Help make Lia win as Miss Photogenic

You can help make Lia Andrea Ramos win the Miss Photogenic award in the ongoing 2006 Miss Universe Pageant by visiting NBC.com. The Philippines has won the award five times, in a tie with Puerto Rico, namely: Vida Doria (1971), Margie Moran (1973), Aileen Damiles (1996), Abbygale Arenas (1997) and Gionna Cabrera (2005). Since the award was decided via Internet voting, only the two countries have won.

Grand finals of the Miss U Pageant will be held at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on Sunday, July 23 (Monday, July 24, Manila Time, telecast live via RPN 9 starting mid-morning). Reigning Miss Universe is Natalie Glebova of Canada.

Once again, the question: Will Lia bring home the country’s third Miss U crown (after Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margie Moran in 1973)? Keep your fingers crossed.

Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib are making another roll call of past Philippine Miss U bets and how they fared:

• 1952, Teresita Sanchez

• 1953, Cristina Pacheco

• 1954, Blesilda Ocampo (semi-finalist)

• 1955, Yvonne delos Reyes

• 1956, Isabel Rodriguez

• 1957, Mary Ann Corrales

• 1962, Josephine Estrada

• 1963, Lalaine Bennett (third runner-up)

• 1964, Myrna Panlilio

• 1965, Louise Aurelio Vail (semi-finalist)

• 1966, Clarinda Soriano (semi-finalist)

• 1967, Pilar Pilapil

• 1968, Charina Zaragosa

• 1969, Gloria Diaz (Miss U)

• 1970, Simonette delos Reyes

• 1971, Vida Doria (Miss Photogenic)

• 1972, Armi Barbara Crespo (semi-finalist)

• 1973, Margie Moran (Miss U and Miss Photogenic)

• 1974, Guada Sanchez (semi-finalist)

• 1975, Chiqui Brosas (fourth runner-up)

• 1976, Lizbeth de Padua

• 1977, Anna Lorraine Kier

• 1978, Jennifer Cortes

• 1979, Dang Cecilio

• 1980, Chat Silayan (deceased, third runner-up)

• 1981, Maricar Mendoza

• 1982, Maribel Lopez

• 1983, Cita Capuyon

• 1984, Desiree Verdadero (third runner-up)

• 1985, Joyce Ann Burton

• 1986, Violeta Naluz

• 1987, Pebbles Asis (semi-finalist)

• 1988, Perfida Limpin

• 1989, Sara Jane Paez

• 1990, Gem Padilla

• 1991, Maria Lourdes Gonzalez

• 1992, Liza Berroya

• 1993, Dindi Gallardo

• 1994, Charlene Gonzalez (Top Six Finalist, Best in National Costume)

• 1995, Joanne Zapanta Santos

• 1996, Aileen Damiles (Miss Photogenic)

• 1997, Abbygale Arenas (Miss Photogenic)

• 1998, Jewel Lobaton

• 1999, Miriam Quiambao (Miss Clairol, first runner-up)

• 2000, Nina Ricci Alagao

• 2001, Zorayda Andam (Best in National Costume first runner-up)

• 2002, Karen Agustin

• 2003, Carla Balingit

• 2004, Maricar Balagtas

• 2005, Gionna Cabrera (Miss Photogenic, Royal Thai Silk awardee)

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)