Netnet Camomot FOR the first time in my life as a beauty pageant spectator, I forgot about the Miss Universe coronation night. Well, Sunday night in the US, Monday morning here in Pinas. Wait, now that I’m thinking if indeed this was the first time, most probably I missed other coronation nights before. But this was not any other Miss U. This was the Miss U to be held in Pinas after an absence of 23 years. So, how dare moi forget! But there I was on Monday morning, texting a male friend about a report, when he replied, “Tan-aw sa ta Ms. U. Hehe.” And this was from a straight guy who was then out-of-town for work. That’s when I remembered. O my gas. Since there’s no TV in my room, I rushed to the other room, only to realize the show had already progressed to the Top 6 where Miss Philippines Maxine Medina was answering the question, “What is the most significant change you’ve seen in the world in the last 10 years?” And for the first time in the Miss U contest, Miss Philippines had an interpreter who translated the question to Tagalog, but then, Medina chose to answer in English: “In the last 10 years of being here in the world, I saw all the people bringing in one event like this in Miss Universe. It’s something big to us that we are one. As one nation, we are all together. Thank you. Maraming salamat po.” Well, at least the last three are Tagalog words. But what was the purpose of having an interpreter if you could answer in English? Confusing! And that goes also for what she meant with her answer: Confusing. Wa nako gets. Of course, other Pinoys were able to give perfect answers to the question since they didn’t have to be onstage in a tight evening gown, coiffed hair, stage makeup, skyscraper heels, and a glued wide grin while bashers were waiting for them to make a single mistake. Add to all that a live audience at the MOA Arena, and via TV and live streaming. Yup, those beauties make it look so easy, which is only possible after many years of training and walking on those skyscraper heels. In the last 10 years of being here in the world, I realized s**t happens. That would have been my answer. But I’m now overage so there’s no chance for that answer to be heard via Miss U. Haha! This was the first time I heard a Miss France answering the Q&A. Or there was at least one Miss France who made it to the Q&A before but my overage brain now refuses to remember her? Hmmm. French always sounds smooth—soft murmurs, like silk, makes us wish the future Miss France will make it again to the Top 6 or Top 3, or whatever Top the Miss U organizers will choose to have the Q&A. There were changes in this year’s Miss U. The usual 15 semi-finalists in past pageants were reduced to 13 this year. Must be their lucky number, eh? And then, they were further reduced to 9, then 6, and finally, 3. The evening-gown portion was a breeze, no more rampa by their lonesome as they were grouped into three. I wanted Miss Haiti to win because it would look good as banner news: Earthquake Survivor Wins Miss Universe! Oh, well. The question for the Top 3—Miss Haiti, Miss France, and Miss Colombia—was this: “Name something from the course of your life that you failed at, and tell us what you learned from that experience...” Miss France’s reply, which we thought was correctly translated into English by her interpreter, still attracted comments from French-Filipino Solenn Heussaff and her bro Erwan who said, “since everyone is asking for the translation,” and proceeded to give his version: “I have failed several times in my life. I thought I had failed my first year in medical school because my name wasn’t on the passing list. So, the very same day I went to buy a new set of medical books to keep on studying. I think when you fail, you need to stand up and keep going, we are all able to do so. If I don’t win tonight, I will still keep on smiling tomorrow because I am proud to be part of the 3 finalists. I’ve learnt a lot from my failures and happily, I did end up passing my first year of medical school.” Still, Miss France’s interpreter was able to get her message across. I had to look for replays on Monday night. Don’t want that to happen again. Should I set the phone’s alarm already for the next Miss U contest?