NEWS| And The Clock Struck Twelve with the Crown on Her Head—Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental Wins 2nd Crown for PH

NEWS| And The Clock Struck Twelve with the Crown on Her Head—Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental Wins 2nd Crown for PH

by: Hannah Angeli F. Mendoza

October 31, 2021 - True to her namesake, Cinderella Faye Obeñita won the second crown at the Miss Intercontinental 2021, at the Sunrise Diamond Beach Resort, Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt.

Pageantry has been considered a beautiful fairytale now more than ever with the victory of Cagayan de Oro's Cinderella Faye Obeñita at the Miss Intercontinental 2021 pageant. A tourism officer in her community and a cervical cancer awareness advocate, Cindy has had her work cut out for her from the beginning.

She was once shrouded with doubts when she joined the Bb. Pilipinas pageant last July, as she was only a wildcard contestant, beat the odds by coming out on top and earning the coveted crown that would take her to this year's Miss Intercontinental pageant.

On the question and answer round, she was asked the same question that was asked to Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner Up Janine Tugonon on the Miss Intercontinental pageant, "As an international ambassador, do you believe that speaking English is important for Miss Intercontinental? Why or why not?" to which she delivered her winning answer, “As an ambassador, I don’t think that speaking a specific language is very important here in Miss Intercontinental or any pageant at all."

“As long as that woman is a woman of power and grace, commitment, and intelligence, no matter what language she speaks, then she can win any pageant or any endeavor that she is into.

Also, it's essential, I have learned here actually in Miss Intercontinental that a woman should be or should possess power of substance, and I believe I am that woman because that is the essence of a modern-day Miss Intercontinental, that we are living in a world wherein it's very hard to survive.

And as Miss Intercontinental, I would like to be that source of hope, that source of inspiration on the true power of beauty and that is felt on the kindness of our hearts and definitely on the sincerity of our loving actions."

Indeed, she did not let her countrymen down by maintaining her stance as a frontrunner in the competition.

Applying a more student-centered approach to Obeñita’s win, both the Chancellor of the Association of Political Science Students (APSS), Lianne Ruth Pagadian, and the President of the Society of English Writers and Speakers (SEWS), Mary Ruvi Tercero Nicolas, on whether or not they agree on Cindy's winning answer, and what measures should a global ambassadress make if they go to a country with English as a Second Language (ESL) speakers.

“In respect to being a global ambassadress, I do not agree with her answer. Although the English language is not really everything to being globally competitive and inclined, the ability to speak the world's language.

One of the tasks the winner will acquire is to unite the people of the world. [Of] course, as I believe that linguists and some sociologists will also agree upon, the medium to attain unity among people is through language—on this page, the English language.

If the global ambassadress herself cannot communicate to the people with the language that almost everyone uses, she cannot really help in achieving the unity we are aiming to pursue. That is the reason why I do not agree with her answer." Pagadian points out.

“English does not have to be a country's primary language to connect to the people from other parts of the world. Communication has a more comprehensive scope and is even becoming broader as time passes by.

Regarding putting out advocacies being forwarded by the global ambassadress, there are other mediums of communication that can be used in communicating the advocacies through the English language can be a little challenging. Nowadays, it is not difficult to communicate through nonverbal cues.

Pictures and signs can be used if the ambassadress can be really creative. I still presumed that English, though not a primary language for some countries of the world, is being used. So, of course, it can be as material as to forwarding advocacies.” She concluded.

Nicolas, however, shares opposite sentiments as an English Education major.

"As a President of an English-subject based organization, I serve as one of the people who promote English to achieve global competency since English is a language that is known and spoken worldwide.

However, we live in a country that only embraces English as a Second Language. Not all of us are proficient in English Language communication. Therefore, I definitely agree with the answer of our Miss Intercontinental 2021, as not all of the countries across the globe can speak English fluently.”

“English may be known globally, but it cannot erase the fact that most of the people in a non-native English speaking country can speak this language accurately and fluently. It's evident that the number of non-native English speaking countries is larger than those native English speaking countries.

In addition, the English language is not the basis of our knowledge. We cannot measure one's intelligence and wit just by speaking in the English language.

Among the above, being a global ambassadress does not mean that you only have to know how to speak one specific language. The message you express, your leadership, and the compassion you have for the people will make you a good global ambassador.”

She then expounds with an old saying, adding, "There is a proverb that says "action speaks louder than words," which is a helpful belief to all of us in proving ourselves in a small or large audience. If a global ambassador cannot speak English fluently, he/she can express her advocacy through actions.

For example, I have the advocacy of taking care of the senior citizens, I will show my community that I am respecting and taking care of the senior citizen inside or outside my community, but it does not have to be posted online to be broadcasted or such.

As long as I am putting my advocacy into actions, I can prove the worldwide community that I am doing something good, and I will continue doing it no matter what circumstances may occur."

With Cinderella Obeñita’s win, the Philippines now has its second Miss Intercontinental Crown after Karen Gallman, who won the title last 2018.