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Trivia Time: Miss Universe 2021

 Miss Universe 2021 happened two months ago and people are still talking about it ... but one wonders what little pieces of information we can squeeze from the pageant ... some things they called trivia:

Trivia is information and data that are considered to be of little value.  Trivia or trivium if singular came from a Roman word, tri for three and viae (roads) – literally meaning "three roads".

Well, to some pageant fans these nuggets of information may be of less importance, but others considered it a coffer and a treasure of little-known facts. Especially if you talk trivia about placements, in this case, Miss Universe 2021, hyperbole or not, has some kind of a magnet in it that makes fans stop for a while and listen.

In the top five trivia:

1. India after a long drought came back with the vengeance and win its third Miss U title! It was a long wait since Lara Dutta won in 2000!

2. Paraguay had a sigh of relief and 2021 is a record-high in their Miss Universe history.  This is considered their highest placement in Miss Universe! The country placements are few and far between the last one being in 2006!

3. South Africa has now the bragging right as she has the record of joining the magic 3 for the fourth time in five years!Before Demi’s win in 2017, the country has not made the top five since 2003.

4, Colombia is a perennial top 5 placer and this is their sixth, (a record too hard to beat) in the span of eight years!!

5. The Philippines is also on a winning bonanza. This is their 12th straight year of uninterrupted placement since 2010. Last top 5 include Venus Raj, Janine Tugonon, Shamcey Supsusp, Catriona Gray, Bea Gomez, Pia Wurtzbach, Ariella Arida and Maxine Medina.

For the Top Ten trivia:

1. Puerto Rico make its habit of squeaking itself to the top 10, and would you believe this, they made it 4 years in a row now.

2. The USA  is another frontrunner and their placement in the semifinals round had reached the penultimate 11th straight year non-stop. The streak is long and impressive, but they were not successful to reach the top 5 since 2015!! 

3. The Bahamas surprised everyone as this is the first for the country to join the elite semifinalists' club.  The country has a history of being an annual clapper since 1963 and Chantel win made it very special for her and The Bahamas.

4 France continues to be a formidable European heavyweight in this contest. This year's output made their third consecutive trip to the semifinal round. 

5. Aruba's record is similar to The Bahamas, nay a little bit better if my memory serves me right.  The last time they place was 1996. And who could forget Maureen Ava Viera indelible performance when Miss Universe Thrilla in Manila was held in FAT.

6. Venezuela trip in the semifinals is not even.  Last year they clapped bad, and although they have an impressive semifinal streak of eight times in the last ten years, the South American Tower of Power has not made the top 10 for the third straight year. 

7, Vietnam continued its quest for a series of consecutive successes which is going steadily in its fourth year. And still, counting?

8. Singapore also had their spirit up when they finally made it this year ending 33 years of continued  MU dry spells and dehydration.  Their last win was 1987, and I should say, the long wait was over.

Other streaks that were broken: 

1. Brazil broke the record in 2021 and failed miserably to place for the first time since 2010! It has a record-breaking 10 straight placements since it played host in Sao Paolo in 2011.

2. Thailand's hope for a continued windfall went pffft when the halfie's quest was aborted after six top 10 placements in 2015-2020 (three of them being top 5/6 placements).

3. Mexico, Peru, and the Dominican Republic  also broke the run of good luck

4. Indonesia halted their run of continued luck because of non-participation which has political coloring and nuances.

5. Israel - the host delegate fails to place the first time since 2013. Were they really that honest that they did not even try negotiating for a "pampalubag loob" pageant-finish being the host country?

6.  Malta is one of the countries that have not tasted a win in MU's annual derby. Any other countries that have a similar fate?

PS:  I always stand corrected if there's an error in any of my statements.  It takes a lot of research to come up with this thread, and if there are erroneous or inaccurate facts feel free to comment and correct them.

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?