In the wake of Pia Wurtzbach’s victory as the Philippines’ third Miss Universe, all sorts of fond memories are all too suddenly coming back.
Pauleen Luna, who will be Mrs. Vic Sotto in barely five weeks, recalled taking lunch at convenience stores in the vicinity of ABS-CBN when they were struggling-starlet members of Star Magic in their teens, assuring each other that they would be big stars someday. Pauleen and Pia have become good friends.
Is Pia a member of Pauleen and Vic’s wedding entourage?
“Yes,” Pauleen confirmed to Funfare, “but I’m assuming that she’ll be very busy na come January. And I totally understand if she can’t make it. But, of course, we would be so happy if her schedule will permit.”
Gerry Diaz, one of the members of Aces & Queens (the team that builds up beauty queens), has his own anecdote about Pia.
“During the engagement of Lloyd (Lee) and Shamcey (Supsup) in 2013,” recalled Gerry, “I took a picture of guests Jennifer Barrientos (2008 Bb. Pilipinas Universe), Janine Tugonon (2012, Miss U first runner-up), Venus Raj (2010, Miss U fourth runner-up) and Ariella Arida (2013, Miss U third runner-up). Pia was also there but she initially declined to pose with them, kasi siya lang daw ang walang title; she was only a first runner-up at that time. But I coaxed her and she joined the group but very reluctantly.
“Even then, I noticed how humble and unassuming Pia was. I tried to boost her morale. I told her that the luck of her Binibini friends would rub off on her. I told her that she would also be Miss Universe Philippines (that’s how the Binibini winner is now called). As it happened, she not only became Miss Universe Philippines 2015, she also went on to become Miss Universe 2015.”
Expect more Pia stories until Pia is allowed by the Miss Universe Organization to come home even for a while.
Like most people in government, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez is happy with Pia’s victory.
“Ms. Wurtzbach’s composure, strength, dedication and sincere malasakit for causes that affect the youth and our country is a source of inspiration for us Filipinos to strive for greatness and to remember to pay it forward to others,” told the movie press at lunch yesterday. “Be the voice for the weak and the disadvantaged. And serves as an instrument of positive change.”
Martin, who’s running for senator under UNA (endorsed by presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and the coalition of party-list in Congress), knew whereof he spoke. He’s surrounded by beauty queens: Her aunt, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, was Miss Manila; her cousin Margarita Romualdez was a Miss Philippines; her cousin-in-law Cristina “Kring-Kring” Gonzales-Romualdez (wife of Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez); and his wife, Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt, was 1996 Bb. Pilipinas-International who placed among the Top 15 that same year.
Asked how he won the heart of Yedda (a B.S. Nursing graduate from Cebu Doctors’ College).
“I didn’t take no for an answer,” Martin said half in jest. “Mabuti na lang maganda ang record ko so I got support from both families.”
The campaign trail will be “beauty-full” in 2016. Aside from Kring-Kring, more members from the clan are running: Ilocos Norte Rep. Bongbong Marcos for senator, Kring-Kring for a higher office (since Alfred is running for Tacloban representative) and, yes, Yedda Marie herself for Leyte representative (as possible replacement for Martin).
Incidentally, Yedda Marie (with whom Martin has three children) is involved in several livelihood programs for women (Kababaihan Program), for kids (Young Movers’ Reach Out Program) and others to help the lives of post-Yolanda Taclobanons.
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com.)