a pageant, by any other name, smells just as…

22 Nov 2009 6 Comments

by shallow in special event, entertainment, thoughts Tags: fiji, special event, miss south pacific, vanessa marsh, aruhoia biret, paea williams, engara melanie gosselin, miss cook islands, miss tonga, miss tahiti, miss french polynesia, pageant, beauty pageant, miss earth

…well, superficial. which is exactly how i want my pageants.

pageant, n.: show; exhibition; an elaborate colorful exhibition or spectacle often with music that consists of a series of tableaux, of a loosely unified drama, or of a procession usually with floats.

of course, today we take the word to mean a beauty competition.

pageants (by its modern layman’s definition) is my biggest irony. while i do agree with what feminists the world over stand against regarding these spectacles (you know, the usual objectification of women, one form of harassment, etc., etc.), i still love watching them with an obsessive fervor, will keep on condoning such “elaborate colorful exhibition” and am very likely to enable other girls to join one if i had the sponsoring power.

coming from one of the world’s most pageant-y countries, i was quite thrilled fiji gets to host this year’s much vaunted miss south pacific. however, as the days wore on and i learned more about the festivities that go with it, i have to admit i was a little disappointed. there isn’t really much to associate between this and the pageants i have come to know and love.

is it just me, or does the reigning miss south pacific, niue’s vanessa marsh, look like sarah geronimo? anyhow…

there are the usual sashaying ladies across the stage, interview portion, press conference, the “miss photogenic” online/text voting, and the special congeniality awards. however, in terms of format, this has nothing remotely similar to other pageants; this one is more along the lines of town fiesta, only on a bigger and international scale.

assess for yourself: it involves a week-long celebration starting from the day the contestants parade in the park and culminates in the crowning of miss south pacific. it has a very dynamic itinerary that involves tremendous displays of culture, traditional entertainment, arts and crafts, exhibits, and sports. there are art workshops for flower-weaving and masi-making, sports like soccer, volleyball and rugby, a church youth program of action songs, puppet shows and drama, photo exhibitions and even physical games like tug-of-war and coconut relay, among many other activities. like all other pageants, this one has the “beauty with a purpose” (to borrow miss world’s vision) or more aptly “beauty with a cause” (borrow miss earth) thing going on. this year, it’s all about preserving the environment. which makes me wonder if, like miss earth, the girls would plant trees somewhere…

anyway, like a town fiesta, right? now expand your knowledge of fiestas to encompass a whole global region then consider national television.

ok, before anyone says i’m belittling this pageant for creating parallels with town fiestas, please take note that my experience of these festivals are nothing ordinary. our moalboal fiesta and beauty pageant have been graced by high-ranking officials, including no less than pres. gloria arroyo herself and her father before her, pres. diosdado macapagal. these things are serious like a heart attack, folks.

moving on.

of course, i have to say there is nothing at all disappointing about these festivities and this cultural exposure. don’t get me wrong, i have, so far, enjoyed the opening ceremony (except the long-winded speeches. i don’t like speeches in festivals, but that’s just me) and i would definitely try to join the workshops if i get the chance to go up the capital this week.

i guess i was simply let down by my own expectations. you see, i was counting on bouncy choreography as the presentation of national costumes unfold with great unnecessary pomp, as each lady approaches the mic stand and, flashing a megawatt smile, practically yells a greeting in her mother tongue along with a prolonged declaration of her country (e.g., “buenos noches, señores y señoras, my name is felicidad trias de los angeles from the wonderful country of puerrrrrrrto rrrrrriiiiiico!”). i was hoping for a montage of the girls frolicking in the beaches, playing volleyball and building sand castles with their sashes permanently attached to their shoulders, getting on the bula bus as they wave to ogling onlookers and passers-by; i wanted so badly to witness a swimsuit competition and even more badly an evening gown competition with little girls singing a fijian version of “you are my star” as they hand long-stemmed roses to their respective candidates. all the sparkling gems, the glitter, the massive curls that glisten in the lights, the pairs of legs that could go on forever. yes, chiffon and beads that extend to the edge of the universe, legs and belly-buttons strutting in six-inch heels.

i’m not complaining. in fact, i’m going to watch the formal programs on tv. or live if i score a ticket. i’m rooting for these contestants:

miss tahiti, aruhoia biret

miss cook islands, engara gosselin. who also represented her country for miss earth in, where else, boracay philippines!

miss tonga, paea williams

no doubt, miss south pacific is a fantastic event. it’s as fun and frivolous as it is educational and goal-oriented. but after this, i do wish i get to see an old-school glitz and glamour beauty pageant. i’m superficial like that.