Miss Universe almost loses her dazzling crown

JAKARTA (JP): The thunderous applause from some 100 guests, mostly noted businessmen and celebrities, filled the entire Sasono Mulyo ballroom of Le Meridien hotel when the newly crowned Miss Universe 2001, Denise Quinones August, appeared from backstage.

Attired in a red evening gown, Quinones beamed broadly at the audience attending the charity gala dinner on Thursday evening, aimed at collecting money to help Indonesian children through Unicef.

But seconds later, as she was walking toward the audience, she slipped and almost fell on the catwalk. Her sparkling crown slid but she managed to handle the situation.

Blushing, Quinones moved gracefully along the catwalk and, again, smiled at the crowd, which was still stunned.

With the help of Le Meridien general manager Jean-Louis Ripoche, Quinones was then led to meet some of the prominent guests, including Unicef representative for Indonesia, Rolf C. Carriere, film producer Ram Punjabi and newly crowned Miss Indonesia Pageant 2001 Angelina Sondakh, at the main table in front of the stage.

The event then continued with the auction of two paintings by Kartika Affandi and Rukmini Affandi. Both are daughters of Indonesia's master artist Affandi.

Kartika's work, of a fishing boat on a beach, sold for Rp 47.5 million, while her sister's work of colorful flowers fetched Rp 27.5 million.

The bids mostly came from those sitting at the main table. Only one bid come from the another table when TV actor Anjasmara offered Rp 35 million for Kartika's painting.

The highest bidders for the two paintings were Ram Punjabi and his wife, Rakhee Punjabi.

Le Meridien's Ripoche handed over to Carriere a check for Rp 22 million, which will be used to help Indonesian children.

According to the organizers, all proceeds collected that evening will be used to benefit Indonesian kids.

In his speech, Carriere said that 11,000 babies were born in Indonesia every day.

"Each of these 11,000 babies have a birthright to survive, to adequate care, a good education, and a chance to reach his or her God-given potential," he said.

On the other hand, Carriere went on, some 800 Indonesians die every day well before their fifth birthday.

"They die of mostly preventable causes, from diseases that can be treated at very low cost," he said, adding that some six million Indonesian children are underweight and malnourished.

Numbers alone, Carriere admitted, could not begin to convey the vulnerability and suffering of the children.

"What we now need is more resources, more leadership, more vision, more voice, more advocacy and more outrage (to help Indonesian children)," he said. (bsr)