Believing in Anna

I felt like a beauty queen-again. (Ha ha ha) That was when Anna Maris Igpit, pride of Bohol and Cebu's strongest bet to the most prestigious pageant in the country, was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-World at the Araneta Coliseum Saturday night. It was as if I was also crowned because I have always believed in Anna, even when others doubted her chances of making it to the top three when the pageant approached.

I've always seen so much promise in Anna ever since I first met her in October 2004 when I had the privilege to be part of the group who picked her as "Darling of the Press" during the search for Miss Talisay City that year. I could not forget her because she was the only one who gave a convincing answer to my question as to their stand on the then growing rift between the cities of Cebu and Talisay over a contested portion of the South Reclamation Project. I could no longer quote her reply verbatim but she said something to the effect of seeking the assistance of government agencies to determine who really owns the contested portion. With that answer, I predicted she would win the pageant-and she successfully did.

There's something distinct in Anna's looks. Yes, she is not beautiful if your standard of beauty is mestiza. But her smile and sunny disposition would hook your attention and I was really banking on these assets of hers while she was competing in the Bb. Pilipinas. When some of my friends commented that she isn't beautiful, I never disagreed, but I would not fail to add that she's very charming. Every inch a Filipina, from looks to complexion, Anna is really fit for international pageants. She'd make a good representative of the so-called oriental charm. With that, hopefully, she would stand out in Poland this December.

My friendship with Anna is actually informal because I only met her twice-first was during the above-mentioned Miss Talisay presscon and second when she was crowned Miss Mandaue last May. Since those were merely ambush and not sit-down interviews where there's instant bonding, I can't blame her if she does not remember me by face. But despite that, our friendship has grown even if our correspondence is only through email and text. It helps that we have the same communication network (unlimited text you know) and that her agent, Chicoy Tomol of the Models Association of Cebu (M.A.C.) is my friend. But in whatever means I've kept in touch with Anna, she has always been approachable and accommodating. There was not a time when she didn't reply to my text messages, maybe sometimes delayed as she was busy with rehearsals. But she has always been there, not missing any opportunity to say thank you when I write about her.

These gestures (thanking and texting back) are a big deal to me as a writer because as what I have said before these would serve as feedback-whether positive or negative-to a favor done. You see there was this Cebuana beauty titleholder who never thanked me and who snubbed a FREEMAN writer who wanted to interview her. But I know our paths would cross when she would eventually join Bb. Pilipinas next year under a new agent. However, chances are I might not support her bid next year because of her attitude. Well, I am not saying that without publicity this Cebuana titleholder will not win. But remember, God said that "When two or more gather together in my name I am with them." So it's really different and more powerful when lots of people pray for your success.

Anyway, Anna indeed heard mass last Sunday at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Cubao. She did it in the afternoon because according to her she was still sleepy in the morning. But the important thing is she made true to her answer that the first thing she would do should she win in the pageant that night was to visit the church to thank God for the blessings and to ask for guidance for the biggest and toughest battle that has yet to come, which is the Miss World competition.

And when she comes home next week, Anna is expected to visit Basilica del Santo Niño as she vowed to herself. "Actually daghan ko i-visit, adto ko Redemptorist, Carmelite and Poor Claire in Liloan. Those were my praying venues," she told me when I texted her last Thursday afternoon.

It was also last Thursday that Anna elaborated on what she told me days earlier that she was keeping her optimism high because she had felt there was favoritism while the pageant was nearing. Without mentioning names, she revealed that "every TV guesting naa juy usa ka girl pirmi ipa-front. Then pirmi pa storyaon sa TV unya usahay unahon jud og make-up. But balewala nalang pod nako, positive thinking lang jud ko." Well, I too noticed that in every TV guesting, I hardly had a glimpse of Anna but I told myself that it was expected because as in the past, she'd rather be the dark horse or underdog of the competition. "Mao sad na advice ni Karla (Queen of Asia Oceania Karla Bautista) ug sa mga make-up artists nga sa pageant na jud palugwa."

Anna was so confident during the pageant night: she was a picture of someone having fun onstage and enjoying every moment of it. That was because by Friday night, she already conditioned herself that if one of the three crowns was really for her, then God will make it happen. But it helped a lot too that she trained under Rodgil Flores, the person behind the success of past winners Maricar Balagtas, Karen Loren Agustin, Carlene Aguilar, Melanie Ediza, Precious Lara Quigaman and Karla, just to name a few. "It was the best training that I went through. Though I've joined a lot of pageants before, daghan pa diay kog dapat i-improve that's why lahi ra jud ko pag-pageant. They trained me in doing the catwalk and in responding to the Q&A."

Honestly, while watching her that night, I could not help but say a prayer for her from time to time, as I really liked her to win mainly because I find her a very nice person. It was already past 11pm when Chicoy texted me that Anna won and was also declared Best in Gown that I managed to relax. How I love to see "promdis" making it big in the capital. Forgive me for being regionalistic but for me, people from outside of Manila could excel given equal exposure and chance. So Anna's victory is like mine, too.

For someone who started joining pageants only two years ago and winning almost in all of them, Anna remains humble and prayerful, which could explain why she is so blessed. While others believed her answer during the final round was cliché, I applaud her because she really knows to give credit to where it is due. I agree with her when she told me last Sunday that her answer was the most fitting statement that she could think of and the best one at that. I've said this in a past column and I'll say this again-without God we are nothing. So it is just most appropriate to glorify God either in times of failure or success, because everything happens for a reason.

Now with a crown on her head and a glamorous beauty title to her name, I trust Anna to remain grounded because humility is what makes one a true beauty. I'm also confident that she would still be the same endearing Anna I know because when I told her not to develop star complex and to be always real, she replied, "Yes, I will always remember that. Daghan na kaayo kog tawo nga na-encounter nga ingon ana and I don't want to be like them because I don't wanna lose my friends."

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Gosh, another "promdi" is in danger. I'm referring to Keanna Reeves who is being nominated for eviction tonight in ABS-CBN's Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition. Let us save her because without Keanna, the house would turn dull and colorless because her comments never fail to make one smile. And I must say she's real and transparent and who doesn't mind whether the cameras are on her or not. So it's never too late, text BB Keanna then send to 2331 for Globe, Sun Cellular and 231 for Smart and Talk N' Text subscribers. Let's send Roxie Barcelo home instead for becoming irritating with her lies and "crybaby" drama.

Tomorrow night at the Marikina Sports Complex would also be the final night of GMA-7's StarStruck Nationwide Invasion. Catch the delayed telecast at the Kapuso network after Da De Di Do Du. I'm rooting for Iwa Motto and Marky Cielo, let's see if they would be lucky enough to become the Ultimate Survivors.

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