QUEENTESSENCE’ TAKE ON THE BINIBINING PILIPINAS CANDIDATES (SERIES 1 OF 5)

By Arden Bautista

The 50^th edition of Binibining Pilipinas had 50 candidates to commemorate its golden anniversary. I have no quarrel with 50 candidates but I believe getting a good number of this proportion would need a preliminary competition to choose the semifinalists that will eventually slug it out for the crowns. Having 50 candidates do their ramps on the final night will be very tedious and time consuming and would practically satiate the beauty appetite of the judges. This is just wishful thinking but I would hope they would do something similar like the Miss Universe set-up.

Now talking about wishful thinking, one of my co-writers in Queentessence wished for 5 candidates to grace the 50^th anniversary as contestants. They are Ali Forbes, Georgina Wilson, Isabel Daza, Megan Young and Luzelle Felipe. Unfortunately, not one of was in the final list. It was rumored that Megan Young submitted her application and was flatly rejected because of her provocative poses in a magazine. Well, it practically douses off the heat in the interest of our friend but the 2013 pack of Binibini is full of interesting ladies and we shall discuss our thoughts about them.

Candidate Number 1 is Ria Rabajante. Ria is one of the favorites of pageant fans. Many were astounded with her élan and personality. This 23 year-old lady is a model and a graduate of Assumption College. When I first saw this girl in her swimsuit pictures, her appearance is like that of a Venezuelan candidate. She has a very fit body and poses with grace and flair. She wowed everyone during the callback and on the final screening; she was a knock-out sensation. With her hair in a bun, she looked like Mirriam Quiambao, Janine Tugonon, Tetchie Agbayani and Evangeline Pascual rolled into one. Since then, Ria is a favorite of most pageant fans.

Ma. Bencelle Bianzon is Candidate Number 2. Bencelle is a 23 year old graduate from the University of Sto. Tomas. She also works as a professional model. This dainty looking candidate is a Army reservist. During the final screening, I did not recognize her because she seemed different from her pictures seen in photo shoots. She looked fierce in her pictures but she looks naïve and coy during the screening. If this is a ploy to be unnoticed first then as the pageant goes into high gear, she does that too then I think it is fine but with so many girls angling for attention and space in the media, Bencelle must know how to play her cards well as this is a competitive batch.

Zandra Flores is Candidate Number 3. I have seen Zandra in the Miss Philippines-Earth Competition last year representing the pilgrimage town of Manaoag, Pangasinan. I have already liked this girl during that pageant but she failed to enter the winning column in that contest. When I saw Zandra recently, she has evolved into a more competitive young lady – with great poise and bearing. I hope this dusky lady will be a force to reckon with during the final night.

Candidate Number 4 is Nicole Kim Donesa. Nicole is a balikbayan and took pains to stay here in the country to fulfill her dream of being a beauty queen. She loves to sing Broadway and opera songs. Will she be able to cast away the shadow of the number she had? It has been said that in the history of the Binibini, Number 4 has the least number of winners among the other numbers.

Maria Sofia Gloria Mustonen is Candidate Number 5. This young girl of Fil-Finnish ancestry is trying her luck again in a national pageant. In the recent past, she joined Miss Philippines-Earth with nary a success. She hopes to continue her search for a beauty crown at the Bb. Pilipinas. During her first callback and the final screening, Maria mesmerized the pageant fans with her endearing beauty. Maria hails from Antique and plays football. She also speaks different international languages that would come in handy if she gets to represent the country in an international pageant.

Yvette Chantal Mildenberger is a Bicolana and she is from Legaspi City and she is Candidate Number 6 in this years’ pageant edition. She had joined local pageants in her region and she had been successful in entering the winners’ circle in most of them.

Candidate Number 7 is Maria Ivy Kristel Gonzales. Ivy is a law student at the Ateneo Law School. She is 24 years old and and grew up without her biological mother as she died giving birth to her. Will another law student represent us in the Miss Universe pageant this year?

Candidate Number 8 is Abbygale Monderin. Abby is 20 years old and she is Miss Bikini Philippines 2012. She represented the country in the Miss Bikini International 2012 held in China. With a svelte body, she will surely wow the audience and the judges in the swimsuit presentation. She is also a graduate of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Katherine Ann Enriquez is the ninth candidate and she is 22 years old and from San Mateo, Rizal. She is a graduate of the College of Holy Spirit and used to be lector in their church.

Anna Carmela Aquino, Candidate Number 10 is a teacher in mathematics. She graduated from the Philippines Normal University and is also a creative writer.

So what is Queentessence’ verdict of the first 10 candidates? My take is that Candidates 1, 3 and 5 have great chances of entering the Top 15. Candidate number 2 is a dark horse. With proper styling and projection Number 2 will make her presence felt however.