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As a grown up individual, I see each day as a clean slate, a fresh chance to write a new script and seize new opportunities. I value life's experiences and seek to learn and grow from each one. In my daily endeavors, I avoid neither risk nor responsibility; nor do I fear failure, only lost opportunity. In my studies, I am responsible for its outcome. I act with courage, consideration, and discretion. I prefer to let it speak for me and believe in achieving visibility through productivity. In planning my weeks and days, I focus on key roles and goals to maintain balance and perspective. I value my personal freedom of choice and my rights to exercise that freedom. I am more a product of my decisions than conditions. I do not allow present circumstances of past to determine my responses to the challenges I face. I choose to focus on the positive - to act directly on things I can do something about.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

A Major, Major Look: MA. VENUS RAJ

 

“You know what Sir, in my 22 years of existence, I can say that there’s nothing major major, I mean problem that I’ve done in my life because I am confident with my family, I am confident with the love that they are giving to me. So thank you so much that I’m here. Thank you, thank you so much!”
- Ma. Venus Raj, Miss Universe 2010 4th Runner-up
           Sheer ecstasy and wild cheers of the audience thundered as Miss Philippines, Ma. Venus Raj was proclaimed 4th runner-up in the prestigious search for Miss Universe 2010 pageant in the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Seemingly overlooked at her face during her “major-major” answer in the question and answer portion was the verity that her top-five finish was the country’s first since 1999.
          It has been a decade-long drought of the Philippines for not placing in the prestigious Miss Universe beauty pageant. To recall, it was Miriam Quiambao who placed 1st runner-up in 1999, Charlene Gonzalez’s top 6 finish in the year 1994, Desiree Verdado and Chiqui Brosas’ 3rd runner-up and 4th runner-up rank in year 1984 and 1975, respectively.
         
Just, another Filipina candidate strikingly marked the history making of the recently concluded Miss Universe 2010 pageant. Filipinos from all over the world must be proud of Ma. Venus Raj for a commendable job in representing our country and for being the only Asian candidate to qualify for the semi-final round of 15 up to the Top 5 finish of the  said tilt despite current adversities. Indeed, her victory momentarily diverted the Filipinos from focusing on the Hostage-taking grim in Manila and its aftermath. It served as a brilliant spot in an otherwise gloomy period for our country.
          However, Venus Raj’s trek to this year’s competition was said to be a daunting one, provided with several controversies on her personal life along with the demise of a close friend and coach, Melody Gersbach (Binibining Pilipinas International 2009).
          Now, let us take a peek of Ma. Venus Raj’s “major-major win” in the prestigious search for Miss Universe pageant this year.
VENUS RAJ: BINIBINING PILIPINAS-UNIVERSE 2010
          Following her victory as Miss Bicolandia 2007, Venus represented Legazpi City and competed in the Miss Philippines-Earth 2008 pageant where she was named Miss Philippines-Earth Eco Tourism 2008 and 4th runner-up to the eventual Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula Henry.
In 2009, Venus joined the Binibining Pilipinas pageant but she made it to the 2010 batch of candidates.  She was hailed as Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2010 on March 6, 2010. Thus, Venus Raj gained the right to represent the Republic of the Philippines as official candidate for the Miss Universe 2010 beauty pageant.
THE DETHRONEMENT AND REINSTATEMENT OF THE TITLE AND CROWN
Few weeks after Venus Raj was crowned as Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2010, she was dethroned by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc., and citing alleged inconsistencies amid her birth certificate and personal account of her birth. Moreover, Atty. Francis Padua Papica, who sponsored Venus’ college education together with another counsel volunteered to defend her case free of charge. It was through Rafa Delfin, director of the website www.criticalbeauty.com, an appeal was made pertaining to Venus Raj’s situation to the Miss Universe Organization.
          April 10, 2010, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. permitted Venus Raj to reclaim her title due to humanitarian reasons. She was required to legally obtain a valid Philippine passport as substantiation of her true citizenship by the pageant organizers. According to the Department of Foreign Ministry, Venus Raj is a Philippine citizen by virtue of the right of blood (jus sanguinis) principle, a basic right provided by the Philippine Constitution which bestows upon a person the citizenship of his father or mother regardless of where the person was born, thus declaring him of Filipino citizenship. On May 19, 2010, Venus Raj was issued Philippine passport thereby attesting her of Filipino citizenship and reinstated her title.
VENUS RAJ’S JOURNEY TO THE MISS UNIVERSE 2010 PAGEANT
          On August 4, 2010, Venus Raj flew to United States and took part in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant. She was chosen as one of the six delegates who were handpicked for a series of media tour and were scheduled for several television appearances prior to the coronation night in Las Vegas, Nevada. At this juncture, Venus Raj was viewed as one of the most favorites throughout the course of the pageant.  In fact, she garnered a total of 3.54 points in the Miss Universe Official Website, the highest-ever rating for a Filipina candidate. In one event held in Diablos Cantina at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, Venus Raj won in a Chicken Wing Eating Contest, signifying her being a true Filipina and increasing her popularity even more all throughout the run of the pageant.
          August 24, 2010, Filipinos from all over the globe were very ecstatic to witness the grand coronation of the Miss Universe 2010 live at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada and telecast via satellite in ABS-CBN Channel 2 for the Philippines. Everyone was filled with awe and ecstacy when Miss Philippines, Venus Raj consistently made it to the Top 15 and Top 10 spot down to the Top 5 finish of the tilt. During the interview portion, Venus Raj was asked by American actor William Baldwin about the biggest mistake she made in her life and what she did to make it right. With full determination and self-confidence, she replied, “You know what Sir, in my 22 years of existence, I can say that there’s nothing major major, I mean problem that I’ve done in my life because I am confident with my family, I am confident with the love that they are giving to me. So thank you so much that I’m here. Thank you, thank you so much!”
By the culmination of the snappy two-hour show, trending topics on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites tackled the controversial answer of Venus Raj. Well, she can’t please everybody and that’s expected. Some of the people praised her while some had even expressed their apprehensions for Venus Raj’s outcome that they expected to bring home the most coveted crown.
          In the end, many who watched at the venue still came away impressed by Venus Raj. She is believed by pageant experts around the world as one of the front-runners for the Miss Universe 2010 crown. Jb Adkins, US franchise holder of the Miss Philippines Earth pageant commented: “I have been watching beauty pageants for many years. I have been here in Las Vegas for two weeks. I witnessed how Venus stood out from the pack. She carried herself well, lit up the room with her mere presence. She is this year’s Miss Universe in my book.”
          Without a doubt, Venus Raj had shattered the decade-long drought of our country for not placing in the prestigious search for the most beautiful woman in the universe. Her controversial answer in the question and answer portion only proves to be a hot topic worldwide, even outshining the popularity of this year’s Miss Universe, Miss Mexico, Jimena Navarrete. Amidst the bashing and criticisms the Filipina had to go through, in the long run, she was warmly welcomed home by her family and her fellow Filipinos who are major, major proud of her.
References:
·         http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100825-288635/A-major-major-win-nonetheless
·         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Raj
·         http://www.starmometer.com/2010/08/24/spotlight-on-miss-philippines-ma-venus-raj/
           
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