You be the judge

Margie Moran in a recent feature in this paper’s Lifestyle section admitted that she’d rather perform the task of crowning beauty contest winners than become part of the selection process as judge responsible for choosing the titleholder.

I can only agree with the former Miss Universe winner because as she pointed out in that Lifestyle interview the supporters of losing candidates can become combative and at times approach the judges’ table ready for a confrontation.

Only a few weeks ago, I also read in this paper’s inside pages how a group of students ganged up on a judge in a school pageant. It was actually a contest to promote Linggo ng Wika and the judge asked a supposed crowd favorite how many consonants there are in the Filipino language.

It was a difficult question, all right, especially since — and this not too many Filipinos may be aware — more letters had been added to our national language in the last few years, perhaps decades. (When I was in school, there were only 20.)

The judge who earned the ire of the supporters of the losing contestant, however, should not be blamed for asking the question since it was relevant to the competition — that being a beauty contest centered on Linggo ng Wika, as reported in the news item I read.

In today’s cyberspace world, the judges can also get it on the Internet. There is no escaping the sore losers and their equally nasty camp.

When the pageant host therefore says as part of the show spiel that the judges have the most difficult job that evening of the competition that is not just some blabber talk. Judging a contest is never an easy task, especially now that the world population seems to be more aggressive and have a way of getting back at some judges who may be unfairly getting the blame for the defeat of popular contestants.

Of course even as early as 40 years ago (or probably even earlier), some judges in beauty pageants were already being accused of choosing undeserving winners or playing favorites — without the public considering the fact that what may be beautiful to one may not be beautiful to another.

In the 1973 Miss World pageant in London, Pinoys pointed to Hollywood actor Gregory Peck as the stumbling block to Evangeline Pascual’s winning the crown. The United States’ Marjorie Wallace won the title — with Vangie finishing first runner-up. As it was later revealed, the late Oscar winner actually gave both Marjorie and Vangie equal scores.

Had he given Vangie a point higher, she could have been the first Filipina to win Miss World — a crown a Pinay beauty has yet to wear. Oddly enough, the American winner was dethroned months later for cavorting with Tom Jones.

But Peck should be thankful that tweeting had yet to be conceptualized that time. Pinoys would have mocked to death on the Internet the Oscar winner for To Kill a Mockingbird.

Why, even our own beloved Lea Salonga — our national treasure, who continues to bring honor to our country — is getting it now in cyberspace for simply doing her job fairly and squarely as judge in last Tuesday’s Miss Universe pageant. Why couldn’t she have done everything within her capacity and made Shamcey Supsup win the crown? That is now the gripe against her by some pageant watchers.

If you ask me, Lea committed no crime against anyone. Were we actually expecting her to perform some hocus-pocus during the contest?

To begin with, she’s just one of the judges. (Did we want her to pass around packets of Philippine dried mangoes to the others in the panel to vote for Miss Philippines?)

And having known Lea for a long time, she had always been fair. I believe that the scores she gave to the contestants were based on how she honestly felt each one of them performed and how impressive they were on the Miss Universe stage.

Besides, had Shamcey won the title — with Lea in the panel — perhaps the Philippines would have been in big trouble. Our country may be put in an embarrassing position.

This much I want to say: We should already be proud of Shamcey’s third runner-up finish. She did a good job. It was a tough contest and to be part of the Magic 5 — what with 88 other contestants — is already a major achievement. Had Shamcey won the title, Lea could be suspect and she’ll never hear the end of it from sour grapes from other countries. She and the entire Philippines would end up in a very awkward situation.

After Kuh Ledesma sat as judge in the 1991 Miss Universe contest, I had a phone interview with her for this paper. I kidded her why she didn’t perform magic tricks and make Phl bet Alou Gonzalez win the crown.

Kuh had a good laugh and said: “Eh di ba sabi nila kamukha ko si Alou? Tapos kapangalan ko pa!” (Kuh that time was still Mrs. Louie Gonzalez.)

Added Kuh: “Much as I had wanted Miss Philippines to win — being a Filipina who loves this country — there was nothing much I could do. Do you think I can get away with it if I openly favored Alou? Mas nakakahiya kasi halatang-halata ka.”

Like Kuh, Lea obviously stuck to her principles and played fair — and I never expected her to have done otherwise.

While being invited to be a judge in any competition can be flattering, the job is never easy. I’m sure that at one point in your life, you had been asked to judge a contest — a beauty pageant in your town, production numbers during office parties and even family programs among clan members.

Unless you were born without scruples, you try to play it fair and always choose the most deserving winner. Somehow you ask yourself: Am I going to be able to live with this decision?

Try to recall all those instances you played judge even in the most minor of contests. Wasn’t it a brain-wracking activity? Didn’t you feel sorry for those who didn’t make it? Was it easy sitting in the panel? Is playing judge always a pleasurable experience?

You be the judge.