“Kagandahang Pilipina”, The Carnival Queens of Yesteryears

What is beauty? To us Filipinos it is commonplace and we take pride in our perennial inclusion in the Ms Universe pageants. But did you know even before there was Binibining Pilipinas there was Carnival Queens.

Held during the first years of American rule, the first Carnivals featured the country's commercial, industrial progress in booths which also showed the country's natural resources.

The provincial booths drew a lot of visitors since they were graced with a bevy of young, beautiful women who presided as queens.Every night for four weeks the queen and her court lent glamour, and a touch of magic and fascination.

In 1908 Pura Villanueva from Iloilo became the first queen. The rest as they say is history.

I was a visitor of the event and was mesmerized by the beauty of the former queens. A cultural heritage on their own right, the event was graced by the last living queen:

The Ms Philippines International Fair of 1953 Ms. Cristina Galang was a breath of fresh air.

She maintained the grace and stature that was ever famous among beauty queens. It was with a silent smile and laugh that she acknowledged that her previous escort was indeed the man who will be known as "Ninoy".

We talked about life and she relates that she is humbled to be remembered. The years have been kind to her and people can still see her Ms Philippines pedigree.

It can be said that she has indeed reached immortality through beauty.