PAGEANT enthusiasts worldwide mourned the death of beloved Miss Universe host Bob Barker last August 26 in Los Angeles. He passed away at the ripe old age of 99.
The tall and charming emcee of Miss USA and Miss Universe for two decades (1967-1987) makes him the longest-serving host of the prestigious beauty competitions.
Our admiration for the Miss Universe host started in 1969 will watching the TV replay of the pageant won by Gloria Diaz, our first Miss Universe. That was also when got hooked on the Miss Universe pageant – and then on other major international and national beauty tilts.
Watching Bob interview the semifinalists was a joy to watch. He interacted very spontaneously and knew when to break the ice to make timid girls feel at ease instantly. He also talked lengthily with jovial, vivacious girls like then 18-year-old Gloria Diaz.
Didn’t Bob ask Gloria to name all her nine sisters and two brothers? To which Gloria retorted: “Alphabetically or according to rank (chronologically)?” That surely gave her longer airtime, an obvious advantage.
Bob’s old-school demeanor and charisma is a rarity today. Any emcee who could approximate his excellent skills and class that combined presence of mind, intelligence, wit and humor, would easily win our admiration.
Bob was a perfectionist; he always made sure he pronounced the candidates’ names correctly, although he had his share of on-stage boo-boos as well.
During the 1974 finals in Manila, he said “Bayinahan” instead of “Bayanihan” when he introduced the world-renowned Philippine dance troupe on stage. After that, he reviewed his cue cards well for his next tongue-twister that day: “Pangkat Kawayan” which he aced!
In 1973 in Athens, Greece, Bob took note of Margie Moran’s plans of becoming a banker and investing her prize money in building a hotel which her sister (Lulette
Moran) could manage, and said Margie could be the “Onassis of the Philippines,” alluding to the Greek tycoon who married John F. Kennedy’s widow Jackeline.
Margie, of course, became our second Miss Universe.
When Rosemarie “Chiqui” Brosas was interviewed by Bob at the semifinal round in El Salvador in 1975, he recalled fondly the previous year’s contest in Manila where the Filipina model was an usherette. Chiqui placed fourth runner-up.
In 1980 in Seoul, Korea, Bob led the audience in greeting the late Rosario “Chat” Silayan on her 21st birthday that day en route to placing third runner-up.
Bob’s interview with Desiree Verdadero in 1984 in Miami, Florida was light and easy, making the very nervous Pinay model feel at ease while talking about her modeling job; she placed third runner-up.
In 1987, Bob mentioned that semifinalist Geraldine “Pebbles” Asis had very good taste because her favorite TV show was the daytime “The Price Is Right,” which he also hosted.
A staunch animal rights activist, Bob quit hosting the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants in 1988 after two decades to protest the use of fur coats as prizes for the winners.
Aside from Miss Universe, we also got hooked on “The Price Is Right” in the 1970s. The longest-running game show in the US was hosted by Bob from 1972-2007 for which he won 14 Daytime Emmy Awards as game show host.
Bob’s famous line on the show “Come on down!” when calling a contestant from the audience was also used in calling out the first cut of semifinalists at the Miss Universe.
