It’s Mexico that will host the 73rd Miss Universe in November. But today’s column is not about our delegate Filipino-Black American Chelsea Manalo who we’re all praying earnestly to be the country’s fifth titlist after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015) and Catriona Gray (2018). Instead, this piece is about one of this year’s Miss Universe Philippines’ hosts Gabbi Garcia.
I won’t even dwell on the Kapuso star’s (already given) chances, but rather her telling self-edited video of what we all pageant aficionados expect of her next year.
The video showed Gabbi as though she were one of MUPh’s hopefuls this year. It was brilliantly thought out with Gabbi having been made to don gowns in three different colors: (emerald) green, white and (burning) red.
Why pick on such specific hues was all because she being proclaimed as the MUPh winner would be sent to Mexico to proudly represent the country. Mexico’s national flag has vertically striped green, white and red with a coat of arms showing an eagle, a cactus and a serpent.
Shots of Gabbi garbed in those outfits were flashed in rapid succession, interspersed with her winnable, striking poses.
To make the video look real, a not-so-old footage of eager-beaver group of gay friends-pageant suckers was infused. The mere mention of Gabbi’s name making it to the Top 15 sent them bouncing off the walls.
Garcia’s fun, self-edited video is everything pageant fans are eagerly hoping to see from her next year. SCREENSHOTS FROM INSTAGRAM/GABBI
The final scene showed a triumphant Gabbi with the bejeweled crown on her head as she beamed, waved and shimmied on stage.
Of course, there was this disclaimer which Gabbi issued herself which came in graphics towards the end of the video.
“Charot! (Joke!). Host lang po ako.(I’ll just host the pageant). See you next year!” — so the graphics read.
Unequivocally, Gabbi’s video was her way of sending an important, long-overdue message worth every Pinoy pageant enthusiast’s attention: she is definitely joining Miss Universe Philippines next year.
More than a year away from now, this will allow Gabbi the luxury of time to prepare for her ultimate dream.
To be honest, what Gabbi needs is but a little polishing here and there. A bit of smoothening the rough edges, and voila!
Predictably — and hopefully so — the “Unbreak My Heart” star will live up to the series title.
* * *
GUESS WHO? This still young-looking actress (SYA) is a self-confessed snitch. Many times over whenever she engages in a hush-hush conversation with her showbiz peers, the SYA always has a juicy item to share.
Mind you, she does it as if she were some nosy newshen who’s afraid to get out-scooped.
Most if not all her “exclusives” are about fellow actors she has worked with who’ve become close to her. In return, the SYA has earned their trust, or so she thought.
The SYA’s scoops cover a wide range of topics, from kept women of rich politicians to closet gay actors to what have you.
What typically serves as her favorite “tsikahan area” is her home kitchen where she entertains her guest. Why there is because the SYA finds it easier to serve her visitor refreshments — which are within reach — over hours of seemingly interminable talk.
Shortly after ratting on the subject in her “kuwento” comes the SYA’s standard closing line: “Oy, huwag na huwag mo akong mai-quote-quote na ako ang source mo, itatanggi ko talaga ‘yon (Hey, don’t you ever quote me as your source or I’ll deny it)!”
Be the first to comment