Janine thought she had a ’50-50’ chance of winning

Once again a Filipina was this close to being crowned Miss Universe.

Janine Tugonon settled for first runner-up in this year’s edition of the beauty pageant¸ with the title going to Miss USA Olivia Culpo.

In the last three years, three Pinays have landed in the Final Five circle of the Miss Universe competition. Venus Raj was fourth runner-up in 2010 and Shamcey Supsup was third runner-up in 2011.

Janine, a 23-year-old pharmacist, matched Miriam Quiambao’s first runner-up finish in the 1999 Miss Universe.

We haven’t produced a Miss Universe titlist since Margie Moran won in 1973. Four years earlier, Gloria Diaz became the first Filipina to win the Miss Universe crown.

Still, Janine gave it her best shot, and there are some who believe that she would have been the hands-down winner if the pageant was not held in the US.

Janine definitely impressed the judges with her reply in the question-and-answer portion. Fashion photographer Nigel Barker asked a question lifted from Twitter, “As a global ambassador, do you think speaking English should be a prerequisite to being Miss Universe?”

Exuding confidence, Janine replied, “For me, being Miss Universe is not just about knowing how to speak a specific language. It’s being able to influence and inspire other people. As long as your heart wants to serve and you have a strong mind to show to people, then you can be Miss Universe.”

That earned her a wave of enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Interviewed after the pageant, Janine told ABS-CBN she felt she had a “50-50” chance of winning. But she acknowledged that Miss USA had four things going for her.

She said Miss Culpo’s answer in Q and A portion wasn’t bad at all “and very spontaneous.” The American was also very friendly. Miss Culpo is also familiar to the Miss Universe organization, which handles the Miss USA competition.

And lastly, Miss Culpo is “really beautiful,” Janine said.

If you missed the TV coverage of the Miss Universe, there will be a replay on the primetime telecast of ABS-CBN at 11:00 a.m. today.

***

Three of the eight entries in the Metro Manila Film Festival have earned a grade of A from the Cinema Evaluation Board.

Thy Womb, El Presidente and One More Try were on the board’s “A” list. Getting a B were Si Agimat, Si Enteng Kabisote at Si Ako, The Strangers, and Sisteraka.

Sosy Problems did not get a grade, while the board had yet to screen Shake, Rattle and Roll 14.

***

There is a chance that Pierre Emmanuel Plassart, the French suitor of KC Concepcion, might spend Christmas in the Philippines.

KC says Pierre has been hinting that he wants to experience Christmas in the country.

“That would be nice. I can show him how we Filipinos have a good time, especially during Christmas,” she says.

So is she having a serious relationship with the Frenchman? “I don’t want to call it that yet, but I really like his personality,” KC says.

***

A glove worn by pop icon Michael Jackson fetched $199,069 at an auction in Los Angeles last week.

The glove is considered unique because it is black. Michael usually wore white gloves.

He wore the particular glove, which is encrusted with Swarovski crystals, when he received the American Music Award for Thriller as the best-selling record of all time in 1984.

The Agence France Presse reports that Michael had originally given the glove to a terminally ill boy.

The auction house, Nate D. Sanders, did not identify the buyer.

The black glove fetched a higher price than a white one which went for $192,000 in 2010.

The jacket worn by Jackson on the Thriller tour in 1984 sold for $84,422 at the Los Angeles auction.