SOMETHING went wrong. This pertains to the recent Mr. and Ms. Benguet Adivay 2019 pageant where my nephew Seth Wayne Blas Chacapna won the title, side by side with Marilou Saguidec of Kibungan.
The Local Government Unit of Kapangan and other contestants protested for alleged error in the computation of the overall points, if recalculated, the result changes giving Novy Jones Aban and Amie Rose Pitas of Kapangan the crown. So unfortunate in the sense that Kapangan’s protest unfastened the taint in the title. Alas, that Mr. Benguet crown supposed to be is the first pageant title in our clan.
If it wasn’t stained, Seth’s father a Staff Sergeant at the Philippine Military Academy who is from Mountain Province claims only fifty percent in the crown.The other half truly belongs to Benguet, courtesy of Seth’s mother who genuinely came from the Ibaloys of Atok. Anyway, Seth and the other participants should not be blamed for that pageant ruckus.
In my interviews, someone told me that there were mismatches between the paper tally and the computerized result plus the computations are somewhat messy. These anchored the protest of Kapangan and other candidates and it reaches the office of lawyer Waguis, the vice governor of Benguet.
The good lawyer called all coordinators and parties involve for a dialogue and in the end, he chose to let the contestants of Kapangan and the title holders settle the issue by themselves. Hence, as agreed upon, the title remains with Atok and Kibungan while a new crown, the Mr. and Ms. Adivay 2019 will be awarded to Kapangan.
Case rested and solved, intended to be for a kindlier Benguet. Not until someone cries for a no partition in the title, the true winners solely should be declared. “Ay ay bad da wrong itan kinwanin tusa,” (what you said was wrong.)
Usually pageants are subjective, numbers or scores in any part are merely basis for the judges’ decision. A low scoring candidate in sportswear or talent show can win the crown if the heart of the audience were captured in the question and answer portion. In short, the judges, not the audiences, have the final say, sans considering other scores. Maintaining order in the first place, judges must be firmed with their decisions against any claims of right or wrong.
If Seth’s high tempered Mountain Province side came out, he must have took the crown and inserted it in the mouth of those unsatisfied mortals. Good thing, the cooler vein of Atok in Benguet prevailed. But if I were my nephew, “Ay sus! Bumtak ti gubat, tumayab dayta crown,” war erupts, the crown flies. But sorry to say, I’ve never been chosen to join pageant titles. Slip-chance was way-back in my freshmen law. I was only elected to escort a beautiful muse, not because of any matinee looks, thanks to the hand of popularity. That’s for a year.
And what could be the New Year’s resolution of the mortals aged 40 and above, other than the same as when they were 40 years and below—doing their best effort to have money. They say health is important than money, yet you need to pay the highest professional fees of the doctors to oversee your health. Else, the only choice is Dr. Albularyo.
Again, family is important but you need money to bring them together. In reality, what you were thinking last Christmas is the same. Unpaid bills, repairs, family problems and suddenly you remember your unpaid loans.
As for me, I only look for the simplest New Year’s resolution: To have a six pack abs and master the song “Que Sera Sera” (whatever will be, will be, the future that I will be). May good fortune befalls the deserving this coming year.