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PEOPLE & EVENTS PILIPINO EXPRESS
JANUARY 1 - 15, 2016
MARION... From page 1 Presado played a violin piece accompanied by her sister Kairos; Samantha Bautista performed a vocal solo; Miss Debutante 2015, Trish Olimpo and Miss Pilipino Express Vienna Jaime both performed dance numbers. The concert was a charity event with part of the proceeds to be donated to Bahay Aruga, a halfway house for pediatric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, San Lorenzo Ruiz Home for the Elderly in the Philippines, and Aral Pinoy Scholars, all in the Philippines. All performers, including Marion and Ashley Aunor, donated their talents free of charge. Photos by: AJ Batac, Henry Balanial and Arnel San Jose
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach crowned Miss Universe 2015 LAS VEGAS – A worldwide audience watched as Miss Universe Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, was declared Miss Universe 2015 on December 20th at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. An actress and model, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was born in Stuttgart, Germany to a German father and a Filipino mother. She grew up in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. She speaks German, Filipino and English. The 26-year old Pia finished her secondary education with the ABS-CBN Distance Learning Center and studied culinary arts at the Center
for Asian Culinary Studies in Metro Manila. At the age of 11, she began her acting career under the screen name Pia Romero. She is also a stylist and writer for the lifestyle section of a leading newspaper in the Philippines. This is the third time that a Miss Philippines has won the Miss Universe title. Gloria Diaz won the title in 1969 and Margarita Moran won in 1973. Pia’s win ended a 42-year drought for a Miss Universe from the Philippines. Emmy Award winner Steve Harvey hosted the three-hour event. The pageant ran very
smoothly until Harvey incorrectly announced on live television that Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, had won the crown. Miss Colombia was given the crown and sash but Gutierrez only had them for a little over two minutes when Harvey returned to the stage to apologize for his error and to announce the actual winner of the crown, Miss Philippines. Harvey’s gaffe instantly became a globally trending story on social media that even caught the attention of those otherwise not interested in the Miss Universe pageant. In Manila, presidential
spokesman Edwin Lacierda didn’t address the controversial win but said, “in bagging this victory, Ms. Wurtzbach not only serves as a tremendous source of pride for our people, but also holds up the banner of our women and of our country – as a true representative of what the Filipina can achieve.” Emmy Award nominee Niecy Nash, Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, football legend Emmitt Smith, and celebrity entertainment mogul Perez Hilton made up the judging panel. Additionally, for the first time ever, fans worldwide had a say in who was crowned Miss Universe. With a virtual seat
at the judging table, fans were able to vote on each category to help decide who walked away the Miss Universe 2015 title. Throughout the telecast, contestants representing 80 countries competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and the interview. The telecast concluded with Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega from Colombia crowning her successor. Final Results: First RunnerUp: Miss Universe Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez; Second Runner-Up: Miss USA, Olivia Jordan. (Source: www. missuniverse.com)