Even before Mrs. Universe 2017 was announced, Mrs. 
Universe South Asia 2017 Joyce Penas Pilarsky was crowned as Mother of the Universe.
Theoretically, this over-the-top victory is a higher title than the main title and goes without saying that Joyce was the winner of the pageant. She was a class all her own.
Joyce took the pageant seriously, taking 30 weeks to prepare. She hand-painted her national costume and designed and made all of her gowns and dresses.
Since jetting into Durban on August 25, 2017, the 86 finalists have had a jam-packed, whirlwind schedule of work and play that put the international spotlight firmly on South Africa. In addition to visiting a few must-see tourist spots in the greater Durban area and sampling the city’s array of culinary offerings, contestants dedicated their time to numerous community service and women empowerment initiatives.
Unlike other similar events, Mrs. Universe acknowledges married women who are doing phenomenal work to uplift and enhance their local communities through CSR initiatives, business development and global trade opportunities.
Activities included visiting schools to speak to young girls about the importance of education and to inspire pupils with personal stories of overcoming incredible challenges, to spending a morning with orphaned and vulnerable children at Liv Village in Verulam, to taking to the streets of Durban for the #OneVoice march against gender-based violence and child abuse.
The glitzy Mrs. Universe World Finals on September 2 attracted the who’s who of KZN’s social scene. Guests were entertained by proudly KZN performers including the C-Live dancers, the Champions Pantsula Dancers, performers from the Kumari Shiksha Dance Institute, Indlondlo Zulu Traditional Dancers and Dangerous Curves dancers. Vocalists, Samantha Landers, Bongekile Mabaso and Nokulunga Ntuli had feet tapping and heads bobbing. The show was produced and choreographed by one of KZN’s most celebrated entertainers, Clive Gumede aka The Durban Divo.
“They saw how I performed well in my three-minute video and speech for my best in my talent portion. I am an inspiration to other people and how I empower women with my warm and genuine personality,” narrates Joyce about her participation.
“I felt the warmth and love of my fellow candidates when it was announced I’m Mother of the Universe. They gave me such hearfelt applause. It means they all agreed, and they like me for the award, suggesting I’m truly deserving. They were all very sweet and supportive,” she says.
“I returned home with the sash and crown on my head, They recognized my achievement and saw that I can empower people of the world, not only women,” happily closes Joyce.
ARVEE AT ‘UNIQUELY DIFFERENT’ ART EXHIBIT. Matthew Lopes Castro says: “Art speaks where words are unable to explain.”
That’s exactly what Arvee Bracero, the only daughter of Raquel and Vien Bracero (deceased) accomplished, when she participated in the art exhibit of special children held in The Block in 2013, attended by this writer. She inspired the creation of ARTlead art group on Facebook that has since then resulted to 15,000-plus membership.
Arvee’s two new art works were exhibited at the “Uniquely Different: Embracing Diversity Across the Lifespan” art exhibit by special young people organized by the Philippine Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics at Novotel Manila Araneta Center from September 5 to 6.
According to her Developmental Doctor, Dr. Mimi Avendano, Arvee told her that one painting shows her giving a gift to mom Raquel as a sign of love The other painting is a rendition of the Queen of Sinulog in Cebu that she attends annually.
Organized by Dr. Avendano, Dr. Francis Xavier Daniel M. Dimalanta was chair, while Dr. Jacqueline O. Navarro was co-chair of the Commercial and Art Exhibit Committee. Arvee and other participating artists were awarded a Certificate of Recognition as Featured Artist.
STEPHEN KING UNLEASHESMOST TERRIFYING FILM TO DATE. Best-selling author Stephen King adds his novel It as megged by Argentine director Andy Muschietti to Carrie, The Shining, 1408, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and Stand By Me to his list of best horror and drama novels turned into well-made, full-length classics. Shawshank Redemption is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.
In the town of Derry in Maine (where King lives with his family), many kids have gone missing and cannot be found in 1988. One of them is Georgie, younger brother of Billy (Jaeden Lieberher). He saw him being attacked by a carnivorous clown who lives in the town sewers, named Pennywise (Bill Skarsgهrd). He is the Dancing Clown, who baits kids with a red balloon. All the other kids in the town, including Billy and his gang “The Losers Club” — Richie, Eddie and Stanley — begin to see their worst fears coming true.
Together with other bullied kids in the neighborhood, who also see ghastly visions of their own — Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Mike and Beverley — Billy goes in search of his brother in an old, abandoned Well House where all the sewer tunnels converge. Pennywise himself is inside, eagerly waiting for all of them to come in so he can swallow them all up one by one.
The darker and more elaborate visuals and sound effects make Skarsgهrd’s Pennywise look, sound and feel even more sinister and diabolical . All the kids do very effectively in their roles to convey complex emotions, not only of fear and horror, but also teenage angst and individual character quirks. They never come across as annoying and cloying.
Lieberher gives an impressive restrained portrayal of a loving, grieving brother. Taylor is also remarkable for his subtle acting. Nicolas Hamilton, who plays the violent neighborhood bully Henry Bowers, makes an impact with his moments of severe psychosis in this film’s most upsetting scenes.
The real life horrors experienced by the kids are actually more dangerous here than the fantastic ones. This film tells that there is a difference between a child’s reality and an adult’s reality. Such nebulous distinction of reality, coupled with the engaging performances of the kids, keep the suspense and tension afloat and make the whole story interesting to the very end, despite the disquieting elements.
CITIZENS ABOVE THE LAW. Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson was seen in social media posts performing at Bar 360 of Resorts World Manila. She certainly appeared like a citizen above the law as she violated a Malacaٌang Memorandum.
Circular No. 6 prohibits government officials, members of the Armed Forces and individuals aged 21 and below from entering, staying, or playing in casinos. “[The] mere entry or presence of government officials and employees in a gambling casino shall be considered as conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, unless the same was in the performance of official duties and functions,” the memorandum states.
It also says “all government officials and employees shall strictly observe and comply with all pertinent laws, issuances and policies prohibiting government personnel to enter, stay, or play in gambling casinos.”
“Recently, dahil sa nangyari na mayroong nakapag-upload ata ng video, naging mainit ang issue dahil sa pag-perform sa casino. I think Mocha decided to stop performing sa casinos,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.
Martin admitted that prior to joining the PCOO, Mocha had expressed her desire to honor her existing entertainment contracts. He added that Mocha’s case has been forwarded to the Executive Secretary’s office because Mocha is a presidential appointee.
What false sense of power can do!