"Good evening to one and all! Welcome to the Search for Mr. and Ms. Criminology 2016! Tonight, 20 candidates will vie for the crown. The question is, who shall prevail?" panimula ng lalaking host.
"That's right, Jimmy! I am very much excited to witness how these candidates take the runway and leave our audience in awe with their beauty, talent, and intelligence. Aren't you excited, Jim?" dugtong naman ng katabi nitong babaeng host. They look good and they speak with confidence, making them look like a pro in hosting.
"I am, Bea! I am excited as well. Why not ask our audience if they're excited to see our candidates?" sagot naman ni Jimmy and he faced the audience. "Are you excited?" sigaw niya na sinuklihan naman ng mga manunuod ng malakas na "Yes!"
"Alright! You may see them in just a while. But before that, we are proud to present to you the members of the judging panel. Bea, who's our first judge?" tanong ni Jimmy kay Bea and the latter announced the name and profession of the first judge.
Salitan silang dalawang host sa pagpapakilala sa mga kasama ko. And when my turn came, they spoke together.
"Our fourth and Chairman of the board of judges is none other than the young, fresh, and gorgeous third child of our school's owner, Mr. Cyrus Sanderson!" they announced in unison and I stood up to wave and smile at the audience.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, behold, fasten your seatbelts, ready your cameras, and prepare to be starstrucked with our ten handsome and ten beautiful candidates in their production number and self-introduction!" pag-anunsyo ng babaeng host and a music started to play.
🎶 Oh, yeah.
Don't need permission
Made my decision to test my limits 🎶
Umalingawngaw ang boses ni Ariana Grande sa loob ng gymnasium at mas lalo pang naging maingay nang magsigawan ang mga manunuod dahil sa paglabas ng mga babaeng candidates sa stage.
Nakasuot lahat ang mga ito ng fitted jeans na camouflage at puting t-shirt. Magkakaiba man ng hairstyles, make up at heels, maganda parin silang tingnan because they're wearing uniform shirts and pants.
🎶 'Cause it's my business, God as my witness
Start what I finished
Don't need no hold up
Taking control of this kind of moment
I'm locked and loaded
Completely focused, my mind is open. 🎶
They danced gracefully with the song. Mukhang walang nagpapatalo sa mga ito. Hindi ko maiwasang ngumiti while watching them with envy.
How I wished I was a girl.
🎶 All that you got, skin to skin, oh my God, don't ya stop, boy.
Somethin' 'bout you makes me feel like a dangerous woman
Somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout you
Makes me wanna do things that I shouldn't
Somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout 🎶
When the chorus of the song ended, the girls took their seductive poses and that's when the male candidates entered the stage.
The crowd went wilder and noisier.
🎶 Nothing to prove and
I'm bulletproof and
Know what I'm doing
The way we're movin' like introducing
Us to a new thing
I wanna savor, save it for later
The taste of flavor, 'cause I'm a taker
'Cause I'm a giver, it's only nature
I live for danger 🎶
Nakasuot naman ang mga lalaki ng soldier boots, camouflage pants, and black sleeveless shirts.
"Whoah," I mumbled when I saw how their bodies moved seductively with the song.
Ang gandang panuorin ng kanilang mga katawan na kung gaano katigas tingnan ay siyang lambot namang gumalaw na hindi nababawasan ang pagkaastig nila.
Halos mabingi ako sa mga hiyawan, tilian at sigawan ng mga manunuod kaya naman saglit akong napatakip sa tenga ko.
I tightened my grip to my pencil and started to write figures under each candidate's number. The first category we're judging is Best in Performance.
🎶 All that you got, skin to skin, oh my God
Don't ya stop, boy
Somethin' 'bout you makes me feel like a dangerous woman
Somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout you
Makes me wanna do things that I shouldn't
Somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout you 🎶
The female candidates moved again and went to their partners. Together, they danced with the song.
The crowd never stopped screaming and shouting for their bets.
When the music ended, the candidates striked with their best poses at nagpalakpakan naman ang mga tao.
The music replayed but the sound is now lower.
The first candidates, male and female number one, walked forward and approached the microphone.
"Hi, my name is Andrea Valdez, 19 years old and with me is.."
"Felipe Tenorio, 20 and we're proud to represent Criminology First Year, section A!!" pagpapakilala ng mga unang candidates. May isang side ng gymnasium na naghiyawan. I saw them raising a banner and tarpaulin. Siguro ay section A din ang mga ito.
"Don't forget to check the representative of First Year, section B," I remember Sarah told me yesterday.
Dahil doon ay mabilis na hinagilap ng mga mata ko ang magkapartner na 2nd candidates, na naglalakad palapit sa microphone kung saan nakatayo ang mga candidates number one kanina.
Kumunot ang noo ko dahil hindi ko masyadong maaninag ang mga mukha nila. Medyo malayo kasi ang distansya ng stage sa table kung saan kami nakaupo.
Tapos yung videographer, hindi pa fino-focus yung video sa mga susunod na candidates kaya kahit may malaking screen kung saan ko pwedeng makita nang malapitan ang mga candidates ay useless naman.
The next candidates started introducing themselves.
Muli akong nag-focus sa mga candidates na nasa harapan.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Kathy Moreno, I am 20 years old, and I believe in the saying that.."
Bla bla bla! Hindi ko masyadong pinagtuonan ng pansin ang kanyang introduction since nakakasawa ang ganung istilo.
Yumuko nalang ako at pinasadahan ng tingin ang scoring sheet ko kung sino ang binigyan ko ng highest score for the Best in Performance award.
"Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat.."
Agad na sumikdo ang puso ko when the male candidate number two started to speak.
Agad akong nag-angat ng tingin to look closely at the man. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali.
Sa tinig palang, alam kong siya na yun.
"Ako nga po pala si Cedric Esguerra, dalawampu't tatlong taong gulang. Naniniwala po ako sa kasabihang ang pag-ibig ay parang ligaw na bala, kung sinu-sino nalang ang tinatamaan."
I bit my lower lip dahil sa mga sinabi niyang iyon. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko, magkakahalong gulat at kung anu-anong mga emosyon.
Parang natulos ako sa aking kinauupoan habang nakatitig kay Cedric. Lumilinaw na sa paningin ko ang mukha niya and I must say, he had an extreme make-over.
He wears light make up and strangely, I find him.. ehrmm, pogi?
No!
Okay, fine! Even if I don't want to admit it to myself, talagang pogi siya ngayong gabi na ito. Magaling siguro ang make up artist.
The audience laughed and shouted because of what Cedric said last. May hugot kasi eh, 'no?
Itong 'syanong ito, nakuha pang humugot sa kanyang intro. Waley naman.
Ngumiti ito sa mga audience nang maisigaw nila ng kanyang partner ang kanilang year and section.
Iginala pa nito ang kanyang paningin at nang sa tingin ko ay titingin siya sa direksyon ko, agad kong itinakip sa mukha ko ang hawak kong folder.
No, he can't see me here at the judges' table. Buti kung hindi niya narinig kanina ang pangalan ko nung iannounce ito ng mga hosts? Gosh, I'm so dead!
Saka ko lang tinanggal ang pagkakatakip ko sa mukha ko nang marinig ko ang introduction ng mga ikatlong candidates.
The first category ended and came the second which is Police Attire Competition. Magsusuot ang mga kalahok ng damit-pampulis and we judge them base on their projection.
Kapag ganung rumarampa palapit sa aming table sina Cedric at ang kapartner nito ay inihaharang ko sa harapan ng mukha ko ang folder na hawak ko.
Ayokong makita niya ako kasi baka bigla siyang ma-distract.
Infairness, magaling siyang rumampa at magdala ng damit na hindi ko inexpect. Well, his appearance as one of the candidates is unexpected either.
When the Talent Competition came, excited much akong malaman kung ano ang ipapakita niyang talento.
"Male candidate number two will be dancing," pag-anunsyo ng lalaking host.
Maya-maya ay lumabas si Cedric sa stage na nakasuot lang ng pantalon. Ang katawan niya ay bahagyang nangingintab, ewan ko kung may ipinahid ito dito o dahil ito sa pawis, I'm not really sure.
What I'm sure at is that, he has a fucking nice body! How come he has those abs and perfectly toned muscles?
May mga nagsigawang manunuod dahil sa kanyang ayos but I just can't help but stare at him.
He looks.. hot.
Whoa!
Nang tumugtog na at nagsimula na siyang sumayaw ay malakas ang naging tawanan ng mga manunuod, pati ang mga kasama kong mga judges dahil ang sinasayaw lang naman nito ay walang iba kundi.. budots.
Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa scoring sheet ko at di ko namalayang nalalamukos ko na ito habang pinapanuod ang pagsayaw ni Cedric sa harap.
Hindi ko napigilang sumabay narin sa pagtawa dahil mukha siyang adik dun sa harapan. Para siyang yung mga tambay sa isang kanto na lasenggo.
We laughed nonstop while watching Cedric's performance na halos ikasakit pa ng mga panga at tiyan namin.
For that, I gave him a perfect score because of how hilarious his performance was!
"Thank you so much, Male Candidate number two. Wew! That was a fantastic dance, don't you think, Bea?" sabi ni Jimmy nang mag-exit si Cedric sa stage. Halatang hirap na hirap ito sa pagpipigil na matawa.
"Indeed, Jimmy! Not just fantastic. It was also a jaw-dropping performance," pagresponde naman ni Bea na halatang nagpipigil din na matawa.
I brought out a tissue and wipe my tears caused by laughing too much.
Hay, hay. Cedric, you made my night!
The audience's laughters are still audible even if the next candidates are already performing.
Grabe kasi talaga! We were expecting a hot and sexy dance from him since he wears a sexy outfit, just to surprise us with some kind of literal street dance.
And mind you, I recorded his performance on my iPhone para pwede ko ulit itong panuorin next time.
The second-to-the-last part of the competition came which is the Question and Answer, nakuha nang magseryoso ang mga tao.
"Candidates," Bea stated while looking at the candidates standing at the stage. "You are going to approach us one by one and pick a ball with a writren number in it which represents the judges. Kung sinong judge ang mabubunot niyo, siya ang magtatanong sa inyo. The numbers are one to four since we only have four judges tonight," pagpapaliwanag niya sa mga ito and all of them nodded.
"Alright! Female Candidate number one, please come here in front and pick your judge," Jimmy summoned the first lady. No, not the President's wife.
Bumunot ito ng isang card sa loob ng isang tila fish bowl na hawak ni Jimmy and she showed him what number was written in it.
"And she picked judge number three, Ma'am Rosalinda Ramolete," sabi ni Jimmy. "Ma'am, your question, please."
Mrs. Ramolote greeted first the candidate before dropping her question.
"If you were a cartoon character, who would you be and why?" asked Mrs. Ramolete. Hmm? I really don't like her question though I know it will test the ability of the candidate to answer.
"Thank you, ma'am, for that wonderful question. If I were a cartoon character, I would be Courage, the cowardly dog. Why? Because even if he is scared to death, afraid of the ghosts and different types of villains that haunt them, he always conquers his fears just to save the old man and the woman because he considers them as his family. Just like him, even if I'm afraid of many things, I will conquer my fears just to make my family happy and safe. That's all and thank you," nakangiting pagsagot ng unang kandidata and she earned an applause from the audience including from us, judges.
What can I say? She answered the simple question with grace and wit.
Her partner, Male Candidate number one picked judge number one, Mr. Romulo Barredo.
Unfortunately, he didn't answer the question as good as his partner's.
Now came the second candidates.
Nang sumasagot ang ikalawang kandidata sa tanong ni Mrs. Ramolete ulit ay kabadong-kabado ako. I cannot cover my face this time. Magmumukha lang akong timang.
And what if Cedric happens to pick me? Gosh, I'm really uneasy.
"Thank you so much, female candidate number two. Let's call for your partner. Male candidate number two, please come and pick your judge," pagtawag ni Bea kay Cedric at pakiramdam ko ay nanlamig ang dulo ng mga daliri ko.
Again, I covered my face when Cedric walked palapit sa mga hosts. Bahala na kahit magmukha akong timang sa ginagawa ko.
"Oh, it's Mr. Cyrus Sanderson!" I flinched when I heard my name. No, it cannot be! Bakit ako ang binunot mo, Cedric? Naknam--
Hindi ko parin magawang ibaba ang folder na ipinantatakip ko sa mukha ko and my co-judges look at me with questioning eyes.
"Mr. Sanderson?" pagtawag ni Jimmy.
Wala na akong nagawa at napilitang ibaba ang folder at nagtama ang mga mata namin ni Cedric.
I smiled at him shyly. I swear, tabingi ang ngiti ko ngayon.
I saw Cedric's reaction. Expected ko nang magugulat siya sa nalaman niya. Bahagyang umawang pa ang mga labi niya and his face went a little pale.
"Mr. Sanderson, your question for male candidate number two, please?" Jimmy asked.
I picked the microphone in front of me and turned it on.
"Umm, hi male candidate number two," bati ko sa kanya and he just stared. Hindi rin niya napansin ang pag-abot ni Jimmy sa microphone sa kanya na gagamitin niya sa pagsagot. Kinailangan pa siya nitong pasimpleng sikohin ng mahina bago ito parang nagising.
Kinuha nito ang microphone kay Jimmy pero hindi parin ito sumagot kaya mas lalo akong napangiti. Parang hindi parin makapaniwala ang itsura niya habang nakatitig sa'kin.
"I said hi Male Candidate number two," ulit ko and he slowly raises the microphone to answer.
"A-a-ah. H-hi. Hi.. po.. ser?" paputol-putol at halatang kinakabahang sagot niya. Saglit akong sumeryoso nang marinig ko ang tawag niya sa'kin.. sir.
Yun na nga ba ang sinasabi ko eh! Once na malalaman niyang isa akong Sanderson, he will start calling me that way.
Agad kong ibinalik ang ngiti ko and looked down at my papers. I already constructed one question.
"Ninenerbyos ka ba?" tanong ko muna sa kanya bago ko sabihin ang tanong ko.
"O-opo.. ser," he answered with the same emotion.
"It's Cyrus, okay? Wag kang kabahan. Sige ka, baka hindi ka makasagot ng maayos. Baka may kaibigan kang magtatampo 'pag di mo naiuwi yung korona," natatawang biro ko just to help him forget or maybe ignore his nervousness.
Hindi siya nakasagot pero unti-unti naman siyang napangiti.
"Okay, are you ready for your question?" tanong ko.
Itinaas niya ang mikropono sa kanyang bibig at saka sumagot. "Yes, ser."
"Good. Okay, here's your question.. If you had superpowers, what would it be and why?" pagbabasa ko sa sinulat kong tanong kanina. When I saw Cedric's reaction nang marinig ang tanong ko ay na-realize kong medyo mahina nga pala siya sa English.
"Uulitin ko ang tanong," sabi ko. "Kung meron kang superpowers o kakaibang kapangyarihan, ano ito at bakit?" pagta-translate ko sa tanong ko and I smiled nang makita kong medyo parang nakahinga siya.
"Ah.. Ano po.. Kung meron po akong kakaibang kapangyarihan?" parang hindi pa siya sigurado doon so I keep on smiling at him just to encourage him.
"Kung meron po akong kakaibang kapangyarihan, siguro po ay kakayahang magpaibig.." sagot niya. Boy, he really looks and sounds nervous.
"Bakit?" tanong ko.
Pansin kong napalunok siya. "Dahil gusto kong paibigin ang mga tao sa kapwa nila. Naniniwala kasi akong kapag mahal natin ang isa't isa, magkakaroon ng kaayusan ang mundo. Mawawala ang inggit at iba pang mga masasamang bagay," sagot niya and I slowly clapped my hands na sinundan ng mga kasama kong judges and the audience.
"Yun lang ang sagot mo?" I asked baka may maidugtong pa siya though kontento na ako sa sagot niya.
"Yun lang po," sagot naman niya. I raised my two thumbs at him before he went back to his position.
I got to ask five more of the other candidates and when the Question and Answer Portion was over, moment of truth na.
Malalaman na kung sino ang uuwi bilang Mr. and Ms. Criminology 2016.
Dahil ako ang Chairman of the board of judges, ako ang unang nakaalam kung sino ang top 5 and I smiled triumphantly when I saw Cedric's number, which is 2, being hailed as first Runner-Up. Not bad, Ced. Not bad.
I gave the result paper to the hosts and they announced it.
When they proclaimed Cedric's achievement, I clapped my hands nonstop because I'm so proud of him.
Oh, he's Best in Police Attire, too! Unfortunately, he didn't win Best in Talent.
"To pin the sash and give the trophy to our First Runner-Up, let us call the judge who asked you a question earlier, Mr. Cyrus Sanderson," Bea called and I am more than willing to stand and go to stage.
It's my pleasure to give such award to my friend.
Iniabot ko sa kanya ang trophy and I noticed that he's trembling. I also pinned the sash on his tux.
Nang matapos ay di ko napigilan ang sarili ko na yakapin siya ng mahigpit.
"Proud na proud ako sa'yo, kuya," bulong ko sa kanya and when I looked at his face, I saw him crying.