EDITORIAL - Room for improvement

Maybe it is because the previous edition of the Miss Cebu contest was hounded by so much controversy that people almost automatically anticipated a similar fate to befall the 2010 Miss Cebu contest.

Well, befall it a similar fate did not, although the winner apparently was not to the liking of many. But then, what can anyone do? Miss Cebu 2010 Reena Elena Malinao was obviously the choice of the judges and, in the absence of any valid claim to the contrary, that is it.

Still, instead of good naturedly congratulating her, and thanking the fates that nothing worse than the usual disgruntled grumblings of a few sore losers attended the outcome, there appears to be a simmering attempt to, at least, dampen public acceptance of her win.

For instance, reports are being circulated that tend to portray Ms. Malinao as a beauty title equivalent to a "forum-shopping" litigant. A blind item said she joined the Miss Danao, Miss Liloan, and Miss CNU contests before finally bagging the Miss Cebu crown.

But there having been no provision disqualifying anyone who has previously joined any other contest, there is nothing for Ms. Malinao to worry about regarding her winning the most coveted beauty title in Cebu.

There is, however, a valid concern regarding this aspect which organizers of the Miss Cebu pageant might do well to consider for future contests. And it deals with the true worth of the title once assumed by the winner, and the need to safeguard it from being cheapened.

There is probably nothing wrong for a Miss Cebu winner to have previously joined, or even win, a school beauty contest. The two are obviously very different things. But admittedly, there is a little discomfort in knowing that a Miss Cebu was once a Miss Danao or a Miss Liloan.

This is because, as the title suggests, whoever wears the crown not only is expected to promote the interests of Cebu but to promote it with a great deal of sincerity and integrity. And it is difficult to see how one who has been "shopping around" the LGUs can do that.

To be clear about it, we are not questioning the current title holder. As we said, she won the title without violating any rule. But we suggest the aforementioned concern be made food for thought for organizers. There is always room for improvement in anything.