Why was her answer considered a 'gaffe'?

[Atencio 43]

I wanted her to win the show, she got the worst question and there was no way she could really answer that question correctly without looking bad.

Everyone has done something they regret, That actually was a great question. She shows humility for doing something wrong and later courage, strength, whatever in correcting it.

People eat up those kinds of stories.

[SuperDuper! 230]

I Agree!

Ol' Richard needs to get a new pair of glasses!

[TravellingNomad 12]

YUP, you did not say that she was judge based on the major major usage but you said " come on...to use gayspeak in an international competition???...major major in gay lingo means "bonggang bongga"

only Filipinos knew it was gay speak and since no judges were Filipinos, i don't think she needs to be faulted for that...

too bad the public opinion does not have the same views as you.

[Ban Hammer 13,594]

Ol' Richard needs to get a new pair of glasses!

[Adam & May 4]

I agree that the question was a horrible question to begin with. Leave to an empty headed Baldwin.

[Gumbolette 58]

MISS PHILIPPINES – VENUS RAJ GAVE AN HONEST ANSWER AND IT COSTS HER THE CROWN

Let me enlighten you as to why?

Venus Raj lives a simple and poor life. She lives in a province, sort of your rural America or the boonies. The house she lives in is a simple thatched-roof hut made of bamboo and wood, located in the middle of the rice paddies. Her immediate support are her family, friends, and relatives. She was born illegitimate. In the Philippine society, it is still a stigma. She strives to do her best to study hard and succeed in life. She graduated Cum Laude in Communication Arts and managed to find a job as Information Assistant in a governmental agency in her province. While doing that, she helps her mother, a farmer, buys land on installment basis. Her goal is to help her mother and family improve the quality of their lives and lift from the life of poverty.

Going back to the question posed by Mr. Baldwin, “what is the one big mistake that you did in your life, and what did you do to make it right?” When Venus answered, “In my 22 years of existence, there is nothing major – major problem that I have done in my life. Because I’m very confident about my family and the love they are giving me. So thank you so much…”

IF YOU ANALYZE HER ANSWER, SHE IS TELLING THE AUDIENCE THE TRUTH! WHEN DOES TRUTH BECOMES A LIABILITY?

In her 22 years of life, she did not commit a ONE BIG MISTAKE WORTH UNDOING OR REGRETTING! SHE THANKS HER FAMILY BECAUSE THEY ARE HER GUIDE AND SUPPORT.

Let’s see…where could she make a big mistake?

DID SHE SLEEP AROUND AND CATCH HIV/STD DISEASES? – No, she did not. Remember, she lives in a rural area in a conservative Catholic society, acting whorish is a big NO NO! DID SHE GET PREGNANT AND HAVE AN ABORTION? – NO, she did not. She is one wholesome girl. Her family watched, protected, and nurtured her. She can’t escape the watchful eyes of her 4 brothers. Suitors will have a hard time to be near her. If there is going to be one, he will be talking to the whole family instead of talking privately with her. That’s the way life in rural Philippines. Everybody knows everybody, and everybody knows what everybody is doing. DID SHE SMOKE OR DID DRUGS? – NO, she did not. She came from a poor family. She has no means of buying it. These bad habits are only enjoyed by the wretched people, who are typically shunned by Philippine conservative society. DID SHE FAIL IN SCHOOL? – No, she did not. She excelled in school. Graduated Cum Laude. DID SHE COVET A MARRIED MAN? – No, she did not. She doesn’t have a boyfriend at the present time. IS SHE A BAD DAUGHTER? – No, she is not. In fact, she helps her mother and family improve their lives.

OVERALL, VENUS IS A WHOLESOME, GOOD GIRL, WHO GREW UP IN A RURAL CONSERVATIVE SOCIETY, PROTECTED, NURTURED, AND WATCHED BY HER LOVE ONES AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE BIG MISTAKES IN LIFE. SHE LEAD A CAREFUL AND NORMAL LIFE THAT IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU EXPECT OF A LIFE OF A YOUNG LADY IN THE MODERN WESTERN SOCIETY.

UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WAS JUDGED BY A PANEL OF MODERN SOCIETY JUDGES AND AUDIENCES WHO CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE HEARING. TRUTH IS INDEED STRANGER THAT FICTION. BUT JUDGES, BY VIRTUE OF BEING A JUDGE, SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT FACTS AND TRUTHS, NOT SOME GENERALIZED OPINION THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO THE POLITICALLY CORRECT. VENUS ANSWER WAS FACTUAL AND BRAVE, AND SHE SHOULDN’T BE LAMBASTED FOR TELLING THE TRUTH, AND IT SHOULDN’T COST HER THE CROWN.

VENUS COMING FROM A POOR EXISTENCE AND MAKING IT INTO THE WORLD SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR PEOPLE LIVING AND BORN INTO POVERTY, WHICH APTLY APPLIES TO THE 70% OF THE WORLD POPULATION, AND FOR THOSE BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK. SHE CAN BE A GREAT MESSENGER TO THE WORLD THAT:

1. THERE IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF BEING BORN OF OUT WEDLOCK. IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. LIFE OFFERS REDEMPTION AND MANY POSSIBILITIES. 2. BEING POOR IS NOT A HINDRANCE TO SUCCEED IN LIFE. 3. STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND OF FINISHING COLLEGE. 4. HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF MORAL CHARACTER AND A GIRL’S WHOLESOME IMAGE 5. FAITH OF A CREATOR WITH UNLIMITED GIFTS TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE ~NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. HE CAN USE A MESSENGER FROM THE LOWLY AND POOR AND EXALT HER TO NEW HEIGHTS. SHE CAN BE A LIVING TESTAMENT OF GOD’S GRACE AND POWER THAT HE CAN DO ANYTHING AND CAN CHANGE LIVES. 6. GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG GIRLS ~BE VIRTUOUS~BE HONEST ~HONOR THE PARENTS~EXCEL IN SCHOOL~HELPS FAMILY, ETC.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND A RARE AND SPECIAL GIRL LIKE VENUS RAJ?

MR. TRUMP AND THE PANEL OF JUDGES FAILED TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE. THEY FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB AND IN FAILING TO DO THEIR JOB, THEY MISSED THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR A GREAT MESSENGER TO THE WORLD, WHO IS CONVINCINGLY BELIEVABLE TO THE WORLD, BECAUSE SHE IS A LIVING AND BREATHING PROOF OF A POOR GIRL BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK WHO OVERCOMES HARDSHIPS, OBSTACLES, AND CHALLENGES IN LIFE. JUST LOOK AT HER LIFE … AND HOW FAR SHE GOES.

IF THE MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION WANTS TO BE RELEVANT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, THEY SHOULD SEND THE RIGHT MESSENGER TO THE WORLD, WHO WOULD INSPIRE THE WORLD BY EXAMPLE, AND WHO CAN WALK THE TALK. A PRETTY FACE WON’T CUT IT ANYMORE.

[Atencio 43]

I think she sounds like a nice girl also but you never answer a question by saying nothing. You are after all trying to impress the judges by your answers. Her answer was effectively "I will pass" answer. She needed to say something and she has had something in her life which she might like to change. It may not be major to you or me but it just had to be something important to her.

Edited August 28, 2010 by Atencio