IT was indeed a memorable night when beauty queen Joy Conde (now Cruz) finally passed her crown and title to the new Miss Republic of the Philippines, Fermira Dianne Tumangan Ramos of Zambales last November 4 at The Theatre of Solaire Resort & Casino.
Joy also stole the night as she went onstage to do the traditional farewell walk after almost forty years.
Josephine “Joy” Conde was a bank teller from Alabang, Rizal when she won the title of Miss RP 1977. She also became the first Filipina to withdraw from an international beauty pageant when she was at the Miss World 1976. Joy, along with eight other delegates (from India, Mauritius, Liberia, Malaysia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Swaziland and Yugoslavia) withdrew in protest to the apartheid policy in South Africa.
On the day of the finals, a consul of the Philippine Embassy in London came to bring a letter from then Secretary Jose D. Ingles of the Department of Foreign Affairs. In the letter was instruction for Joy to withdraw from the pageant because of the presence of “white Miss South Africa.”
The following day, Joy made it to the front page of various UK newspapers, getting more attention than the Miss World winner herself. (The following year, Philippine representative Ana Melissa “Peachy” Ofilada Veneracion was also forced to withdraw from the pageant for the same reason).
Joy was also the last to be crowned as Miss RP (for Miss World) under my organization, Spotlight Promotions, as the franchise was handed over to the Mutya ng Pilipinas organizers run by Leandro “Biboy” Emriquez.
The Miss Republic of the Philippines pageant is now under businesswoman Lynette Padolina.
The 25-year-old Ramos also won Best in Philippine Terno, Miss Megadata Corp. USA and Miss Via Mare. She took home with her a prize package including P 100,000 cash, a four-year scholarship grant, one-year management contract and other gifts from sponsors.
Other winners include Sheila Marie Reyes of Valenzuela City – Miss Visayas, Beatrice Valente of Milan, Italy – Miss RP International, Joselle Mariano of Cavite – Miss Luzon, and Kristie Rose Cequena of Sta. Rosa, Laguna – Miss Mindanao.
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We are storming the heavens with prayers for the speedy recovery of our dear friend, veteran actress Amalia Fuentes. Her grandchildren recently confirmed that the actress suffered an ischemic stroke while vacationing in South Korea last October 9.
In an official statement released to the media, Amalia’s grandkids Alyanna, Alfonso and Alissa Martinez said that their grandmother was found unconscious by a friend in her hotel room in South Korea. She was then immediately rushed to a hospital in Seoul and is now confined in intensive care unit.
“After a few weeks, when she was finally stabilized, her Korean doctors allowed her to travel back to the Philippines,” her grandchildren said.
After arriving in Manila last October 27, the actress was immediately brought to the hospital. “We were informed by her doctors that she hopefully can be discharged within two weeks,” the Martinez siblings added. “She will continue her recuperation at home and will be undergoing extensive therapy soon after.”
They are also asking for prayers for their grandmother’s recovery.
Alyanna, Alfonso and Alissa are Amalia’s grandchildren from her late daughter Liezl (who recently passed away due to cancer) with actor Albert Martinez.
Here is the full statement from the Martinez siblings:
“It is with deep sadness that we, the grandchildren of Amalia Fuentes, are confirming that she had suffered an ischemic stroke on October 9, while on vacation in South Korea.
“She was discovered by her friend in her hotel room and was immediately rushed to a hospital in Seoul where she was placed in an intensive care unit.
“After a few weeks when she was finally stabilized, her Korean doctors allowed her to travel back to the Philippines.
“Upon her return on October 27, from the tarmac she was brought straight to the hospital.
“We were informed by her doctors that she hopefully can be discharged within two weeks.
“She will continue her recuperation at home and will be undergoing extensive therapy soon after.
“We, her grandchildren, and the rest of the Muhlach family, appeal to her friends, fans and the general public for prayers for her immediate and full recovery.”
