Is Miss Grand International A Scam?

I have to admit I have enough of Miss MGI International 2021. I should move on and so much so that the MissUniverse 2021 national costume and the preliminaries have generated interest to a fever pitch on any barometric readings, I should get the green light to make headway and forget the fiasco, But I came across Dani Walker's blog and she was asking if Miss Grand International was a scam or not. That was not the only reason why I am writing this piece - the reason was that she mentioned MGI is not a pageant ... it was just a contest.

Believe me, I don't really know what she meant when she said that. I asked myself what is the difference between a pageant and a contest? So I google it up and I found this: When used as nouns, contest means competition, whereas pageant means an elaborate public display, especially a parade in historical or traditional costume. When used as a verb, contest means to contend, whereas pageant means to exhibit in the show. I am starting to have a big headache figuring out the difference. So guys I am asking help from you to elucidate and exemplify her words.

Any takers?

Regarding the question, if MGI was a scam, Dani was too careful about her choice of words and she don't want to jump to conclusions right away, she was suggesting all the candidates or national directors who were there to give their personal accounts so this will be resolved. Dani admits there were some things that were a little bit sketchy about this organization that is coming to light and that she wants to help to address it. She read fans' troubling comments and she herself said it should not be swept under the rug.

She read netizens' comments that MGI is a cooking show and that the contest was rigged or it is a scam. Instead of validating those accusations Dani was smart enough to define the terms and she said: for me the contest is rigged if there is an actual manipulation of scores and contestant scores were being swapped out or including some or excluding others just because you don't like the candidate when he knows she deserves that spot.

I consider the pageant to be rigged if there is a semblance that it is unfair competition and not every contestant were subjected to the same scoring rules and judgment and the whole process was done in secrecy.

The discussion brought up the following behaviors and issues:

1. The video showed the judging panel with no scoresheets, and the judges were seen laughing and not understanding the awesome task they have as a judge. Dani emphasized she has not seen anything like that. In my opinion, I frown at the judges who were acting like some elementary kids horsing around. With all the GRAND production numbers done at the start and the middle of the show, it ended with the announcement of the winner that doesn't look GRAND at all.

2. The viva voce type of selecting a winner, where the judges pick the winner orally rather than in writing. That was the same video where the judges shout Vietnam! The scene was reminiscent of scenes of pageantsbeing done at the barangay level. Although the judges are garb in their best attire and gowns, the way they were seated and the way they were shouting cheapened the GRAND show.

3. Dani stated we were not present in the contest so assuming that there was no scoresheet or tabulators or an accounting firm, she begged she is not sure ... and she is giving the organization the benefit of the doubt. I think Dani was just playing safe and she was gracious enough not to state the obvious.

4. Information and allegations that were shared online were done in secrecy as the information being shared is hiding under the cloak of anonymity. This is very hard because people coming out as a witness are not witnesses per se. They want to say things in public but maintains they want their privacy protected (they were hiding under username, nickname, or pseudonyms.

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The Stars Are Aligned for Philippines in Egypt

 If there is one Asian country with a long history of colonization that is strongly changing and controlling its culture and tradition, that country would be the Philippines, This impact extends well beyond anything and that includes the many superstitions that locals take to heart. The Philippines claims ownership of a very interesting, diverse mix of beliefs.

There are a number of different beliefs and practices that play an important role in our culture and every Filipino person’s day-to-day life. Some of these beliefs are said to bring good luck or good fortune. that's why when Vilma Santos have Luis Manzano in her life, her career as an actress and politician was just too much for Vilma's expectations, she gave him a sobriquet and she called him LUCKY.

Filipinos have lucky colors, lucky T-shirts, lucky numbers and for the Philippines, they have a Lucky host for pageants and that is Egypt. When I wrote that piece last November 1 (what a creepy and spectral day that was ... writing something about the supernatural and superstitions) I asked the readers if Egypt is the lucky host for us.  We didn't get an answer, perhaps we need more evidence to back that up.

I am a man of science. I am not into superstitious inanities nor do I fall into Friday the 13th myths. But what struck me most is when Peru got pregnant, which left a wide-open door for the Philippines to have a back-to-back victory. Maureen Montagne was just spending lazy afternoons in Siargao when Peru got axed and all Maureen can do is just grab the crown and be our nth winner in Egypt. She is Miss Eco International and she can still be Miss Globe after several Binibing Pilipinas finals postponements. If the wins happen once or twice, we can ignore the thought ... but six times is more than just luck. Not that I am complaining.

Readers may find this absurd but were all these just a coincidence or the stars were really aligned for the Philippines to win or place?

Consider this list of winnings and placements.

1. Katarina Sonja Rodriguez- Miss Intercontinental 2017- First Runner Up

2. Cynthia Thomalla - Miss Eco international 2018 Winner

3. Maureen Montagne - Miss Eco International First Runner Up 2019 

4. Kelley Day- Miss Eco International First Runner Up 2020. 

5. Roberta Tamondong - Miss Eco Teen International 2020- Winner

6. Cindy Obenita - Miss Intercontinental 2021- Winner

7. Tatyana Alexis Austria- Miss Eco Teen International 2021 First Runner up

When Miss Eco Teen International started last week I am starting to have this bizarre hunch that Tatyana Alexis Austria will make the Philippines proud again in the land of camels and the Pharaohs. Tatyana completed the LUCKY SEVEN SPOT.  

I want to blurt it out here in this blog, but I decided to keep this clandestine hush-hush to myself lest somebody might label me as a screwball or somebody will suggest that I need professional help.

Now it can be told: Tatyana Alexis Austria won again as the First Runner Up just like her predecessors.  If Roberta Angela Tamondong was not the titleholder she could just make it on her own.  But a back-to-back win was just too much for other candidates to digest.

I am not here to promote anting-anting or amulets and the like, but this is just too much coincidence.  What do you think guys?

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Brazil and Thailand Failed To Make The Cut in MU 2021

Brazil (Teresa Santos) and Thailand (Anchilee Scott- Kemmis) ended their long streak of placements in Miss Universe 2021 and people are asking why?  Was it the marathon race to the finish that was the culprit? Or was it the hurried training these two got since winning the local title or was the Miss U finals was too close for comfort making their preparations slapdash, disorganized and uncoordinated?

It doesn’t matter if you aced your placement at Miss Universe or barely made it, but assessing and critiquing your performance is a must and it should be done by all countries and that's including the fans in pageant fora. It should be de rigeur - it is fitting and necessary and I am encouraging all ND and their partners to make it a part and parcel of their post mortem autopsy of what they did and what is supposed to be done. 

Discussing the performance of other candidates say Brazil or Thailand or Vietnam, I think is a welcome move for as long as we maintain politeness, propriety, and decorum. If we discuss them so we can mirror their performance and shortcomings and maybe learn from their mistakes is acceptable.  If it is done to help us do things better next time. then I don't say NO to it.  It’s always important to understand what’s working (and why), what’s not, and where opportunities lie. These insights will help us streamline workflow, innovate processes, and improve team collaboration.

Even doctors & nurses are making post mortem evaluations of their work - say after successful surgery or maybe after somebody died on the operating table.

Post mortem examination is important in order to ensure that justice is served in respect of the deceased, the accused, the next of kin, and the respective insurance companies. It is important as a tool to establish the cause of death and to determine the contributing factors.

We can also apply these principles to pageantry, especially after the end of the contest to know what is lacking in us and formulate plans to improve next season maybe.