Responding To Netizen's Comment

Netizens Remark: In your previous post on the finale of Caballero Universal 2022, you said, "One has to be tall to be competitive?"  Are you serious? Andre was a good representative ... regardless of height or age.

Response: I have been singing hosanna in Andre Cue's name. As a matter of fact, this thread was written to follow him and his journey.  Actually the line "One has to be tall to be competitive ..." was uttered by a Latina who emailed me as she shared her observations on the finale of Caballero Universal 2022. We believe what she said because she had been exposed to her country's selection process of their representatives before coming to America and by Latino standards height is a plus factor. Well ... not all the time ... but it is an element that gave them an advantage.

Did you see last year's winners of Caballero Universal Christian Narango Gomez of Spain and Luis Bermudez of Venezuela? Aside from being stunning and striking, both were leggy Towers of Power. By Filipino standards maybe being good-looking is enough, but we are talking about Latin taste here.

My Puerto Rican friend even said.  Definitely, Andre is more handsome than say India or Puerto Rico so what prevented him from advancing? Could it be his height ... or his age perhaps?

And she elaborated: in Miss International, we are sending the prototype that they wanted ... of course, we can always send anybody ... but it is a tall order if they didn't match the stringent Japanese taste.  Same with Miss Earth. Judging from the past winners of Miss Earth ... one common denominator aside from being beautiful is their being loquacious intelligent speakers in the protection of Mother Earth. So if we feel beauty and height are Caballero Universal template ... it would be foolish while wading in their pageant water to go against the tide or the current.

I am a Filipino and a part of me ... will always side with our representative. But I don't close my eyes whenever a valid argument is being presented.  There is maybe some TRUTH to it.

Maharlika Wealth Fund, kaduda-duda ba?

Responding To Netizens

Netizen's Question: Can you please make a review of Caballero Universal 2022 which was just concluded recently in Caracas Venezuela. How did Andre Cue fare?

The Caballero Universal 2022 is stretching now to its last leg (and is underway at Club Teatro Luisela Diaz in Caracas, Capital District, Venezuela). and so far the men participating did not disappoint.

The show started with a musical number and the men responded by showing their terpsichorean skills.  Not bad at all. Then everybody introduced themselves in Spanish. I was more interested in Philippines Andre Cue and how he will fare being placed side by side with Latin counterparts (he  being boyish, a high school graduate, and only 5'9" and the rest are more mature candidates and six-footers at that)

Height is might in the modeling industry. He is 5′ 9″ alright much taller than average Filipinos, but most of the time the modeling agencies are looking for models taller than 5’9″ for unknown reasons.

More musical numbers were incorporated in an almost 3-hour show, so typical of Venezuelan pageants.  Even Miss and Mr. Venezuela are guilty of this as the org make sure they invite who's who in the Latin music scene (they made us feel we are watching ASAP and the swimwear and the Q and A are merely intermission numbers.)

Early special award winners were: 

1. Mejor Sonrisa - Fabio Gomez -Dominican Republic - Best Smile

2. Caballero Interactivo - Pablo Estrada - Spain - Interactive Gentleman

3. Mejor Cuerpo - Andre Cue - Philippines - Best Physique or Best Body

4. Mejor Amigo -Juan Matthew - Haiti - Most Friendly

Andre Cue in the swimwear competition was like the little boy in the midst of giants.  He looked diminutive and unusually small. He was the youngest as the host explained he was only 18. He looked surprised when a presenter kiss him, and she expected a kiss in return.

In the formal wear competition, Andre's smile lit the stage, and his chiseled jawline (not to mention his dimples were magnified tenfold as the camera zoomed in on his face. A square face is typically seen as very masculine due to its dominating features, such as a striking, angled jawline. Alas, his height became his Achilles heel. 

More special awards:

1. Caballero Pasarela - Carlos Palacio - Nicaragua - Best in Catwalk

2. Caballero Presa - Kendall  Switzenberg -USA

3. Caballero Fotogenico -Roger Molina - Cuba - Most Photogenic

4. Caballero Elegancia - Kramikkumar Yadav -India Most Elegant

The announcement of the ten finalists followed and they were:

1. Puerto Rico

2. Spain

3. Cuba

4. Mexico

5. Dominican Republic

6. Panama

7. Philippines

8. Nicaragua

9. India

10. USA

In the announcement of the ten finalists, Andre tried to speak Spanish to my surprise... which is a good try.

The announcement of the six finalists followed. And the winners are;

Fourth Runner-Up - Roger Molina  Cuba

Third Runner-Up - Angel Rosado- Puerto Rico

Second Runner-Up -Kramikkumar Yadav - India - 

First Runner-Up - Pablo Estrada 0 Spain

Virrey Caballero Universal 2022- Carlos Palacio - Nicaragua

Caballero Universal 2022- USA - Kendall Switzenberg

Emmanuel Manu Franco Mr. International 2022 from the Dominican Republic was one of the judges.

Caballero Universal 2021 Christian Narango Gomez of Spain and Virrey Luis Bermudez of Venezuela were crowned the winners. They looked like Petronas Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur ...  so tall and so towering.

Mister International Philippines should take the cue from there.  One has to be tall to be competitive ... not to belittle the Top Ten finish of Andre Cue.  Had he been taller ... with his good looks and good physique the possibilities are endless.

We can always dream ... can't we?

Places We Visited: Farm Tour At Clovis California

I just love floral photography and visiting Clovis in Central California is bursting with opportunities. The farm areas are small but it will give visitors the chance to appreciate the beauty of nature at its best. In the month of May, visiting these farms gives you a lush profusion and panoramic view of garden flowers, it will leave you breathless.

Are The Stars Out Tonight? Ryza Cenon

Not everybody has a chance to brush elbows with the stars in the entertainment, modeling, and pageant industries so when the invitation starts knocking at my door ... who am I to refuse. Others may frown at it ... but it is irresistible. Well-meaning friends have given us the opportunity on a silver platter (it is like allowing us to get something easily ... without having to work on it) so when I saw the window ... in basketball lingo - an opening ... all I did was to dribble the ball ... do the lay-up and shoot it for the much-needed money shot.

Ryza Ann Cenon Simbulan, known professionally as Ryza Cenon, is a Filipino actress, dancer, model, and painter. In 2004, she became the Ultimate Female Survivor of the second season of StarStruck of GMA Network. She is from Gapan Nueva Ecija.

                Ryza Cenon - Actress, Starstruck 4

Pinoy Commentaries

Huwag kang magyabang sa panahong nasa itaas ka at sagana sa buhay.

What goes up must come down. Walang FOREVER sa ITAAS, anytime bubulusok ka sa IBABA. Reminder lang po ... at huwag kampante.

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