BAGO si Megan Young na kauna-unahang Filipina Miss World in 2013, si Evangeline Pascual ang kauna-unahang Pinay na pumasok bilang first runner-up ng nasabing international beauty pageant nung 1973. She could have been the Philippines’ first Miss World kung tinanggap niya ang korona matapos ma-dethrone ang kinoronahang Miss World at that time, ang American beauty queen na si Marjorie Wallace. Being the first runner-up, automatically si Evangeline ang dapat sumalo sa duties ni Marjorie. But unfortunately, hindi niya ito tinanggap dahil sa mga napirmahan niyang several movie contracts sa Pilipinas so the title was offered to the second runner-up na Miss Jamaica, Patsy Yuen who carried on the duties ng Miss World up to the end of the reign.
Ang 23rd Miss World competition in 1973 ay ginanap sa Royal Albert Hall in England kung saan si Engelbert Humperdinck ang special guest performer. Si Engelbert ay naging ball date ni Evangeline after the coronation night.
Evangeline was only 17 years old nang siya’y sumali sa Miss Republic of the Philippines at naging kinatawan sa Miss World in 1973. Since she was still a minor, siya’y sinamahan ng kanyang dad who was a doctor sa London for the Miss World competition. Ang kanyang father din ang naging mentor-coach niya para sa Q&A portion.
Evangeline carried with her 21 suitcases na naglalaman ng mga damit at gowns sa iba’t ibang events bago ang coronation night. The gowns were created for her by fashion icon Aureo Alonzo. In one suitcase ay laman naman ang mga Filipino souvenir items (from Tesoros) na ipinamigay ni Evangeline sa kanyang kapwa candidates at maging sa mga involved sa competition.
Tandang-tanda pa ni Evangeline na siya’y naging crowd favorite during the competition pero walang Asian na kasama sa judges. Veteran actor Gregory Peck who were among the judges favored Miss USA candidate Marjorie Wallace.
After the competition, agad dumagsa kay Evangeline ang maraming offers sa movies (both local and international), international fashion shows at iba’t ibang personal appearances.
Pinanghinayangan man niya ang pagtanggi sa Miss World title dahil sa commitments sa Pilipinas, nagging Masaya naman siya sa nagging desisyon. A few years later, Evangeline got married to a lawyer who was 18 years her senior at nagkaroon sila ng tatlonganak.
The former beauty queen-turned actress was young widower at age 38 when her husband died in 1994. The following year, she lost her dad, Dr. Francisco Pascual, Jr.
“Mas nauna pa akong nabiyuda sa nanay ko,” pagbabalik-tanaw ni Envangeline.
Ang dalawa niyang older children ay nag-aaral noon sa London habang nasa grade school naman ang kanyang bunsong anak. When her husband passed on, pinauwi niya ang dalawa niyang anak at dito sa Pilipinas (Ateneo de Manila University) pinag-aral na mag-isa niyang iginapang.
Nasa ibang bansa ngayon ang tatlong anak ni Evangeline at may kani-kanya na ring pamilya kaya mag-isa siyang namumuhay sa kanyang bahay in Quezon City. There are times na binibisita niya ang mga anak o ang mga ito ang dumadalaw sa kanya.
Nang makapagtapos na ng kanilang pag-aaral ang tatlong anak at pagkatapos ay nangibang bansa, si Evangeline naman ang nag-enrol sa Ateneo de Manila University where she took up Theology course. She also got involved sa Center for Family Ministry ng Ateneo.
Naging in-demand resource person and public speaker din si Evangeline (both here and abroad).
Gusto ni Evangeline na parati siyang may ginagawa. At home, naisisingit niya ang pagpipinta. She does farming kapag umuuwi siya sa kanyang hometown sa Orani, Bataan to visit her 89-year-old mom. May sarili ring farm sa Bataan ang dating beauty queen-turned actresss.
Regularly, she visits the gym and does hula hoop at home.
At 63, she is physically fit at wala pang maintenance meds na tini-take si Evangeline at hindi rin siya nagsuuot ng eye glasses.
“Thank God I’m healthy!” bulalas niya.
“I don’t want my children to worry about me. I can take care of myself,” aniya.
In her 45 years in showbiz, hindi ikinakaila ng dating beauty queen na ito ang tumulong sa kanya para mapalaki at mapagtapos ang tatlong anak. Pinasok din noon ni Evangeline ang radio sa loob ng 20 taon. She used to anchor her own counseling program about love, “Echoes of the Heart” sa DWIZ.
“For as long as there are offers or projects for me, hindi ko iiwan ang showbiz,” pagtatapos ni Evangeline na inspirasyon sa maraming mga kababaihan laluna sa mga single parents like her.
