Wynwyn: The loser is a winner

MANILA, Philippines - At the start of the show when she won Best in National Costume, Best in Talent and the Jag Award, those at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and at home watching the pageant on television were sure that Candidate No. 34, Teresita Ssen Marquez or Wynwyn for short, would take home one of the five titles at stake. When Wynwyn made it no farther than the semis, the audience and the netizens started asking why. After all, Wynwyn was a crowd favorite, never mind if she was, at 5’5”, among the shortest aspirants. (Trivia: Gloria Diaz was no taller than that when she won Miss Universe in 1969.)

Besides, among the 15 semi-finalists she gave one of the, if not the best, answer delivered without buckling and with a big smile, direct to the point.

Question: If you win the crown, you will be an ambassadress of goodwill. What is your message to your fellow Filipinos about peace especially now?

Answer: Filipinos should learn the importance of dialogue. We Filipinos have integrity and passion, and we are determined to persevere. We should unite and that’s when we can achieve peace.

“Did I cry?” asked Wynwyn, who finished high school at Southville International School and Marketing Management at San Beda Alabang (now taking her Master’s in Educational Management at La Salle Dasmariñas). “Of course, I did. I was asking myself, ‘Where did I go wrong? May kulang pa ba?’ When I checked my phone and I was ‘trending’ and so many people were supporting me, I was so overwhelmed. I said, ‘Okey lang, Lord, kahit hindi Mo ibinigay sa akin ‘yung crown, masaya na rin ako.’ After a while, okey na ako. I want to make one thing clear, hindi po sumama ang loob ko.”

Her nickname actually says it. Wynwyn didn’t bag a crown but she felt like a winner.

“I was realistic from the start,” added Wynwyn who is a Kapuso talent. “I knew that when you join a contest, you either win or lose. As long as I’d do my best, that was good enough for me.”

Her aunt, Melanie Marquez (1979 Miss International), gave her pre-pageant tips: “Be confident, just be yourself, don’t expect anything.” Added Wynwyn, “She taught me how to walk, basta mag-glide lang daw ako sa stage. She was in the audience that night and after the pageant, she saw me backstage and told me, ‘Don’t feel bad.’ Our family daw was proud of me. ‘Yon lang ang gusto kong marinig.” Melanie, who is famous for her malapropism, even said in jest, “At least there’s somebody in the family na magaling mag-English.”

The so-called first-timer luck didn’t work for Wynwyn.

“But it was a learning experience,” she admitted. “I thought the atmosphere would be tense because the contestants would be competitive. But no, it was very light and friendly. All of my fellow contestants were nice, mababait. It didn’t feel like a contest at all. We were so helpful towards each other. Some of the girls helped me with my make-up kasi I didn’t know how to do it myself.”

Four of the five winners were repeaters. Asked if she would join again, Wynwyn (who’s turning 23 in May) said, “I’m not thinking about it yet. Gusto ko muna i-enjoy kung ano mayroon ako ngayon. I think it’s not advisable to join kaagad. I’m not that aggressive. I’m going back to school and attending to my Wyn Foundation.”

Meanwhile, Wynwyn is being invited as speaker in schools.

“They watched kasi the pageant, so they are inviting me. I will talk about nationalism, women empowerment and the youth. I’m touched! Even if I don’t have a crown, those who support me really make me feel like a winner.”

Incidentally, did you know how Wynwyn got her nickname?

Her parents, Joey Marquez and Alma Moreno, were running in an election and Alma was heavy with Wynwyn. Luckily, they both won. So they called their “campaign” baby Wynwyn.