1953 First International Philippine Fair Medal

Made by Crispulo Zamora.

The 1953 Philippine International Fair, held in Manila from Feb. 1 to April 30, The first World's Fair ever to be held in the Orient was in Manila. Costing $2,000,000, it was designed as a shopfront to focus attention on the progress made by the Philippines since Independence in 1947. Ten foreign countries ( USA, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and Sweden) also exhibited promoting their own products. Since it's opening in 1953, more than a million people have visited. 1953.

 Booths from all over the world dotted the fair, showing their commercial and cultural products. There were also rides and shows, Ferris Wheels and Rollet Coasters, Holiday on Ice and the band of Xavier Cougat.

 The biggest attraction of the international fair was the presence of the reigning and first Miss Universe, Armi Kuusela of Finland, truly a goddess of beauty. Armi flew to Manila to crown the Miss Philippines, Cristina Galang of Tarlac.

 All the provinces, plus Manila, were represented in the pageant, where Miss Luzon, Miss Visayas, Miss Mindanao and Miss Manila were chosen via popularity ballots for a charitable cause. Aside from beauty and personality, social background also was considered in naming the winners. Cristina won as Miss Luzon and later named Miss Philippines by a panel of distinguished jurors which included painter Fernando Amorsolo and sculptor Guillermo Tolentino (much later named National Artists) and Vicky Quirino, then First Lady of the Country, the daughter of President Elpidio Quirino who was a widower.

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