Think of Maria Venus Raj

Any woman who fancies herself to be Venus Raj during these times may as well think again. Here you are walking and smiling and chatting with other beautiful faces representing other nationalities and cultures. You know that, every minute, you are under the scrutiny of the most merciless of judges.

Melody Gerbasch (left, RIP) in a happy
moment with Venus Raj (right).
http://www.facebook.com/MariaVenusRaj

But at one point you have to muster the courage to bravely say "No" to the wishes of billionaire Donald Trump for contestants to go through topless photoshoot.

What you need at this time is a lot of inspiration.

Yet inspiration is the very thing that you are not getting much from home:

• A bus plunged to a 30-foot ravine and killed 41 people
• As if that was not bad enough, your mentor Melody Gerbasch got killed in a horrendous car accident 
• To top all of that just two days before coronation, your country just figured in a hostage-taking incident that wasted at least 7 tourists

For Filipinos who had a strong distaste for these incidents and who feel a deep shame for the most recent of these, think of Venus Raj. Her good friend just passed away, and here comes this news. She is surrounded by the world, in flesh. What do you think she feels right now?

Venus Raj is at this time a top favorite in the online surveys for the Miss Universe crown. Think of what can happen to her dreams and to the country she represents if she allows herself to wallow on these events and freak out. Could you handle yourself well if you were her?

So, ladies, you still want to be Venus Raj today?

The ladies with iron will and the ability to remain stable in the midst of great pressure will say a resounding YES! Venus Raj has the grandest of all opportunities to come out a real winner, not just in the pageant, but of life itself. Winners will grab chances like that with gusto.

It is a chance that we all Filipinos--men and women--have, right here, right now. We have a grand chance today to maintain our focus on what we have set out to do in life, despite pressures that seek to test our will. Think of Venus Raj. We don't succumb to anger and blaming. We move on.

Let us all move on.

Being herself in front of the world, in the midst of great pressure, is the real crown Venus Raj will bring home with her when she comes back.

I already salute Venus Raj for maintaining her focus in what she has set out to do. By keeping her course in the midst of setbacks at home, she is already showing a great example of a wining attitude that all Filipinos -- both men and women -- can emulate.

August 24, 2010
6:00AM MANILA