La Reina de Asia!

Though she be but little, she is fierce! – William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Her diminutive stature compared to the Amazonian Latina queens she will be competing against in Bolivia is the only negative thing non-believers and pageant enthusiasts point out against the chances of the newly crowned Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2017 TERESITA SSEN LACSAMANA MARQUEZ. We might agree with that on some point. And we would have wanted her to be sent either in Miss Eco International in Egypt or at Miss Multinational in India if she’s not chosen for the Miss World Philippines 2017 title. However, as what MWP2017 Judge and 1993 Miss World 2nd Princess Sharmaine Ruffa Gutierrez quoted on her Final Q and A answer at Ms. World, “What is essential is invisible to the naked eye”. And yes, she is essentially a threat, and we can’t blame our Latin friends if this early they will give her a very hard time! 

First, they are in protest why an Asian country was admitted to compete in Santa Cruz, Bolivia in November for Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 pageant. The vastness of the Pacific Ocean which separates the Philippines to Latin America is one factor that so many use in support of these protestations. The Philippines is a South East Asian Republic in the Far East, and that’s where most of them limit their information about our beloved country, for why on earth an Asian compete in a pageant that’s clearly exclusive to Hispanoamericana? They have a point, a valid one indeed! The Reina Hispanoamericana organizers should seriously consider evolving their name to Reina Hispano Mundial, a great idea to widen their reach to the entire earth. But then again, they accepted the Miss World Philippines Organization application for a franchise, and they were right to do so! Let us educate those who need to learn why we are part of their community:

1. NAME – FILIPINAS
During the expedition of Spanish Explorer Ruy López de Villalobos to the Philippine Islands in early 16th Century, Spanish sailor Bernardo de la Torre used the name Las Islas Filipinas in honour of the then-Prince of Asturias (López de Villalobos named Mindanao “Caesarea Karoli” after the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V of Spain).

2. SPANISH COLONY (1521-1565-1898)
Europeans first arrived in the Philippine Islands in 1521, when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first sighted the mountains of Leyte in 1521, claiming the lands for Spain, and naming them Islas de San Lazaro. The first Holy Mass in the Philippines was celebrated on March 31, 1521 on the shores of Humonhon, Leyte.
In 1529, in the treaty of Zaragoza, Spain relinquished all claims to the Spice Islands (and westward) to Portugal. This treaty did not stop subsequent colonization from New Spain.

On April 27, 1565, Spanish troops numbering a mere 500 soldiers invaded the archipelago and attacked the defiant Tupas, son of Humabon, and Tupas was made to sign an agreement after his defeat and effectively placing the Philippines under Spain.

Serious challenges to Spanish rule began in 1761, during Spain’s involvement in the Seven Years’ War. By 1896, Filipinos were openly rebelling against the Spanish and the revolution was spreading throughout the islands. In 1898, Spain signed the Treaty of Paris that involved Spain relinquishing nearly all of the remaining Spanish Empire, especially Cuba, and ceding Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. The cession of the Philippines involved a payment of $20 million from the United States to Spain. The treaty was signed on December 10, 1898, and ended the Spanish–American War. The Treaty of Paris came into effect on April 11, 1899, when the documents of ratification were exchanged.

3. Spanish East Indies
The Philippines, under Spain, was understood to be the Spanish East Indies, and the current King of Spain, FELIPE VI, still uses the title ‘King of the Spanish East Indies’ or Indias orientales españolas.

4. Teresita Marquez herself!
Teresita’s mother is Filipino Celebrity ALMA MORENO (Venessa Moreno Lacsamana in real life). She’s an actress, tv host, and a public servant.
Ms. Moreno’s mother is JEAN MORENO, who’s of Spanish blood (we had the privilege to have met Mama Jean). On the father side, Teresita’s father JOEY MARQUEZ is also a celebrity. He is an actor/comedian, and was a City Mayor. Mr. Marquez’s full-sibling is Miss International 1978 MIMILANIE MARQUEZ. So Teresita Marquez has in herself the Spanish blood and the Beauty Queen Blood (Teresita Ssen is named after her own mother NESS and her paternal grandmother TERESITA ESGUERRA PEREZ).

Now, there are so many more reasons why we are qualified. Like our language, religion, culture, attitude, etc. but we believe we already have more than enough.

Now, what are the chances of Teresita in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on November 2017 for Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 pageant and be the first Reina Hispanoamericana winner from the Spanish East Indies? She has the huge probability of winning the title, most specially if she sashays and give them the same eloquence she has in BBP2015 and MWP2017 in SPANISH!

And to end this, let us quote Helena from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream:
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!”

© The Philippine Pageantry