Screaming for Screening

The moment the 18 candidates posed in front of the new municipal building of Aroroy a week before the pageant for their sweet-look pictorial, unsavory comments against some of them started pouring in.

"Bakit kasali yan, wala ba kayong screening muna?"

"Ang pangit naman ng iba, bakit pinasali pa?"

"Ha? Kasali yan? Are you sure?"

After the glamorous pictorial, the first batch of photos were uploaded on Facebook. Some couldn't help posting negative comments. Somebody created a new FB account, using a fictitious account name and info just so he/she could start bombarding derogatory posts against photos of candidates who were beyond his/her personal sharp taste. The reason for the fictitious account is obvously to save himself/herself from confrontation and personal retaliation.

One of his/her posts asked, "Wala bang naganap na screening?"

"Equal opportunity" is what we have been practicing since 2008. A girl who met the minimum requirements is accepted in the competition. Upon reading the answers to our question in the application form that says "reason for joining: to gain experience", who are we to withhold that opportunity from them? Yes, some of these applicants may not be stunningly beautiful at first sight but wait till you see them on the stage during the pageant night. I have been witness to many instances where these once plain-looking girls metamorphosed into somebody sophisticated and glamorous. So far, in the three years we have been organizing this local beauty pageant, the usual number of applicants have not yet exceeded the maximum we set, that is 20 candidates at the most. So all candidates were accepted. Only on 2008 we had a case of three applicants backing out, so the remaining 17 competed for the three major titles. In 2009, we had 17 candidates and nobody backed out.

If we impose a thorough screening, it would be equivalent to having the major winners already. And trimming the candidates to just a few who will move on to the pre-pageant and pageant proper would save us, organizers, a lot of trouble and expenses. But these girls really just wanted to prove to themselves and to others (specially those who are putting them down) that they can do something to boost their self-esteem and morale. And they believe joining in the search for Bb. Aroroy Foundation is their way to do it.

I guess telling outrightly or just even hinting to any of these girls your view about them having no chance of winning is both unfair and inhuman. Don't you agree?

If in case we will be flocked with applicants numbering to 30 or more, maybe that is the time we will conduct proper screening. That would be a good excuse for rejecting gilrs who we think have slim chances of winning the title. It would save us both the trouble.