Megan Young becomes first Filipino woman to win in 63-year-old pageant

Megan Young of the Philippines is the new Miss World.

In a glittering finale last night at the Indonesian resort island of Bali, Young bested 128 beauty queens from around the world to win the coveted title in a contest broadcast to more than 180 countries worldwide.

Young, who took the crown from Wenxia Yu of China, the 2012 winner, was born in the United States. When she was 10 she moved to the Philippines, where she has appeared in films and  television.

Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, 20, took second place, while Miss Ghana, Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, 22, came in third.

Miss World organizers had earlier agreed to cut bikinis from the swimsuit competition, replacing them with more conservative sarongs. But pressure continued to mount, and more mainstream groups joined in and called for the show to be banned.

Indonesia’s government announced three weeks ago that the final would be moved from the outskirts of the capital, Jakarta, and instead held on the Hindu-dominated resort island of Bali, where earlier rounds were taking place.

After getting crowned, Young thanked the judges for choosing her and promised to “be the best Miss World ever.”

The 23-year-old Filipino actress pledged to “just be myself in everything I do, to share what I know and to educate people.”

Before her, no Filipina had won the prestigious crown in the 63-year-old London-based pageant.

Gwendoline Ruais was first runner-up in 2011. Evangeline Pascual was also first runner-up in 1973 while actress Ruffa Gutierrez was second-runner up in 1993.

A pre-pageant favorite, Young bagged the Top Model Award and also  topped  the Beach Fashion Challenge.  Young had to defy speculations of an impending disqualification because of near-naked photos published in a magazine, the same ones that cost her a slot in the Binibining Pilipinas contest.

Filipinos cheered as Young was called to the top ten finalists,  and more so as she moved to the top five alongside France, Ghana, Brazil (Sancler Frantz Kouzen) and Spain (Elena Ibarbia Jimenez).

Miss Gibraltar, Maroua Kharbouch, was named People’s Choice and automatically became the 6th finalist.

Rounding up the Top 10 were: Jamaica (Gina Hargitay), Indonesia (Vania Larissa), England (Kirsty Heslewood), Nepal (Ishani Shrestha), and Australia (Erin Holland).

Core value

Young’s answer to the final question on why she should be crowned Miss World: “I treasure a core value of humanity and that guides her into understanding people, why they act the way they do, how they’re living their lives. And I will use these core values and understanding not only in helping others but to show other people how they can understand others, to help others. … So that as one, together, we shall help society. Thank you!”

Young had shown great promise early in the pageant, having been handpicked to speak at the Miss World Press Launch along with only eight other contestants, and one of the selected few to have a solo performance at the Dances of the World where she danced the singkil, a traditional Filipino Muslim dance.

News of her victory was like sunshine to the country which is hounded by flooding in many parts of the capital, an armed conflict conflict in Mindanao and the corruption issue of pork barrel funds that rocked the government and citizenry.

Miss World was first created in the UK in 1951 and is one of the oldest international beauty pageants. This year’s pageant was the 63rd.

Last August, the Olongapo City native bested 25 other contestant during the Miss World Philippines 2013 grand coronation night held at the Grand Ballroom of the Solaire Resort and Casino-Manila.

During the Q&A portion, Megan answered the question, “Why do you want to be Miss World Philippines?”

She said “Miss World Philippines is selfless and to be selfless, you need to have a heart. If I win Miss World Philippines, I would give myself wholeheartedly to be of service. Beauty with a heart.” /with Inquirer, AP and CDN Research

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Mitoy Yonting wins ‘The Voice of the Philippines’

After weeks of tough "battle rounds" and "live shows", Team Lea's Mitoy Yonting is finally hailed as the first-ever “The Voice of the Philippines” grand champion.

Mitoy beat top 2 finalist Klarisse de Guzman during the grand finals on Sunday, September 29, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City.

After singing John Farnham's “Help” during the final showdown, Mitoy got 57.65% of the public votes while Team Sarah’s Klarisse who performed Leo Valdes' “Magsimula Ka” got 42.35%. The poll, which was solely based on public voting, was reset to zero before the top two contenders had their final sing-off. 

Team Apl’s Janice Javier and Team Bamboo’s Myk Perez were named as the third and fourth placer, respectively. Janice earned a score of 13.56% public votes, while Myk scored 12.81% of public votes for the top four results.

Mitoy took home the grand prize of P2 million, a brand new car, a recording contract with MCA Music and an Asian tour.

Star-studded

The most anticipated event featured performances from various stars. Klarisse performed Elton John’s “Your Song” with coach Sarah Geronimo and Robert Sena, while Myk performed “Morning Rose” with coach Bamboo. The rock star coach-judge also danced waltz with Linn Oeymo.

Janice, coach Apl.de.ap and folksinger Lolita Carbon brought the house down with their jaw-dropping performance of “Himig ng Pag-ibig” and “The Time (Dirty Bit).” Mitoy, coach Lea Salonga and Vice Ganda added humor to their fantastic performance of “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

The top four finalists also performed with former Westlife member Shane Filan, singing the boyband’s hits “Uptown Girl” and “Fool Again” while Allan Pineda and Jed Madela opened the show with the top 16 finalists. Among the celebrities who watched the show were Gary Valenciano, John Lloyd Cruz, Angelica Panganiban, Charlene Gonzalez, Angeline Quinto, Iza Calzado, Ruffa Gutierrez, Pooh, Tim Yap, Miriam Quiambao, and Phoemela Barranda.

How NU won the Cheerdance Competition

Working behind a flawless Arabian Night-inspired performance that captivated more than 20,000 fans inside the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, the National University Pep Squad ran away with the 2013 UAAP Cheerdance Competition title in a dominant performance that saw them soundly beating the three-time defending champion University of the Philippines Pep Squad.

And if you're wondering how they did it, here’s a breakdown of the scores.

This year, the competition had four judges, who scored the competition based on tumbling, stunts, tosses, pyramids and dance while also imposing penalties and deductions. Each criterion was worth 100 points, with each judge assigned one criterion among tumbling, stunts, tosses and pyramids and all four grading dance. This meant the highest possible score was 800: 400 from dance and 100 each from the four other criteria.

Following their third-place finish last year, the Bulldogs–glittering in gold and blue costumes–garnered a total score of 696.5 points broken down as follows: 360 from dance, 90 from tosses, 88.5 from pyramids, 85 from tumbling and 74 from stunts while being assessed a single point deduction.

NU’s stunning performance indeed proved enough to end the three-year reign of the UP Pep Squad while becoming the other school outside the trio of UP, University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University to rule the competition since its league’s inception in 1994.

The UP Pep Squad, still the winningest crew with eight titles along UST’s Salinggawi Dance Troupe, displayed a party-inspired number but failed to perfectly execute some of its pyramid routines, causing them to slip to first runner-up honors with 620.5 points–332.5 coming from dance, 80.5 from tosses, 79 on pyramids, 77 on tumbling and 65.9 on stunts while having 18 points in deduction.

PHOTOS: The 2013 UAAP Cheerdance Competition

De La Salle’s Animo Squad, thanks to a military-themed performance, stole the spotlight by finishing second runner-up for the fourth time with 596.5 points–315 on dance, 76 on pyramids, 72.5 on tosses, 69 on tumbling and 65 on stunts against a solitary point in penalty.

However, the disappointing seventh-place finish of UST’s Salinggawi Dance Troupe–a former five-peat champion–was the biggest surprise of the competition.

Their pyramids falling one after another, UST only amassed 546 points–325 on dance, 73.5 on tosses, 65.5 on tumbling, 64.5 on stunts and 58.5 on pyramids while being assessed a whopping 41-point deduction.

With its convincing victory, NU took home the top purse of P340,000 while UP earned P200,000 and La Salle had P140,000.

“Very successful naman at napanindigan namin ‘yung concept. Gusto kasi namin maka-relate ‘yung mga bata at matatanda na nakakapanood ng Aladin. Very unique, very authentic at bago sa paningin ng mga viewers,” said NU Pep Squad coach Jhereeka Mae Bernabe.

Charice makes it to Guinness World Records

International recording artist Charice sings the national
anthem before the start of the MLB American League
baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the
Chicago White Sox in Chicago, August 24, 2013.
 REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES -
Tags: SPORT BASEBALL ENTERTAINMENT)

The latest edition of the Guinness World Records is out, and an entry most Filipinos would be proud of  is the fact that  the Philippines’ very own Charice is listed as the “youngest winning judge.” 

The 58-year-old world-famous book of records is referring to Charice’s one season-stint at the local “X Factor” franchise shown in ABS-CBN late last year. Charice mentored KZ Tandingan, who later became the first  winner of “X Factor Philippines.”
 
“Charice (Philippines, b. Charmaine Pempengco, 10 May 1992) was 20 years and 150 days old when she mentored KZ  Tandingan, (b. Kristine Tandingan) to victory in the first season of the X Factor Philippines on 7 October, 2012,” the entry reads.
 
Though it’s not her first international recognition, Charice is ecstatic about her latest feat as singer.
 

Miss World starts in Indonesia after protests

Miss World 2013 contestants wave during opening ceremony in
Nusa Dua, on the resort island of Bali on September 8, 2013.
The pageant began amid tight security after days of
Muslim hardline protests that forced the venue to be moved

Miss World began in Indonesia Sunday amid tight security after days of Muslim hardline protests that forced authorities to order the whole beauty pageant be held on the Hindu-majority island of Bali.

As contestants took part in a glittering opening ceremony on the resort island, around 100 police, including some armed with rifles, patrolled around the building where the contest was being held.

The ceremony saw contestants perform a traditional dance using fans, as well as a Balinese "Kecak" dance, in which participants sit in a circle and chant while throwing their hands in the air.

Nana Putra, an official from MNC media group, the local organiser which is also broadcasting Miss World, said organisers hoped the event would "lift Indonesia's image to the world".

But the 63rd edition of the pageant has been overshadowed by a snowballing protest movement, and hundreds of police were deployed across Bali as the event got under way.

"So far there is no indication of a security threat," Bali police spokesman Hariadi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said.

"However we are still increasing our alertness and security -- all entrances to Bali are guarded by our personnel."

Thousands of Islamic hardliners have taken to the streets across the country during the past week, denouncing the show as "smut and pornography" and burning effigies of the organisers.

But the anger has not been limited to radicals, with criticism also coming from the country's most prominent Muslim clerical body, rights groups, and a government minister.

Organisers pledged months ago there would be no bikini round during this year's pageant in a bid to avoid causing offence.

However, this was not enough to stop street protests, and on Saturday the government bowed to the mounting pressure by deciding to move the final, on September 28, and several other events to Bali.

While organisers always planned to hold the opening of the show on Bali, the final and other events had originally been scheduled to take place in and around the capital Jakarta.

However, radicals threatened to stage huge rallies in the area, where there is considerable hardline influence, to stop the events from going ahead.

Although Bali has been hit by deadly bomb attacks in the past, hardline influence is almost non-existent on the island nowadays and locals are used to seeing hordes of tourists sunbathing in their swimwear.

Announcing the change of venue, coordinating minister for people's welfare, Agung Laksono, said the government had "listened to what the people wanted".

The organisers said they were "disappointed" by the decision.

"There is the potential that we will be seen as a country which always bows to pressure from a noisy Muslim minority group," Arief Suditomo, from the local organising committee, told AFP.

MNC's Putra said organisers would try to meet the government next week to discuss the decision to move the final to Bali.

While most of Indonesia's population of more than 240 million practises a moderate form of Islam, the influence of the hardline fringe is growing and they have succeeded in getting events changed or cancelled in the past.

Last year, pop sensation Lady Gaga axed a concert after a series of protests, where radicals dubbed her "the devil", threatened to burn down the venue and criticised her for wearing only "a bra and panties".

Mercito Gesta: “I will come back strong.”

Top Rank Boxing CEO Bob Arum once labeled him as “the next Manny Pacquiao.” Because like the great superstar, Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta comes from the talent laden Philippine archipelago which produced numerous world champion boxers. Like Pacquiao, he is quick and nimble and is in possession of a powerful left hand.

But last month, Arum gave Gesta the pink slip, releasing him alongside numerous other fighters, in a move that surprised Team Gesta and his fans. 

The San Diego based fighter by the way of Cebu, failed in his bid to capture the lightweight title when he faced IBF champion, Miguel Vazquez last December in the undercard of Pacquiao himself. An attempt to come back this year in a headlining bout on ESPN ended early when he suffered a rib injury in sparring, sidelining him for the rest of the year. 

Gesta treated his dismissal from Top Rank as part of the business of boxing and promised that this will not hamper his motivation to continue his boxing career. 

“Ganun talaga ang boxing. Pero walang problema yan. Babalik pa rin ako. Sa ngayon, focused muna ako sa healing ng injury ko. Pagkatapos nito, I will come back strong,” Gesta said in an interview with this Philboxing.com correspondent. 

(That is how boxing is. But that is not a problem. I will return. Right now, I am focused on the healing of my injury and after this I will come back strong.) 

He stated that he is recovering well from the injury that he suffered last June and he is on track to make his comeback early next year. 

“Maybe 4 more months then I’m completely healed. Right now, I am just enjoying this time with my family and friends.” 

Gesta has been staying active by conducting Martial Arts and fitness classes alongside father, Anecito to friends and family in San Diego. The Gestas are active Muay Thai practitioners before getting involved in boxing. 

The 25 year old boxer assured his fans that he will continue working hard in pursuing his title dreams outside of Top Rank and thanked those who are continually supporting him. 

“I’m always thankful to all my fans - the real fans and friends. They're always there for me inside and outside the ring.” 

NIETES MANDATORY CHALLENGER FUENTES IN BIG WIN

Photo: Nietes (L) and Fuentes (R) battled to
draw last March in Cebu, Philippines. 

The mandatory challenger to WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes has scored a big win in an Interim title showdown with Colombia's Luis De La Rosa hammering De La Rosa into submission at 2:40 of the opening round. 

Fuentes pounced on the hapless De La Rosa who lost by an 8th round TKO in a title fight against Merlito "Tiger Sabillo" last March and forced referee Jose Hiram Rivera to call a halt at 2:40 of the very first round. 

Fuentes and Nietes had battled to a close majority draw last March 2 enabling Nietes to retain his title with American judges Adalaide Byrd and Pat Russel scoring the fight an even 114-114 even as Filipino judge Danrex Tapdasan scored it for Nietes 115-113. 

Even before the fight the Nietes camp had objected to the assignment of a Filipino referee but were over-ruled by the WBO. 

However, the WBO indicated that after one voluntary title defense by Nietes which is likely to take place in Dubai on November 29, Fuentes will get a mandatory shot at the title of Nietes, provided the Filipino retains his crown. 

With the win Fuentes improvs to 18-1-1 with 9 knockouts while De La Rosa drops to 22-3-1 with 12 knockouts. 

CRYING TIME - VIVA PILIPINAS!

Emotions ran high at MOA arena last night. Filipinos watching on TV were ecstatic. Tears gushed forth and rolled over cheery faces as Gilas Pilipinas defeated the usually big and power-laden South Korea heading to the FIBA Asia Championship finals this evening and earned a ticket to be on board competing in FIBA World Cup next year, win or lose in a knockout game against Iran in a matter of hours from now. 

It looked like the Gilas is the best combination of PBA players from different franchises that could be put together as a Philippine team to compete in this year’s FIBA Asia. The ball movement and chemistry is outstanding. Field goal success even by natural shooters seemed to have the back up of prayers. The members of the playing team complement each other. And Coach Chot Reyes finds it easy to flow with the rhythm the whole game and during struggling moments to regain momentum to their side. No jewel wants to shine on its own, hence no one felt left behind. The Gilas is indeed a team in itself, one and solid heart to carry the flag. 

The Philippines-South Korea duel was touching, classic and historic. Probably some fans have even dreamt about it and woke up this morning still animated. 

But what is noteworthy about the Gilas Pilipinas is that there is no “superstar” player in the squad because “superstars” were allegedly not allowed by their respective PBA team owners or by the PBA itself as a league for fear that they might inflict injuries along the way or for some “magnanimous” reasons only known to them. 

Now that the Filipino people is in a huge celebration and in the event that the Philippine team would beat Iran tonight to win the crown, will the “unselfish” leadership of PBA and the “unselfish” management of PBA “superstars” have the right to jump for joy together with the whole nation? 

A great lesson is learned here and one truth stands out lucent to remind us of the Good Book: 

“I looked throughout the earth and saw that the swiftest person does not always win the race, nor the strongest man the battle.” - Ecclesiastes 9:11 (TLB) 

“It’s not by might nor by power, but my Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts – you will succeed because of my Spirit though you are few and weak.” - Zechariah 4:6 (TLB) 

SWEET REVENGE FOR GILAS-PILIPINAS ON THE KOREANS AND THE WORLD CUP ENTRY

Gilas-Pilipinas team captain Jimmy Alapag delivered the insurance three-pointers in the final quarter that assured the Philippines of a victory against South Korea, 86-79 last night during the 27th FIBA Asia Championships at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The big win guaranteed the Philippines of a slot at the FIBA World Cup 2014 in Spain. It was sweet revenge for the Philippines who were frustrated several times by South Korea for years in many Asian tournaments. And the curse just ended last night when we won over Korea in a major tournament for the first time since 1986. 

Marcus Douthit went out of the game limping in the second quarter with his right calf injury never to return to the game. Marc Pingris took over the role of a big man putting in 16 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. 

Gilas tasted the lead 13-10 in the first quarter. They regained the lead in the third quarter, 40-39, behind the scoring of Jayson William. 

Pilipinas led by nine, 65-56, entering into the fourth quarter. But the Koreans grabbed the driver's seat with less than four minutes to go. From then on it was a see-saw affair for both teams. 

Ranidel De Ocampo and Alapag saved the Philippines from another imminent frustrating defeat by pouring in the clutch baskets when the Koreans diffused the double-digit Gilas lead in the last stanza of the crucial game. 

Alapag had 14 points, and he made the baskets when it was needed most. De Ocampo also delivered five points to give the Philippines the advantage when it seemed the Koreans were out to disappoint us again. 

“To tell you the truth, up to now I don’t know how we did it. We just kept fighting,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes as quoted by interAKTV. “They had to carry us out of that court.” 

Reyes and most of the players were in tears when the final buzzer sounded signaling the entry of the Philippines to the world championships. The last time the country joined the world tournament was when it was held in Manila in 1978. 

Gilas Pilipinas will face undefeated Iran tonight in the finals to try to win the crown. The big fighting heart and the wild cheers of the jampacked crowd will again motivate our boys for the title.