Pebbles Asis as Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1987 (left and courtesy of Tony Paat) & during Miss Universe 1987 in Singapore.
Miss Philippines Geraldine Asis (center in black gown) during the Evening Gown Competition of Miss Universe 1987
You don’t easily forget a Bb. Pilipinas Universe who placed in the Miss Universe Pageant. Such is the case of our 1987 representative Geraldine Edith “
Pebbles” Villaruz Asis who made Top 10 in such a competitive edition held in Singapore. Fact is, she almost made it to Top 5, trailing the 5th placer by just the slimmest of points (
0.048) and finishing 6th overall in the end.
Pebbles is one of those Miss Philippines who could have joined in two Bb. Pilipinas finals (1987 and 1988) and still get the top crown. You see, these are the two consecutive years when Miss Universe was held in Asian cities (Singapore and Taipei). The talk never ceased about how things would have turned out if she was sent in 1988 instead, when four (4) Asian delegates entered the Top 5. Of course, everything is now beauty contest history and we can only look back and reminisce.
Above is the poster of the movie Pebbles did with Comedy King Dolphy
Back home, Pebbles finished all responsibilities as a Bb. Pilipinas titleholder after placing in the Lion City. Immediately following her reign, she continued with modeling before entering showbiz for a while. She was actually signed up to be the leading lady of the late Comedy King Dolphy in one of his movies (
‘Action is Missing, Crack Platoon).
It was during the years of settling down that she realized her life to be far from the bed of roses she imagined it to be. Her existence paralleled scenes straight out of a teleserye that would put to shame some of the heavy dramas we get to watch every night on the small screen.
A Pebbles selfie
Pebbles married into a rich family down south. But as she stated herself, “
sadly, it is the toughest I’ve been through in my life legally, socially, psychologically, physically, mentally…”
I will not go into specific details about the rollercoaster ride she found herself being part of. The drops far outnumbered the few rises in between. But all throughout, she found solace in bringing into this world two precious children – Gabby and Sam – who kept her in good stead. They also became her inspirations when it was finally time to heal and move on.
Pebbles was able to pick up the pieces of a life that was almost too unbearable an existence for anyone to undergo. Alongside the various businesses (lodging, aquaculture, lending) of the family, part of her inheritance was a 50 year-old ancestral house in Capiz which she is now planning to convert into a hotel. Admitting that she could afford to live like a queen and not worry about financial resources, she looks back to the traits of hardwork and dedication taught by her late father. She spends each day busy with all the demands of an entrepreneur’s daily existence.
Pebbles and her 11 year-old daughter Sam
I got off chatting with our Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1987 getting so much more information than what I initially bargained for. But it’s one of those chats that left me more than convinced that I decided to go into pageant blogging. These Senti Sunday Specials are gradually shaping up into the kind of features that should hopefully rekindle my ties with our past national beauty queens on a regular basis from hereon now. 🙂
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