Our first Miss Universe's 'Sword of Damocles'

"It's almost not safe to be an artist, the way everybody is randomly picking people to feud with." -- Busta Rhymes

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- How many Filipino beauties have won the Miss Universe title in the past? Are they still alive? How are they doing now? 
Because the Philippines is currently hosting the 2017 Miss Universe, people in other parts of the world might be asking some of these questions in random when they meet a Filipino in their countries.

MISS UNIVERSE 1969 GLORIA DIAZ

If they happen to be in the Philippines as tourists or members of the pageant entourage, they must have already started asking some of these questions.
If Americans, for instance, will ask me all the three questions, I will answer them this: 1. Three, so far. They are Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran (1973), and Pia Wurtzbach (2016); 2. Yes, they are all still alive--and shining; 3. They are all doing fine; Miss Diaz is still active as movie and TV actress; Miss Moran, who is now Mrs. Moran-Floirendo, is a peace advocate and ballet executive; and Miss Wurtzbach will crown the 65th edition winner on January 30, 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

RESOLUTION

Of course I won't tell them that Miss Diaz, 65, had been declared as persona non grata through a resolution by the Vice Mayors' League of the Philippines-Cebu six years ago.
I will tell my readers.
The organization has failed to rescind the resolution it passed on September 1, 2010 supposed to be in deference to the country's hosting of the world famous pageant, which is ongoing, this year.
Apparently she wasn't accorded the benefit of the doubt or the privilege of "immunity from humiliation" due an international celebrity and former beauty queen who gave honors to the country. 
Or they must have overlooked the gaffe. 
Isn't it weird that the first Miss Universe crown holder in the host country has a pending enmity with a group of elected public officials in her own country; and no effort has been made to cross out the ruckus so that Miss Diaz would be shielded from embarrassment?

COMMENT

Miss Diaz's nightmare with the vice mayors league started when she made a "constructive" comment after Miss Universe 2010 fourth runner-up Venus Raj belted the controversial and now famous "major major" pidgin during the Q and A. 
Miss Diaz suggested that Raj and other Filipino contestants perhaps would have strong chances if they utilized the services of an interpreter instead of answering in English.
"Because when you think about a Cebuana can hardly speak English, and, of course, Tagalog. Maybe she should answer in Bisaya," she told ABS-CBN.
Many Cebuanos took umbrage at her statement and accused the beauty queen-turn-actress of insulting their English proficiency.  Cebu politicians joined the outrage and demanded from her an apology. 

SORRY

Miss Diaz, who stood her ground and refused to say sorry, shot back: "Let me clarify it once and for all. People should have the right to say or to answer (questions) in whatever language they want to say it in. If they're Cebuanos, they can say it in Cebuano."
She added: "I did not say that they did not speak English. If you're Ilocano, say it in Ilocano. But if you're Ilocano who speaks good English, say it in English. If you're Cebuano who can speak Spanish, if you're comfortable with Spanish, say it in Spanish. That's what I said and that's what I meant."
When visiting dignitaries, fans and spectators start to think and talk about the Miss Universe winners in the host country, Miss Diaz's name definitely will always occupy the presidential table.
They will talk about how good she has become as a soap opera actress, her awards and honors reaped in her stint in the entertainment and showbiz industry, her love life, her children and family, her health, and, your guess is as good as mine, her involvement in controversies--if there are some.