The ugly side of Philippine beauty pageants

The ugly side of Philippine beauty pageants

Rosemer Enverga in the hot seat. PHOTO: JOSEPH SMOOKE

A leader of Philippine beauty pageants, Rosemer Enverga, held a press conference on April 22 to address what she called “slanderous statements” made against her by another community organizer and the local press.

The statements against Enverga, who is the executive vice president of the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation (PCCF), stemmed from a press conference held by the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) on March 14, 2012.

“The former president of PIDC, Minda Neri, publicly made allegations of financial reporting irregularities with regard to the beauty pageants under my stewardship when I was a member of the board of PIDC,” Enverga said in a statement read to the press at the Blessed John XXIII church hall in Don Mills.

“Neri stated that PIDC had no money, which invited some media folks to question as to why that is, and where all the money from the lucrative beauty pageants went.”

Enverga said Neri insinuated that she did not properly report the finances from the beauty pageants. Thus Enverga felt she was “stabbed in the back” and there has been “immense and irreparable harm” to her reputation and that of her husband, Jun Enverga, a Toronto Catholic School Board trustee. She has consulted a law firm about the “slanderous statements.”

In 2011, Enverga left PIDC and started at PCCF. Last year, PCCF held for the first time the “Pinoy Fiesta & Trade Show,” an event similar to the large annual event held by PIDC called the “Mabuhay Festival & Trade Show.” Both events feature community beauty pageants and stars from competing Philippine networks, ABS-CBN and GMA.

“PCCF poses a threat to PIDC,” which Enverga said motivated Neri’s statements. Enverga also heavily criticized the local media and said one of the media organizations “likewise has an interest in competing beauty pageants.”

Enverga said she submitted all the financial reports for the pageants to the former PIDC treasurer, Al Tupe, in November 2010 and was never notified of any issue with them.

When asked about Enverga in an interview with The Philippine Reporter on April 24, Tupe said, “I don’t have any comment on that. You’ll have to ask the board [of PIDC].” Tupe did not want to comment on whether they received any financial documents from Enverga.

Former PIDC president, Neri, said in an interview with The Philippine Reporter, “The only comment I have is that we are doing an audit on it.”

After Enverga’s six-minute statement, the moderator of the press conference, Lita Carpio Leano, said Enverga would not be taking any questions because PIDC members were not present. This riled up those in attendance, who didn’t appreciate being called there to hear a statement that could have been emailed. “Why the hell waste our Sunday?” said Balita’s Tenny Soriano.

TESS CUSIPAG, publisher and editor of BALITA. PHOTO: JOSEPH SMOOKE

This began the media sideshow that continued for another 50 minutes that included journalists questioning each other, community members berating the press, and Enverga eventually agreeing to answer some questions, but refusing to answer any on the financial statements.

“But that’s the whole crux of the issue,” said Romy Marquez from Balita and The Filipino Web Channel. Marquez has written a number of editorials and posted videos on this issue including, “Was There Wrong-Doing in PIDC’s Beauty Pageants?” published in Balita on March 30, 2012.

When asked by The Philippine Reporter whether Enverga has reached out to PIDC since their March press conference, her response was “my husband emailed the past and current presidents, accountants and auditors of PIDC.” But, she said the email did not question about the financial allegations and only had “some questions.” Enverga did not comment further.

The current president of PIDC, Norma Carpio, said in an interview with The Philippine Reporter, “There is an audit going on and that is internal to us.” She continued, “We cannot issue a financial statement until the audit is done. Even if the audit is done, the financial statement is internal to the board.” Carpio did not know when the audit would be completed because accountants are busy with the current tax season.

Carpio said PIDC members could not attend Enverga’s press conference because they had a photo session scheduled that day.

“There’s nothing really there between Enverga and our [organization]. I think the one that’s questioning about the financial statements is the media,” Carpio said. “The purpose of that press con [on March 14] was to announce our events. It is important to us to focus on that.”