Maria Rosario "Chat" Silayan passed away on sunday evening in Saint Lukes' Hospital due to Colon Cancer
She was Binibining Pilipinas -Universe 1980 and 3rd runner-up in the 1980 Miss Universe held in Seoul, South Korea
IT'S MISS UNIVERSE SEASON AGAIN
Quezon City, May 27, 2002 (STAR) by Ricardo F. Lo
"In 1980, there was a reluctant Bb. Pilipinas winner, Maria Rosario "Chat" Rivera Silayan, 21. She got bored after finishing B.S. Nutrition at Philippine Women’s University. Chat, daughter of the late veteran actor Vic Silayan, was the last to sign up during the final screening. She was left behind by her plane to Seoul where the Miss U was held. Nevertheless, Chat won third runner-up to Miss USA Shawn Nichols Weatherly of South Carolina. "
Miss Universe 1980 Reviewed (edited)
BEAUTY SCHOOL (The Dish On The Universe)
1980 - Seoul, South Korea
Three weeks of preliminary events included a spectacular parade down the main thoroughfare of Seoul, aboard flowered “Kotcha” floats, each decorated with the round “Taeguk” symbol of eternity. One- million persons lined the streets to cheer the ladies. One of the most enthusiastic fans was Colombian Ambassador, Dr. Virgilio Olano, who was so taken by the beauty of his country’s representative, Maria Patricia Arbelaez, that he drove beside her float in his Mercedes-Benz the entire length of the parade.
Among the most popular delegates in the parade were Australia’s Katrina Redina a big hit in her teeny-tiny silver lame bikini, which was supposed to be her national costume; press-favorite Delyse Nottle, impersonating Captain Cook; Korea’s own Kim Eun-jung; and Germany’s Kathrin Gloetzi who periodically clicked her heels and saluted the crowd, following on the theme of her costume - a mini-skirted military uniform.
The competition evenings of the pageant featured the fastest-paced Parade of Nations on record. The girls were instructed to introduce themselves with only their name and country. Things became unglued during the finals, when Bolivia’s Carmen Pereira jumped the gun ahead of Bermuda, messing up the alphabetical order.
One of the big favorites of the press and public, from the very beginning, was New Zealand’s stunning Delyse Nottle, who won the Miss Photogenic trophy, in addition to making the top five. When queried by reporters to explain her beauty secrets that led to the Photogenic trophy, the none-too-shy Delyse sweetly chirped, “My shining blue eyes, my smile, and the curves on my chest are another attractive point.”
The Korea Times reported that Miss Australia, Katrina Rendina, lost the Photogenic prize by only one photographer’s vote.
The Korea Times revealed one of pageant emcee Bob Barker’s tricks in getting through the semifinalist interviews. During the commercial break immediately preceding the first set of interviews, Bob instructed the audience to laugh whenever he touched his left ear. Said Bob, “This is known as the Old Korean Left Ear Trick.”
Going into the finals, local newspapers reported that the Misses New Zealand (Ms. Nottle), Australia (Ms. Rendina), USA (Shaewn Weatherly), Tahiti (Tilda Fuller) and Philippines (Maria del Rosario Silayan)
were the most favored to win the crown, among beauty experts and international visitors. All made the semi-finals except for Australia.
USA’s Shawn Weatherly won the crown, enjoying a strong lead from the moment that she was named as a semifinalist. She was cheered on by 29 Miss USA 1980 delegates, who were invited (all-expenses paid) by the Seoul Organizering Committee. Hence, Arizona’s Jineane Ford, first runner-up at Miss USA, had the special pleasure of being on-hand as she was named to succeed Shawn as Miss USA.
The international press commented disfavorably on the poor quality of the on-stage translators during the finals. At least two of the twelve semifinalists suffered poor interviews with Bob Barker due to the shoddy translations. For example, Bob asked Colombia’s Maria Patricia Arbelaez what she planned to do if she won the crown. The translator simply asked the girl, “What do you want to do?” and the girl’s answer related to a different period in time - in the distant future. Similarly, Miss Korea’s answer to Bob’s question about matchmaking was very diplomatic, yet the interpreter gave a very brusque and rude answer in English.
INTERVIEW
8.317 USA
8.283 New Zealand
8.208 Sweden
8.121 Philippines
8.036 Scotland
7.992 Canada
7.850 Puerto Rico
7.789 Colombia
7.713 Panama
7.675 Iceland
7.658 Korea
6.957 Tahiti
SWIMSUIT COMPETITION
8.718 USA
8.400 New Zealand
8.273 Scotland
8.250 Sweden
8.200 Canada
8.033 Philippines
7.942 Iceland
7.892 Puerto Rico
7.858 Tahiti
7.750 Korea
7.742 Panama
7.729 Colombia
Evening Gown:
8.883 USA
8.433 Philippines
8.400 New Zealand
8.346 Sweden
8.267 Scotland
8.100 Canada
8.067 Tahiti
7.967 Korea
7.933 Iceland
7.867 Puerto Rico
7.842 Colombia
7.825 Panama
Average:
8.639 USA
8.361 New Zealand
8.268 Sweden
8.196 Philippines
8.192 Scotland
8.097 Canada
7.870 Puerto Rico
7.850 Iceland
7.792 Korea
7.787 Colombia
7.760 Panama
7.627 Tahiti
Look at her colorful film career