Miss Universe 2010

Yahoo! TV has just reported what happened in today's Miss Universe pageant. Our very own Maria Venus Raj did not win, yet she made it to the Top 5, and was the Miss Universe 2010 4th Runner-Up titlist. Here's the news:

"A 22-year-old Mexico woman won the Miss Universe pageant Monday night after donning a flowing red gown and telling an audience it's important to teach kids family values.

Jimena Navarrete of Guadalajara was first to answer an interview question Monday night and the last of 83 contestants standing in the headline-grabbing pageant on the Las Vegas Strip.

Her one-strap dress flowed behind her like a sheet as she walked during the evening gown competition. Earlier, she smiled in a violet bikini as she confidently strutted across the stage.

Asked by Olympic gold-medal figure skater Evan Lysacek how she felt about unsupervised Internet use, Navarrete said the Internet is important but parents need to be careful and watch over their kids.

"I do believe that Internet is an indispensable, necessary tool for the present time," she said through an interpreter. "We must be sure to teach them the values that we learned as a family."

First runner-up was Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps, while second runner-up was Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell.

Navarrete — who's been modeling since she was 15 — is Mexico's second Miss Universe. Lupita Jones of Mexico won the title in 1991. Navarrete replaces Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela.

Navarrete's win thwarted Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson from giving the South American country a third consecutive victory. Neither Gibson nor Miss USA Rima Fakih made the top 15 finalists.

Navarrete was immediately congratulated on Twitter by Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife, Margarita Zavala.

"Congratulations to Jimena Navarrete for her deserved victory as Miss Universe," Calderon said. "This will serve Mexico, (and) our image as a country."

With fans in some 190 countries watching on television and keeping tabs on social networks, Navarrete and her competitors introduced themselves while wearing over-the-top national costumes. They then danced in silver and black dresses for the show's opening number before the top 15 finalists were announced.The final 15 walked in swimsuits while Cirque du Soleil musicians played Elvis Presley songs including "Viva Las Vegas." The last 10 impressed in their gowns while John Legend and the Roots played a soulful medley including "Save Room."

By the end of the show, seven of the top 10 trending topics on Twitter had to do with the pageant, its contestants, its judges or owner Donald Trump. The mogul co-owns the pageant with TV network NBC.

The show was without any major gaffes, except for Miss Philippines' answer when asked what her biggest mistake in life was and how she fixed it.

"In my 22 years of existence, I can say there is nothing major," Venus Raj said.

Before the pageant, Raj was rated among the top contestants in an online poll on the pageant's website. She finished in fifth place.

Navarrete won a package of prizes including an undisclosed salary, a luxury New York apartment with living expenses, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy with housing after her reign, plus jewelry, clothes and shoes fit for a beauty champion.

Campbell won the Miss Congeniality Universe award. Miss Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul won Miss Photogenic Universe and a second award for having the best national costume.

Fakih, a 24-year-old Lebanese immigrant from Dearborn, Mich., spurred celebrations among Arab-Americans when she won Miss USA. Pageant records aren't detailed enough to show whether Fakih is the first Arab-American, Muslim or immigrant to win Miss USA.

Miss USA has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997."

The final five Miss Universe 2010 contestants are:
• 22-year-old Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete (Miss Universe 2010)
• 24-year-old Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps (1st Runner-up)
• 19-year-old Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell (2nd Runner-up)
• 23-year-old Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska (3rd Runner-up)
• 22-year-old Miss Philippines Venus Raj (4th Runner-up)

Congratulations, Miss Universe 2010 Jimena Navarrete!

Rise and Fall

Yesterday, for me, was an average day.

On my Facebook status, I have called it, 'my temporary RISE and gradual FALL.' Rise, because I got the highest scores in our subjects Compiler Design under Prof. Gaucho (51/60) and Rizal under Prof. Distor (94/100 or 97%). These, indeed, are to be grateful for. I know I wouldn't do these things without Him. I didn't even expect to be highest in Compiler Design, 'cause our professor there always presents complex, challenging questions/problems to his students. But honestly, in the case of Rizal, I kinda anticipated it.

When the other half of my classes that day commenced, I wasn't very happy. I got the exact passing mark of 36 out of 60 items in our midterm exam. I accepted it, with a forceful grin. Anyhow, I always said to my mind, 'be contented.'

What made me shocked was seeing my grade in Compiler Design - Laboratory. 3.25. A grade similar to 5.0. I perspired! I haven't received this kind of grade ever in Midterm! Even in my hatest subject under the best Math prof, Ma'am Quintana, I haven't received that grade (I got a 3.0 then)! So why? Did I become so negligent of doing necessary stuff? Were my efforts insufficient despite my constant, palpable industry? I wanted to cry, but no single liquid exited my tearducts. I told myself, 'If this happened to me in highschool, I would have wept so loudly and wouldn't be valorous enough to face my classmates!'

Silly it may be, but my professor gave us a chance to keep up with our grades. He asked us to pass documentations next meeting regarding our previous machine problems.

WHEW! Hope my temporary rise will be no longer temporary. :)

NEVER SAY NEVER

An avid listener of Justin Bieber's songs, I was very glad to hear him singing an inspirational song featuring Jaden Smith, Will Smith's son, in the film "Karate Kid" entitled, "Never Say Never." This song is really suitable on my current situation as a student. You see, I am now bombarded with lots of school problems. I have this thesis that I don't really have any idea where to start with. And now, another problem was just told to me by my classmates -- that the GUI application we programmed wasn't right! Actually, this application must be done right for us to have our midterm exam in CS 431L! THIS IS REALLY AWFUL. I wanna quit..

A swift rewind back to my high school days, I wasn't even at the edge of quitting that time. If I have these problems now in college where my grades are at stake for possible failure or dropout, in high school, I didn't have similar problems. You know what? My problems before were not really problems. While others want to get what I attain, I was then in the midst of discontentment. I was a consistent Top 1 in a cream section in high school, so merely being Top 2 (or 4, the worst I got) baffled me so much that I couldn't even eat or even face my family, friends and classmates!

Moving back to my recent condition now, these problems are lame. I learned that we need to be contented with everything we have. Whenever I think of my problems now, it's like I'm weakening. But then I want to be strong somehow. That's why I occasionally listen to the aforementioned song on my MP3 to at least comfort me. And with God by my side, I know I can do even the impossible.. :')

My Life's Part 2

Life inevitably changes. Today is August 8, 2010. I say b-bye now to my teenage years (though I still am a teen-at-heart) and hello to the PART 2 of my life. What will happen in this new decade for me is my graduation, job seeking, restless hours of work and possibly, love life.

I'm now 20 years old. That's two years ahead the legal age, but this day seems to bring nostalgic memories. I reminisce my childhood and all my happy pasts. But one thing's for sure - I better keep things tidy in preparation for my future.

I know that my experiences have already proven how strong I am, facing all those challenges that constantly stirred my path, with my brain in severe diffusion of problems. But I stood up! Those stuff which I thought were impossible to escape from were conquered by me. If I were to sum up all my problems from the very beginning, a gigantic golem of the size of the entire Philippines would surely be their size! Well that is only metaphorically speaking.

As for my birthday wishes, God already knows them. I have tons but He knows what my priorities are. Of course, I wouldn't achieve these wishes if I also don't work for it, so I'll work with Him. And I know that He will always guide me.

HAPPY TWENTEENTH BIRTHDAY TO ME!

WOHOHO Black and White!

I was in awe after watching the newest trailer of Pokemon Black and White on YouTube, witnessing the astounding new features! Almost all of the overworld map was entirely rendered in 3D, and I really loved it! If you haven't seen this trailer yet, you have to! In case you're tired finding it in YouTube or in any other websites, I have posted it here to hinder your indolence...