The man behind the pomp and pageantry

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but for Ernie Molina, the magnificence of a woman’s physical attributes is best seen under the klieg lights of pageantry.

Ask around and you will immediately notice one thing: beauty pageants in the Northern Marianas would not be a pageant without Molina at the helm. His expertise has transported local pageantry to a level that has become the yardstick by which other pageants are measured against.

With so much creativity and vast experience on directorial and choreography up his sleeves, Molina has carved his own niche on Saipan as pageant director-cum-choreographer par excellence.

Beginning 2001, the Northern Marianas Beauty Pageant Association took in Molina to conceptualize, direct, choreograph and train all CNMI beauty candidates who would be representing the Mariana Islands in international beauty pageants.

Former Miss CNMI International Michelle Sablan discovered Molina in 2001 and endorsed him to the NMBPA as its pageant director. His work began that year, training 2001 Miss CNMI-Universe Janet King, who represented the Commonwealth in the Miss Universe beauty pageant.

His service were later used by 2002 Miss CNMI Universe Virginia Gridley and 2002 Miss CNMI International Christine Juwelle Cunanan, who were both voted as winners in the Oceania Global Beauties, winning the Avelina Award (Best in Catwalk), Best in National Costume, and Best Personality. Oceania Global Beauties is an organization that collects candidates of different international pageants and rates them accordingly.

“We were flattered that we tied up with the Miss Australia during that time. The two [Virginia and Christine] did a good job and remained on the top 3 position of that contest,” said Molina.

From then on, Molina was behind most of the CNMI’s beauty pageants, helping in the 2003 Miss Northern Marianas and this year’s edition of the beauty pageant. He also assisted the Miss Teen CNMI pageant in 2003 and in 2004.

He also directed and choreographed the search for Miss Philippines-CNMI contest for two consecutive years, along with several other community-related services.

Molina, a nurse by profession at the Commonwealth Health Center, is a certified member of the Choreographers Association of the Philippines. He is also a certified academic and skills trainer of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency for Filipino performing artists.

Also, Molina is part of the Choreographers Association of the Philippines and underwent rigid training under well-know choreographer Douglas Nieras. Prior to his directorial stints on Saipan, Molina has taken part in various fashion shows in the Philippines that featured Philippines’ top designers led by Gener Gozum.

It was the experiences he gathered from the Philippines’ icons of beauty and fashion shows that Molina is now using in helping transform the local pageant scene.

“The CNMI is slowly earning the respect of international beauty contests. Virginia and Christine were chosen in the Oceania Global Beauties, 2003 Miss CNMI-Universe Kimberly Reyes was Best in Talent in the Miss Universe 2003, and 2003 Miss Teen CNMI Remelyn Julene Guerrero bested several others by winning second place in the Miss Antilles International Beauty contest, aside from two other awards. The CNMI should be proud of these women. They had potential and they trained to properly represent the islands,” said Molina.

He believes that CNMI should give credit to the beauty pageants, which give the islands its ambassadors of goodwill who would help promote the CNMI’s tourism industry.

“We have so many beautiful women here in the CNMI. I encourage them to have the heart and the confidence to participate and be proud to represent the CNMI. If they have potential, follow-up trainings would bring them up to speed,” he added.

Some would view Molina as a demanding choreographer but he said he is uncompromising when it comes to requiring participants to give their best.

At present, Molina has partnered with two other Saipan beauty experts, Renren Santos and Ogot Santos, in training pageant contestants who are leaving for international beauty contests.

Molina conducts the training on personality development, catwalk training, table manners and etiquette, which he says are significant when joining beauty contest at the international level.

Only recently, Molina trained 2004 Miss Teen CNMI Divana Dela Cruz, who is competing in this year’s Miss Antilles International beauty contest. He is also currently training 2004 Miss CNMI World Tracy Del Rosario, who will compete in the 2004 Miss World.

In his heart, Molina believes that CNMI can accomplish more for its tourism industry. “I wish there would be Miss Tourism also who would closely coordinate with the Marianas Visitor’s Authority to effectively advertise the CNMI as a tourist destination. Instead of first runner-up, that would be a good choice of title, ‘Miss Tourism,’” he said.

He may be a nurse by profession but he is also a doctor who knows how to spice up a bland stage with terrific performances and transform gawky beauty contestants into women of poise and elegance.