Category Archives: Film and TV

Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Language, The Media, Travel

MISS PHILIPPINES FINALIST CRIES FOUL OVER Q&A

March 31, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Pia Wurtzbach (Photo: Francis Malasig/European Press Photo Agency)

Quezon City, Philippines – In most beauty pageants, the answer to the final question can often make or break even the most beautiful of contestants. The 2014 Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) pageant held last weekend in Quezon City was no exception.

One finalist, in responding to a judge’s question: “Name one thing that you would sacrifice for a (Binibini) crown,” confidently answered: “I think one thing that I would sacrifice for Binibini crown is my shoes. You know it’s very hard for me to find shoes because I have this very big shoe size. But for Binibini I will sacrifice this precious thing that I have just to have the crown. Thank you.” The rest, of course, is history for this aspiring beauty queen.

But the big controversy of the evening came from a complaint from one of the 15 finalists — Contestant No. 8, Pia Wurtzbach. She happened to pick a senator, Juan Edgardo Angara, to ask the question which he did in Tagalog. The other 14 finalists were asked their respective questions (and responded) in English.

Wurtzbach who was born in Stuttgart, Germany, didn’t win any of the crowns at stake for the night, and she attributed it to the fact that the senator had asked the question in the national language. “I’m glad that despite my German-sounding name, I proved to all that I am a true Filipina and that I can speak Tagalog quite fluently.” “However,” she added,” it was not fair that all the other finalists were asked their questions in English. I’m sure I could have done much better than all the other girls had I been asked the question, and responded, in English.”

Wurtzbach said she has engaged the services of an attorney to see if she could file a lawsuit against Senator Angara for discrimination.

Here is a transcript of the Q&A portion of the pageant.

Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Politics, The Media, Travel

BEAUTY PAGEANT BAN FOR PHILIPPINES IS PERMANENTLY LIFTED

March 30, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Quezon City, Philippines – Last November, The Adobo Chronicles reported that the Philippines has been banned from participating in international beauty pageants for the next two years. The decision to disqualify Filipina candidates from pageants like Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss World and Miss Supranational was made by the Association of Beauty Pageant Franchise Holders (ABPFH) because of the enormous advantage of Filipina beauties who have won the crown in all major beauty contests.

Just in time for the crowning of the 2014 Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) title holders, the ABPFH announced that it has permanently lifted the ban on Filipina beauties, thanks to the advocacy efforts of reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler of Venezuela. Isler was one of the judges in the 2014 Miss Philippines pageant held last night at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.

Isler reportedly convinced the ABPFH that the ban was unfair and that she commiserates with the Philippines for having been banned from international beauty pageants. Like the Philippines, Venezuela has also won the crown for all major beauty pageants, along with Brazil.

Reigning international beauty pageant title holders automatically become voting members of ABPFH. Isler asked for a vote to permanently lift the ban on the Philippines, and majority voted in favor of Isler’s proposal. Also voting in favor of lifting the ban were reigning Miss World Megan Young, Miss International Bea Rose Santiago, Miss Supranational Mutya Johanna Datul and Miss Tourism International Angeli Dione Gomez — Filipinas all.

Film and TV, International, Politics, The Media

PRODUCERS OF ‘CESAR CHAVEZ’ FILM ISSUE DISCLAIMER

March 29, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Hollywood, California – ‘Cesar Chavez,’ opened in theaters nationwide this week amid protests from historians and Filipino community leaders that the Diego Luna film fails to tell the real story behind the United Farm Workers (UFW) and the labor movement started by Filipinos in the grape farms of Delano, California. While historical documents have long confirmed that Larry Itliong and other Filipino labor leaders contributed greatly to the eventual formation of UFW headed by Cesar Chavez, the film has all but minimized if not totally erased Filipinos from major scenes relating to the farm labor movement.

In the one hour and thirty eight-minute film, Larry Itliong, played by Filipino American actor Darion Basco, appeared for less than 10 minutes total, and mostly as a bystander.

Overwhelmed by the negative reaction of film goers to what could have been a monumental film epic, producers of the Hollywood film issued the following disclaimer:

“Cesar Chavez is a film based on fiction. Any similarities to actual persons — dead or alive — or to places and events — past and present — are purely coincidental. We encourage the viewing public from all nationalities and ethnic background to go see the film to ensure its box office success and help us recover the $10 Million we invested in this feel-good movie.”