The Controversial Coronation

by Julia Patricia C. Belleza

Almost a week after the Miss Universe beauty pageant, headlines still surface across the globe, whether it's in the news about Steve Harvey's fumble on live television or in social media centering on all the memes made from the event.

Copyrights to Miss Universe Organization

I could talk about Steve Harvey's drinking and roulette playing before the competition, about the hoax of Miss Colombia's suicide in her hotel room hours after the pageant, or about how the other contestants treated Miss Philippines, *ahem* Miss Universe, backstage and through social media; but, I decided to go on a different route and talk about Pia Wurtzbach's answers to the questions asked towards the later part of the pageant.

I'll admit this year was the first time I actually watched the Miss Universe beauty pageant. I was surprised when it wasn't as sexist as I had expected it to be. I always thought beauty pageants were a horrible concept, a contest leveraging its contenders based on popularity and physical appearance. Up until the question and answer portion, it was. The questions for the top 5 startled me. They tackled international issues and controversies other ignorant citizens wouldn't be aware of. All the beauty queens answered their questions with knowledge, class, and finesse. 

Her answer to the final question and answer portion held no doubts for her capabilities in public speaking and for her awareness in who she is, and what she wants to achieve. Though this is the question that had earned her the unanimous votes of the 4 main judges, it isn't the one referred to during nightly news shows or miscellaneous social networking posts. The question and answer sparking up controversy in the Philippines was asked when the contestants were narrowed into the top 5.

Only minutes after the pageant ended, leftist leaders were sparking up rumors of how Pia was "pressured" to say that she was Pro-US bases because she was in front of a predominantly American audience and if she were to say otherwise she wouldn't have a fighting chance at winning the crown. With the 30 seconds given to each beauty queen to process and answer the question given to them, I understand why she said what she did. When Filipinos think of Americans, we think of the western influences that had shaped and molded our country and society into what it is today. They are the dominant root of the advancements and the remittances the Philippines strives on. 

Social activists are implying that the Philippine-American relationship does not do anything but murder numerous countrymen, and maltreat us to show we are a weaker race. I can't deny that all of the above had happened, but I do feel the need to point out that they happened decades ago, when they colonized the country. Whenever relatives from the states come home or an American tourist is seen wandering around the Philippines, they are welcomed with open arms, just as Wurtzbach had said.

The only recent issue being used as evidence to the activists' claims is the homicide of Jennifer Laude, a transgender, killed by Joseph Scott Pemberton, a US marine. This is a problem but it doesn't directly reflect the entire relationship between the countries. There are some bumps in the road but it does not mean an alliance with the USA would result in complete chaos.

What she said on that stage was her own opinion. She wasn't implying that all Filipinos should feel the same, or that she was purposely trying to get the attention of politicians and leftists with her answer. Americans have been a big part of the Philippines culture, whether it be past or present. They do aid the Philippines with whichever way they can. Their donations of military vessels prove it. All she was doing was expressing what she thinks of the issue.

https://www.instagram.com/piawurtzbach/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/piawurtzbach/?hl=en

All controversy aside, nothing was able to overshadow the simple fact that Pia Wurtzbach had earned the crown of Miss Universe. At the age of 26, the maximum age allowed to enter the Miss Universe beauty pageant, and after 4 years of competing in beauty pageants, she finally achieved her childhood dream and will continue to inspire the youth in, not just the Philippines but the whole world.