MJ: Let’s just be grateful & be happy

She did her best but, apparently in the eyes of the judges (including Manny Pacquiao), her best wasn’t good enough.

Asked about her Top 10 finish (among 88 candidates) in the just-concluded 63rd Miss Universe pageant won by Paulina Vega (the second from Colombia, after Luz Marina Zuluaga in 1958), Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimosa told Funfare in an exclusive phone interview yesterday from the L.A. airport, an hour before she boarded a PAL flight for Manila (which arrived early this morning, “I’m too overwhelmed by the experience,” debunking suspicion that, like her supporters back home, she was disappointed. “I’m not bitter at all po, hahahaha, kaya positive na lang.”

Because she didn’t make it to the Top 5, MJ’s supporters are blaming (and bashing) Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) head Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta for making MJ wear a gown designed by a couturier from Colombia, Stella’s home country which she represented at the first Miss International contest in 1960 which she won. Paulina also worn a gown by the same designer and had not she won, the post-pageant brouhaha might not have erupted.

The thing with us is that we know how to win but we don’t know how to lose. When Juan Manuel Marquez knocked down Pacquiao, Pacman fans cried “Foul!” In every election, no loser would not concede defeat, but accuse the winner of cheating. In MJ’s case, she lost simply because the other candidates scored higher than she did. There was too much hype about MJ’s chances and we expected a lot from her, in our mind making her a winner even if most of us probably hadn’t seen the other candidates.

While her supporters can’t be appeased, MJ sounded, as she said, “positive” during the Funfare interview facilitated by my friend Tim Evans who is with the US Immigration posted at the airport. During a short layover, it was Tim who assisted MJ when she arrived from Manila on her way to Miami early this month for the Miss U pageant; and it was again Tim who met MJ during a seven-hour layover on her way back to Manila from Miami.

“MJ missed her flight from Miami but caught the next flight and arrived in L.A. at 3:30 Tuesday (Jan. 27) afternoon,” Tim told Funfare. “She was with Janine Tugonon and Ariella Arida, both Miss U runners-up, but the two didn’t fly with MJ to Manila. MJ maximized her free time. We had lunch at Maggiano’s Little Italy in The Grove. MJ ordered Spinach Salad, Creamy Tomato Soup and Stuffed Mushroom. Then, she went shopping at Bloomingdale’s in Beverly Hills and Nordstrom at The Grove.”

Back at the L.A. airport, Tim (who was with his friend, Judge Carlos Hilario) called me from his celfone and passed it to MJ for a running interview. On the phone, MJ was laughing, she didn’t sound sad at all, and she seemed resigned to her Top 10 Miss U finish.

Here’s how our interview went:

Funfare: How are you, MJ?

MJ: I’m fine.

We’re happy for you. I think being among the Top 10 was good enough.

“Okay.”

Were you not disappointed?

“Of course, I wanted a higher placement but I know naman how to accept defeat. But it was a great experience and I’m so happy.” (MJ first won second runner-up to Shamcey Supsup in 2011 and then ended up among the Top 12 semi-finalists to Janine Tugonon in 2012 before she bagged the Miss Universe Philippines title [formerly known as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe]. —RFL)

Some people are “blaming” your gown for your not having advanced to the Top 5. What can you say?

“Hahahahaha! I’d rather keep my mouth shut!”

Congratulations for doing your best.

“You know, in a contest like Miss Universe, with so many beautiful girls you cannot really tell what would happen. All the candidates naman won their crowns in their respective countries and we all exerted so much effort during the pageant.”

Do you think Pacquiao gave you a high grade? Bumoto kaya siya sa’yo?

“I wouldn’t know. But I think he was fair naman. I think that whoever he voted for was deserving naman.”

Who did you think was a standout, aside from you?

“Miss Russia Yulia Alipova. I think she was very elegant.”

There’s a report that Miss Jamaica Keci Fennell (who placed fourth runner-up) is part-Filipino?

“No, no, no! Saan ba galing ‘yan? They can really make up stories.” (Mea culpa! It was Funfare that reported that Miss Jamaica’s mother is part-Filipina, an information culled from the Internet. According to Louie Heredia, an ardent beauty-contest-watcher, “I found out from Laura Lehmann, 2014 Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up, Miss Jamaica has English, French, Indian and African blood. It’s in Miss Jamaica’s website,” adding in reference to Miss Jamaica’s short hairdo, “I am convinced that the Miss Universe hairstyle is always more or less the same, either up or the long wavy hair. I don’t think they like girls with trendy hair like Miss Jamaica. I think they still like girls that look queenly. My observation lang.”— RFL)

You can still compete in another (international) contest…why not?

“Heto na naman tayo, hahahaha!

Why not?

MJ: “Depende kung anong contest, hahahaha!  But then, after Miss Universe, what for? It’s the ultimate contest na, eh.”

“Career na muna para kumita naman tayo, hahahaha! Para manalo naman ako ng Kabuhayan Showcase.”

Will you join showbiz?

“Why not? If there’s an offer, why not! Maybe as a host.”

How would you have answered the final question for the Top 5 — What is the biggest contribution of your country to the world?

“Volunteerism. The whole world saw it when Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines and how several countries helped us. (Note: Outgoing 2013 Miss Universe Gabriela Isler of Venezuela recalled during the pageant how the Miss Universe Organization raised a big amount for the Yolanda victims and survivors.)

What was the best lesson that you learned from the Miss Universe pageant?

“That nothing lasts forever. Enjoy every moment of it because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and not every girl is given the chance to experience it.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)

Top, left: MJ at the L.A. airport before boarding the PAL flight home that arrived this morning and (top, right) with Filipino Judge Carlos Hilario and Tim Evans (of the US Immigration posted at the L.A. airport) who is also shown (above) with (from left) 2012 Miss U first runner-up Janine Tugonon, MJ and 2013 Miss U third runner-up Ariella Arida (who were with MJ on American Airlines flight 139 from Miami, Florida).