ahh, mmm

Gloria Diaz' comments on the Visayans command of the English language trigger a sensitive point in our crab and colonial mentality. I agree that speaking English is very useful not only in English speaking countries but probably in non-English speaking countries as well. Although how would I know, I've never really lived anywhere where English is not a dominant force and that includes Bacolod. However its proficiency should not be a benchmark of intelligence.

Our inner cultural nuances create confusion as well. Based on my observations, those from Luzon, I'm not only referring to those who are born and bred in Manila and other Tagalog speaking provinces but also other non-Tagalog speaking parts of Northern Philippines, tend to embrace Tagalog with more vigorous passion. When all else fails, it's the fallback language not English. Actually jousting with languages has nothing to do with regional idiosyncrasies, but on how we evolve in our communicative tendencies as we grow older. That is where Diaz was wrong. Thinking in English has nothing to do with winning beauty pageants, although it helps.

Charlene Gonzales in 1994 Miss Universe was articulate but still made me gasp in befuddlement. "Superwoman"? "High tide, Low tide"? Ruffa Gutierrez should have been crowned in the 1993 Miss World by quoting from The Little Prince. But the judges looked the other way. Miriam Quiambao was tearing the competition apart during the 1999 Miss Universe but stumbled and mumbled during the last question.

I couldn't find a flaw in Venus Raj answer, the judges were probably expecting her to dig a little bit deeper and come up with something witty like Gloria Diaz and her man on the moon classic.