EVEN though pundits see it as a relic from the past as objectifying women and glamorizing sexism, the recent gaffe at the Miss Universe pageant seemed to have transcended its notoriously polarizing reputation into one that speaks volumes in owning up to mistakes and being graceful in victory.
After playing out on live television blow-by-blow accounts of what happened, I think it need not be repeated. Everyone in Colombia and the Philippines will surely have something to say -- just like what I am doing right now. And knowing how this Latin American country and Filipinos regard its beauty pageants with so much panache and pride, I hope people will agree with me on how we all need to embrace our bloopers and take responsibility for it.
Whether it was a publicity stunt or not, Steve Harvey did the absolute correct thing. Sure, it took away Ms. Philippines' rare shining moment and rained on our country's right to momentarily gloat with pride, the actions he took to correct himself was an extremely admirable trait we rarely see nowadays. What is even more important is that it wasn't just lip service. He actually walked the walk and actually did something about it. The operative word being "did." Whether it would make a dent on his career is not for us to judge but, instead, be gracious about it and see it as him setting an exemplary example of owning up to a mistake.
Anger parties might probably explode in Colombia but what its representative did was actually a class by itself. Pity parties might follow Miss Colombia and will always be equated with Miss Philippines' win, but we probably need to commend her for her poise and dignity in the face of sheer humiliation. As what Donald Trump had suggested, which I totally agree with - it would have been better if she was made co-winner of the pageant. After all, she was also one of the aggrieved parties in this epic brouhaha.
And then, we have Miss Philippines. The natural grace she displayed under such circumstance certainly made her the rightful winner of the crown. Not that Miss Colombia couldn't have been equally deserving. I think either one of them could have perfectly fit the bill of Miss Universe. While proudly content of being runner-up to Miss Colombia, Miss Philippines seemed genuinely and magnanimously resigned that she had already made her countrymen proud of her efforts. The crown being placed on her head after those agonizingly confusing minutes is pretty much icing on the cake. What was more enduring was her nervous poise and elegant demeanor in eloquently parlaying her natural grace without a tinge of vengeful ire. Truly, an indelible mark of a true beauty queen.
However worked up we might have been over this whole incident, I think we need to go past this and take from it invaluable lessons in personal accountability and taking full responsibility of our actions especially if we've wronged someone, giving back that which does not belong to us with dignity and class, and embracing with grace those who have done us wrong with resolute understanding and unflinching magnanimity.
So, while Miss Philippines' historic 3rd Miss Universe title is a perfect Christmas gift to all Filipinos, lessons learned leading up to her win is certainly a valuable present as well. Let's just hope this part of the gift isn't lost among us and will last through the year-long reign of our new Miss Universe - and beyond.