Of interpreters, Shamcey Supsup and national identity

We are a funny people.

Last year, I distinctly remember the big fuss about Venus Raj’s answer to the question “What is the biggest mistake that you’ve ever made in your life and what did you do to make it right?”:

“You know what, sir, in my 22 years of existence, I can say that there’s nothing major major problem that I’ve done in my life because I’m very confident with my family, with the love that they are giving to me. So thank you so much that I’m here. Thank you, thank you so much.”

Tons were said about how worded properly, her answer would’ve made sense if she used her native tongue. The country was abuzz about how she, like many others in the competition, should have had an interpreter at her disposal during the pageant’s crucial Q&A portion.

Earlier this day, this year’s bet who also got in the final five, Shamcey Supsup, answered her question “Would you change your religious beliefs to marry the person you love? Why or why not?” with:

“If I had to change my religious beliefs, I will not marry the person that I love. Because the first person that I love is God who created me. And I have my faith and my principles. And these (is) what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God too. Thank you.”

Guess what?

Everyone was so proud of how she was the only one who did not have an interpreter. Left and right people were exclaiming how she should have won because she did not have the luxury of the a few seconds to think over the question that the other candidates had for having a translator on their side.

We are a funny people indeed.

I have to be honest about a couple of things.

One, being the self-admitted grammar nazi that I am, I was part of the group who got critical about Venus’ answer and agreed on the interpreter proposal. I was like “Seriously?!? Major, major?!?”. It lasted only for a couple of days though. I realized I would’ve blabbered too under that pressure. (Ugh. I just got reminded of that impromptu blogger interview.)

Two, I saw Shamcey’s pre-pageant interview and I wasn’t really impressed. Her life on another planet response lacked substance compared to the answers of India and Malaysia, for example. I found her a bit pa-cute too. For the record, I loved her answer above though.

Shamcey Supsup. Filipina. Awesome.

Photo credit: Inquirer Lifestyle

But I digress.

My post-pageant realization is that it was not really about the use of Tagalog or English. For me, it boils down to how we want to be perceived and represented as a nation. To some degree, the candidates we send year in and year out to these international beauty pageants are no different from the intellectuals we fly in to science and math Olympiads worldwide, the athletes we support in international meets, and to the artists and performers we applaud in the global stage.

Aren’t they all simply ambassadors of the Philippines and its people?

For some, this may be a shallow depiction of national identity, but it is what it is. I think as a people, we want the world to see that we are good at math and physics, that we can play kick-ass football, rugby and boxing, that we can create in-demand couture fashion and high-end furniture and that we can perform and star in hit broadway musicals and be named “the most talented in the world”. In essence, that we are great in what we do. Period.

Shamcey has done a damn good job in this front. Filipinos love her because she represented the Filipina we want the world to know. Magna Cum Laude. Board topnotcher. Stands up for her beliefs. It helps that she’s sexy and drop dead gorgeous too.

Going back, the way things are looking, we may also be known as that country which can’t make up its mind on the use of interpreters. Come on people! Ano ba talaga? I say we let them be. Interpreter or not, as long as they get their message across and that our country and our citizens are viewed in a positive light, go lang!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to finish a paper for school. I just wanted to say my piece.

I, thank you.

DISCLAIMER:

I do not claim to be and am by no means a beauty pageant expert.  I am just your run-of-the-mill yuppie whose day job was disrupted by the Facebook and Twitter stream updates related to the subject. I know some people who will kill me for writing and posting this (you know who you are). Be nice.