Reality-TV Mutya not original?

Reacting to Funfare’s story the other day on the 2004 Mutya ng Pilipinas search, Felix Manuel (one of this corner’s "beauty experts") reminded me that the concept of turning the search into reality-TV (ABC 5’s Buhay Beauty Queen) isn’t really new. In short, not original

"The reality-TV beauty pageant started in Portugal three years ago," said Felix.

No problem. It’s okay to "copy" a good example, but never a bad one.

"Because it’s reality-TV," explained Felix, "the rules can be somewhat confusing. Those who emerge Top 10 on the TV show may not necessarily be those the judges will choose on pageant night (tomorrow, July 11, at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, telecast by ABC 5 starting at 9 o’clock)."

As usual, Felix and his three fellow "beauty experts" Gery Yumping, Joey Cezare and Francis Calubaquib have come up with their own Top 10 "most likely" choices, namely Eizza Rancesca Santos Lim (No. 1), 19 and 5’6" tall; Kooky Ken dela Cruz (No. 4), 20 and 5’8" tall; Diana Jean Espedido (No. 5), 19 and 5’9" tall; Jedah Hernandez (No. 9), 20 and 5’9"; Johanne Guirgen (No. 23), 19 and 5’7" tall; Maria Theresa Reyes (No. 24), 20 and 5’7" tall; Asia Laurel (No. 34), 24 and 5’6" tall; Blanch Marie Brown (No. 35), 18 and 5’8" tall; Yasmin Ather Dar (No. 38), 19 and 5’4" tall; and Carmelle Olivia de Leon Hebron (No. 40), 20 and 5’8" tall.

"We based our choices on the candidates’ appearance last Tuesday (July 6) at the press presentation in Sulo Hotel," said Felix who also reports that another Mutya beauty, 18-year-old Jamie Fermin Burgos (5’8" tall and measuring 34-25-35, a balikbayan from Los Angeles) left last Sunday for Beijing as the country’s bet in the 2004 Miss Intercontinental Contest on July 24.

"Jamie was born in Parañaque City," added Felix, "and moved to L.A. six years ago. She won as Miss Philippines-Tourisn in last year’s Mutya ng Pilipinas-USA pageant."

Meanwhile, Celso de Guzman Caparas, Funfare’s "other beauty expert," has come up with the complete list of Mutya beauties who ventured into showbiz, to wit: Marilou Alas Destreza (1969 third runner-up), Alice Tiongson Crisostomo (1970 Mutya and Miss Asia first runner-up), Estrella Fabian a.k.a. Rizza (1970 contestant), Jean Altavas (1970 first runner-up), Susan Valdez (1974 second runner-up), Azenith Briones (1975 second runner-up/Miss Tourism), Ma. Luisa "Baby" Delgado (1976 Mutya and Miss Asia third runner-up),

Rio Diaz (1977 Mutya and Miss Asia fourth runner-up), Emma Yuhico (1977 Mutya Tourism), Malu dela Fuentes (1977 contestant), Dinah Dominguez (1977 contestant), Mary Yehlen Palabrica Catral (1978 Mutya Tourism), Tetchie Agbayani (1979 first runner-up), Rosemarie de Vera (1980 Mutya and Miss Asia first runner-up), Eileen Macapagal (1980 second runner-up), Bong Dimayacyac (1983 Mutya and Miss Asia), Marilou Sadiua (1983 Mutya-World), Yoraidyl Diaz Stone a.k.a. Lyka Ugarte (1983 first runner-up), Rachel Anne Wolfe (1983 second runner-up), Aurora Sevilla (1984 Mutya-World), Sherry Rose Austria Byrne (1986 Mutya and Miss World semi-finalist/Queen of Beauty for Asia), Star Querubin (1989 Mutya), Michelle Zulueta Aldana (1993 Mutya and Miss Asia), Sherilyn Reyes (1994 third runner-up), Maricel Gomez Morales (1995 Mutya and Miss Asia semi-finalist), Daisy Reyes (1995 Mutya and Miss Expo International fourth runner-up), Preciosa Reyes Valencia (1997 third runner-up), Michelle Cajaljal delos Santos (1998 second runner-up), Patricia Anne Unson Bermudez (1999 semi-finalist), Josephine delas Nieves Canonizado (2000 Mutya) and Darlene Zimmer Carbungco (2001 Mutya and Miss Asia fourth runner-up).

G. Tongi In Elle Mag

Yes, it’s G. Tongi in the latest issue of the international Elle magazine with Avril Lavigne on the cover.

This piece of good news was relayed to Funfare by reader Joan Abrigo of Palo Alto, California, who sent the following excerpt from the article entitled Global Girl of the Moment: Giselle, 25, written by Maria Santos:

Who’s that girl? Giselle Tongi, 25, a model/actress/singer/VJ. Her international flava: With a Filipina mom and a Swiss dad, this girl has lived in Paris, Zurich and finally Manila where she was discovered at age 12 by a modelling agent in a mall. And the modelling jobs keep comin’. Even though she’s only five-feet-four, Giselle has landed the covers of Cosmo and FHM magazines in Asia. "I signed a contract to be the spokesmodel for Freeway, a Filipino fashion label for edgy girls who aren’t afraid to express themselves through clothes."

One sweet gig was in Hawaii, where Giselle, along with MTV’s Suchin Pak, hosted an event for World Asia TV, a new US network with Asian-themed programming from yoga shows to Kill Bill. Wait, it gets better. While working as a VJ for MTV Asia, she travelled all over Singapore interviewing celebs like Ricky Martin and Mariah Carey. She even released her own CD on Sony called Very G. Her inspiration? Mom. "After my father died, I grew up in a single-parent household as the youngest of four. Girls in the Philippines are usually raised to be subservient, but my mom taught me that I can do anything."

What’s Up?

• Oops! Melanie Marquez’s husband, Adam Lawyer, is really a lawyer, not just a businessman as Funfare mentioned in an earlier issue. Melanie said that Adam is an expert in international banking and finance, a cum laude law graduate and top-notch in his field in his native Utah, USA. He’s licensed not only in Utah but also in Hawaii. Melanie has two sons by Adam.

• Several readers have corrected the Funfare DPA who listed down Shanghai as one the 10 countries as "safe" places for trysting showbiz un-couples. Yes, of course, Shanghai is not a country but a city in China.

• Ballet at the Park is presenting at 5 p.m. today at the Rizal Park Open-Air Auditorium selections from some of the most popular ballets by Ballet Manila, under the artistic direction of Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. Tomorrow (July 11) at 5 p.m., Concert at the Park presents Ulan, Bagyo: Pankalikasang Buhos ng Alternatibong Musika, featuring the group Tanglaw Sining. Minitte Padilla is program host.

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