THE recent Miss Universe beauty pageant almost became a Miss Take Beauty Pageant. While, indeed, it was an extremely embarrassing anti-climactic moment for Miss Colombia, it was, however, a happy mistake for Miss Philippines.
Now, in an instance and many more instances hereafter, Miss Philippines has become not only the talk of the town, but the talk of the universe. For Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, being finally and rightfully crowned Miss Universe 2015, it was one brief moment of trial and a lifetime of victory.
She is a definition of beauty, which is defined in Latin as “id quod visum placet,” meaning that which when seen pleases. She pleases when you see her physical beauty and likewise pleases when you hear her speak intelligently and articulately.
Moreover, she is a living evidence to the evolutionary theory that migration and a good genetic mix can help in the beautification program of the Filipino race and be competitive in the world stage.--Atty. Amay P. Ong Vaño, Cebu City
Rooting for Duterte
After the death of then president Manuel Quezon in 1944 at the height of World War II, Vice-President Sergio Osmena Sr. succeeded him as president --the first Visayan to become president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
In 1946, another Visayan became president, Manuel Roxaz of Capiz, the first president of the Philippine Republic.
And then in 1957, following the death of then president Ramon Magsaysay in a plane crash in Cebu, Carlos Garcia of Bohol became president until 1961. Garcia was the last Visayan to hold the highest post of the land.
Sad to say, no president ever comes from Mindanao.
The entry of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte into the presidential race has long been anticipated by his avid supporters and friends who lost no time in convincing and persuading him to run for president.
Should it happen that he emerges triumphant in his bid for the presidency, then this is the first time in the country’s political history that a former mayor of a big city in Mindanao gets elected president.
The name, Rodrigo Duterte is now the talk of the town as the people’s choice for president. No one would argue that Mayor Duterte showed his mettle and unique style of governance as chief executive of the city of Davao.
Widely known as a crime buster of unequaled caliber, he has transformed the city into one of the world’s safest destinations for visitors and tourists both local and foreign. Anywhere, anytime within the city, even in the middle of the night, there is nothing to worry about. Everybody feels safe and secure under Mayor Duterte's leadership.
Among the presidential aspirants, only Rodrigo Duterte can assure us of a real solution to address the multifarious problems that the country is in – politically, socially, economically or even environmentally.
Filipino voters should vote for a candidate with untarnished record in government service, one who is not beholden to any influential person and is proven to have remarkable achievements in his stint as a public servant.
Mayor Duterte is the right man. He deserves the Filipino voters’ mandate. -- Joselito S. Berdin