QUEENTESSENCE’ TAKE ON THE BINIBINING PILIPINAS CANDIDATES (SERIES 4 OF 5)

Candidates 31-40

By Arden Bautista

Candidate Number 31 is Maria Angelica De Leon. Mariel as she is fondly called is the daughter of Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong. She is tall at a height of 5’9”. She is a source of debate and brickbats among pageant fans in forums and most of the feedbacks are negative. I hope she does not get jarred with all those flaks as she is gloriously beautiful when I saw her during the talent presentation. She is regal and she sang an aria and she had a melodious voice. She really had to work on her physique as she is on the voluptuous side. Since she has good communication skills, this lady would be in the forefront of the competition.

Candidate Number 32 is Cindy Abundabar. She is 24 years old and is a Nursing Graduate from Goa, Camarines Sur.  She was second runner-up in Miss Bicolandia 2010. She loves to follow TV Series. Unfortunately, during the talent competition, she did not register to me as someone who will put up a good fight on competition night.

Candidate Number 33 is Parul Shah. This tall young lady of 24 years has Indian blood like Venus Raj. She is a dusky beauty and was chosen as the Panagbengga Queen sometime in 2009 and represented the City of Pines in the Aliwan Festival at the Cultural Center and she wounded up as second runner up. Parul has very distinctive features and with good communication skills she is a force to reckon with in this pageant. During the talent presentation she was really a stand out and if she keeps the momentum, then it would not be surprise to see in the winning column.

Candidate Number 34 is Grace Yann Apuad. This tall girl is from Agusan del Sur and she is 24 years old. She joined the Supermodel of the World Philippines in 2003 and was a finalist. She also was a participant in the Miss Teen Philippines pageant held last 2004.  Since then she was not also part of the glitz and glamour of the fashion world but she also dabbled in the celluloid world. Grace has her own fans to speak of but personally, she lacked the spark that we saw in the other candidates.

Candidate Number 35 is Theresa Marie Fenger. She is 25 years old and is from Quezon City. She has dabbled in the entertainment world with the screen name of Lana Roi. She is a former member of an all-girl singing team called Eurasia. She is a former Miss Global Teen Canada and Miss Mayan World in 2004. She was also chosen as Miss Vancouver Universe Canada and won the 2009 Century Tuna Superbody Search. Theresa is a well-applauded candidate. However, she lost the spark that I saw in her when she won in Century Tuna 4 years ago. Her greatest feat is when she opened for the concert of Jennifer Lopez when she visited the country for the first time.

Candidate Number 36 is Angel May Villafuerte. She is a well-applauded candidate as she is a dead-ringer of Miss Shamcey Supsup. She can pass it off as a sibling or twin-sister of 2011 Miss Universe Philippines. Will she be able to rise above the occasion and do a winning performance come April 14?

Candidate Number 37 is Maria Teresita Alain Baccay is 22 years old and is presently staying in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. She once participated in the Miss World Philippines but with no such luck as a winner. She is described by other pageant writers as someone with an ultra-feminine beauty. She is a dead-ringer of another candidate –Mutya Datul.

Candidate Number 38 is Mariz Ong.  Mariz is another cross-over candidate. She participated in the Miss World Philippines 2012 and also with no luck in the winners’ circle. She is from Echague, Isabela and is an Information Technology graduate from the University of La Sallette.

Candidate Number 39 is Mutya Johanna Datul. Mutya once participated at the Mutya ng Pilipinas last year and was said to be a frontrunner but she crumbled during the pageant when she gave a poor answer to the question. Mutya has a very pretty face and bubbly personality. With a universal beauty and a height that is above-average, she is surely a face to contend with. However, if did not train to conquer her Achiless heel, then I would say, she might be given a runner-up position just like other winners in the past.

Candidate Number 40 is Jan Helen Villanueva. She is a 19 years old young lady who loves singing and dancing and is from Norzagaray, Bulacan. She is described to be a delicate beauty with porcelain looking skin.

In this set of candidates, I find the following to be strong candidates:

31,33 and 39.

Bubbling up candidates: 35 and 36

To update you on the strong candidates that we have felt so far, they are: 1,3, 5, 13,15,17, 20, 24,25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33 and 39.

Our bubbling up candidates are: 2, 14, 19, 27, 35 and 36

QUEENTESSENCE’ TAKE ON THE BINIBINING PILIPINAS CANDIDATES (SERIES 3 OF 5)

Candidates 21-30

By Arden Bautista

If the second batch had around 6 girls that would make look into their rating sheets, the judges would probably look back into their rating sheets and make revisions once the girls in this batch are seen.

Candidate Number 21 is Lourenz Grace Remetillo. She is 24 years old and is from Iligan City. She is Miss Iligan City 2011 First Runner-up. She was handpicked to represent the Philippines to the Miss Supranational Contest in Poland in 2011 prior to the franchise under the Bb. Pilipinas. She was not lucky though. This year she enlisted and she was emotion-filled for getting accepted as she knew no one to stay with during the course of the pageant. A good Samaritan extended to her help and thus, she was able to pursue her dream of joining the competition.

Candidate Number 22 is Ellore Noelle Punzalan. Ellore is a 25 year old medical student who wants to realize her dream of becoming a national beauty queen. Last year, she was denied that opportunity and so she persevered and thus was selected as one of the official candidates. Ellore has a beautiful charming face and with the one hiatus, she came prepared for the contest. Will she be lucky?

Candidate Number 23 is Leona Paula Santicruz and is 21 years old and hails from Sampaloc, Manila. Leona is a graduate of International Relations at the Lyceum University and she is currently working at the Bureau of Customs.

Candidate Number 24 is Cassandra Naidas. Half of Cassandra’s heritage is Korean. She is a Psychology graduate at Dela Salle University. During the talent presentation, she was one of those candidates that made an indelible mark. She looked great and showed a memorable personality.

Candidate Number 25 is Merry Joyce Respicio. She is another tall girl with great projection and the pageant fans were in awe as they were mesmerized by this girl. She moves with finesse and that grace is very remarkable. With an outstanding presence, I am sure Merry Joyce would be one of those candidates that would be considered to join the Top 15.

Candidate Number 26 is the tallest girl among the candidates. She is Anna Fernandina Buquid. The reception for Anna is very mixed. Some find her ordinary but some find her exotic. Her tall, lanky features makes her easily identified and thus proper training, make-up and styling would make her a shoo-in for one of the coveted crowns.

Candidate Number 27 is Vania Valiry Vispo.  Vania is another tall girl in the group. She has a beautiful face that radiates so sweetly when she smiles. Vania is not new to beauty contests. She was first runner-up in the Miss Tanauan Beauty Pageant in 2012, then first runner-up in Miss Batangas 2012 and last year she joined the Miss World Philippines beauty pageant. Although unsuccessful in her attempts to win a crown, her drive to become a beauty queen is still with fervor. She says that beauty queens are ambassadors of goodwill and it would be very meaningful for her because she dreams to be employed in our country’s foreign service in the future.

Candidate Number 28 is Mercegrace Raquel. She is 19 years old and is taking up BS Mathematics and she hopes to be teacher someday. She is from Nueva Ecija. When I saw Mercegrace, I thought I was seeing a mirage but she was real. She showed graceful and regal movements. She made a mark among fans during the talent competition day.

Candidate Number 29 is Pauline Quintas. Pauline is also 19 years old and she is the reigning Miss Antipolo City 2012. Pauline is said to have similar features of Aurora Pijuan and Guadalupe Sanchez. But what the pageant fans are impressed of her is her sweet smile, beautiful angelic face and her regal looks.

Candidate Number 30 is Maria Theresa Gorgonio. Matet as she is fondly called by friends is from Cebu City and she is 24 years old. She belongs to the Model Association of Cebu City.

Now we assess this batch and who are the strong candidates? They are candidates 24, 25, 26, 28 and 29. Bubbling up candidate is 27.

So let us update!!

Strong Candidates : 

1,3, 5, 13

15,17, 20, 24

25, 26, 28 and 29

Bubbling up: 

2, 14, 19, and 27

QUEENTESSENCE’ TAKE ON THE BINIBINING PILIPINAS CANDIDATES (SERIES 2 OF 5)

Candidates 11-20

By Arden Bautista

As we enter into this set of candidates we are now confronted with at least six candidates who are worthy contenders to a crown. Their pageant pedigree are also impressive, hence, I have this suspicion that it is in this group that some of the winning candidates will come from.

Candidate Number 11 is Anna Carmina Antonio who hails from Isabela and she is the girl with Magic. In the recent talent competition she performed some magical tricks in front of the adoring crowd. She was Miss Philippines Youth Tourism in 1998.

Candidate Number 12 is Camille Carla Nazar is a 23 year old young lady from San Miguel, Bulacan. As one promo picture for her says, she is a farmer pursuing to be an educator but dreaming to be a beauty queen. Camille is one of the winners of the Miss Bulacan contest. Will she be triumphant in her quest for a crown in the national stage?

Candidate Number 13 is Charmaine Elima. Charmaine is 20 years of age and stands 5’7” and has tucked different titles to her resume. She is a dusky beauty who is presently in the Dean’s List of her school. Will her beauty and cerebral attributes work for her in this contest?

Candidate Number 14 is Mary Rose Pujanes and is the former Miss Batangas 2011. She hails from Sto. Tomas, Batangas and is attending the First Asia Institure Technology and Humanities School.

Candidate Number 15 is Pia Wurtzbach. Pia is well-known to everyone as she is an ABS-CBN talent. But her acting career is sidetracked at the moment as she sets her eyes to a beauty crown from the Binibining Pilipinas. With Pia’s stature and repartee, she is said to be a cinch for the bb. Pilipinas-International crown. But as I watched an interview by Mario Dumaual, she is very tentative in her answers and that she chokes every once in awhile during her responses. She should learn to communicate her thoughts better as this might be her stumbling block to her quest for a crown.

Candidate Number 16 is Joanna Cindy Miranda. Cindy is 23 years old and is from Rizal, Nueva Ecija and has attended the University of Sto. Tomas College of Tourism and Hospitality Management and graduated as Cum Laude. Cindy is one of the celebrity beauties gracing this 2013 edition of the pageant. She gave up hosting in order to be in this pageant. She had been a participant in numerous pageant competitions in the past as well as part of the PBB Unlimited edition as a housemate. She was however evicted after 22 days in the house of Pinoy Big Brother. Being in the mold of a beautiful and intelligent candidate, she might be one of those that might enter the Top 15.

Candidate Number 17 is Carin Adrianne Ramos. Carin was looker in last Saturday’s talent competition. She wowed the pageant fans with her sweet beautiful and charming demeanor. Carin is 24 years old and is from San Pedro, Laguna. Carin is a registered nurse who quit her job just to fulfill her dream to participate in the Bb. Pilipinas Beauty Pageant.

Candidate Number 18 is Christine Paula Love Bernasor. She is 25 years old and hails from Ormoc City. She is also a registered nurse who on the side does modeling jobs. She is also an art, music, nature and food lover. She is presently however into sales  and marketing. 

Candidate Number 19 is Hannah Ruth Sison who is 23 years old and hails from Carmen, Rosales, Pangasinan. She is a graduate of DLSU-College of St. Benilde and is a part-time faculty in the institution on graphic arts and multimedia.

Candidate Number 20 is Bea Rose Santiago. She is 20 years old and is a certified jetsetter who is well-travelled around the globe. She was raised in Canada but came back to fulfill a dream, that is to represent the Philippines in an international beauty competition. With a towering height and ability to communicate well, Bea a look-alike of Amelia Vega is out to sweat it out for a crown in this years’ pageant edition. 

From this batch of candidates we have Candidates Number 13, 15, 17, and 20 are looming candidates to enter the semifinal round. However Candidate Number 14 and 19 are bubbling up. 

Just to recap, from the first ten 10 candidates we have, Candidates 1, 3 and 5 to include with the present candidates. Bubbling up candidates would be Candidates Number 2, 14 and 19. 

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.

THE MISS UNIVERSE SAGA – THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE (SERIES 5 OF 5)

THE PERIOD OF RESURGENCE: 2011 TO PRESENT

by Rolando Rafael

In 2011, the organization went back to choosing another cerebral candidate over other many facially superior girls – Shamcey Supsup. Note that there seem to be a pattern here. In 1999, Mirriam had fallen because of a cluttered answer. Her successor is a very intelligent girl who is said to easily answer questions even with eyes closed - Nina Ricci Alagao. Nina Ricci failed to follow-up on Mirriam’s success. On the other hand, Shamcey improved Maria Venus Raj’s performance. What was the big difference? Shamcey, despite training locally showed that she can improve on the aspects that her critics pointed out. She was even able to evolve and patented a walk, tsunami walk that made her distinctly unique in the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Brazil. Although she did give a very credible answer, she wasn't that much at par among the judges as they opted for a more unassuming pretty girl from Angola.

In 2012, the organization went the same route. They selected Shamcey Supsup’s first runner-up, Janine Mari Tugonon who was very much maligned in pageant forums and discussion boards. Janine possesses a not so astounding facial beauty but she has the goods in between those two ears of her. But many still did not believe her. What was really admirable with this girl is that there was a nary of any rebuttal from her as she silently went into her training and lo and behold, she was everyone’s word of mouth with her patented walk, the Cobra walk. She was like Shamcey who was distinctly unique and with her answer to the final question and answer; she was everyone’s Miss Universe despite the fact that Miss USA was crowned the winner.

THE PRESENT: In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the Binibining Pilipinas, 50 candidates were chosen recently and were selected through an intensive screening process. The following are the selected official candidates:

1.        Ria Rabajante

2.        Maria Bencelle Bianzon

3.        Zandra Flores

4.        Nicole Kim Donesa

5.        Maria Sofia Gloria Mustonen

6.        Yvette Chantal Mildenberger

7.        Maria Ivy Kristel Gonzales

8.        Abbygale Monderin

9.        Katherine Anne Enriquez

10.    Anna Carmela Aquino

11.    Anna Carmina Antonio

12.    Camille Carla Nazar

13.    Charmaine Elima

14.    Mary Rose Pujanes

15.    Pia Wurtzbach

16.    Joanna Cindy Miranda

17.    Carin Adrianne Ramos

18.    Christine Paula Love Bernasor

19.    Hannah Ruth Sison

20.    Bea Rose Santiago

21.    Lourenz Grace Remetillo

22.    Ellore Noelle Punzalan

23.    Leona Paula Santicruz

24.    Cassandra Naidas

25.    Merry Joyce Respicio

     
26. Anna Fernandina Buquid

27.    Vania Valiry Vispo

28.    Mercegrace Raquel

29.    Pauline Quintas

30.    Maria Theresa Gorgonio

31.    Maria Angelica De Leon

32.    Cindy Abundabar

33.    Parul Shah

34.    Grace Yann Apuad

35.    Theresa Marie Fenger

36.    Angel May Villafuerte

37.    Ma. Teresita Alaine Baccay

38.    Mariz Ong

39.    Mutya Johanna Datul

40.    Jan Helen Villanueva

41.    Ariella Arida

42.    Jacqueline Alexandra Mayoralgo

43.    Rhea Nakpil

44.    Gabrielle Monique Runnstrom

45.    Imelda Schweighart

46.    Amanda Noelle Navasero

47.    Aiyana Mikiewicz

48.    Angeli Dione Gomez

49.    Herlie Kim Artuque

50.    Maria Cristina Ann Pascual

The girls have their own claim to beauty and fame and it would be really difficult to choose three winners from these girls. But with the momentum that was set in the last three years, will the formula finally effective? In the next issues we will discuss the merits of the girls.

THE MISS UNIVERSE SAGA – THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE (SERIES 4 OF 5)

2001 – 2010 THE YEARS OF STRUGGLE

by Rolando Rafael

THE CEREBRAL CHOICES: The most common denominator of this period is that majority of choices are cerebral candidates. This can be seen in 2001 (Andam), 2002 (Agustin), 2005 (Cabrera), 2006 (Ramos), 2007 (Licaros) and 2009 (Manalo). Among these winners of the Bb. Pilipinas Universe title, 3 are from UP (Andam, Ramos and Licaros), 1 from University of Asia and Pacific (Cabrera), 1 from AMA Computer University (Agustin) and 1 from Assumption College (Manalo). These candidates are known to be the intelligent types and that their selection was practically based from the experience that we almost made it in 1999 and that we lost because our candidate bombed out in the question and answer portion.

THE VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENT: Also during this decade, after the debacle in 2000 where our candidate was not sent to any training program because she was said to be the perfect candidate. We have to lick our wounds as we realize that we have gone full circle. Our winner in 2001 was sent to Venezuela but with less encouraging results. So in 2002, there was a sudden turnaround and another experiment was hatched – the Colombian experiment.

THE COLOMBIAN EXPERIMENT:  There seem to be a big question when the Philippine franchise holder for Miss Universe shifted her gears and took her winners for Colombian training only after 2 tries. First it was Mirriam Quiambao who almost made it and second was Zorayda Ruth Andam who was only triumphant as a first runner-up in the National Costume category. After Zorayda, succeeding candidates were sent to Colombia (Karen, Carla, Maricar, Giona, Lia, Anna Teresa, Jennifer and Pamela) for training. There were questions asked? Why Colombia? Why not pursue Venezuela instead? Reasons like, Venezuelan training is very expensive and that Filipina winners are not ready for the surgical enhancement programs of Venezuela. Although eventually, Venezuela stopped training foreign girls when Amelia Vega, Miss Dominican Republic who trained under Osmel Souza won Miss Universe in 2003. Then why Colombia? Colombia has not produced a winner for so long and that their golden period was not 1992-1994 did not produce a winner. While Venezuela was churning out runner-ups and title holders and is competing with the United States in terms of the number of winners. What was the common denominator for Karen, Carla, Maricar, Giona, Lia and Anna Teresa as a result of their Colombian preparation? They were cooked! Karen was cooked just enough. Carla was neither here nor there. Maricar lost her radiance and zest. Giona looked like she’s in a daze and had always a bad hair day. Lia was practically “mulattized” (pardon the term – it was derived from the word mulatto!). This period was labeled by a blogger (Bragitto) as TRIPLE C – Colombia, Cumbia and Cubao. Colombia where the training was held and Alfredo Barraza helped in the training and dressing the girls. It is alleged that he dresses the girls with poorly designed and made gowns and styles them very badly so that the Colombian candidates will shine over our candidates. Cumbia refers to those gowns and dresses worn by the candidates from the dress boutique of the Aranetas where there is nothing fashionable about it and lastly Cubao refers to BPCI and Madam Stella Araneta and her staff who are said to be caught in a time warp.  Pamela was again sent to Colombia but this time, there was no “mulattization” done. She was said to have undergone some slimming sessions and pasarela training. And again, the dreadful 3 C’s were very apparent and pageant fans were roaring when they saw her in an uninspired gift wrapper concept gown.

THE RIGHT BUT CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE: The year 2010 selected Maria Venus Raj, a Filipino-Indian beauty who was disqualified after discrepancies in her public pronouncements and what was written her birth certificate surfaced. It was the very first time the “pageantlandia” went up in arms and gave her a resounding support and thus, the first time the organization was nudged from their earlier decision. Venus was not sent to Colombia. A local team trained her.  Venus Raj went on to charm the people in Las Vegas even getting some comments from Osmel Souza of Venezuela that the Philippines sent a strong girl this time. The pageant fans went gaga over this girl most especially when she was chosen to be in the Top 5. After her debacle however in the question and answer portion, she was again back into the bashing board but Venus practically closed the decade with hope and more hope and probably more changes.