The whirlwind romance of Armi & Virgilio

Remember When? recalls with fondness the whirlwind romance of the first Miss Universe, Armi Kuusela, and the Filipino who won her heart, Virgilio Hilario, in 1953. The Evening News, the leading afternoon broadsheet in Manila, reported their wedding in Tokyo, solemnized at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church and performed by Father Bruno Bitter of the Yotsuya Parish.

In a news report datelined Tokyo, Armi, 19, was quoted as saying she planned to have her new home in Manila without returning immediately to her native Finland.

The marriage to Virgilio, 25, socially prominent real estate businessman, climaxed a one-month romance that began with a blind date in Baguio.

‘I love the Philippines and I have many friends there. I never imagined I would marry a Filipino but you can tell the people in Manila how crazy I am about Virgilio,’ Armi said in a telephone interview from their Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel suite.

Virgilio refused to pose for a photo as he had a black eye, the aftermath of a fight with an American newspaperman at a nightclub who was pestering him and Armi.

The United Press International, reporting from Helsinki, Finland, said the parents of Armi were completely astonished by the haste of the marriage, not expecting it to come soon. But Armi had earlier indicated she had fallen in love with a Filipino. ‘He is a good boy.’

Armi’s elder sister, Mrs. Irma Kyromiues, cabled their parents, ‘Mother and father, don’t worry about Armi. He is really a good man with a good living. They are very much in love and want to marry immediately. I also like him. I am sure they will be happy.’

A side story written by Rosario  Querol of The Evening News, gave credit to Charlie Hollman as ‘having the distinction’ of introducing Armi and Virgilio in Baguio’s Pines Hotel. He was the hotel manager.

People said it was ‘love at first sight.’ Virgilio was an expert tango dancer so that he ‘literally swept Armi off her feet.’

Still from The Evening News, Virgilio ‘will be awarded a gold medal by the Escolta Walking Corporation for captivating the heart of the most beautiful girl in the world and giving the Philippines unprecedented publicity the world over,’ EWC president Primitivo Lovina announced. ‘Mrs. Hilario will receive a separate award.’— RKC