Thomasian Beauty Queens: Epitome of ageless splendor

By Erika Denise L. Dizon of THE VARSITARIAN

CHEERS were loud from a stream of yellow at the Araneta Coliseum last April 10 as four Thomasian beauties took centerstage to compete in the much-coveted Binibining Pilipinas, all for a chance to represent the country on the world pageant stage.

By the end of the night, former Miss Thomasian Personality Janine Marie Tugonon was named first runner-up out of 40 candidates. Aside from Tugonon, a licensed pharmacist who graduated cum laude from the University in 2010, Psychology alumna and Ford Supermodel of the World finalist Kristina Marasigan made the cut in the top 15. Also among the contenders were Pharmacy alumna Carla Lacson and UST swimmer Bernadette Aguirre.

Janine Tugonon: From UST to Binibini

But this scenario is no longer new to the Thomasian crowd, given the long list of beauty queens that UST has produced in the past 59 years.

UST alumnus and beauty pageant expert Felix Manuel listed 37 Thomasians who had been part of different beauty pageants, including a winner and three semi-finalists in Miss International, a first runner-up each in Miss Universe and Miss World, two first runner-up finishers in Miss Asia Pacific, and a second runner-up in Miss Maja International.

Indeed, the University holds its promise true and has kept its valiant legions in unending grace and beauty.

Thomasians in the ‘Universe’

Trailblazing this string of beauty titles was Teresita Torralba Sanchez, a Medicine student who competed in the first Miss Universe pageant in 1952 after winning Miss Philippines-Universe in the same year.

Teresita Torralba Sanchez

Teresita was immediately dubbed as a “dark horse” in the contest for her golden-brown complexion. Although she did not win any title, she is best remembered not only as the country’s first representative to the prestigious beauty pageant, but as the first Filipino beauty queen to appear in a bathing suit. There were no swimsuit competitions in any of the pageants in the Philippines at that time.

Since Sanchez’ moment on the Miss Universe stage, the Philippines continued sending representatives to the premier pageant. Among the 15 Filipinos who made it in the semi-finals, eight came from Asia’s oldest university.

The first of these Thomasians was Blesilda “Bessie” Mueller Ocampo, an Architecture alumna, who was named one of the top 16 in the 1954 pageant.

Blesilda “Bessie” Mueller Ocampo

Four decades and two Miss Universe titles later, the Philippines would host the pageant for the second time, with Psychology major Charlene Bonnin Gonzales as its representative.

Charlene Bonnin Gonzales

The fair-skinned beauty won the crowd over after she wittingly replied “High tide or low tide?” when the host asked “How many islands are there in the Philippines?” She ended up in the top six of the 1994 pageant, and was also named Best in National Costume with her gold-and-brown ethnic ensemble.

Soon after, she would leave her aspirations of becoming a doctor to join show business. She is now known as a television host and the wife of actor Aga Muhlach. She is also one of the faces of the QuattroMondial, a bronze and glass statue made for the University’s 400th foundation year.

But the biggest break of recent years would come five after Gonzales’ reign—a first runner-up win—also courtesy of a Thomasian named Miriam Quiambao.

Miriam Quiambao

Like Gonzales, this Physical Therapy alumna found a way to the audiences’ hearts, but she did this by slipping on her long blue maya dress during the evening gown competition prior to the grand coronation night.

“I believe that [when I stood up on stage after tripping off on stage], I became a symbol of strength for all the women who had fallen [on and off stage],” she said during the second interview segment that secured her place in the top three of the 1999 pageant. “And that, by my example, I hope I’ve become an inspiration to the rest of the women in the world.”

International beauties

The Philippines has yet to grab any Miss World title, but UST Fine Arts alumna Evangeline Pascual stood so close to the throne after a series of events that led to the dethronement of the original queen.

Evangeline Pascual (second from right)

Pascual, who later made a name in show business, was almost crowned Miss World after American Marjorie Wallace was found to be dating several famous personalities, a moral issue that caused her disqualification. But the 1973 first runner-up declined to accept the title because of other commitments, and Wallace reclaimed her throne.

Thomasians also stood high and smiling on the Miss International stage, placing several times in the finals of the pageant.

Local actresses Alice Dixson and Alma Concepcion came to popularity through this competition in 1986 and 1994, respectively.

Dixson, who studied at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, was one of the semi-finalists in the 1986 competition held in Nagasaki, Japan. Much like most beauty title holders, she joined the entertainment industry and was named Best Actress in the 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Concepcion, a Tourism alumna, also competed in Japan—this time in Tokyo—after her Binibining Pilipinas win in 1994 alongside Gonzales. She made it to the top ten of Miss International and took home the Miss Friendship award.

Precious Lara Quigaman, who studied in UST for two years, would come to Tokyo 11 years later, bringing home the country’s fourth Miss International title.

Tigers’ strong support

Like Quigaman, who was a freshman when she competed in Binibining Pilipinas, Angela Lauren Fernando also had to balance her life as a student and as a beauty queen.

Angela Lauren Fernando

Fernando is hoping to make her own mark in the long list of Thomasian beauty titlists, having bagged the Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism crown last year.

“There was really a big responsibility for my part because you’re no longer seen as an ordinary student,” said the secretary of the Student Organizations Coordination Council for Academic Year 2009-2010.

A confessed “ugly duckling” during her high school days, Angela started her pageant career when she won the title of Miss Medical Technology in 2007. She eventually bagged the crown of Miss Thomasian Personality the following year.

“I was shocked. I didn’t expect to win. I think I was the youngest among the girls [who joined],” said Fernando.

Fernando told the Varsitarian that the edge of any Thomasian beauty queen is the flood of support that she gets, admitting that she joined Miss Philippines-Earth upon the coaxing of her friends and classmates.
“Basing from experience, [I had] a very strong support system, especially from the people I know [within the University],” she said.