Every year, I make predictions for the winners
of the Binibini and when I do so, I intellectualize and analyze the candidates
as well as the choices of others for me to make my enlightened choices.
However, what usually comes out as the winners are what my heart desires. For
this year, it was the my enlightened choices that won and yet when we at
Queentessence came out of our Hotpicks, I insisted that we discuss them based
on our individual choices and finally made our picks. Of course, when we made
the choices, we were not given the chance to evaluate the candidates come
pageant day since there were a lot of possible changes to the ranking.
Let us now evaluate the pageant as a whole.
THE STAGE:
I fully understood why this year, they have to
trim down the candidates to 30 as the stage would not accommodate all 40
candidates. The 40 candidates would be cramped in the stage and the candidates
would look like fishes in the ocean ready to be prepared into sardines. I
believe the original 24 candidates would be much viable in this kind of stage.
The stage design was a glittering silver motif with different designs of
trapezoids and triangle like objects. At the right side of the stage is a
design which is very much like the appliqués placed on evening gowns. It is also
silvery in color but when light plays on it, it gives you the feeling that it
is a shining emerald. Very nice effect indeed!
THE AUDIENCE:
The pageant audience is a mix of pomp and glamour and fans. The fans really did give life to the proceedings. They were there to spice the life of the candidates that they are supporting. Although there was too much uproar, it made the proceedings more fun.
PRODUCTION NUMBER:
The Brazilian number was a poor copy of the Brazilian production number of last year’s Miss Universe. The outfits were poor copies also. The candidates gyrated to the samba like sound and they were clad in three distinct color samba outfits. Candidates 1-10 were in orange outfit. Candidates 11-20 were in fuschia pink outfits and Candidates 21-30 were in yellow outfits. Interim to the production number is the presentation of the girls. They presented themselves stating their names, place of residence and age. After the presentation, the girls finished their production number to give way to the presentation of the pageant hosts and annotators.
PAGEANT HOSTS:
The pageant hosts were Xian Lim, Venus Raj, Iza
Calzado and Georgina Wilson. The main hosts were Xian Lim and Iza Calzado with
Venus Raj and Georgina Wilson interchangeably acting as co-hosts and pageant
annotators. I must say that there is chemistry among the 4 hosts. Last year,
the hosts seemed to be wooden. At least there is life among the 4 hosts this
time. Although there were lapses but they were not too glaring enough to cause so much miscue.
The judges of the pageant were introduced and they are as follows:
1. Ashely Perguson, Avon Director for Marketing in Asia
2. Jose Manuel Romualdez- CEO of People Magazine
3. H.E. Ambassador Jorge Domecg – Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines
4. Precious Lara Quigaman – Miss International 2005 and Actress
5. Honorable Cesar V. Purisima – Secretary of Finance
6. John Martin Miller –Nestlé Philippines Inc. Chair and Chief Executive
7. Casimiro Yniguez Ynares – Governor of Rizal
8. Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel – Congresswoman
9. Oliver Gougeon – Chief Executive Officer, Singapore and South Asia, Société Générale
10. Richard Gomez – Actor
11. H.E. Harry K. Thomas Jr. – Ambassador of the United States of America to the Philippines
12. Phil Younghusband – Azkals football Player – Chairman of the Board of Judges
The pageant proceeded with the girls in their 2-piece swimsuits. During their press presentation and their photo shoots and also during the Parade of Beauties, the girls were in a 1-piece ensemble but now we are now shown how the girls are rated through their body physiques by donning the 2-piece swimsuits. Notable among the girls with good bodies are 7, 8, 9, 19, 26 and 30. Candidate Number 13 and 15 walks unimpressively. Candidate Number 14 has a very shy demeanor. Candidate Number 16 was unfit. I probably understood why she did not throw her body cover. She made it appear that it was part of the choreography. Candidate Number 25 was the most unfit of them all. She should have prepared more for the pageant. The swimsuit number was creating too much excitement as the fans cannot control their excitement with the DJ mixing the music for this portion, Australian DJ David Callum. The swimsuit number was in two sets but they came out individually by 5’s. In the second set, Candidate Number 23 Goldy Baroa almost slipped but gained back composure. She has a good body and poise that I noted.
After the swimsuit round, the Special Awards given were as follows:
Best In Swimsuit: Nicole Schmitz (8)
People’s Choice Award: Giselle Angelica Munoz (21)
Binibining Friendship: Chloe Zanardi (25)
Binibining Talent: Katrina Dimaranan (13)
Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice Award: Roxanne Tadique (20)
Best in National Costume : Nicole Schmitz (8)
At this juncture, I am given the impression that Nicole Schmitz the conspiracy theorists are saying the truth – that she is the girl that will win a lot of special awards but will go home crying because of birth certificate/passport issues. Hohohum……If to personally pick my choice for the Best in Swimsuit, my choice would be MJ Lastimosa (Candidate 9) for having a whistle bait figure that every lady dreams of. However, Nicole for her bubbly rendition is a good choice too.
Then the evening gown competition followed with Arnel Pineda performing for the first fifteen candidates. Almost all the candidates were wearing gowns of similar cuts and design. It is just that they are different in colors. Candidates who did well in the first 15 candidates were 8, 9 and 15. For the second set of 15 candidates, Candidates 18, 26 and 29 did well in their evening gown repertoire. Bamboo performed during this portion.
As a note, I just felt that the heightened frenzy among the fans cannot be equaled by the performers. Arnel Pineda and Bamboo are great performers but I just can’t feel their performance that night.
And after the evening gown, special awards were given and they are as followed:
Ms. PAL: MJ Lastimosa (9)
Ms. Avon: MJ Lastimosa (9)
Ms. Photogenic: Karen Galman (1)
Best In Evening Gown: Angelee De los Reyes (26)
Oh, oh….I was telling myself, the signs are here. It would be a Mary Jean Lastimosa victory tonight as it she garnered the most prestigious special award. The crown is already hers basing from historical data of previous pageants that whoever gets the Ms. PAL award gets at least a crown. My choice however for the evening gown is Candidate Number 18. I have no quarrel with Angelee as the Best in Gown but I believe, Janine carried her gown with more style and brilliance. Another girl that would probably give Janine the competition for the gown is MJ Lastimosa, Candidate Number 9.
It was now time to announce the Top 12 Candidates and they are as follows:
Let us now evaluate the pageant as a whole.
THE STAGE:
THE AUDIENCE:
The pageant audience is a mix of pomp and glamour and fans. The fans really did give life to the proceedings. They were there to spice the life of the candidates that they are supporting. Although there was too much uproar, it made the proceedings more fun.
PRODUCTION NUMBER:
The Brazilian number was a poor copy of the Brazilian production number of last year’s Miss Universe. The outfits were poor copies also. The candidates gyrated to the samba like sound and they were clad in three distinct color samba outfits. Candidates 1-10 were in orange outfit. Candidates 11-20 were in fuschia pink outfits and Candidates 21-30 were in yellow outfits. Interim to the production number is the presentation of the girls. They presented themselves stating their names, place of residence and age. After the presentation, the girls finished their production number to give way to the presentation of the pageant hosts and annotators.
PAGEANT HOSTS:
The judges of the pageant were introduced and they are as follows:
1. Ashely Perguson, Avon Director for Marketing in Asia
2. Jose Manuel Romualdez- CEO of People Magazine
3. H.E. Ambassador Jorge Domecg – Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines
4. Precious Lara Quigaman – Miss International 2005 and Actress
5. Honorable Cesar V. Purisima – Secretary of Finance
6. John Martin Miller –Nestlé Philippines Inc. Chair and Chief Executive
7. Casimiro Yniguez Ynares – Governor of Rizal
8. Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel – Congresswoman
9. Oliver Gougeon – Chief Executive Officer, Singapore and South Asia, Société Générale
10. Richard Gomez – Actor
11. H.E. Harry K. Thomas Jr. – Ambassador of the United States of America to the Philippines
12. Phil Younghusband – Azkals football Player – Chairman of the Board of Judges
The pageant proceeded with the girls in their 2-piece swimsuits. During their press presentation and their photo shoots and also during the Parade of Beauties, the girls were in a 1-piece ensemble but now we are now shown how the girls are rated through their body physiques by donning the 2-piece swimsuits. Notable among the girls with good bodies are 7, 8, 9, 19, 26 and 30. Candidate Number 13 and 15 walks unimpressively. Candidate Number 14 has a very shy demeanor. Candidate Number 16 was unfit. I probably understood why she did not throw her body cover. She made it appear that it was part of the choreography. Candidate Number 25 was the most unfit of them all. She should have prepared more for the pageant. The swimsuit number was creating too much excitement as the fans cannot control their excitement with the DJ mixing the music for this portion, Australian DJ David Callum. The swimsuit number was in two sets but they came out individually by 5’s. In the second set, Candidate Number 23 Goldy Baroa almost slipped but gained back composure. She has a good body and poise that I noted.
After the swimsuit round, the Special Awards given were as follows:
Best In Swimsuit: Nicole Schmitz (8)
People’s Choice Award: Giselle Angelica Munoz (21)
Binibining Friendship: Chloe Zanardi (25)
Binibining Talent: Katrina Dimaranan (13)
Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice Award: Roxanne Tadique (20)
Best in National Costume : Nicole Schmitz (8)
At this juncture, I am given the impression that Nicole Schmitz the conspiracy theorists are saying the truth – that she is the girl that will win a lot of special awards but will go home crying because of birth certificate/passport issues. Hohohum……If to personally pick my choice for the Best in Swimsuit, my choice would be MJ Lastimosa (Candidate 9) for having a whistle bait figure that every lady dreams of. However, Nicole for her bubbly rendition is a good choice too.
Then the evening gown competition followed with Arnel Pineda performing for the first fifteen candidates. Almost all the candidates were wearing gowns of similar cuts and design. It is just that they are different in colors. Candidates who did well in the first 15 candidates were 8, 9 and 15. For the second set of 15 candidates, Candidates 18, 26 and 29 did well in their evening gown repertoire. Bamboo performed during this portion.
As a note, I just felt that the heightened frenzy among the fans cannot be equaled by the performers. Arnel Pineda and Bamboo are great performers but I just can’t feel their performance that night.
And after the evening gown, special awards were given and they are as followed:
Ms. PAL: MJ Lastimosa (9)
Ms. Avon: MJ Lastimosa (9)
Ms. Photogenic: Karen Galman (1)
Best In Evening Gown: Angelee De los Reyes (26)
Oh, oh….I was telling myself, the signs are here. It would be a Mary Jean Lastimosa victory tonight as it she garnered the most prestigious special award. The crown is already hers basing from historical data of previous pageants that whoever gets the Ms. PAL award gets at least a crown. My choice however for the evening gown is Candidate Number 18. I have no quarrel with Angelee as the Best in Gown but I believe, Janine carried her gown with more style and brilliance. Another girl that would probably give Janine the competition for the gown is MJ Lastimosa, Candidate Number 9.
It was now time to announce the Top 12 Candidates and they are as follows:
 |
| Sherlyn Gonzales (30) , Leizl Alcantara (16), Patricia Lae Ejercitado (7), Analie Forbes (29), Angeelee Claudette De los Reyes (26), Mary Jena Lastimosa (9), Katirna Janyne Dimaranan (13), Janine Tugonon (18), Elaine Kay Moll (15), Gina Joy Howell (14), Nicole Schmitz (8), Karen Gallman (1) |
1.. Sherlyn Gonzales (30)
2. Liezl Alcantara (16)
3. Patricia Lae Ejercitado (7)
4. Annalie Forbes (29)
5. Angelee Claudett delos Reyes (26)
6. Mary Jean Lastimosa (9)
7. Katrina Jayne Dimaranan (13)
8. Janine Mari Tugonon (18)
9. Elaine Kay Moll (15)
10. Gina Joy Howell (14)
11. Nicole Schmitz (8)
12. Karen Gallman (1)
After hearing the list of the semi-finalists, I blurted out, the survey we did hit right to the nail. All the candidates that were possible entries to the semi-finalist circle qualified to the Top 12. It was fairly accurate. The survey predicted a 100% inclusion that is considering the three other candidates that could possibly get in to the Top 12. That is our margin of error. Our Queentessence picks got it 10/12 as well as our contributing writer Arden D. Bautista got it 10/12 also. Those picks are fairly accurate therefore. I can only smile in contention as we took extra effort in writing foreign nationalities to send us their choices.
Now it is the time for the Question and Answer Portion. The candidates were called to answer the Question as they were called by the order of the announcement of semi-finalists. The candidates are to be asked by a question by the judge who was selected through computer generation.
1. Sherlyn Gonzales (30) was asked Precious Lara Quigaman. And the question was “If you were to change an experience in your life, what would it be and why?”
I have to paraphrase the answers as I did not record them and it was impossible to write it as the candidates talked so fast since they have only 30 seconds to answer the question:
Sherlyn answered, she will not change anything since what happened to her in the past is something that had shaped her today and will probably shape her tomorrow and changing that experience will practically deny her the experience and learn the lessons from that experience.
A very good answer and there seem to have shades of the answer of Miss Angola when she won in the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant last year.
2. Leizl Alcantara(16) was asked by Oliver Gougen. The question was “How do you define happiness?”
This was not shown on TV. Initially Leizl did not answer the question correctly because the word happiness was mispronounced by the judge. She did not understand it well. So they repeated the Question and Answer portion and Leizl answered the question. When I watched the proceedings on TV this was not aired already as the edited segment was the one aired.
Leizl equated happiness to success and she blabbered a lot that pointed out just the same to being successful is to be happy.
3. Patricia Lae Ejercitado (7) was asked by Gov. Casimiro Yniguez Ynares III and the question was “What was the biggest obstacle that you had in your life and how you were able to go about it?”
Patricia answered that there was one time in her life that she questioned the existence of God. But because of her search for the meaning of her existence, she found the meaning of God in her heart. She realized that her doubts were God’s challenge to her and by being so steadfast in her faith, she was able to conquer all.
4. Annalie Forbes (29) was asked by H.E. Jorge Domecq and the question runs this way” “Social media has forever changed the world. What has it done to you and what do you think are its advantages in the changing world?”
Annalie was dumbfounded during this portion. She was probably stunned by the difficulty of the question. She cannot answer. However she was given a chance again so they asked her to answer the question the second time around. Apparently this was not shown on telecast. This portion was edited. You could just feel how the audience was reacting to this.
Annalie answered in a way that social media was able to encompass communication. And communication is a way to share life. And sharing like what Mother Teresa did like small things can become great things when it is shared.
Whew….what an answer….How did Mother Teresa get into the picture? Is the Carla Balingit charm present again here?
Whew….what an answer….How did Mother Teresa get into the picture? Is the Carla Balingit charm present again here?
5. Angelee delos Reyes (26) was asked by H.E. Harry K. Thomas Jr. and the question was “How will you show to the rest of the world that it is more fun in the Philippines?”
Angelee was very loquacious even before the question was made. To the point that the Ambassador said that he may not ask a question anymore. When she answered the question, she said a mouthful about the country and the beautiful spots that we had most especially Zambales and the affirmation of that fun is the loving and beautiful people exemplified by her. Angelee really gave a very great answer and she was very conversant and very confident.
6. Mary Jean Lastimosa was asked by Ashley Ferguson and the question runs this way:” What to you is the most pressing problem that the world is facing now and how do you propose to solve it?”
MJ’s answer was about curiosity and that having too much curiosity gives too much problems and that we need to do peripheral listing so that we can curb the problem of curiosity.
I am really at a loss about MJ’s answer. If she is referring to curiosity among the youth and trying on sex and because of that there would more population. And this is peripheral listing? Channel endeavors to productive means instead of being curious? Hohohum….
7. Katrina Dimaranan (13) was asked by Richard Gomez the question: “If you were to be President of the Philippines in one day, what particular problem are you going to tackle?”
Katrina answered that she would promote education because there are a lot of children who lack education and that in education children will learn good morals, values and optimism.
8. Janine Tugonon (18) was asked by Mr. Jose Manuel Romualdez the question: “Many women nowadays will go a happy family life or a successful career. How do you feel about this?
She answered: I believe that women have the right to choose between what they want. But for me, you have to go for what God has called you to do, whatever it is, between the two. You must do what's your purpose in this world. Just have a childlike faith and matured obedience then everything will go smooth. Thank you.
9. Elaine Kay Moll (15) was asked by Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima the question: “If there is one thing you want to change in the Filipino culture, what would it be?”
Elaine hesitated a bit then recovered. She answered, she would like to correct the Filipino time and habit. Time is important and we must need to cooperate to do a lot more things to develop as a people. However she delivered it in a choking manner and she was not confident with her answers.
10. Gina Joy Howell (14) was asked by Rissa Hontiveros. Before she asked the question, she reassuringly said that the candidate can answer in the language she is comfortable with. The question is something like, if you are to choose between love and career what would it be?
Gina Joy seemed to be unnerved with the choice of speaking in the dialect or in English because this girl speaks English pretty well. When she started answering she was already tentative in her answer but she choose her career because according to her, if the man loves me, she will love all of me including her career.
11. Nicole Schmitz (8) was asked by John Miller the question: “How would you rather be, respected or loved?”
Nicole answered she would rather be respected because it connoted dignity and integrity. And when you have dignity and integrity you will be loved.
12. Karen Gallman was asked by Phil Younghusband the question, “how will you define defeat and victory?” Karen choked on her answer. She said it is not how you lost but it is how you fought to win. She said learn from your mistakes and God will help you.
If I have to base my selection on what happened live or even the edited telecast, I would choose the following candidates:
1. Schmitz (8)
2. Tugonon (18)
3. Ejercitado (7)
2. Tugonon (18)
3. Ejercitado (7)
4. Delos Reyes (26)
5. Gonzales (30)
5. Gonzales (30)
These 5 candidates had sufficiently answered the questions that were asked of them. But the winners were as follows:
1. Janine Tugonon - MUP
2. Nicole Schmitz -MIP
3. Katrina Jayne Dimaranan-MTP
4. Elaine Kay Moll – First Runner-up
5. Analie Forbes – Second Runner-up
2. Nicole Schmitz -MIP
3. Katrina Jayne Dimaranan-MTP
4. Elaine Kay Moll – First Runner-up
5. Analie Forbes – Second Runner-up
I understand the placement of Tugonon vis-à-vis Schmitz. Schmitz may have topped the deliberations but her type of beauty is more a hit in the Miss International Beauty Pageant. Tugonon will go to the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant and will need to train more for that matter. I do not really know how Dimaranan eclipsed the other girls. I don’t understand the hype with her. Even the judges saw something in her. Moll is acceptable but Forbes really splattered everything during the Q and A. She was even surprised she was called second-runner up. It is the same thing with Moll. It really remained a mystery to me how they select the final winners in the Binibini.
Well another selection process is over. We have our new queens. What else can we do but to support them in their international endeavors since they represent our country and in so doing they are representing us – the Filipino people.
A supporting article from our contributor will come out next why he thinks the other candidates I enumerated above did not enter the magic circle.
Photo Credits: Paul Cortes, BPCI, Pawee (Misso), OPMB,UNO, PEP
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