by Earthman » Tue Nov 07, 2017 12:26 pm
Official statement sir ric galvez
WARNING: Long Logical Read
The curious case of Miss Earth 2017
An Editorial by M.L. Gatchalian
Pandemonium
A word that can sum up the recently concluded Miss Earth 2017 held at the Mall of Asia arena last November 4,2017.
As the elemental queens completed the deciding final Q&A, they were all asked, ”who/what is the greatest enemy of mother earth and why?”, the arena audience could be described as having a Kaleidoscope of enthusiasm, intoxication, melodrama, passion, hysteria and shock when one girl after another answered the final question with refine and wit.
From Juliana Franco’s,” consumption” idea to Nina Robertson’s,”people who don’t believe in Climate change” declaration, the pandemonium ensued. But the moment Miss Philippines was asked the same question, people held their breath as she uttered,”I believe that the real problem in this world is not climate change. The real problem is us because of our ignorance and apathy. What we have to do is to start changing our ways, to start recalibrating our minds and redirecting our steps because together, as a global community, our micro-efforts will have a macro-effect to help save our home, our planet.”
I was both in awe and apprehension.
Awe
Because the hometown girl totally nailed it. How can you top that? She practically skewered the competition on stage. It was the most complete answer. From her hook to her supporting statement and to the ending of “micro- efforts will have macro effects...”
It was a total punch in the gut.
After which,Lada (Miss Russia), tried to answer the question with almost the same line of thought as Karen but was unable to complete her thought.
Apprehension
The backlash was what I feared. As a Filipino borne pageant coupled with a home court advantage, I couldn’t help but fear the resistance coming not just from the international community but from Filipinos as well.
Filipinos are the most loving pageant fans in the world. So when they support you,it means they love you with all sincerity. But Filipino fans are also the most emotional netizens in the planet. They would react negatively specially when they try to protect the Filipino pride. Admittedly, a lot are afraid that the pride will be trampled on.
WIN
The inevitable happened. You perform well on stage, hence you get rewarded. The panel of judges which aptly composed of Foreign and Filipino judges has deemed Karen Ibasco as the rightful winner. The entire arena and the Filipino community rejoiced. The proud “Pinoy” celebrated and it was a joyous moment for all.
The Resistance
A few minutes after the win, the backlash commenced in Social Media, which started from people posting unflattering pictures of the winner. Insults have been hurled at the organization due to,according to observers, the favour being given to the hometown girl.
To add fuel to the fire, some National Directors (ND) have been declaring that they will drop the franchise and move on.
It was total chaos. A chaos brought about by emotions. Emotions that sometimes can get in the way of rational thinking.
Miss Earth organization has always been true to its advocacy and always stood up in upholding the decision of the judges— that is the value of credibility and sticking to standards unless the org sees it fit to be changed.
The organization has always been muted when controversies arise and will always keep it both classy and panache when they deal with these kinds of backlash.
But as a magazine site that supports the women and the cause of environmental protection. It is but high time for us to answer issues that we see as critical. We will answer important points raised by netizens and pageant aficionados alike.
Issue # 1: Miss Earth has an identity crisis- beauty? Brains? Environmental advocacy? Goddesses left out in the cold to clap for not so facially appealing candidates
Answer 1: This issue is not because ME has an identity crisis. It is because people who ‘support’ the organization harbor false shame in the assumption that a multiple home court win is a deliberate ‘strategy’ and that MEO has to favor its alleged local interest.
These are fallacies born out of limited views by looking from the outside, and it undermines the fact the Filipinas win because they can and they do. Let me quote Alyz Henrich in her TV interview with Boy Abunda, when asked, “are Filipinas giving them, ‘Venezuelans’, a tough competition? “ She said, ”Yes good competition... most important here is the personality and attitude. The Philippines girls are so strong... the attitude and always genuinely smile...”
Answer 2: And how do we want the org to establish its credibility? By making a different country win every year no matter what? And despite a certain country sweeping the rounds on the coronation night almost every other year? We ignore the performing girls and ignore the judges decision because we are afraid that the same country (worse is hometown girl) might win? Then where is the credibility in that?
Let us not hide our false shame in the guise of a search for credibility. Instead, let us look at the real reason why this so-called ‘issue’ happens often. If we look with REAL fairness, we might find out it’s not an issue after all (2017,Feliciano).
In the first place, since when did being a powerhouse become a problem? (google recent Philippine wins in other pageants. FACT!)
Answer 3: If you have been following Miss Earth for the last 17 years, you wouldn’t even need to ask what Miss Earth has been looking for in a winner. They are looking for the right mix and balance of the three: beauty, intelligence and “most specially” environmental advocacy. To call the winner downright ‘ugly’ is a fallacy and purely based on opinion and not backed up with data. We all know that beauty is relative. It just so happen that the final night judges think that the woman crowned last Saturday was the complete blend. The complete package that the MEO is looking for.
Like what Alyz Henrich said when asked what makes Miss Earth different from the other pageants, ”Miss Earth is not just about being beautiful and modelling. It’s a real job.”
Issue #2: Miss Earth is a fraud- the judging process is a cooking show (pre-determined), it is questionable.
Answer: The organization, to dispel the rumours of bias and buying crowns, went on a transparency route.
How? They broadcasted ALL of their preliminary competitions for the world to see. Figure and Form, Beauty of Face and Poise and Intelligence&Environmental awareness were all open to the media,fans and even pageant blogging sites and Magazine sites such as Miss Earth Crown.
NO other pageant or even so called big pageant will do that. Imagine a woman having a personal job interview and the org will require it to be seen globally? Transparency at its peak.
The judges for the preliminary competition were either fitness experts (figure and form), fashion, image and model connoisseurs (beauty of face and poise) and environmental specialists (intelligence &environmental awareness) to ensure that they get the best of the best out of the 85 environmental heroines. The top 16 were the cream of the crop. Hence, a lot of favourites did not make it and majority faltered.
Also note,which a lot of fans tend to forget, that the attitude has always been a factor in Miss Earth. The girls are constantly being observed to check on some untoward incidents or to check on the seriousness of the girls environmental advocacy.
Lastly, the Finals night judges were from different industries with different views on beauty but with their collective observation “on final night performance” determines the winner. Please be reminded that the judges were also observed by a more than 71 year old and reputable accounting firm (SGV&co.) Will that accounting firm sacrifice their long standing credibility for a one night event?
Issue # 3:
Miss Earth National Directors backing out
Answer:
It is normal to be emotional after a gruelling 1 month battle. If you pour in all your resources and take time to invest in a top notch candidate, the moment the candidate fails to advance or even clinch the crown when everybody in the whole pageant world expects the win can be truly disheartening. National Directors like them are as passionate as their representatives to get an elusive crown. But that same passion can be detrimental and can result in emotional decisions.
National Directors crying foul and threatening to drop the franchise is not a new issue. It is a yearly occurrence. And this is where the organization’s area of improvement comes in, MEO should find a mechanism to allay these and find a better way to improve the relationship between Carousel Productions and franchise holders. It’s all a matter of relationship building.
On the other hand, Franchise holders will always have an option to bank on that said relationship with the organization.
Another choice that they can make is to stop the rhetoric and work their way on sending a candidate who is not just beautiful but also can undergo the pressures of being Miss Earth. A candidate who can perform when it matters and the make or break moment is the “final night performance.” But the tougher challenge is, that woman should be able to uphold the Miss Earth legacy the moment she gets crowned.
Issue # 4:
Miss Earth has home court advantage- it is always held in the Philippines.
Answer:
This is not isolated to Miss Earth. This is also akin to the home court wins at Miss Universe in 2001 when Puerto Rico bagged the title. Same goes for the past editions of Miss World 1961,1964-1965 at the Lyceum theatre, London; 1974& 1983 editions at the Royal Albert hall, London, where the hometown girls won the top prize.
Issue #5:
Back to back or even a sandwich victory for the country (Philippines) is fishy
Answer:
This is also comparable to the back to back wins at Miss Universe 1954&1956 of the USA (Mirriam Stevenson&Carol Morris). Same sandwich victory in 1995&1997 (Chelsi Smith& Brooke Lee); As well as a back to back in 2008&2009 by the Venezuelan powerhouse (Dayana Mendoza&Stefania Fernandez).
Miss World is also no stranger to this when in 1964&1965 (Anne Sidney&Lesley Langley) the crown was awarded to the hometown girls. Miss World also had a similar sandwich victories back to back victory in 1997 & 1999-2000 (Diana Hayden/Yukhta Mookey/Priyanka Chopra).
The mentioned organizations received similar backlash. But they stood their ground and became stronger than ever.
STABILITY
The Miss Earth legacy has stood the test of time and it is in its 2nd decade to empower women on environmental preservation.
It is way passed its storming stage and has already set the “norm” for a very unique environmental pageant that will be forever remembered for years.
It is now in its Stability stage and no controversies will bring it down because its “environmental work” will speak for itself.
Miss Earth has brought pageant fans a spectacle and will continue to produce results that will push the envelope. Why? Because Miss Earth matters.
We will rest our case... for now
Credits to: Life & Style Central/ Miss Earth.TV for the pictures