THE crescendo of the journey of Catriona Gray reached its climax with her coronation as Miss Universe 2018. The Philippines erupted in joyful shouts when Miss Universe pageant host Steve Harvey confidently announced the win of the mestiza beauty queen.
Her intelligent answers, her symbolic gowns, her “Lava walk,” her captivating personality – everything simply ticked the criteria in the judges’ score sheets. She has instantly become the model of the modern Filipina beauty.
Then again, there are those who took a negative reaction to the victory of the fourth Philippine candidate to take the Miss Universe crown, but these were drowned out by accolades from the highest office of the land--in Malacañang--to the mean streets of Tondo, Manila that Miss Gray referenced in her winning answer.
What is this with us, Filipinos, that we are so obsessed with beauty contests? It is the same as our fixation with basketball, our preoccupation with politics, and our passion for festivities. These have become so assimilated into our system and culture that these have come to embody who we are.
Beauty contests are just everywhere--in schools, in organizations, in the barangays where there are basketball courts, and in nearly every location.
We are so hung-up with politics that we’ve engaged our youths outside of the confines of their schools, exposing, if not involving, them to the dirtiness of governance.
We possess the “fiesta-complex,” the practice of communal merriment consisting of eating, drinking, dancing, singing, gossiping and other fun-filled activities.
And as Filipinos migrate or work in other countries, they bring along these obsessions. For instance, in New Zealand, the number of basketball tournaments among Filipinos is so enormous the Philippine ambassador to New Zealand sought moderation, asking for the incorporation of Kiwi sports such as rugby and netball or traditional Pinoy games.
Our politics can be seen in the many divided Filipino associations overseas. Abroad, Filipinos are known to gather to celebrate every birthday, anniversary, feast day, Christmas, New Year, etc.
People are defined by what they love to do and what they practice. Others call it custom and tradition.
One article listed five Filipino values that children should learn: respect for elders (paggalang sa nakatatanda), empathy (pag-intindi sa nararamdaman ng iba), deep regard for fellow humans (pakikipagkapwa-tao), patriotism (pagiging makabayan), and cultural continuity (pagpapatuloy sa kultura).
We are a unique people, and we should keep it that way. Let us embrace the good in us, the beauty in us.