Beauty pageants have been a forte by us Filipinos. Most of the
time, there is beauty pageant that will be held whenever there is a fiesta
celebration of whoever saint people in a municipality or barangay devote with.
In short, beauty pageants have always been a culture to us Filipinos already.
It is like a World Cup, NBA or Boxing that we always spare time just to watch
for it from the beginning to the end.
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| The then candidate for the municipal mayor post Fernando Estavilla was a happy guest of the pageant in August 2016 |
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| Renato Sente, one of the bets for the vice mayor post was also one of the guests in August 2016. |
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| The guests were offered food after the pageant. |
The obsession of the Filipinos in beauty
pageants can be traced as early as World War 2.
University of the Philippines-Diliman Arts and Letters Professor
Jose Wendell Capili said the popularity of pageants in the country dates back
to as early as the pre-World War II era.
University of the Philippines-Diliman Arts and Letters Professor
Jose Wendell Capili said the popularity of pageants in the country dates back
to as early as the pre-World War II era.
The municipality of Pres. Carlos P. Garcia consists of 23
barangays who celebrate annual fiesta and as expected most of the fiesta
celebrations have beauty pageants in it. But it is very interesting to note
that there is no consistent beauty pageant that is annually held in Barangay
Pitogo - the barangay where the municipality is located.
We had witnessed for two years, in 2013 and 2014, where there
were Miss and Mister Intramurals that were managed by the high schools of the
municipality and was supported by the municipal government. In 2016, another
prestigious beauty pageant was held and was named Gandang Pitogo. It was
sponsored by the business sector of the town. It went well and the management
did earn money as well from the event however it also stopped. All these beauty
pageants were held in Pitogo Gymnasium.
Barangay Tugnao had also had their fair share. They had Miss Tugnao
for two years 2015 and 2016. However, for some reason the next year they were
just silent during their fiesta celebration.
Miss Teen Canmangao was also held in Barangay Canmangao last
December 2016. But like most of its siblings, the pageant did not continue the
next year.
The same fate Binibining San Jose experienced. It was a beauty
pageant held in Barangay San Jose in May 2016 but it vanished the next year.
Miss Sambagan, an old beauty pageant that was annually held in
Sitio Sambagan, in Barangay San Jose was put into rest when the barangay
officials who had been supporting it had misunderstanding with each other in
December 2016. It can be remembered that the pageant has had changed names from
Miss Sambagan to Mutya ng Sambagan to Miss and Mutya ng Sambagan before it was
put into rest.
In 2014, Looc Sambagan gave birth to the pageant which has been
consistent until today - the Miss Pitogo Islands pageant. Despite the
challenges because of the tight budget still the pageant pushes through year
after year. Solicitations are as always helpful in supporting the expenses of
the pageant proper and as well as the activities after the pageant night.
The pageant was once criticized by some of the municipality
officials as to why the pageant carries the name Miss Pitogo Islands when it
was only held in the sitio. Miss Pitogo Islands Organization Chairman, Edrian
Abad, stood his ground not to change the name of the pageant. "I am the
one who coined the name of the pageant. Why would I give up away something that
I honestly originally created?" He said that he is open to the idea that
the pageant will be held in Pitogo Gymnasium but of course if there will a
support from the municipal government. "What's the matter with the pageant
name? They can use Miss Pres. Carlos P. Garcia. I did not use that for their
convenience."
It can be remembered that the name Miss Pitogo Island was used
by Apriel Marie Matiz Mahier when she represented the municipality in the Miss
Bohol pageant in 2016. Although it was Miss Pitogo Island and not Miss Pitogo
Islands it raced brows of the Miss Pitogo Islands Organization supporters.
A choreographer named Sam also once said that Miss Pitogo
Islands pageant will be rivalled by an alleged Miss Villa Milagrosa pageant
that is currently in blueprint until this writing was posted. Sam added that
the pageant will be supported by the municipal government unlike Miss Pitogo
Islands. She said that the budget for the pageant will be approved by municipal
mayor Fernando Estavilla.
Miss Pitogo Islands Organization members just keep their silence
even until this new pageant will be made possible. After all, it will be a good
thing if the pageant will be challenged by another pageant for the organization
to do better in what they are currently doing.
