24 Mar, 2008
A Petition to Replace Janina San Miguel?
Posted by: AJ In: Beauty| Filipina| Ganda Lang| Gay News| Gay Poll| Janina San Miguel ()
It seems like the controversial Binibining Pilipinas World 2008 Janina San Miguel will never hear the end of it. Janina Miller San Miguel, a broadcast communication student at the University of the East, has received countless criticisms because of her answer in the semi-finals interview portion (click here to read full transcript of Janina’s answer and here for the transcript of the answers of the other finalists). She has been called names and even branded as the next Melanie Marquez - the country’s reigning queen of malapropisms. And based on interviews with her after the pageant, it seems like she will not budge. Janina seems like a strong woman and she probably is hell-bent on proving her detractors wrong and prove to the world that she is tough. After all, she is one of the tough ten!
Binibining Pilipinas World 2008 Janina San Miguel
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Many Filipinos from all over the world were dismayed with the decision and are blaming the judges and the Binibining Pilipinas Charities for allowing contestants with poor communication skills to enter the contest. Some also blame (though only partly) the country’s educational system for producing students that are very poor in English. Others argue that she is a Filipina and there’s nothing wrong with speaking English with incorrect grammar. Some also suggest that we send an interpreter with her to the Miss World competiton (after all, other countries send interpreters too!).
Over at the Binibining Pilipinas official website, a Press Release automatically pops-up upon entrance, and it says:
Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. would like to congratulate the newly-crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2008, Patricia Fernandez; Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2008, Jennifer Barrientos; and Binibining Pilipinas World 2008, Janina San Miguel. These three new queens that will represent the country in the respective global competitions are all worthy title holders.
The unanimous and final decision of the 11 distinguished International Board of judges chose them as the winners, during the Grand Coronation Night held at the Araneta Coliseum last March 8. San Miguel won Best in Swimsuit and Best in Long Gown categories.
It seems that the BPCI is upholding the decision of the judges. Call me crazy but I sense a washing of hands is apparent. But that’s just me.
And again, Janina will never hear the end of it. Videos of her answer have become viral and got so many hits on YouTube and other video-sharing websites. DJ Dense Modesto (known online for his Saging Lang Ang May Puso dance remix) has even made a Janina San Miguel Dance Remix Video, which has also become a staple in Janina San Miguel online searches. And yes, Janina San Miguel ringtones are now available too!
I’m just wondering though, if this incident happened way before the YouTube era, would there have been too much fuss about her? Well in this technological age, anyone can do anything. Anyone can say anything online.
Since anyone can say anything online, why not file an online petition to replace Janina San Miguel? Why not use the same tools that we did in the past – liek say for example, the online petition against the alleged racial slur on Desperate Housewives?
Oh wait! There actually is one already! One of our readers, Dee (thanks!), sent this link to an online petition to replace Janina San Miguel as the representative of the Philippines to the Miss World 2008 pageant.
[sic]Philippines has a lot of beautiful and intelligent women in its population. It is quite controversial that Miss Janina San Miguel won as Miss Philippines World. While she is undeniable pretty and has excellent stage presence and skills, she is hopelessly lacking when it comes to wit and speech. Disaster is almost guaranteed if we allow Miss Janina San Miguel to represent us, Filipinas, to the Miss World Pageant. Not only will she be the laughing stock, we will all be embarrassed as a race as well.
We say give the Miss Philippines World crown to someone else and let Janina be a runner up. While walking, posing, smiling and stage presence can be taught, wit and intelligence cannot be as easily [sic]aqcuired. Definitely not in 7 months time. Please help us spread the word and convince whoever is in charge to select someone else and give our country a fighting chance in the Miss World Pageant.
People say that her English skills can be fixed by a translator. If we do this, this will be the first in Philippine history that our Miss World Representative will need a translator…
I’m not sure how to react to such an online petition. Honestly, I want to give Janina the benefit of the doubt and the chance to prove to herself and the world that she can do it, that she can bring home the title without intelligence exceptional English communication skills. The petition only has a goal of 1,000 signatures so I’m not gonna be surprised if it gets filled up in a day’s time. Also, what will the petition achieve? Will Ms. Stella Marquez-Araneta and the BPCI heed this call from a thousand online signatures?
I guess we’ll all just have to wait and see.
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AJ Reply:
March 24th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Ade »
Exactly! I think we should just let her prove herself to the world. She’s tough naman eh!
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