243. Carnival Beauties: VICTORIA L. LOPEZ, Candidate to the Manila Carnival 1922

VICTORY FOR VICTORIA! Candidate to the Manila Carnival 1922, Victoria was one of the long list of Ilongga beauties that competed for the beauty cup, which included Pura Villanueva, Lilia Lopez, Consuelo Acuna, among others.

 In 1922, University of the Philippines took pride in announcing their chosen contestant to the annual carnival. She was no other than Victoria Lopez y Ledesma, from Iloilo. 

The Ilongga beauty, born 6 March 1907, was born to parents, hacendero Eusebio Lopez and Ana Ledesma, both from powerful and affluent families from Jaro. Victoria went to Assumption Convent for her education and was active in school plays, music and dance recitals. She was also a popular member of the exclusive Smiles Club and the Kahirup social club.

She married Atty. Salvador Araneta on 14 August 1927, the son of Gregorio Araneta and Carmen Zaragosa. Salvador was known for being a “relentless advocate for the homeless, the unemployed and for the industrialization of the Philippines”. 

The couple made their home in Mandaluyong, where they built the majestic Villa Victoneta, designed by 3 architects –Juan Arellano, Domingo Lerma and Andres Luna de San Pedro. It was the site of many grand events, drawing dignitaries like Pres. Manuel L. Quezon, Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, High Commissioner Paul V. McNnutt, Apostolic Delegate Guglielmo Piani, among others.

The couple had 4 children: Carminia, Ana Marie, Maria Lina, Maria Victoria and Regina. Victoria shared her husband’s deep involvement involved in advocacies and socio-civic causes. She set up a school for children living around the Mandaluyong area. She was the leading light of White Cross, a project which took care of children of parents afflicted with the dreaded TB. Her husband was wanted by Marcos during the Martial Law years, but by then, they had flown to America and settled in Canada, with the help of the Vatican. Victoria passed away of cancer on 16 February 1988.

156. Jazzing Up the Carnival: LOU BORROMEO, Bodabil King

JAZZ THE WAY YOU ARE. Louis F. Borromeo of Cebu, came back after hitting it big in the American entertainment circuit, and introduced jazz music to the Philippines by way of his song-dance-circus-magic revues that livened up the Carnivals. Ca. 1922.

Luis Borromeo, originally from Cebu, was one of the first Filipino entertainers who made it big in the jazz music halls of America and Canada in the first decade of the 20th century. In 1920, Luis Borromeo returned to the Philippines, renamed himself Borromeo Lou, and put up a band that popularized classical-jazz music. This music genre found favor in the local entertainment circuit, which integrated such performances in the variety shows, which Borromeo later dubbed as “vod-a-vil” or ‘bodabil’, Filipinized from the French ‘vaudeville’.

The enterprising pianist-impresario went beyond spreading his jazz music by establishing his own repertory of artists known as the “Borromeo Lou & Co., Ltd.” , which had magicians, dancers, acrobats, comedians, singers and musicians in its roster of performers. Soon, Borromeo Lou was being invited to grace important events and high society functions.

In 1922, Borromeo and his group was tapped by the Manila Carnival Association to provide entertainment for the 1922 Manila Carnival. He was thus introduced to the Carnival audience as “the originator and recognized King of Orientalized and ‘classic’ jazz, a pianist of rare skill and ability, and champion of all round mirth provoker of the Far East”.

Borromeo Lou and his group’s appearance as the star feature of the 1922 Carnival was made possible through a “royal appointment by her Gracious Majesty, the Queen of the 1922 Manila Carnival”, as hyped up in ads promoting the show.

The cast was headed by Borromeo Lou himself (“The Human Dynamo, Direcor and Classic-Jazz Pianist”), Miss Toytoy ( “The captivating China girl that has won the hearts of all Manila with her character songs and distinctive dances”), Datu Mandi (“The superb and inimitable Moro baritone who interprets with perfection the most difficult operas and sings the exquisite melodies of modern composers”) , Dudu (“The Moro Musician”) , Lucas )”The Miniature Harold Lloyd”) , Hayoki and Maruki San (“The Japanese Twins), musicians Sulubi, Baki and Swasing. Of course, Borromeo’s jazz orchestra, capable of “producing about 240 jazz explosions per minute”, topbilled the Carnival show.

Under Borromeo Lou’s superb direction, his troupe dished out quality entertainment for the Carnival crowd, furnishing “the joy racket of the big show”, night after night.

“If you’re sick, come and be cured. If you’re going to die, come and have a good laugh first. If you’re well, come and help carry out the Jazzophobia victims”—so went Borromeo Lou’s call-to-action to Carnival visitors and revelers. His “bodabil” shows would thrive for the rest of the American occupation—staged in fiestas, petit fairs and theaters—and jumpstarting the careers of well-known artists as singer Katy de la Cruz, dancer Bayani Casimiro, and the Charlie Chaplin look-alike, Canuplin.

41. 1922, Queen of the Manila Carnival, VIRGINIA VIDAL LLAMAS

1922 QUEEN OF THE MANILA CARNIVAL. Virginia Vidal Llamas, a student from the progressive Philippine Women's College, beat candidates from exclusive schools for the crown.

1922 saw another banner year for the Manila Carnival, as the annual fair was used by the Americans to emphasize and instill health and sanitation consciousness among the Filipinos. The first “health parade” was witnessed in this year’s edition with hundreds of sanitary workers—from street sweepers, fumigators, health group members and puericulture officers participating. It was also this year that attractive art competitions (Fernando Amorsolo won 1st prize for his painting) and unusual ethnic exhibits (the mummy of 12th c. Benguet demigod Apo Anno was put on display) were put up for public enjoyment.

The Queen selected to reign over the fair was a quiet, demure collegian from Pagsanjan, Laguna: Virginia Llamas y Vidal. Born on 1 July 1905, she was the eldest daughter of Laguna’s former governor, Vicente Llamas and Feliza Vidal, in a brood that also included siblings Vicente Jr., Alicia, Ysmael, Ramiro, Gloria, Marina and Pelagio.

QUEEN VIRGINIA I. In her official picture as a Carnival sovereign.

When her father visited America, he was smitten by the sights of Virginia, so when he named his daughter after the said U.S. state. Virginia’s parents were progressive thinkers so when it was time for her o enter college, they sent her off to the newly-opened Philippine Women’s College known for its democratic system of education introduced by the Americans. It also helped that the founders, the Benitezes, were close family friends.

When the Carnival season arrived, contestants were outsourced from schools and it was in this manner that Virginia’s name was included in the official candidate list. Not only did the student population of PWC supported her candidacy but also The Herald, a leading newspaper edited by Conrado Benitez, whose wife, Francisca, was the PWC president.

The queenship was closely contested by several girls of irrefutable qualifications, led by Vicenta Osmeña, daughter of then Speaker of the House, Sergio Osmeña. Nena Valera, the candidate of El Ideal also was a rival to contend with. Both girls by the way, were also backed by the very influential Bachelor’s Club. Then there was Margaret Murray, the American candidate of Manila Bulletin. But another group had formed behind the candidacy of Virginia, whose aim was to elect a “really popular queen”.

THE ROYAL TRIO. Queen Virginia, flanked by her two princesses, in Roman costumes.

Virginia was herself a regular student of a progressive college, atypical of other candidates who came from exclusive schools favored by society’s elite. Considering her as one of their own, student leaders, thus, rallied behind Virginia, tirelessly campaigning and soliciting votes in her behalf. Young Fernando Lopez of U.S.T.’s College of Law, for instance, organized a dance affair that proved to be one of the biggest fund-raising event for Virginia. When all the votes were tallied, Virginia garnered 2,868,400 votes, giving her a lead of almost a million votes ahead of the second placer, Nena Valera. Her victory made it to the headlines of The Herald which proclaimed: “Ave Regina! Queen Virginia II, Hail, All Hail—Queen of the People!”

A ROMAN CORONATION. Su Majestad La reyna Virginia II y su Corte. Carlos P. Romulo is the 3rd person from the left. Fernando Lopez stands on the right.

As The Herald was instrumental in her win, the management also handpicked her consort, Carlos P. Romulo of Camiling, Tarlac, who happened to be an editor of the paper. American-educated ‘Rommy’ was already making a name as a brilliant writer, orator and debater and he naturally balked at the idea of participating in a carnival which he considered light and trifling. At that time, he was still mourning the loss of his father. And he had a girlfriend to booth-- presenting himself with a female partner before an audience that included her girlfriend could be quite unsettling. Lastly, the thought of wearing a Roman costume and tights for the coronation mortified him.

THE 1923 QUEEN AND HER COURT. Virginia's King Consort was Carlos P. Romulo.

However, Don Manuel Earnshaw, the big boss of The Herald, was stern and insistent. Romulo grudgingly complied lest he incur his anger and lose his job. At the coronation festivities, Romulo left the Queen’s side many times to dance with other partners, and it was only until the last day of the festivities that he finally asked her for a dance.

ROMMY ANG GINNY. Virginia and Carlos P. Romulo in Roman costumes. Romulo was so uncomfortable wearing the tunic and was not exactly thrilled with his escorting duties; he left his Queen to dance with other girls during the coronation ball.

Eventually, romance blossomed between the two and two years after the Carnival, on 1 July 1924, the two were married in Pagsanjan. They had four sons: Carlos Jr. (who died in a plane crash on 11 Oct. 1957), Greg, Dick and Bobby. Romulo of course, became a distinguished international diplomat and statesman (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, President of the UN General Assembly) and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Virginia preferred to stay in the background and only once were she and her husband separated for some time, when Romulo joined Quezon in exile during the war years in Washington.

Virginia passed away ahead of her King Consort, dying at the age of 63 on 22 January 1968. In life as in death, Virginia was recognized as “one of the greatest Filipino women of modern times”. In 1961, she was awarded a Presidential Award, acknowledging her for her “womanly virtues of a devoted wife and mother, the guardian of home and family values, and traditions and modesty.”
In a touching tribute published in a national newspaper, a journalist wrote: “What may remain forever engraved in the memory of not a few generation and of those following is the silent, sovereign grace of her life as a queen—once in a national festival, and, continuously, as a housewife and mother. Virginia Llamas Romulo was a Queen”.

40. 1922, MANILA CARNIVAL

The 1922 Manila Carnival and Industrial Fair was held from 4-12 February 1922, headed by the President of the Commonwealth, Manuel L. Quezon (L), with the Governor General of the Philippine Islands, Leonard Wood named as honorary president. Arsenio Luz (R) was the Director-General.

The premise of this year’s carnival was that “it is more than a fun and folly fiesta. The promotion of health, education, commerce, industry and community spirit are permanent interests of this great annual event”.

The Carnival authorities have spared neither effort nor expense in making the fair the biggest and best free attraction on the Carnival grounds. The Main Exhibition Building housed the displays of the Insular Bureaus, Provincial Governments and Business Houses of the Philippines. The National Federation of Women’s Clubs. American Guardian Association. Public Welfare Booth, Anti TB Society and the Red Cross had their booths in this building for demonstration purposes. Beneath the Tower of Jewels there is an attractive display of electrical merchandise.

ENTRANCE TO THE AUDITORIUM. Bluperint as drawn by Arch. Juan Arellano. 1922

Provincial representation was boosted by the booths of Iloilo, Leyte, Tayabas, Pampanga, Laguna, Rizal, Tarlac, La Union, Marinduque, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, Cebu and Palawan, with each province showing off their best manufactured products.

THE CARNIVAL 1922 AUDITORIUM. A designed by Arch. Juan M. Arellano.

February 8 was designated as a “Merchants’ Day”, in recognition of the role of commerce in nation-building. The 3-day Far Eastern Commercial-Industrial Convention was held within the Carnival period, attended by members of the the chambers of commerce, ending with a fabulous “Merchant’s Ball”. A Sample Fair Theater was also set up for selling and order-taking of different commodities and products.

As always , the Army was well-represented in the Carnival by specially selected units of Infantry and Machine Gun, Mountain Artillery and Cavalry. February 7th was reserved for the Infantry Day, marked with squad drills, call to arms, salvo and volley firing and other military maneuvers like bareback and rough riding.

Special sideshow attractions included stunt performances by Oscar Varley Babcock, whose “Death Gap Loop”—in which his automobile goes on a swift descent down a narrow incline and makes a death-defying loop as it twists and turns—was billed as the most sensational feature of the 1922 Carnival. Borromeo Lou, the Filipino impresario, also wowed the evening crowds with the theatrical performances of his troupe. Other much-talked about acts included magicians and illusionists Orville the Great and Professor Shaw, with his mystifying card tricks and sleight of hands.

The 1922 Carnival staged a record number of 4 parades, starting on Feb. 4, with the Carnival Parade participated by costumed and uniformed groups. This was followed on subsequent days by a series of Educational Parades, Military Parades and the new Health Parades, to call attention to the widespread effort s of different health and civic groups to suppress disease and maintain a high standard of public health.

MAIN GATE OF THE 1922 MANILA CARNIVAL. As designed Arch. Juan M. Arellano.

For Carnival revelers, there were the opulent and festive balls to look forward to. Daily balls were held from 4 Feb. to Feb. 12., beginning with the International Ball, Parejas Ball (prizes to the Most Comic and Most Original Couple), Coronation Ball, Comparsa Ball, Children’s Fancy Dress Ball, Merchant’s Ball, Stockholders’ Ball, Army and Navy Ball, Popular Ball and finally, the Grand Carnival Ball.

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL FAIR HALL. For exhibition of the country's finest manufactured produce.

An historical pageant was presented by the Dramatic Association of the University of the Philippines to picture the splendor of the court of the Rajahs of Manila before the coming of Legazpi. Characters like Lakandula and his Queen, Legazpi, Rajah Soliman, Augustinian priests, Spanish soldiers, dozens of native princesses and Asian merchants came to life in colorful costumes to thrill an adoring crowd.

Then there were the exciting Athletic Competitions that featured everything from Cricket. Soccer to Track, Golf, Bowling, Baseball, Volleyball and Basketball. A Dog and a Horse Show were even held to show off canines and equines of the most exotic kind.

The 1922 Manila Carnival will also be remembered for its Queen and her King Consort, she, a quiet, unassuming beauty and he, an American-educated achiever who, together, went on to win greater acclaim in the field of international diplomacy and government service.