Of white bikinis, beauty queens and Melanie Marquez

“Getting Gwen’s goat” read the title of the photo that appeared on this paper’s page one last Sunday, November 11. It was about how a disappointed and scandalized Governor Gwen Garcia walked out from a supposed fashion show of indigenous materials in the town of Boljoon, after being treated to a “bikini act” during the opening number. The governor was quoted in a report by The Freeman’s Gerome Dalipe as saying, “That was totally immoral, cheap and
disrespectful to the significance of their fiesta. I was very angry with what happened.”

I don’t blame the governor for such a reaction. Even a gradeschooler could very well comprehend that a bikini act like that never qualifies as a cultural show. Whoever choreographed that event should undergo a crash course on what Philippine cultural shows should be about.

For a town that’s home to a 407-year-old church that epitomizes the religiosity of its people, how did a bikini act make its way to the presentation of the municipality’s indigenous materials? Even if the choreographer would insist that it was just a case of miscommunication and that it was really intended to be a bikini fashion show, it was still a badly-timed idea because it’s the rainy season right now. Bikinis are worn during summer time that’s why you have such competitions as Bikini Open, Jamaican Nights, Century Superbod, etc.

So did the choreographer deceive the municipal officials by not specifying the program flow? Or did the people who were supposed to block the inclusion of a bikini act in the “cultural show” choose to be blind for their personal reasons or own interest?

Interestingly, such controversial act happened last November 9, a day after selected members of Cebu’s
E-Group (entertainment group) joined Miss International, Supermodel and Ambassadress of Beauty Melanie Marquez in a luncheon courtesy of Psamstre Enterprises, makers of New Placenta Beauty Products which held a fabulous fashion show featuring Cebuano designers at Parklane International Hotel. During that luncheon we discussed with Ms. Melanie the state of beauty pageants in the Philippines and why our representatives to various major international pageants have failed to come home victorious lately.

Melanie, the first Asian beauty who conquered New York’s fashion circuit in the 80’s without having to pass
through Europe (during her time, Asian models usually tried their luck first in Europe’s fashion capitals before heading for New York), said that maybe it’s not yet time for these Binibinis to win. Saying that maybe God has other plans for them, she also admitted that today’s beauty queens should undergo more personality development workshops, especially for those joining Miss Universe.

I also asked for her opinion on the common complaint of beauty pageant fanatics that it is ironic that Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. always gets foreign designers to create the national costume of our bets when they cannot capture our culture in the gowns that will be viewed by the world. She agreed there really is something wrong with such practice, citing a Philippine candidate who wore a peacock-like gown during a Miss U pageant some years back as example.

“I don’t approve with that as well. Give me enough time and I’ll talk to Mrs. (Stella) Araneta. Mrs. Araneta is a very fine lady, a good lady. She has her own reasons
siguro which I did not hear. But I have to talk to her. Only a Filipino could appreciate her own dress. Minsan nakita ko yan, Ms Philippines sa Miss Universe naka-peacock. Sabi ko ano yan parang ginawang carnival. I can talk to her (Mrs. Araneta) about anything; mayron lang nagsulsol yan, minsan paulit ulit yung gown,” Ms. Melanie, in her usual gay and bubbly way, revealed.

E-Group’s Dodong Morallo asked her opinion about the long standing perception of beauty pageants as exploitation to women. Her reply was, “I don’t actually agree with beauty queens wearing two piece lalo na white pa ang color ng swimsuit. It’s exploitation for me, one piece still looks elegant, it’s proper and appropriate. Kaya siguro mga iba hindi nila ma project sarili nila kasi they feel uncomfortable. And I don’t think we need to exploit beauty queens.”

She assured that in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant there is no exploitation and although candidates wear two-piece swimsuits, they’re not white in color. Then she shared that in provincial beauty contests, the wearing of white bikinis is prevalent. She believes this is where the so-called exploitation takes place. “Sa probinsya nag-judge ako, white ang bathing suit nila na makikita mo na, tapos makikita mo ang mga politician nakatunganga, hindi sa mukha tumitingin kaya kailangan those things i-ban kasi talagang binababoy na ang candidate,” she declared.

“Marami nga kasing DOM (dirty old men), na-aawa ako sa mga bata… young, inexperienced and here comes the crocodiles waiting to eat them,” she added in a funny manner, but meaningful nonetheless.

So there you have it! Whoever made that girl wear a white bikini in that supposed fashion show of indigenous materials in Boljoon last week should come up with an explanation. Going by Ms. Melanie’s pronouncements, that bikini act could very well be defined as exploitation.

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