Bicolanos celebrate Raj win, mourn Gersbach tragedy

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines  – Bicolanos are experiencing mixed emotions with the contrasting fate of two of the region’s beauties.

They are ecstatic over the victory of Maria Venus Raj, who finished fourth runner-up in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant held in Las Vegas. At the same time, however, they are mournful because of the death of 2009 Binibining Pilipinas International Melody Gersbach in a car accident over the weekend.

A hero’s welcome is being prepared for Raj in her hometown of Bato, Camarines Sur, and at the Bicol University in Albay where she graduated cum laude.

Several motorcades are also scheduled for Raj, who is expected to return to Bicol anytime this week.

On the other hand, Gersbach’s remains were brought to the St. Gregory The Great Cathedral in Legazpi City yesterday for public viewing.

Many of those who attended the Mass offered for Gersbach broke into tears when her mother, Marina, said her daughter’s wish had indeed come true: that her close friend Raj make it to the final five of the Miss Universe pageant.

“The pain we feel due to the tragic and very sudden death of our daughter is somehow tempered by Venus’ winning because we know she, too, is very happy right now. While still alive, Melody gave Venus so much encouragement in her quest for the Miss Universe crown,” Mrs. Gersbach said in Filipino.

Gersbach, together with her handler, fashion designer Alden Orense, and driver Santos Ramos Jr., died on the spot in a car collision in Camarines Sur last Saturday, just three days before the Miss Universe pageant.

Another beauty titlist under Orense’s care, Jane Banares, said she, Gersbach and Raj were close friends.

“I didn’t know what to feel watching Venus compete in the pageant while I was in the vigil for Melody,” Banares said.

Amid varied reactions on how she answered the final question, many Bicolanos still agree that Raj did her best to make Filipinos proud.

Raj’s elder sisters Elizabeth and Lilibeth said their sibling could have given a better answer to a different question.

“Venus didn’t want to recall anymore the dethronement issue that’s why she answered that way,” Lilibeth said.

Even Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said Raj gave Bicol so much pride, regardless if she landed only as fourth runner-up in the Miss Universe competition.

“Still, fourth runner-up is a major, major achievement for Bicol. Venus put up a good fight, despite the Melody (Gersbach) tragedy and the Quirino Grandstand (hostage-taking) embarrassment. For us, she is Miss Universe,” Salceda told The STAR in an e-mail.