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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-19/armi-kuusela-gil-hilario.webp" alt="Armi Helena Kuusela and Virgilio Hilario"   loading="lazy" />
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(Armi Kuusela shown with her Filipino husband, Virgilio Hilario, after their wedding in Tokyo. He is sporting a black eye, explaining he "had a little scrap a few days ago.", May 4, 1953)
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On March 9, 1953, nine months after she won the Miss Universe title, Armi was invited by the Philippine International Fair Committee to crown that year's Miss Philippines. During her stay, until April 11 of the same year, Armi paid a courtesy call on then President <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/753/today-in-philippine-history-november-16-1890-elpidio-quirino-the-sixth-president-of-the-philippines-was-born-in-the-town-of-vigan-ilocos-sur" class="news_link">Elpidio Quirino</a>, Supreme Court justices, senators and congressmen; laid a wreath at the Bonifacio Monument; visited Maryknoll College (now Miriam College), the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila, the Balara Filtration Plant and Baguio City where she met then 25-year-old Virgilio "Gil" Hilario through a blind date.
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On March 12, the lawmakers discarded their usual "parliamentary sobriety" when Armi called on then Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez and Speaker Eugenio Perez. Smitten by Armi's beauty, then Rep. <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/595/today-in-philippine-history-september-11-1917-ferdinand-e-marcos-was-born-in-sarrat-ilocos-norte" class="news_link">Ferdinand E. Marcos</a> (Ilocos Norte) introduced himself as the only eligible bachelor in the House and confessed that his knees gave way after meeting her up close and personal.
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Prior to the Miss Philippines coronation night, Armi had a personal appearance in the Show of Shows topbilled by Dolphy, Katy dela Cruz, Bayani Casimiro, Chichay and Tolindoy at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. On March 20, Armi crowned Cristina de Leon Galang (1953 Miss Philippines), with <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/778/today-in-philippine-history-november-27-1932-benigno-aquino-jr-was-born-in-concepcion-tarlac" class="news_link">Benigno Aquino Jr.</a> as her escort. Cristina's court of honor included Violeta Villamor (1953 Miss Visayas and Pearl of the Orient), Gilda Gruet Walstrom (Miss Mindanao), Norma Jimenez (Miss Manila) and <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/2454/today-in-philippine-history-july-2-1929-imelda-romualdez-was-born-in-san-miguel-manila" class="news_link">Imelda Trinidad Romualdez</a> (Muse of Manila).
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Two days before her departure, Armi danced the rigodon de honor with the winners of the Miss Philippines contest and prominent social figures during the Farewell Ball held at the fair's open auditorium. Shedding tears, Armi left the country on April 11 for Hong Kong and Japan with a heavy heart. She expressed her desire to stay in the Philippines because of the warm hospitality accorded to her.
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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-19/armi-kuusela-gil-hilario-lg.webp" alt="Armi Helena Kuusela and Virgilio Hilario and children"   loading="lazy" />
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(Armi Kuusela with Virgilio Hilario and 3 of their children)
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Indeed, she won the hearts of the Filipinos particularly Virgilio "Gil" Hilario who studied banking, marketing and foreign trade in Columbia University and at the same time worked with the Philippine National Bank in New York. Friends in the know believe that one of the reasons why Armi was swept off her feet by Gil was because of his dancing skills. Gil was an expert in mambo, samba, rumba and other ballroom steps.
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Gil followed Armi on her trip to Tokyo where they arrived on April 26 on separate planes. Their romance blossomed in Tokyo until they mutually agreed to get married on her 19th birthday on August 20. He gave her a three-carat diamond engagement ring. But love couldn't wait. 
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On the wee hours of May 3, Gil was involved in a scuffle when he defended Armi from a drunken American newspaperman who tried to harass Armi inside the Cosmopolitan Nightclub.
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On May 5, the mother of Finland's "Miss Universe" cautioned her new millionaire Filipino son-in-law:
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"Beauty withers away,  and if he deserts his bride for that reason he will break her heart."
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Mrs. Marta Kuusela said she had been unable to sleep since learning of the marriage of her daughter at a secret ceremony in Tokyo. "Armi is so young",  Mrs. Kuusela exclaimed.
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The love story of Armi Kuusela from Finland, the first Miss Universe in 1952 and the wealthy Filipino Virgilio Hilario