MISS UNIVERSE 2015 TOP 40 BEST IN NATIONAL COSTUMES

The 64th Miss Universe 2015 which took place last December 20, 2015 at the Axis Theater of the Planet Hollywood Resorts and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA made headlines around the world for the wrong announcement of winners and awkward crowning moment of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines. 

I am so sorry for this late article because I was not able to view all of the contestant's national costumes that very represent the culture and tradition of their native homeland not until very recently when these photos were posted online as there is no national costume presentation show this year just like they did in 2012 because they just pre-taped this segment of the contestants wearing their native dresses for the final's night opening introduction. 


Nevertheless, I have seen all of the contestants national costume in photos so here I came with my list of 40 Best in National Costume in the Miss Universe 2015:

1. Indonesia - Anindya Kusuma Putri 

2. Argentina - Claudia Barrionuevo 

3. Thailand - Aniporn Chalermburanawong

4. Dominican Republic - Clarissa Molina 

5. Myanmar - May Barani Thaw 

6. India - Urvashi Rautela 

7. Curacao - Kanisha Sluis 

8. Panama - Gladys Brandao Amaya 

9. Venezuela - Mariana Jimenez 

10. Canada - Paola Nuñez 

11. Spain - Carla Garcia Barber 

12. Mexico - Wendolly Esparza 

13. Great Britain - Nena France

14. Nicaragua - Daniela Torres 

15. Guatemala - Jeimmy Aburto 

16. USA - Olivia Jordan 

17. Honduras - Iroshka Elvir 

18. Austria - Amina Dagi 

19. Philippines - Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach 

20. Paraguay - Myriam Arevalos 

21. Malaysia - Vanessa Tevi Kumares 

22. Nigeria - Debbie Collins 

23. Aruba - Alysha Boekhoudt 

24. Georgia - Janeta Kerdikoshvili 

25. British Virgin Islands - Adorya Rocio Baly 

26. Poland - Weronika Szmajdzinska 

27. Belgium - Annelies Törös 

28. Puerto Rico - Catalina Morales 

29. Ireland - Joanna Cooper 

30. Netherlands - Jessie Jazz Vuijk 

31. Costa Rica - Brenda Castro 

32. Australia - Monika Radulovic 

33. El Salvador - Fátima Rivas 

34. Russia - Vladislava Yevtushenko 

35. Israel - Avigail Alfatov 

36. Ukraine - Anna Vergelskaya 

37. Mauritius - Sheetal Khadun 

38. Turkey - Melisa Uzun 

39. Guyana - Shauna Ramdyhan 

40. Portugal - Emilia Araújo

Photo Sources:

Miss Universe Organization 

FACTS ABOUT THE FEAST OF BLACK NAZARENE

Today, January 9 is the Feast of Black Nazarene. The annual event see millions of pious devotees expected to flock the procession of the image from the beginning and within the route of the procession. The veneration of the people to the Black Nazarene is such that a massive crowd of passionate devotees around the image slows down the procession to Quiapo Church which usually last for 18 - 24 hours. The Black Nazarene is said to be miraculous and a countless number of miracles to the people from sicknesses being healed to success in life to regaining a relationship that was lost and even complete transformation of the people is attributed to praying and unwavering faith to the Nazarene or the Christ passionately carrying the cross. On his feast day the people believes that by just grappling and gripping the cord which carry the carriage of the image or struggling to get close to the statue just to wipe its face, cross or any parts of the statue and kiss it will answer all their prayers which testified to be true by a lot of its devotees and followers. I am also fervently praying to the Black Nazarene that it will grant my prayers and also by spreading the devotion to the Black Nazarene through any means including this article feature in this blog will grant me something that I have been praying for quite sometime.

Anyway to tell more about the Black Nazarene, here are some of the trivia about the deeply revered Christ:


1. It is called El Nazareno Negro, Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno in Spanish while it is called Poong Itim Na Nazareno or Señor Nazareno in Filipino.

2. The statue derives its name from "Nazarene", which is a title of Christ identifying him as being of Nazareth in Galilee.

3. Traslacion (Spanish word for passage or movement) commemorates the 1787 solemn transfer of the image to its minor basilica in Quiapo from its original location in what is now Rizal Park.

4. The image was created by an anonymous Mexican sculptor and was brought to Manila from Acapulco, Mexico through the galleon trade on May 31, 1606. It was widely believed that during its voyage the ship carrying the image caught fire and charred the statue thus its present day color.

5. Monsignor Sabino A. Vengco, Jr. from Loyola School of Theology however validated that the statue is not charred but actually really dark to its core due to the mesquite wood used to carve out the image which actually is a popular medium in the period the statue was carved.

6. Pope Innocent X approved veneration of the statue in 1650 as a sacramental, and authorised the establishment of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Jesus Nazarene.

7. Pope Pius VII gave the statue his Apostolic Blessing in 1880, which granted plenary indulgence to those who piously pray before it.

8. St. John Paul II recognized the church as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene because of its role in strengthening a deep popular devotion to Jesus Christ and because of its cultural contribution to the religiosity of the Filipino people.

9. Devotees walk and follow the procession in barefoot as a symbol of humility.

10. The traslacion procession attracted millions of faithfuls annually and increasing in number every year.



Photo Source:

www.mtxtremist.blogspot.com
www.demotix.com

American Idol 111 Best and Greatest Performances

American Idol Logo 

American Idol Current Judges 

Fantasia Barrino 

Adam Lambert 

Chris Daughtry 

Jessica Sanchez 

Katharine McPhee 

Joshua Ledet

American Idol will have its final curtain call with its last season premiering tonight. The Fox Channel reality singing competition maintained its popularity and high television ratings in the first few years of 2000s but suffered sharp blows and major setbacks with the emergence of new and relatable rival reality singing competition like The Voice and X-Factor in the decade of 2010s with the fans clamoring for more up to date performances which they can relate and follow which is the very reason for the American Idol all-time low ratings which a lot of audience think is outdated and irrelevant and they thought that the singing competition always choose a surprising winner which usually is inferior to their runners-up. The drop in television viewership is manifested in some of the show's winners and other contestants lackluster album sales.

Other than its fading popularity, the reality show has its fair share of memorable moments to share somewhat surprising, annoying and amusing while some are inspiring and the show never runs of success stories, triumphs, laughs and tears most especially with the deaths of some of its contestants notably Michael Johns and Joanne Borgella of Season 7. Let's admit that this show has entertained us for awhile with its contestants, with the almost "nuisance" contestants some are weird, some are unusual while some were just pretty bland who loves music but the music doesn't love them and not to outdo or outshine were who else but the judges themselves who sometimes has cat fights among them the notorious one were the alpha female rivalry of Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj and who can't forget the acerbic Simon Cowell with its mean and straight to the face lashing out?

However, the most unforgettable moments of the 15-season run reality singing competition are the goosebumps inducing, thought provoking and earth shattering performances of its contestants. Before American Idol will finally say good bye and turn off mic, let's take a look back at the show's most defining moments in its 14 seasons. Here is my list of American Idol's 111 Best and Greatest Performances.


Ranking In Order:

1. Jessica Sanchez - I Will Always Love You
2. Fantasia Barrino - Summertime
3. Adam Lambert - Mad World
4. Joshua Ledet - It's a Man's Man's Man's World
5. Bo Bice - In A Dream


Season 1

Kelly Clarkson - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Kelly Clarkson - Respect
Kelly Clarkson - Stuff Like That There
Kelly Clarkson - A Moment Like This
Justin Guarini - Get Here
Justin Guarini - Route 66
Tamyra Gray - Raindrops Will Fall
Tamyra Gray - If I Were Your Woman
Tamyra Gay - Minnie The Moocher
Tamyra Gray - A House Is Not A Home
Tamyra Gray - Feel The Fire
Trenyce - Proud Mary


Season 2

Clay Aiken - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Clay Aiken  - Solitaire
Clay Aiken - At This Moment
Clay Aiken - Vincent
Clay Aiken - This Is The Night
Clay Aiken - Unchained Melody
Clay Aiken - I Could Not Ask For More
Ruben Studdard - Smile
Ruben Studdard - Flying Without Wings


Season 3

Fantasia Barrino - I Believe
Fantasia Barrino - A Fool In Love
Fantasia Barrino - All My Life
Fantasia Barrino - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Fantasia Barrino - Chain Of Fools
Fantasia Barrino - Something About The Way You Look Tonight
Jennifer Hudson - Circle Of Life
Fantasia Barrino - Summertime
Jennifer Hudson - I Have Nothing
Latoya London - Ain't Goin' Down Til' The Sun Comes Up
Latoya London - Don't Rain On My Parade


Season 4

Bo Bice - In A Dream
Bo Bice - Drift Away
Bo Bice - Whipping Post
Bo Bice - Spinning Wheel
Bo Bice - Vehicle
Bo Bice - Heaven
Constantine Maroulis - Bohemian Rhapsody
Constantine Maroulis - Nights on Broadway


Season 5

Katharine McPhee - Over The Rainbow
Elliott Yamin - A Song For You
Chris Daughtry - Suspicious Minds
Chris Daughtry - I Walk The Line
Chris Daughtry - Hemorrhage (In My Hands)
Chris Daughtry - Renegade
Kellie Pickler - Bohemian Rhapsody


Season 6

Melinda Doolittle - My Funny Valentine
Melinda Doolittle - I Got Rhythm
Lakisha Jones - Stormy Weather
Melinda Doolittle - I'm A Woman


Season 7

Ramiele Malubay - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
David Archuleta - Imagine
David Archuleta - Another Day In Paradise
David Cook - Happy Together
Jason Castro - Hallelujah
David Cook - Hello
Ramiele Malubay - In My Life
Kristy Lee Cook - God Bless The USA
Michael Johns – It’s All Wrong, But It’s Alright
David Cook - Always Be My Baby
David Archuleta - Think of Me
David Cook - The Music of the Night
David Cook - Baba O'Riley
Syesha Mercado - Me and Mr. Jones
David Archuleta - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me


Season 8

Alison Iraheta - Alone
David Lambert - Mad World
David Lambert - Whole Lotta Love
David Lambert - Track Of My Tears
David Lambert - Ring of Fire
Allison Iraheta - Cry Baby

Season 9 

Crystal Bowersox - Hand In My Pocket
Casey James - Mrs. Robinson


Season 10

Pia Toscano - I'll Stand By You
Thia Megia - Out Here On My Own
Casey Abrams - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Casey Abrams - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Haley Reinhart - Bennie and the Jets
James Durbin - Uprising
James Durbin - Without You
James Durbin - You Got Another Thing Coming


Season 11

Heejun Han - Angels
Jessica Sanchez - I Will Always Love You
Jessica Sanchez - Turn The Beat Around
Jessica Sanchez - Everybody Has A Dream
Colton Dixon - Piano Man
Skylar Laine - Gunpowder and Lead
Colton Dixon - Decode
Jessica Sanchez - Sweet Dreams
Elise Testone - Whole Lotta Love
Jessica Sanchez - Stuttering
Phillip Phillips - Volcano
Joshua Ledet - It's a Man's Man's Man's World
Jessica Sanchez - And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going


Season 12

Amber Holcomb - My Funny Valentine
Candice Glover - Lovesong
Amber Holcomb - Without You


Season 13

Malaya Watson - Take Me to the King
Dexter Roberts - Sweet Home Alabama
Dexter Roberts - Boondocks
Jena Irene - Can't Help Falling In Love
Caleb Johnson - Skyfall
Caleb Johnson - Dazed and Confused


Season 14

Clark Beckham - When A Man Loves A Woman
Joey Cook - King of Spain
Clark Beckham - It's A Man's Man's Man's World
Joey Cook - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Clark Beckham - Every Breath You Take
Clark Beckham - Moon River
Jax - My Generation 



Photo Sources:

www.weinerelementary.org
www.onebypusyky.site88.net
anythingencee.wordpress.com
www.ew.com
www.hollywoodreporter.com
www.dudesreviewidol.com