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In my previous editions of my hot picks for different beauty pageants, I only uploaded the pictures of the contestants who I believe has a strong chance of making in at least as a semifinalist and also some of the favored to win the crown and title. This time around I will have to say something about my choices to justify my selection of favorites for the crown. A week ago, I published my first pre-arrival pick for Miss Earth those whose first impressions usually lingers in my head and shows some character by the way they portray themselves in those images. But as the week progress, as more countries elect their representatives to Miss Earth and as time draws near the start of Miss Earth 2012, new surprises and contestants changes my leaderboard. So here now with finality only on pre arrival my choices for Miss Earth 2012. While the formidable top 5 in my list did not change because they show strong presence and promises and expect a strong performance from them, my top 10 have some changes. With the addition of Dominican Republic replacing Ukraine which is very far in my list, the rest remains unchanged. Czech Republic, USA, Brazil, Sweden and India are expected to do very well in the competition and also expected to give their strong performance in the finals. Czech Republic is such an enchantress that can prove ideal for the crown with her stature, poise, personality and skills a complete package hard to overwhelm. USA due to her stint and experience in beauty competition will give her an extra advantage over the others. Her strong but lovely physical feature which is attributed by her Spanish blood and sense of appeal may reflect well not only by the viewers but also by the judges same with the Brazilian flair Camilla Brant whose confidence results in her very classy sophisticated style and the prim and proper manner reflected that of a beauty queen. Lots of contestants can learn from this glamorous woman. Sweden presentation skills is undeniably superb and can give others a tough competition very impressive. India on the other hand can project all angles beautiful while proving to us that she is not only beautiful outside but also from within. Her noble projects in the local communities in the remote rural parts of India her proudest achievement would make us adore this lady. . Crimea, Dominican Republic which is the newest in my list at number 7, Colombia, Russia and Finland will pull surprises comes November when the ladies finally landed in Manila. There are more to these ladies than what we just saw in them in their pictures. Expect them to do very well in the competition that the judges will have a tough time to decide. By the way, pageant powerhouse Venezuela is out of my list for the first time since I start selecting my favorites. I am over Venezuela Osmariel Villalobos for now because she looks uninteresting to me. Venezuela is not in my list because she looks too conventional too plain to be true.
The beautiful and elegant Wales is still standing strong at number 11 on my list and her bewitching beauty, wit and projects are her strong assets to make it as a semifinalist whom we expect to deliver the goods. Each time I see this lady reminds me of another Welsh who placed very high in the Miss Universe 1974 which happens to be held also in Manila that time where Helen Morgan placed 1st runner up to Amparo Muñoz of Spain who became Miss Universe 1974. She also reminds me of Jade Kelsall of Nevada who end up third runner up in Miss USA 2012. Will we see another Welsh to place in the beauty pageant competition after so long of drought? Hometown girl Stephany Stefanowitz will welcome the girls with a radiant smile and stunning charm that is her best asset. She will also bring her A-game into the competition with her unique mixed ancestry beauty, alluring charm with wide brimming smile, and also her astounding personality will help her much as she tries to win the second title for her country. If ever she wins, it is well deserved because she works hard for it and her untiring efforts to preserve nature and ideal projects for environments also justify her for the crown but she is up against other fierce and very stunning ladies to win the crown for their country for the first time. New in my list in number 13 is the newly elected Austria's Sandra Seidl and reminds me of a very lovely statuesque and classic Barbie Doll Eva Rueber-Staier also of Austria who became a semifinalist in Miss Universe 1969 won by the Philippines Gloria Diaz. Sandra's mysticism will feed the curiosity of many and her charm will hopefully entice the crowd into her and help her at least a slot in the finals. South Africa's Tamerin Jardine is hard to ignore not only by her attractive and seductive beauty but also her sincere concern for nature most especially for the vast wildlife of her native South Africa. Her project is also commendable knowing that her country's best practices and her project would be a good model for other countries to follow to preserve and protect the wildlife.Trinidad and Tobago, Kazakhstan and Bosnia and Herzegovina are also great women of beauty and accomplishments and might give us some pleasant surprises in the competition. Moldova who is new in my list at number 18 might rank high and might get noticed and caught the attention of many people and the judges themselves. Her alluring charisma and outstanding personality and stage presence might earned her positive reviews and feedback that will help her have a slot in the finals. Korea which was replaced by Austria at number 13 fell down in my list 6 notches down at number 19 with some many new stunning women elected from other country who overwhelmed and toppled her in the position but Korea who is a dark horse here would fight her way back and might be noticed by pundits if she play her cards well. The cellar dweller and remains unchanged is Lebanon, Eliane Khawand who despite her charming images might be difficult if she doesn't discover her strongest asset and fatal flaws, maximize her full potential and put them to work. She needs to walk the talk if she wants to be noticed and make it at least as a semifinalist. Special mentions to Denmark, Turkey and Ukraine who also have strong potentials. You observe Venezuela's absence in my list. I haven't seen her too bad nor too good yet in my list. Her beauty is already outdated to me and over all, sad to say is below my expectation. I hate stereotypes. My list for the finals is subject to change as the competition heats up. Some favorites of many are not included in my list because I am still half-hearted with them. They are still lukewarm to me or are playing safe because I go for a strong woman who is strong enough to compete. There you go my selection for pre arrival as we are getting closer to the start of Miss Earth 2012. We will see what my list impressions on these ladies once they set foot in Manila first week of November. I will monitor the progress of the competition, observe and score them in different categories and see the stars who shines brighter and see the stars whose brilliance are flickering and fading then I will come up with my final set of favorites few days before the finals of Miss Earth 2012. Good luck girls!
I am now accepting reviews of different kinds from food to places, to products and services for as long as you defray my expenses of traveling and transportation of going to your place, hotel, city or in a different country, it will no problem at all or at the same time make a review for the product I receive from you FREE of charge or services rendered. I will give my honest and helpful critic on a particular subject. Thanks.
Miss Earth 2012 will be on November 24, 2012 in Manila, Philippines. Beautiful women around world will gather to compete for the coveted crown. Meanwhile, here is my first pre-arrival favorites for the title:
THE DISTRICT of Jaro in Iloilo City has the earliest recorded baptism of a Calungsod, according to the Mormon-run genealogy website, www.familysearch.org.
This little infor
mation perhaps could shed answer to queries on where exactly Blessed Pedro Calungsod came from as he is set to be canonized Sunday, October 21. The genealogy website operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, showed the earliest recorded baptism of a Calungsod was that of Maria Calungsod, daughter of Juan Calungsod and Josepha Beatris.
She was baptized on Sept. 7, 1748 in Jaro, Iloilo City, according to one of the most heavily used genealogy sites on the Internet. The FamilySearch.org website offers free access to digital images of genealogical records stored at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, which holds genealogical records for over 110 countries, territories, and possessions, including over 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records.
Blessed Pedro Calungsod was believed to have been born in 1655 in the Visayas, with the towns of Ginatilan in Cebu, Hinundayan and Hinunangan in southern Leyte, and Molo, Iloilo City as his probable places of birth. There was no information as to how old Juan Calungsod when his daughter was baptized in Jaro but the website also showed that a Maria Feliziana Calungsod, probably a younger daughter, was baptized on June 2, 1753, also in Jaro, Iloilo City. A Thomasina Calungsod was also baptized in Jaro, Iloilo City on April 4, 1750 whose parents were listed as Juan Calungsod and Feliziana Olay, also the parents of another Maria Calungsod who was baptized on October 9, 1751, also in Jaro.
The website also yielded baptism records of Calungsods from Baybay, Leyte (1828), Hinunangan, Leyte (1856), Cavite City, Cavite (1872), Ginatilan, Cebu (1889), Taysan, Negros Oriental (1889), La Castellana, Negros Occidental (1900), Iloilo (1900) and Guihulngan, Negros Oriental (1903).
The earliest recorded baptism in Baybay, Leyte was that of Feliciana Alejandra Calungsod who was baptized in the Immaculate Conception Church on Nov 10, 1828 and whose parents were listed as Francisco Calungsod and Maria Vicenta.
In Hinunganan, Leyte, the earliest recorded baptism was that of Calixtra Calungsod, born in 1856 and died on Feb 25, 1926.
There was no information on who her parents were. (PNA)
Link
Source: Iloilo: Queen City of the South Official Page
Blessed Pedro Calungsod of Iloilo Will Be Canonized on October 21 by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.
Pedro Calungsod who will be formally canonized as a saint by Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on October 21 will be the second Filipino saint and is the first Ilonggo saint. Pedro Calungsod was born in the Chinese District of Molo in Iloilo around 1654. His family and relatives were natives of the town of Leon in Iloilo and his father is a skilled goldsmith. Religious scholars and anthropologistswill have the biggest proof and unearth, uncover the truth behind the real birthplace of Calungsod. I don't want to make any lies or false claims much more to a holy individual such as Pedro Calungsod. It felt so pathetic and so desperate for other places to claim Calungsod as their own that they repeatedly claim him as their own for a thousand of times in the local media and news over the same sensationalized and unconfirmed claims. I have admiration and respect for such veneration and honor they bestow on Calungsod but desperation of claim as their own is not counted so sorry but they look so hapless victim of desperation for fame and popularity without solid evidence.He studied in
a school for boys in Iloilo and went to Cebu to serve as a catechist and sacristan. In 1672, he joined Father Diego de San Vitores in a missionary work in Guam to preach among the natives and convert them to
the Christian religion where he was martyred on April 2, 1672 in Tumon,
Guam by the Chamorros, the native people of Guam who still exist up to
this day. Canonization through a religious ceremony is the final step towards sainthood. Pedro Calungsod was beatified on March 5, 2000 by then Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City and was witnessed through a LIVE broadcast by millions of people around the world. Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, the Philippines' first saint was canonized in 1987 by Pope John Paul II. Another Ilongga servant of God from Iloilo, Sister Maria Beatriz Del Rosario Arroyo is also expected to be beatified in the future. Pedro Calungsod feast day is April 2.
Pedro’s story lives on in Iloilo By Nestor P. Burgos Jr. Inquirer Visayas 8:18 pm | Saturday, October 20th, 2012
ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Since she was a child, Ana Calunsod-Arquillo
has known well a story told by her father, Cornelio, and handed down
through at least eight generations: One of their ancestors—a young
boy—died with a priest on a Pacific island centuries ago.
The
story goes that a 7-year-old boy disappeared after he boarded and hid in
a Cebu-bound Spanish ship docked near what is now Molo District in
Iloilo City. When he was discovered by the crew, a priest took him under
his care.
The Calunsod clan of Molo believes that this boy was
Blessed Pedro Calungsod, who is to canonized at the Vatican on Sunday,
the second Filipino saint.
Arquillo, the seventh of 11
siblings, says Pedro was the son of Rufo Calungsod, a goldsmith. Rufo is
a namesake of her great-grandfather, who was also a goldsmith. She also
has a brother named Rufo.
“We know that there are several
other claims on Pedro’s roots, but we know deep in our hearts that he
was from here and he was our ancestor,” says Arquillo, 63, a retired
businesswoman.
The claim is supported by a Western Visayas historian, lawyer Rex Salvilla.
“The information that I have gathered and the circumstances during
Pedro’s time point more to the claim that he was from Molo, Salvilla
said.
Salvilla, past president of Iloilo Historical Association
and president of West Visayas Historical Research Foundation Inc.,
researched the background of the Visayan martyr in the late 1990s on the
request of then Molo parish priest Felipe Parian.
Parian had
been directed by the late Jaro Archbishop Alberto Piamonte to conduct
inquiries among the Calunsods in Molo about their possible relationship
to Pedro Calungsod.
The other possible origins of Calungsod in Iloilo are the towns of Leon, Tigbauan and Oton.
Salvilla confirms the account of Catalino Arevalo in the pamphlet
“Pedro Calungsod, Young Visayan Proto-Martyr” of an oral tradition
passed from generation to generation among the Calunsods in Iloilo.
A “Calungsod boy went from Iloilo to Mactan Island in Cebu, joined the
Jesuit missionaries who left for some island in the Pacific, and was
killed with the Fathers,” Arevalo’s account goes.
Family elders
told Salvilla that the family name of their ancestors during the
Spanish time was “Calungsod.” This was confirmed by birth certificates
at Molo Church, according to Salvilla.
The elders explained
that the spelling of their last name was changed to avoid conscription
into the Spanish colonial army and the Guardia Civil (national police).
Salvilla said the conscription was done through “quintos,” an annual
raffle where the names of native males aged 18 and above were listed and
drawn. Those whose names appeared in the fifth draw were recruited.
“To avoid being recruited, people slightly changed their surnames, like
‘Salazar’ to ‘Salarza’ or ‘Salard’ to ‘Saladar,’” Salvilla said.
The elder Calunsods said many of their ancestors fled to neighboring Negros Island to avoid conscription.
Salvilla said it was possible that children of the early Calungsods
migrated to Cebu and Bohol islands from Negros. The change in the
spelling of their surname from “Calungsod” to “Calunsod” could also have
been the result of the corruption of names that stemmed from the
difficulty the Spaniards had in pronouncing “ng.”
He cited the
renaming of places in Panay, including of Ilong-Ilong (Iloilo), Ogtong
(Oton), Batang (Batan), Jamindang (Jamindan) and Pangdan (Pandan).
Salvilla’s research showed that many members of the Calunsod clan lived
in Barangay (village) San Antonio in Molo. There is a road in the
village called La Compania Street, believed to be originally named La
Compania de Jesus (Society of Jesus) where a Jesuit mother house may
have once stood.
The Jesuit presence in Iloilo during the early
years of the Spanish rule was also well established. Salvilla cited the
first school for boys in the country, built in Tigbauan town in 1652 by
Fray Pedro Chirino, a Jesuit.
Salvilla said Pedro Calungsod
could have been taken by the Jesuit priests to Cebu, being the religious
center at that time covering the Visayas and Mindanao, before he went
with the mission to Guam.
Arquillo said she hoped that the
truth about Blessed Pedro’s roots would be settled one day. “But we are
happy all the same that we will have a saint so close to us Visayans,”
she said.
Arquillo bought plane tickets to attend the
canonization ceremony at the Vatican, but a pressing business engagement
forced her to drop her plan. Three of her cousins from Iloilo and four
from the United States, however, are in Rome for the event.
Arquillo also plans to install a life-size statue of St. Pedro in a
chapel on Barangay San Antonio Street that she herself had donated. The
image will be similar to the one she gave to the Molo church six years
ago and displayed at the compound.
“My father, who had always believed in the story of our boy ancestor, would be happy now,” she said. Link
