Mutya ng Kagandahan Year 4

The annual search for the Mutya ng Kagandahan has once again conquered the Brent’s Atmosphere as the final month of this year begun. It started with just a small talk during someone’s birthday celebration in Palmeras then the magic came and sparked our vivid imagination. Everyone was in the mood of talking the events that occurred last year and who’s who in the roster of the highly esteemed candidates this year.

Then came November 12, the first meeting occurred after Mam Mely’s inauguration as the new Chief Nurse of the hospital. It was then decided that this year the pageant should be made sweet, bright and rough. Each employee was separated to different committees and the final list of candidates was determined for each nursing department.

On November 23, the result of the first meeting was announced over a handful of nursing service employees. There were some suggestions raised and doubts answered. There were even petty issues among the committee regarding its finalities and probabilities. But clashing of ideas and suggestions do really occur especially if the organizers do really want to make this year’s Search even more celebrating as last year’s pageant was unprecedented. 

Again, everyone was in festive of discussing this year’s most awaited event. It was like a viral disease rapidly infesting the minds of each Brent employee. Each day we hear talks of each one about their candidates, their preparation, and the candidates themselves were busy mimicking a girl’s tone and catwalk. 

Last November 30, as the schedule for the photo shoot is nearing, each committee was called in for plans to iron out. The final choice for the venue of the pictorials was settled and ways/means were established. Request letters were sent to different offices (Brent Admin Office, EAAB, Recodo Barge) and luckily, were easily granted. 

Originally, the itinerary for the Photo shoot was eight different scenery spots of the Zamboanga West Coast with an estimated 20-30 minutes exposure in each area. But things occurred differently during the said event. 

 
 Came December 4, Sunday, the day of the photo shoot. Everyone was excited and busy preparing their candidates for the shoot. It was as if the search has gone to the next level as some departments sent their candidates to professional make-up artists and handlers. And others, for the fact that most Brent employees are really artistic and can boast their creation in lined with professionals, are in their own crib.

 

This year, the Committee on Photography decided to have the shoot at two different locations with two different set-ups. First stop was the Edwin Andrew Airbase in Sta. Maria. The shots occurred on one of the junked aircraft inside the said airbase. We were escorted by the on-duty militaries and convoyed to the said spot.  

    

Upon arrival, each candidate started preparing their selves with their stage managers for the shoot while the JandB crew started the set up. Each handler was given the chance to coach their candidates during the shoot to make them flawlessly look like models similar to shots in a prestigious billboards and glossy magazines. They can do whatever they want to do with the aircraft while the JandB crew just takes shots continuously. 


   
  

It was literally hot as the sun was shining brightly (which by the way I thank because the weather cooperated as prior to that, the rain poured so hard). It was really bold and daring as some candidates were in the feel of showing it all off that made the spectators mostly militaries burst. And it was shockingly a surprise, as some candidates made it a career to strut their stuff out from the blue, not even in your wild imagination. One even commented that no one made such search as exciting and thrilling as this one, not even the highly proclaimed local beauty search in the city.

While the JandB crew was busy on taking those shots, Four (4) candidates were interviewed on different issues of interests and current events. This was followed up a by comical question and naughty choices that even the coordinators themselves had a full giggle. 

Here are the some of the photos taken on the said venue.

 

     
It was a two hours show-it-off pictorial in the airbase. Then, off we went to our second pit stop, the Shipyard Barge in Barangay Recodo. 

    

 On arrival in the said spot, we had an hour of lunch break on their dining hall. Still, the atmosphere was filled with jokes and laughter to ridicule each candidate. This is one thing we admire with the candidates; they were all showing off sportsmanship. Nothing personal as one remarked. This made one of the handler’s mentioned the saying “Be Strong!” which spread to everyone present in the event saying the same line again and again until the day ended. 

        
 A sudden twist was made by the JandB crew. We did not expect the thing that happened during the photo shoot in the barge area. The candidates were shot on top of the wrecked ship, a perfect spot to capture them in a distressing situation. Imagine you are in your high heels and swim suit attire in a photo shoot taken on a wrecked ship at 3 o clock in the afternoon that was absolutely unbelievable. 

        
The second half of the candidates was interviewed with the same set of questions. This time, we were totally caught unguarded with their hilarious answers. One even acted very girly and kikay that made us all in awe!

The photo shoot ended at 5pm and everyone was all drained out, but with high hopes for this year’s pageant to be successful. 

Just after two days, on December 6 2011, the pictures were pre selected and were posted on facebook for the viewing public.  The pictures were not entirely edited but were just given some minor changes especially on the brightness and contrast of the picture setting and that’s it. What you see is what you get. This started the voting process for the Facebook Choice award and Miss Photogenic.

This made the Mutya ng Kagandahan Year 4 as the most exciting and most awaited event for the year especially when the organizing committee presented the said pictures on the hallway of the Deluxe Department. The talks did not just circulated on the hospital lobby but had already invaded the school grounds even on the highly regarded The Administration and Human Resource Offices. 

On the second week of December, JeriCarls Videofex (as what Sir Bryan named us) started documenting other video clips to be presented during the coronation night. We informed several Brent personalities (Mrs. Lacsi, Mrs. Aboy, Dr. Sator, Mrs. Martinez, Mrs. Bisquerra, Ms. Domingo, Sir Dennis and his daughter and all nursing staff of each department) for a video interview soliciting their thoughts on Mam Eva’s retirement and Ms. Tilde’s inauguration as the new Chief Nurse. 

Last years’ Mutya ng Kagandahan winners were also shot at the ICU (which turned out to be our temporary video set) for their video clips to be presented as the opening salvo for the coronation night. We also made an appointment with Mam Mely for the Opening Remark Footages but unknowingly, she was discreetly shot for the presentation of the new chief nurse inauguration. 

Frankly speaking, I had difficult time convincing some people for their ever important words. Some were hard-to-get literally, some were uncooperative, and some were feeling so important. And this, some were not seen even their shadows on the agreed upon time and set, If it weren’t for the show, I wouldn’t dare to continue my task. But I had a find time talking with Mrs. Lacsi and had greatly inspired me to carry it on. Words of wisdom she shared with me “Work not for some person, but for your heart.”

On December 14, started the rehearsal for the blockings and stage walk. It was held daily until a day before the final night at the vacant room back of the Supervisor’s Office. 

The committee on Programs made a full extent of making this year’s pageant in accordance with the theme. The dance choreography for the Production Number was maneuvered by the creative minds of Mr. Al Arip and JV Texon, first the girls were seen like Strong and fearless Amazona Warriors but upon seeing Ken, The girls’ mood changed to something kikay with the song “I wanna see your Peacock” incorporated with a modern “Super Bass” Song and with the hilarious ending, the popular “Teach me how to Doggie”. Songs in each category were carefully selected by the committee and were remixed by one of the artistic minds of Brent Employees.

Other groups as well made their dance rehearsal within the Brent’s premises. The Brent Hindu Girls (Desiree, Mayette, Jenievib and their star dancer, Neza) were shot during their belly dancing practice in the PediaWard. Luckily, the situation cooperated and made these girls had the chance of practicing. The other dance group (Brent NSO Bunitas) composed of Al Arip, Em Em Gopez, Erika Liao, Hyacinth Minano, Desiree, Jenievib and yours truly did our KPOP try-out with the tune Cry Cry after the candidates’ rehearsal.  And the other group composed of Muffy, Chris, Claire and Al had their singing preparation for Halo discreetly at the ER Lounge.

On December 16, we started distributing the invitation cards to our guests and each nursing units. Honestly speaking, we were sooo halfheartedly shy to give out our invitations because of its relatively petite size. Blame it to the printing press for their inaccuracy. 

A day before the Coronation Night. An unexpected thing happened. Everyone was saddened when Carl informed that the Lights and Sounds he transact with had some major technical problems that made it canceled. Everything was all set, much has been made for the preparation for the videos and the pageant itself and yet, one thing that is of major importance back out. We were so worried about the outcome of the show. We formulated some Plan A, B to infinity but failed us until the early morning of the Final Night, we still haven’t got any contacts. I do not know what were the succeeding events transpired during that day (I needed to sleep because I just came from 2 night shift duties) I just knew that we already have contacted one when I arrived at the venue. 

On the Site.

What a dreadful experience I had! I do not know what happen with the one in charge with the stage set-up and decoration that we (Bryan, Vince and I) ended the one manning the said task. We were all in high adrenaline of complaining but we had no choice but to cover up the flaws left by those responsible. The area (Garden Orched Hotel, Orchid Ballroom) is such a waste. I had personally high regards with the hotel staff and the hotel itself but after I had an awful experience dealing with them this time, I was all wrong. 

The Final Night.

Overall the program was more than okey. Well that’s for my personal opinion, I do not know with the others as some claimed that it is such a waste of time. Accordingly, because of the uncoordinated events that occurred. But so much for that, the program was very okay because it had ripped our mouth’s wide laughing and battered our fingers thru giggling and biting. 

Some were even amazed of the many surprises prepared by the organizing committee especially with the dance showdown of Lady E which had an uneventful wardrobe malfunction that it made it a huge trending amongst Brent employee issues the following day. She was singing and acting like Lady Gaga with the song “On the Edge of Glory” with Last year’s MNK beauty queens. 

Lady E singing

 

 

The Kpop wannabee dancers also parade their hidden stuff out and stunned the whole crowd. The Emcee mentioned that he had plans to join the group and be like our main singer but luckily he did not, otherwise we will end up like his back up dancers.

Brent Hindu Girls had also their share of the claps and shouts from the audiences.

On the other hand, we also presented our congratulatory video to our newly named chief nurse of the hospital. She was really caught off guard with our random interviews of some of her mentors and co employees before and her subordinates today. She was speechless when she gave her warm felicitation to the nursing service department. While Mam Eva was also seen teary eyed while the Retirement Tribute video was presented. 

 
But the one thing that withstand amongst all are our candidates’ performance that night. I believe they were all drunk that time (I was there when they started their drinking session with Liqours) that they were acting with no explicit and unconcealed girly acts that made the whole crowd burst with laughs and giggles.

Mutya ng Kagandahan Year 4 The Candyland Attire

One of the highlights during the final night was the presentation for the Candyland Attire. And the one that stands amongst the candidate was the representative of the Emergency Room Department. 

 

He (Ben Lloyd) was really superb in gracing the red carpet aisle with the balloons he was carrying. The balloons acted like his wings and skirt accentuated by those led lights that it made it even more eye-catching by the dim-lighted room.  

In the end, it was candidate number 4 who won the crown. Mervin (Pediatric Ward Representative) captured the limelight of that pageant final night. He was really very good in his girly acts and with a very superb answer during the Q&A that made him that night’s very lucky candidate. 

The Board of Judges

Congratulations to our winners and the candidates, the organizing committee, the whole Brent Nursing Service staff and the doctors and former employees. See you next year in Mutya ng Kagandahan Year 5 2013.