Binibing Pilipinas winners share two cents on language preference in Q&As
The top five winners of Binibining Pilipinas 2012 offer various perspectives on criticisms that some of the pageant contestants have poor command of English.
Social networking sites were filled with such negative comments more than a week ago, during the Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night, where all the 12 semi-finalists noticeably used English during the Question and Answer portion. One of the judges, Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, spokesperson of the Akbayan party-list, read her question to a candidate both in English and in Filipino. The contestant, however, opted to respond in the universal language.
Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism Katrina Dimaranan and Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Janine Tugonon shared the sentiment that candidates should communicate in the language they're more at ease to use.
“Some of them are more comfortable speaking in English. Like myself, marunong din naman po akong mag-Tagalog, and nakakaintindi din naman ako, pero speaking-wise, and to express my thoughts and emotions, English talaga is better for me.
“And for the other candidates, I think they just spoke in whatever language is comfortable for them, for them to give a good answer,” said Trina in a live interview on “The Buzz,” April 23, together with the four other winners.
Janine, meanwhile, said: “Personally ako, English. Kasi ‘pag nag-Tagalog ako, hindi siya magiging pure Tagalog—Taglish—which is mas pangit…”
Nicole Schmitz, Bb. Pilipinas-International, deemed that with the Filipinos’ innate warmth and hospitability, “they (contestants) just feel the need to speak in English to accommodate the judges.” Note that the judging panel of Binibining Pilipinas 2012 is comprised mostly by people of different nationalities, including United States Ambassador to the Philippines, Harry Thomas.
“I think people are just waiting for you to make mistakes, but... if you are just yourself, then nothing can go wrong,” she added.
Pageant candidates might’ve acquired the “mentality” of using English during the Q&A portion, second runner-up Annalie Forbes deemed, while first runner-up Elaine Moll admitted that it’s difficult to organize thoughts when one is put on the spot.
“‘Pag nandun ka sa stage na lahat nakatingin, tapos inaantay nila kung ano ‘yung una mong sasabihin, parang pressured ka rin, masasagot mo ba ‘yon? ‘Yung question, umiikot sa isip mo…” said she.
Even previous title holders gave their two cents on the issue. Miss Universe 2010 fourth runner-up Maria Venus Raj, in a taped interview also on “The Buzz,” related that using English in beauty contests shows the Filipinos’ versatility in language.
“May mga countries na kung ano ‘yung language nila, ‘yun ang ginagamit nila para sa international pageant. Pero since tayo namang mga Pilipino eh lahat naman halos eh nakakapag-English, at marunong umintindi ng English, siguro gusto lang din natin ipakita na kaya din naman natin kahit papa’no.
“At isa rin siguro na indication na pagka Pilipino ka, kaya mong makipaglaban at makipag-compete sa kahit anong race at kaya mong ipakita sa kanila na hindi lang ‘yung language natin ‘yung kaya natin,” she said.
Miss Univese-Philippines 2000 Nina Ricci Alagao intimated that the nationality of the judges should be put into consideration.
“…the panel is made up of mostly English-speaking people. So puwedeng sasabihin mo sa Tagalog but it might not be translated in such a way that it will make the same sense to these foreigners. So ang sa akin, if you’re confident enough in answering in English, why not?” said she.
Although Risa respects the language preferences of the candidates, she pointed out that, “Pabor na pabor na sumagot sa sariling wika ang mga kandidata kung gusto nila. Kapag kasi naunawaan nila ang tanong, mapagiisipan nila ito, at maipapahayag nang mahusay ‘yung talagang iniisip at nararamdaman nila sa isyung ‘yan.”
By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ
MB.COM.PH
0 comments:
Post a Comment