By: Leo Persigas Udtohan

IT all started when Bb. Pilipinas-World Anna Maris Igpit won the crown in March this year. We made a jest that after the Boholana conquered the country's highest honor of beauty pageants, we would go with her in her quest to win the world.

Fortunately, it came unexpectedly. Originally, there were 20 people who planned to attend the Miss World pageant in Poland , but there were only seven who acquired the Polish visa:  Aniceta Arcay and her son Redgil of Tierra Azul Beach Resort, Clarita Jorserada, Edna Momongan, Maricor Igpit and the head of Philippine delegation Panglao Councilor Nila Montero. Lucky enough for me, I got my media accreditation pass from Miss World Media coordinator Marcus Agar making me as the only Filipino media in the Miss World pageant.
The Philippine delegation

I went to Poland (Polska in their native tongue) with Maam Nila (who along with her husband Panglao municipal administrator Ondo Montero supported Maris financially and morally throughout her quest) and Maris' mom Maricor. On the other hand, the US delegation arrived ahead of us headed by TBTK chairperson Betty Veloso-Garcia and her daughter Maribeth, Raoul Tidalgo of the Filipino Reporter and Boy Echavez who flew in from New York just to support Maris. Again, I came up with a realization-- that if Filipinos were like these people who extend support unconditionally, like they have supported Maris, the Philippines would be a great nation. Maam Nila is working smartly for the good of Panglao and Maam Betty is heading the Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) calling all Boholanos/Filipinos to come home and love our place with pride and dignity.

Warsaw

Our flight was from Manila to Frankfurt , Germany (via Guanzho , China ) and to Warsaw , Poland via Lufthansa. Stories spread that Poland is a poor country and nothing is exciting about the place. After our bad experiences in Frankfurt , Germany when I set on-foot in Warsaw everything changed—the country is wonderful. The Republic of Poland abounds in culture and beauty, which betrays its size as the ninth biggest country in Europe , and 63rd in the world. It has a population of more than 38.6 million. Warsaw City is our point of entry to Poland . A city with many faces, it's an emerging point where tradition mixes with modernity. I never mind the language barrier I'd encountered in Germany and Poland (because only a handful few speak English) as long as I was able to reach out through sign language. I have also observed that most Polish youth are not friendly, but I understand because the country has just been “liberated” a few years back. Yet, it was amazing to find that there are some Polish youths who are warm and hospitable. They even offered me a shoot of whisky! We stayed at Novotel, a first class hotel in downtown Warsaw whose manager's wife is Pinay. During the first and second days in Warsaw , we didn't meet any Filipinos. I asked myself where the Filipinos could be. Knowing that Filipinos are everywhere, I was hoping to find a Filipino later. I consoled myself. We were also sudden stars in Warsaw … not to mention the title I'm wearing as LiNC Babe 2004. For the Polish race, my attractive brownish eyes were “rare”.

Rubbing elbows with Miss World beauties

The Miss World candidates were staying inside Polonia Republika, a five star hotel fronting Novotel. At the lobby, I met the 103 beautiful succulent fragile candidates wearing their best dresses. I could not believe that I was actually there, rubbing elbows with those international beauties and with the international press whom I only seen on TV. The candidates were all lovely, beautiful, sexy and sophisticated. When we were introduced, I received comments like "I really like you" from Miss Australia , Miss Malaysia and other candidates. I thought I would have heart attack when I was rubbing elbows with the girls. The whole time Maam Nila and I were there at the event, we were busy judging the girls. We checked out their gowns, lips, hips and arms to see if their beauty is natural or a product of salamat po doktor. Just as we guessed, we've found out later that there were candidates whose beauties were “enhanced” by doctors. Maris' Polish instructor Josef Zarach was with us the whole day. Josef told us more about the Polish culture and tradition. He even gave us “tips” on living and traveling in Poland .

And during the pageant…

Maricor wore an elegant dress provided by Madame Araneta, Maam Nila was dignified on her barong tagalog and I wore the “sarubanggi” costume designed by a famous Boholano couturier Maximiel. From the hotel, we donned on our Filipino dress walking down the streets going to the congress where the Miss World was held. Everyone's eyes were on me. Maam Nila and Maricor made jokes on my attire that if I were in the Philippines people might think I had nuts on my head. But sorry, I received smiles and appreciation from the Polish--for them wearing a national costume is a sign of pride and honor. I should describe my outfit for that big night. I wore “sarobanggi” outfit which I paired with sarok (a native hat) with a tarsier doll as an added accessory. These enhanced the Boholano in me. When we were about to approach the Congress, everyone's eyes were on me until I went inside the hall. I wasn't alone wearing a national costume there were people wearing their national costumes, too. Near to our seat was a lady from Africa who was dressed in her native attire. I didn't wonder that I surpassed her just because every time we raised the Philippine flag and tarpaulin she and her family members shouted on us, "hey, sit down we can't see..." Actually, they couldn't help but be jealous of my attire. An impressive cast of international stars and music artists ensured that the 56th Miss World Final was a dazzling event of global proportions.

The TV spectacular with 104 contestants was hosted by top Chinese TV presenter Angela Chow and British host Tim Vincent, both of whom make a return to the Miss World stage after carrying last year's show.  They were joined by leading Polish TV presenter Grazyna Torbicka. Top notch musical entertainment at the Miss World 2006 Final came in the form of internationally-successful Irish band Westlife and Bee Gees' singing legend Robin Gibb.  Pop opera quartet Amici also performed. After the pageant, Josef told us to wait at the entrance of the Congress to meet the three Miss Poland beauty queens (Marta Matyjasik, Katarayna Borowics and Carolina) who visited the Philippines for the Miss Earth pageant. While I was at the entrance to the congress hall, I was about to step down at the red carpet when cameras were clicking and videos rolling capturing my “sarobanggi!” The feeling was like that of the Oscars'. Instead of hiding, I just smiled and posed. The cameras and videos loved me and my Filipino attire with a tarsier hanging on my sarok and I remembered renowned comedian and traveler Tim Tayag who said am cute in a tarsier way. The VIPs kept on admiring my attire. There were two ladies who could not help to hug me and touch my hat yelling in happiness, "Little monkey. I just saw this in the book!" referring to the tarsier hanging and swaying at my hat. Well, Maam Nila's tarsier dolls and flags were instant souvenirs as she dished them all to the guests and ambassadors from different countries.

I really admired Maam Nila because even in a foreign country like Poland, she keeps on promoting Bohol! She answered inquiries from the foreigners asking more about Bohol and Philippines. Imagine, she used a sign language to crush down language barrier in a country where only a few people speak English. Maam Nila helped and supported Maris from Bb. Pilipinas up to the Miss World spending lots of bucks for Maris even more generously than the Bb. Pilipinas. On our way to the hotel, we met police officers. Take note, the male officer asked for my sarok as souvenir and the female officer speaking in Polish kept on saying words we could not understand. I asked Josef to translate it for us and there I learned the woman liked me. To our great surprise, we met Filipinos inside the hotel. There are only few Filipinos in Poland hence they almost know everybody else. They see each other during weekends to establish ties and friendships to get rid of the loneliness they feel being in a faraway land. Most of them are IT consultants in a US based company in Poland and others are entertainers. In a place like Poland, I didn't expect that I would meet my neighbor there. The Filipinos we met toured us to interesting places in Poland though we already visited Praga (another town in Poland) the day we arrived. There is a daily schedule-based sightseeing tour of Warsaw including a visit to the impressive rooms of the palace on the water in Lazienki Park. Also a must-see is the Old Town (Market and Barbican), included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.  Here you can see  “tiangge,” with wood carvings, weavings, pottery, paper cuts and embroidery that are characteristic of Poland . 

Indeed, Polish are highly artistic people.  You can also experience Polish music here and listen to composers who idolized Poland 's greatest composer Frederic Chopin. Another point of interest is the Royal Castle Square , residence of monarchs from 1596 to 1795, as well as the residence of the Polish President in 1918. If you visit this place, you will have the chance to see King Sigismund's III Column—the first secular monument in Poland. At St. John's Cathedral, a Gothic church that has become witness to some of the most important events in the history of Poland , you will find the sarcophagi containing the remains of eminent Poles. Not to forget is the former Jewish Ghetto, the memorial to the heroes of the Ghetto. The Royal Route , with its superb aristocratic residences and famous monuments counts among its heritage Holy Cross Church with its urns containing the hearts of both composer Fryderyk Chopin and Wladyslaw Reymont, the first Polish winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Walk like royalty as you stroll around the Royal Park and treat yourself with a walk in the most beautiful park in Warsaw commonly known as Lazienki or “the Baths”. To spice up the experience, a visit to the interiors of the so-called “Palace on the Water”, the lavish summer residence of the last King of Poland, Stanislaw August Pomitowski is just an equally majestic experience. Other important places of interest: the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the monument to the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 and the monument of the victims of Katyn.

Filipina global beauties

Before we went back to Germany , I met Miss Netherlands and her family. Sheryll Ann Baas, 22, is a half Filipina because her mom Susana (is she related to Susana Herrera of Mexico , LinC babe 2004, a beauty queen?) is a Filipina from Leyte . It was her first time to join Miss Netherlands and luckily she made it to the Miss World. “I am very proud of her…kapunay siya busy,” she said. Susana is a wonderful woman that she is inviting me  to go to Netherlands. For a month stay in Poland , Maris treasured her experiences in that country. “We visited a lot of places and we transferred from city to city. We have a lot of fun. We also visited the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. It was memorable as Roman Catholic in me,” she said. Czech Republic came through to win the coveted crown as Miss World 2006, in a glittering and star-studded ceremony at the Sala Kongresowa, Warsaw . Czech Republic 's Tatana Kucharova was crowned Miss World out of 104 beautiful and talented contestants, with Romania named first runner-up, followed by  Australia as second runner-up. In a last minute twist, the judges were unable to decide between contestants in the Asia Pacific continental group, so three girls from that group went through to the final 17 semi finalists, not the long been practiced 16 semi finalists. When I asked Maris about the results of the Miss World, she said she was a little disappointed. “A little disappointing because for the years we are always in the top 16. We are greatly affected by the strong typhoon we had experienced. In the Miss World we need like SMS [text votes]..in the Philippines we could not send a text message…it was difficult when I learned about the typhoon and I just prayed to my country.” Maris cliques well with Miss Singapore and Miss Sri Lanka, Mongolia , China , Hongkong and Korea . “We are group in continents.” Maris was a media blitz in Poland. She was featured in Polish newspapers and TV and even featured as Poland 's top 5 (with Miss Macedonia, Canada, Poland, Zambia and Poland).  “It was flattering and great for me,” she said. 

After the Miss World, Maris will be sharing her experiences to the Miss International who will compete this November. She said that she was confident that she would be in the top 16. “Sa lahat ng mga dinaanan ko, the preparations I got and trainings, I am really prepared for the Miss World. Sa mga tao dun..sa mga judge.. so I am really confident I will get in. It wasn't time, we are not lucky enough in the 56th Miss World and the time was against me…so maybe another year that Philippines will get the crown.” Maris is thankful to all the Filipinos and the Boholanos who supported and voted for her. “All the Filipino people especially those who voted for me in the Miss World…all Boholanos… to Cong. Edgar Cahtto, to Panglao Municipal councilor Nila Montero,  to my family in Cebu and Bohol , my mother who was  there… to Leo Udtohan, Bb. Pilipinas family..to Mrs. Araneta, who are very supportive, my trainors Karen Agustin, Maricar Balagtas, Precious Lara Guigaman, Carla Baustista, Direk Infante, Josef Zarach and all people I missed to mention. I hope in the future we will bring home the 1st Filipino crown.” I would like to echo the words of Madame Stella Marquiz de Araneta, Bb. Pilipinas boss, “win or lose Anna Maris is still our beauty queen. Her family here at Bb. Pilipinas are so happy that she's doing her best in the Miss World.” Whew! I am talking lots of things here… to sum up, it was a magical experiences in Poland a trip to be remembered and I have this feeling I will be back soon. When the Polish people said that “Polska Wszystkich” it's literally true that “ Poland is for everyone!” I'll be missing Polska! (For further info please visit www.annamarisigpit.com)

l