THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610190250
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MICHELLE MIZAL, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 103 lines
Arlene Sarmonte, 22, was early enough for her personal pageant interview that she had time to practice. She had fellow contestants ask her mock questions.
``Don't wave your hands too much,'' one told her Friday night as she rehearsed her responses.
Arlene was one of the five young Filipino-Americans gathered at the Virginia Beach Clarion Hotel for their personal interview, worth 30 of a possible 100 points in the 12th annual national Miss Philippines America Pageant.
The pageant is held every year at the Virginia Beach Pavilion.
``Good evening everyone,'' Arlene, of San Diego, Calif., said as she entered the small conference room on the second floor.
The panel of nine judges returned her greeting with encouraging smiles. They sat at a small, rectangular conference table, each with red folders containing Arlene's short biography open before them.
Arlene took her seat at the end of the table, her round plastic button with the number ``1'' neatly pinned to the left bottom pocket of her brown double-breasted suit.
The next five minutes were filled with questions that ranged from her future to her political positions. Arlene was nervous.
``I understand that you support affirmative action,'' asked a judge sitting to her right.
``Yes. (cough) Sir. (cough cough). Excuse me.'' Arlene explained her reasons, using hand gestures, but not too many, and a big smile.
The other four contestants waited outside. Most of them were tired from long plane flights. One, though, came from work: Jina Caronongan, 26, of Chesapeake.
All of them dreaded the interview. And why not? It covers 30 points. The stage interview is worth an additional 15 points, and that's what Jina was nervous about. She doesn't like being in front of crowds. This is her second year in the Miss Philippines pageant, so the personal interview didn't bother her.
``I'm just going to do my best,'' she said with a confident smile.
In the past, Filipino pageant contestants didn't have to quake at questions.
Manuel A. Hipol, executive chairman of the event, said beauty pageants have long been a part of Philippine culture. Although no one knows exactly when they started, the Philippine pageants originally were held as fund-raisers for local church or town organizations.
Winning was easy. Simply put, whoever had the most pesos got the title. Now, the beauty pageants have ditched the money theory (pageants are now funded by donations from the Filipino community) and adopted the down-home American way of competing: calling for the prettiest, the smartest and the most talented.
The contestants each applied from their home states: Virginia, Texas, Utah and California. Each met the criteria: Filipino background, age 17 to 25, never been married, good community involvement, high achievements. Those who are adopted by Filipino parents also can apply - even if they are not Filipino.
Philippine pageants are a family affair. Of course.
Tonight the stage will explode with Filipino culture. Young and old will participate in presenting this year's theme: ``Benguet Lily - The Queen Flower of the Mountain Provinces of the Philippines.''
The white, tulip-like flower that commonly grows on the Philippine mountains represents all five of the mountain provinces in the northern part of Luzon - the Philippines' biggest island.
Members of the Baguio Fil-Am Association of Tidewater will perform traditional Filipino mountain music and dances with tribal costumes.
Hipol said that children as young as 4 help with stage-settings, while older ones participate in the entertainment. The Filipino-American Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., will be escorts, and the Filipino American Veterans will sing the Filipino National Anthem.
Tonight, the contestants compete in stage interview, talent and gown - all the normal stuff. But there is one thing missing: the swimsuit competition.
``We emphasize more on the interview,'' Hipol said. ``We want to know what this girl that will represent Miss Philippines America has in her brain. That's why we have no bathing suit competition.''
The winner gets a $1,000 scholarship and a trip to the Philippines - something that Nancy Simbulan, 24, last year's winner, said she enjoyed.
``I really regained my understanding of what being Filipino is all about,'' Nancy said. ``When I went to the Philippines, I saw how we take pride in ourselves, and it made me proud to be a Filipino.''
Hipol said that most Filipinos make education a priority. In fact, the pageant originally had 12 contestants, but Hipol said most dropped out because of midterm exams.
The six-member pageant executive committee, made up of Filipino community leaders, has a priority of its own: to revive cultural heritage among Filipino-American youth.
``There is no other pageant here that stresses our culture,'' Hipol said. ``I hope that the young ones who come to see it and participate in it will appreciate the beauty of our music, our dances and our costumes.'' MEMO: The pageant begins at 7:30 p.m. today in the Virginia Beach
Pavilion. There will be a ticket booth at the main entrance. Tickets are
$12.50. ILLUSTRATION: BETH BERGMAN
The Virginian-Pilot
Oliva Cordero of Clearfield, Utah, answers questions Friday at the
Virginia Beach Clarion Hotel for nine judges during the interview
segment of the 12th annual national Miss Philippines America
Pageant. The competition concludes tonight at the Virginia Beach
Pavilion. by CNB