DORAL, Florida (The Adobo Chronicles) – Hundreds of Filipinos erupted in cheers and applause each time Miss Philippines appeared on stage as part of the preliminary contest in the Miss Universe Pageant being held in Doral, Florida. They cheered when Mary Jean Lastimosa appeared in her Colombian-designed evening gown, and again when she catwalked her way on stage in a bright pink swim suit.

But when Lastimosa came out in her national costume, the Filipinos in the crowd were stunned silent. The Philippine beauty appeared in a white butterfly sleeve gown with some yellow, red and purple stuff on her hair, sleeves and the bottom of her gown. Obviously, something had gone wrong.

The Adobo Chronicles later learned that as Miss Philippines was making her way to the stage, she had to walk through the hotel’s kitchen like everyone else. Then all of a sudden, a bucket of pineapple, strawberry and ube (purple yam) meringue fell off one of the kitchen shelves, dousing Lastimosa with the fruit-flavored and sticky pie filling.

Being the professional that she is, Lastimosa continued on as her name was called for the national costume segment. When asked by the judges to describe her national costume, she smiled and said, ” It represents the colorful melting pot history of my country which in different periods was colonized and ruled by Spain, Japan and the United States. Pineapple and strawberry are also my favorite fruits, not to mention my favorite vegetable, ube.”

Again the Filipinos in the audience cheered and applauded.

The finals of the Miss Universe Pageant will be held January 25.