It is with conviction that we say that the 2008 Search for Mutya ng Tago (SMT) was the best SMT bar none! But then again, we said the same thing in 1998, which only means that the Search for Mutya ng Tago continues to evolve both aesthetically and artistically!
The 2008 SMT has set a new record in Tago’s pageant history: the production value was tops and the 10 candidates were the best any organizer could ever hope to assemble---flawless, pretty, graceful, and smart!
THE VENUE
Imagine an atrium right in the middle of a tropical rainforest. Imagine a stage painted in stark white with no décor except for a striking interplay of bamboos, crazy vines, exotic orchids, birds of paradise, bird’s nests, and fireflies. Imagine some round tables and chairs shrouded in white dotting the area near the stage for sponsors, donors, and parents to occupy. Imagine votive candles couched in floral vignettes as table tops. Imagine the first four bleacher posts from the stage rendered as coco trees, drooping with coco and betel nuts outlined with tiny rice lights. Imagine a glaring spotlight at the main entrance capturing and transforming all these in dreamy hues. And lastly, imagine a uniformed waiter from Goldbar serving drinks and canapés and you get the ambience of a 5-star hotel!
Yes, the 2008 Search for Mutya ng Tago was a dinner show!
Mario Quinonez summed it best by saying: “pag sud mo pa sa gym, kibale kaw pasingud sa langit!â€
THE SHOW
The pageant was to begin at 8:30 PM but some of the judges came late to the dinner-cum-briefing set at 7:00 PM and so the show rolled at 8: 52 PM and ended at 11:23 PM.
Referring to the show’s length, one guest said, “it was just like watching a movie on last full show.†Indeed the show was so tight the list of sponsors, donors, and cooperators was read only once. Intermission numbers comprised of two songs from Sherwin L. Portillo, three video presentations, and one number from world-class dancers from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Manila who were Bobot Bagohin’s friends. Only Congressman Pichay gave a one-minute speech.
The tabulators used a computing program, making us declare the winners in a flash.
Lending allure and class to the affair was Cesar Ordona’s cutting edge sound and lighting system: multi colored spotlights captured the candidates in different flattering silhouettes; and the microphones picked up even the faintest fluttering of the candidates’ heart.
Except for a very minor technical glitch, the show went very well.
THE TROPHIES AND THE PLAQUES
Ms. Dinah P. Patrimonio, the reigning Mutya ng Tago, donated the acrylic trophies and the glass plaques whose shapes traced the contours of the official Mutya ng Tago logo. Expensive and classy, they were fitting memorabilia for the winners.
THE CROWN
Imagine the Mutya ng Tago balancing on her head the biggest jackfruit. Yes, the crown was that big! In fact it took Mayor Jun Pimentel and Mrs. Lala Ambary a while to put it on Aiza’s head. Atty. Andrei A. Andresan, who was a judge, said it put to shame the crown of Queen Nefertiti of Egypt. It was that grand!
Bobot Bagohin had to handcarry it home because he borrowed it from his friend in La Union.
THE WRISTLETS, THE SASHES, AND THE BOUQUETS
Possessing an artisan’s hands, Ms. Tata Dolon-Pimentel made the beautiful wristlets containing the numbers of the candidates. Her sashes of imported satin that came in multi colors were fit for royals. And her elaborate bouquets of exotic flowers took everybody’s breath away.
THE VIDEOS
Shown on two separate video walls were the "Evolution of the Search for Mutya ng Tago," the "Fashion Shoot," "Let’s Make Tago Proud," and "Dinah Patrimonio’s Farewell Message."
It made us happy that the audience enjoyed the videos because they had no idea how much blood was drawn just to produce them.
THE JUDGES
Except for Kiboglets and Ms. Bicbic C. Luna, all other judges were last minute replacements as Gen. Charles K. Hotchkiss, Atty. Junjun Dumagan, Atty. Conrad C. Cejoco, and Dr. Harold Pareja declined for prior commitment. And so we had to do damage control. But on hindsight, we believed we picked the best judges because their decision was generally well received by the audience.
One judge, an internist at Adela Serra Ty Medical Center who was once a Ginoong Pilipinas runner up, a fashion model with cum laude honors in his pre-med, was hesitant to accept the invitation because he had been invited to the same show that dragged on to the wee hours of the morning. We had to allay his fears by saying we would put our reputation on the line and that the show would change his perception of Surigao del Sur. When the show ended exactly as we said, he short of genuflected before us while doing a two-thumbs up. His text message the day after said in part: “just want 2 tel u dt u made me a BELIEVER! I congratul8 u 4 a marvelous job!â€
Mekmek Cruz, another judge, sent me a text message quoting his brother, Tandag’s topnotch landscape artist who’s also a metrosexual, thus: “laong brod gerein nanga sa d gaud mahimo nan tandag parehas yd2 mek heheheâ€
Except for the provincial director of a government agency, all other judges heeded the formal dress code. Kiboglets, Bicbic Luna, and Mekmek Cruz were simply fabulous while Atty. Andrei Andresan was dapper in coat and tie!
GENERAL RECEPTION OF THE SHOW
Text messages flooded us, complimenting us for how great the show was and how they all felt proud of Tago.
Congressman Pichay’s gesture of doubling the cash prizes and committing to bankroll next year’s staging of the Search for Muya ng Tago may be the show’s most flattering testimony. But I and Bobot Bagohin believed that the best compliment came from Impok, the trisikad driver son of Ben Salas. While driving us to the town hall the day after the show, he said: “guapuhi an show, lingawi an mga tao. Pagsugod pa daan, pagsayaw nan yadton taga Manila, galaong gayud ako, wa na, kibale tag wan handredon nan tiket ko na baynte!â€
An anchor from Way Kurat FM station devoted some airtime to sing hosannas to the Seach for Mutya ng Tago. He said it was world-class, the candidates were great, and the show was three times better than Bb. Pilipinas. (Never mind his comment about the emcee because it still makes me blush!)
As I write this, people are still talking about how grand the production was, and how the organizers would be hard put to outdo it next year. But this early, we already have a tentative blueprint and we’re excited!
Thank you for all the support. And really now, it feels good to have made Tago proud!
the three finalists after they slipped into Linoi's gowns that had the audience gaping in awe!
do note the acrylic trophy the 1st princess is holding.
First Princess Johanne Montenegro
Mutya ng Tago and the Second Princess
at the presentation night
