By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
It was great. Not just because our very own Catriona Gray won but it was obvious the emerging global awareness of the necessity of tolerance on our innumerable differences. Not just between individual persons due to their different features, but also between the peculiarities of their respective countries and cultures, including religion.
The beautiful Miss Indonesia said it well when she informed the audience that in their family there are four different religions of the members and yet they live harmoniously and are even happy about it as they tolerate each other. Several of the other contestants echoed the same call, for people to tolerate each other’s differences.
This was emphasized to the hilt by Miss Spain whose having been allowed to represent her country as the first transgender contestant was a historic matter which will have good repercussions as far as tolerance is concerned. She was even given star time walking on the stage as she waved her Miss Spain sash. Congratulations to the Miss Universe organizers for allowing that. She said it well when she matter-of-factly stated that she did not have to win the Miss Universe title. Her having been there to express her advocacy for the equal treatment of people we normally consider different was good enough..
We have to emphasize that tolerating others’ circumstances or beliefs or religions does not mean you have to accept these. Tolerance is not acceptance. You just have to respect each other and live in harmony. What did that great philosopher say? We are all different, and equality will never be.
Then there was the winning answer of our very own Catriona to the final question. She said she had been working in the slums of Tondo, Manila where the conditions of children and the people there are very challenging as they are really poor. Sure. They really live in squalor. Yet she learned how to see the silver lining or the good side of the situation. In other words, thinking positive. With such attitude, negative thingking and attitude will have no place to grow.
Rightly so! It is positive thinking that we need. With that, things will turn out right. Positive results will happen in every endeavor. Those who think otherwise should go and visit the Cemetery of Negativity at John Hay whose purpose is to bury negativity once and for all. For the doubters out there, all you have to do is look around your communities and you will find out that the successful ones are those who are positive thinkers. They can always find the right solution to difficult situations because they have the attitude or thinking that a solution will soon be at hand or is just around the bend.
While Catriona who is a half Bicolana won the Miss Universe title, a half-Igorot won her heart. He is Clint Bondad (his artist’s name, taking his mother’s surname) is an actor and a model whose mother’s roots can be traced to Otucan, Bauko. Others say her roots can be traced to the adjacent town of Sabangan, Mountain Province. Whatever. From what I heard, his mother grew up in Otucan but then they migrated to Baguio City at the River Side, Guisad Valley, just a spit away from Easter College. The present barangay captain of Guisad is Clint’s uncle.
Clint whose father is German has been Catriona’s boyfriend the past seven years.
By the way, Catriona’s father is Australian. She grew up and finished her elementary and high school there. She is good in math and in music. She was taking her Master’s Degree in music in the US before she joined the contest. That has to be put on hold now.
Now the Australians are saying that she is from Australia. Sorry, she represented the Philippines.
I would like to believe that her good luck in winning the title was due to good karma. As she said in so many words, the planets aligned properly for her to win the title. Where did her good karma emanate? She had been working in a foundation for the improvement of the lives and future of the very poor children of Tondo, Manila.
Good deeds result in good fortune.
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