drum and bugle corps and energetic street dancers, the representatives from other nations stood confident and regal on the trio Gardens of Eden, which glided through the ever-so-green South Drive where they were greeted by wide-eyed and flabbergasted crowds, droves of adoring fans – all with cameras in hand. The beauties responded with the widest of smiles and never-ending waves so very associated with beauty queens.
The three-kilometer parade ended up in BCC, the venue for all succeeding activities.
As we had lunch at the BCC Ramon Ozaeta Wing, I had the chance to chat with Paula Shugart, who exclaimed, “I absolutely love the Philippines! And after my several visits, I am happy to claim that I have found some real friends here.”
Later in the day, the reigning queen spearheaded the celebrity tee off appropriately dubbed The Crown, an invitational golf tournament on the rolling BCC course.
Pia likewise participated in the pine tree planting venture, where she shared that she had transplanted saplings before on various occasions, but “this is the first time I’ve planted a pine.”
All the muses then hied over to the nearby strawberry patch for an iconic picking exercise, where each had a small woven basket they could fill up with Baguio’s signature fruit.
The tireless belles then had a first-hand exposure to obras of local artists from National Artist Bencab’s Tam-Awan collective, as well as Kidlat Tahimik, the acclaimed global independent filmmaker and director. Indigenous artists from around the area likewise mesmerized the delegation, as they witnessed a weaving demo, as well as solar pyrography, the art of creating images through burning wood surfaces using a magnifying glass aided by sunlight.
The gala dinner, dubbed A Culinary Sojourn: An Evening of Beauty and Confidence, was held at the recently-inaugurated BCC Cordillera Convention Hall, a 1,500-seat multi-purpose center, which boasts advanced technical equipment and a posh balcony on the second floor.
We shared a table with Miss Kosovo Camila Barraza, a Spanish-and-English speaking lady who, we learned, from among many other interesting facts, has been a model all her life, never dreamt of joining a beauty pageant until finally succumbing to the call, with the encouragement of her boyfriend. What she dreams of is opening an “Argentinean carne y mas carne restaurant” with her mother.
That night, we saw these 28 ladies – a small part of the complete roster of 86 – and yet, we have already chosen some possible contenders for the muchcoveted crown – but we’re not saying another word!