MANILA, Philippines - Like contenders from non-English-speaking nations, Filipinos competing in international beauty pageants should be allowed to speak in Tagalog, Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz has suggested.

Diaz said Filipino beauty queens should also have an option to get an interpreter like their counterparts from Venezuela and Mexico, among others.

She raised the need for an interpreter following the controversial response of Miss Universe 4th runner-up Venus Raj during the question-and-answer portion.
 

Like many people, Diaz said she believes that Raj lost her chance to win the coveted crown because of her much talked about "major, major" response.

"The problem I think is, like me before, she thinks in Tagalog. So, ‘major major’ is what? Malaking malaki o bonggang bongga? The context is lost or misinterpreted abroad, even among Filipinos," said Diaz.

According to reports, Miss Universe 2010 Jimena Navarrete of Mexico opted to have an interpreter even though she can speak English.

Many were dismayed by Raj's answer when asked by an actor judge to cite her one biggest mistake in life.

Raj's answer was: "You know what, sir, in my 22 years of existence I can say that there's nothing major, major problem that I've done in my life because I'm very confident with my family, with the love that they are giving to me. So thank you so much that I'm here. Thank you, thank you so much!"
 

Capili noted that Filipino language has many “nuances” and that there are many aspects of the language that are hard to translate.

Capili said it would have been better for the Filipino-Indian beauty from Camarines Sur to have had answered in her native tongue.

Nonetheless, he maintained that Raj should not be judged because of the apparent slip-up.