Judges KaladKaren and Ruffa Gutierrez ‘face off’ at the panel—who’s the better ‘Miss Q&A’?

“Miss Q&A” on “It’s Showtime” might just have the hardest question and answer portion of any mainstream pageant in the country. It requires wit, humor, and intelligence to give a heartfelt and meaty answer to an otherwise silly question. 

Judges KaladKaren and Ruffa Gutierrez’s own Q&A skills were put to the test on Aug. 10 when netizens compared the comments they gave contestants in a viral clip.

“Kung talagang masipag ang mga langgam, bakit walang napapabalitang umasensong langgam?” show host Vice Ganda asked “Miss Q&A” contestants Rochelle Domingo and Ralph Conducto Romero in the episode.

Reigning “Miss Q&A” Ralph Conducto Romero chose to highlight how ants have unity. Judge Ruffa Gutierrez commented from the panel, “Maganda ’yung pino-promote mo ’yung unity kasi ’yun talaga ang kailangan natin ngayon especially [since] ’yung mga tao nag-aaway-away, laging nagba-bash-bash… I loved that you promoted unity but going further, if you do win this round, siguro mas i-express mo pa ’yung sarili mo.”

Judge KaladKaren, on the other hand, commented in particular about whether each contender was able to answer the question in their approach.  For Romero’s answer, KaladKaren said, “What I liked about your answer [is] you were able to twist the question to be in favor of you. Kasi ’di ba sinabi mo na hindi lang isa sa kanila ang umaasenso kasi lahat sila umaasenso.”

“Another attack na pwede n’yong gawin sa question na ito since playtime siya, it has to be a balance of wit and sense. Pwede n’yong gawing metaphorical,” KaladKaren added. “Bakit nga ba ’yung mga langgam parang mga tao? ’Di ba yung mahihirap nating kababayan, kahit gaano kahirap silang nagtatrabaho [ay] hindi sila umaasenso because of [a] bad system, because of so many things na mga social issues. Na-o-oppress sila. Pwedeng ganoon ’yung atake pero happy rin ako sa sagot mo.”

The two judges didn’t technically face off but netizens were quick to put their pointers head to head, with many favoring KaladKaren’s more in-depth take. KaladKaren showed a bit of her mass communications training and I wouldn’t mind getting some Q&A lessons from her. 

Vice Ganda also gave their own answer to the question. “Bakit walang napapabalitang umaasensong langgam? Hind nila ito kasalanan. Kasalanan ito ng media. Dahil hindi ito binabalita ng media. Bakit ang media walang ini-interview na langgam?” It’s playful with an underlying heavier point.

Which “It’s Showtime” cast member do you think has what it takes to win “Miss Q&A,” if they were allowed to enter?

 

Art by Ella Lambio

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Amrie Cruz: Amrie is a nonbinary writer who likes to talk about politics and viral animal videos. They have a dog daughter named Cassie who doesn’t go to school.