The Wheel and Axle

Also, beer always makes everything better.

Aug. 28, 1917 – Feb. 6, 1994

He was one of comics’ most influential personalities. After all, it wasn’t everyday you get to co-create a characters like Captain America, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, X-Men, and several other Marvel properties.

However, as more of a DC fan, I will always remember Jack Kirby for his creation of Challengers of the Unknown (undeniably a precursor to the Fantastic Four) as well as the Fourth World characters a.k.a. The New Gods.

Truth to tell, these may not have been as commercially successful as one would have hoped. Still, despite several failed series, the Fourth World characters remain an overarching presence within the DC Multiverse. This cannot be more felt than in the popular and malevolent Darkseid (i.e. He Who Was Ripped Off By Thanos), who has arguably become DC’s primary archvillain – in the comics, in animated features, and soon, in the DC movie extended universe.

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Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

(from The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus)

He knows better than you.

Continued From:

Queens of My Heart, Part 1

Here I proceed with the second half of my list of my Top Ten Favorite Miss Universe winners ever, presented in chronological order.

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Still on a bit of a Miss Universe high, and recently I got to thinking who my favorite winners have been. It wasn’t an easy list to make, given that there have been over six decades of queens, but I managed to trim the list to ten.

So here they are: my Top Ten Favorite Miss Universe winners in chronological order, starting with…

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Finland’s Armi Kuusela, Miss Universe 1952 and the first winner of the crown, married a Filipino, Dr. Virgilio Hilario.

Virgilio’s mother was a relative of Nana Enchang Javier-Gonzaga, my great-grandmother. This makes Virgilio a cousin of my maternal grandmother, Mommy Queta Gonzaga-Ignacio (who turns 96 this February!), and her siblings: Lola Belen, Lola Noneng, Lolo Carlos, and Lolo Eddie.

This also thus makes Miss Universe 1952 our relative by marriage.

No wonder I love Miss U. It’s practically in my blood.

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Dream Come True

So yesterday, I fulfilled my dream to be able to watch Miss Universe live as a member of the audience.

It was everything I hoped for and more.

From feeling the positive energy of an international audience (a true melting pot of cultures, though I must say there were especially a lot of nice Thais, lovely Indonesians, and hot hot hot Latin men) to seeing beauty queens past and present, it was an experience I want to live again and again. Steve Harvey was funny, and the guest acts were surprisingly good (I’d been afraid they were too old school). We got to see what happens when the show is on commercial break (hint: not much, really), and over-all, it was indeed worth having won those tickets last minute.

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Congratulations, Iris Mittenaere of France for besting 85 other worthy ladies and winning the crown to become Miss Universe 2016!

Europe hasn’t won this pageant since 2002, and moreover, this is France’s only second crown since Christiane Martel won in 1953. This is a triumph 63 years in the making.

You’re a wonderful woman, Iris! May you be worthy of your predecessor, the remarkable Pia Wurtzbach. You have big footsteps to follow, but we know you’ll make us all proud.

PS We would love a taste of your cooking!

As she relinquishes her crown later today, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach ends her reign as one of the most well-loved winners of this most prestigious beauty pageant. Despite that controversial crowning moment, Pia proved that she is the one true lady who rightfully won the title and deserved her place.

She will go down in history as one of the best winners in any pageant. Ever.

You did a great job, Pia. You’ve made us proud, and you will always be queen.

Mabuhay!