VOTE FOR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE OF THE 70s!

MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE OF THE 70s

MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 1970 - SIMONETTE DELOS REYES



MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 1971 - VIDA VALENTINA DORIA (MISS PHOTOGENIC)



MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 1972 - ARMI BARBARA CRESPO (SEMI-FINALIST)



MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 1973 - MARGARITA MORAN (MISS UNIVERSE)



MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 1974 - GUADALUPE SANCHEZ (SEMI-FINALIST)



MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 1975 - ROSEMARIE "CHIQUI" BROSAS (4TH RUNNER-UP)



MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 1976 - LIZBETH DE PADUA



MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 1977 - ANNA LORRAINE KIER




MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 1978 - JENNIFER CORTES




MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE 1979 - CRISELDA "DANG" CECILIO

MOST BEAUTIFUL MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE of the 70s

Who is your most beautiful Miss Philippines Universe of the 70s? SIMONETTE DELOS REYES VIDA VALENTINA DORIA ARMI BARBARA CRESPO MARGARITA MORAN GUADALUPE SANCHEZ ROSEMARIE "CHIQUI" BROSAS LIZBETH DE PADUA ANNA LORRAINE KIER JENNIFER CORTES CRISELDA "DANG" CECILIO Current Results

VOTE FOR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE OF THE 60s!

MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE of the 1960s

Miss Philippines Universe 1962 – Josephine Estrada



Miss Philippines Universe 1963 – Lalaine Bennett (3rd runner-up)



Miss Philippines Universe 1964 – Myrna Panlilio



Miss Philippines Universe 1965 – Louise Vail Aurelio (semi-finalist)



Miss Philippines Universe 1966 – Clarinda Soriano (semi-finalist)




Miss Philippines Universe 1967 – Pilar Pilapil




Miss Philippines Universe 1968 – Charina Zaragoza



Miss Philippines Universe 1969 – Gloria Diaz (Miss Universe)

MOST BEAUTIFUL MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE of the 60s
Who is your most beautiful Miss Philippines Universe of the 60s?	JOSEPHINE ESTRADA LALAINE BENNETT MYRNA PANLILIO LOUISE VAIL AURELIO CLARINDA SORIANO PILAR PILAPIL CHARINA ZARAGOZA GLORIA DIAZ
	Current Results

3 New Bb. Pilipinas Queens have been chosen!

CONGRATULATIONS to the 3 new Bb. Pilipinas Queens of 2008!

From left to right: Elizabeth Jacquiline Nacuspag, Bb. Pilipinas 2008 2nd runner-up; Patricia Isabel Fernandez, Bb. Pilipinas International 2008; Janina San Miguel, Bb. Pilipinas World 2008; Jennifer Barrientos, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2008 and Danielle Kirsten Muriel Castano, Bb. Pilipinas 2008 1st runner-up.


To the new queens of Bb. Pilipinas 2008, GOOD LUCK on your respective pageants. From the Essential Beauties group.

For more pictures from the coronation night last March 8, 2008. Click the link below. Thanks!

Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Finals Night Gallery

Bb. Pilipinas 2008, The Pageant

The 24 official candidates for the Bb. Pilipinas 2008 pageant.

It's Binibining Pilipinas time once again! The official candidates have been already chosen from almost 200 applicants who screened at the Araneta South Gate office. Only 24 lucky ladies were chosen to vie for the three most prestigious Bb. Pilipinas titles: Universe (where the winner will represent our country in Vietnam), World (not yet decided, Ukraine, South Korea and Morrocco are bidding for the Miss World to be held in their country) and International (where the winner will represent our country in Macau). Who do you think will best represent our country at the three international pageants? It's only less than a week to go before the Coronation night on March 8 at the Araneta Coliseum. If you haven't bought your tickets yet for the Finals night, you should hurry now and buy one. Check out the Bb. Pilipinas website for more information on where to buy tickets, www.bbpilipinas.com




Candidate #17, Lady Lou Garidan

Check out pics from the Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Galleries at the links below,

PowerhouseBeauties.com

Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Parade of Beauties

Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Master Showman TV Guesting

Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Talent Competition

Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Cumbia Fashion Show

Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Charity Day

Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Press Presentation

Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Official Headshots

Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Mall Tour

Assorted Pics of the Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Candidates

Photo credit: Bb. Pilipinas website

Search For Official Candidates to the 2008 Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) is currently undergoing its search for the fairest ladies in the land to represent our country in the Miss International, Miss Universe and Miss World 2008 beauty pageants with the following basic qualifications:

* Single ladies
* 17 to 25 years old
* Filipino citizen
* minimum 5'5" in height
* at least high school graduate
* with pleasing personality and of good moral character

Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2007, Anna Theresa Licaros

Application forms may be secured from the BPCI Secretariat, Araneta Coliseum. Aspirants may also download the form from the Bb. Pilipinas webpage (see below) and fax the same to (632) 911-27-71 or deliver it personally to the BPCI Secretariat Araneta Coliseum.

Bb. Pilipinas International 2007, Nadia Lee Shami

Prospective candidates are requested to submit the following requirements with their application forms :

1. original birth certificate or copies authenticated by NSO
2. certified true copy of high school or college diploma
3. Philippine Passport if any
4. Close-up and Full body photos in color
5. Written consent from parents (if 17 years of age)

Preliminary screenings are held daily from 2:00 – 6:00 pm. Deadline for submission of application forms will be February 6, 2008.

Source: Bb. Pilipinas website

China PR IS CROWNED MISS WORLD 2007

China PR has won the highly coveted title of Miss World 2007 in a glittering, star-studded ceremony at the Beauty Crown Theatre in Sanya, Hainan Province, China.

The 2007 Miss World Festival has seen 106 beautiful and talented contestants spend an unforgettable month in China, but there could only be one winner and the applause rang out in the packed theatre as Julia Morley, Chairman of the Miss World Organisation and of the international panel of judges, announced the winner’s name.

Her smile shone out to a worldwide TV audience of over 2 billion as she was crowned by last year’s Miss World, Tatana Kucharova.

First runner-up was Angola, followed by Mexico as second runner-up. The other two finalists were Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden.
An impressive cast of international stars and music artists ensured that the 57th Miss World Final was a dazzling event.

The TV spectacular was hosted by top Chinese TV presenter Angela Chow, presenting Miss World for the fifth year in succession, alongside co-host Fernando Allende, who is one of Latin America’s biggest stars and was making his Miss World debut.

The show told the story of the contestants’ stay in the tropical paradise of Sanya, with many clips of their activities and sightseeing, as well as their exciting trip to Beijing where they recorded the Olympic Torch Relay Anthem, visited the Great Wall and helped the Red Cross raise over US$5.5m to build new healthcare centres across China.

It also featured a stunning performance by international pop star Duncan James, formerly with the boy band Blue, singing ‘All I care about is love’ from the hit musical Chicago, and spectacular dancing and acrobatics from some of China’s most talented dance troupes.

One of the highlights came when Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, introduced his grandfather’s televised message for World Aids Day. This was followed by a magical moment, when the children from the Mandelas’ home town in South Africa joined with children from a local Hainan school and all 106 contestants to sing the World Aids Day song.

Miss World – The Final is the World’s largest live annual TV event with global viewing figures topping two billion across 174 countries.

The full line-up of official judges at the Miss World 2007 Final was:

Julia Morley Chairman of Miss World Organisation and of the judging panel
Chairman Zhao Chairman of the Huayu Group
Li Xiao Bai Managing Director of New Silk Road
Maki Mandela Eldest daughter of Nelson Mandela
Elena Franchuk Founder of the Anti-Aids Foundation of Ukraine
Krish Naidoo Miss World Organisation International Ambassador
Duncan James International pop star
Annabel Croft Formerly one of the UK’s most successful female tennis stars
Neal Hamil Managing Director of the Elite Model Agency in New York
Ben De Lisi World famous Italian Fashion designer

Miss World 2007 and her court

The Final Five

Photo credit: http://www.missworld.tv

At last a glimpse of Maggie Wilson enjoying her stay in Sanya!

Miss Philippines rep to Miss World 2007 is enjoying her stay in Sanya, China. She seems to be friendly to everyone else. She is most seen with Miss Malaysia, maybe they are roommates... that's why they are seen together... They are such a lovely sight to behold...

Miss Philippines is also fashionable and hip, very young and fresh... Good thing that she knows what is right for her and she is really confident and bubbly... I hope she will maintain her being bubbly until the Miss World finals in December 1...

During the 57th Miss World Press Conference in Sanya, China

Photo credits: www.tianya.cn

RP bet wants elusive crown

By Armin Adina
Inquirer, October 31, 2007

MANILA, Philippines—“Enough with the bashing!"

Filipino-Scottish Margaret "Maggie" Wilson, the Philippine bet to the 57th Miss World pageant, made the appeal to her kababayans during her send-off party last week at the Araneta Coliseum Gazebo in Quezon City.

The 18-year-old actress and MTV VJ said she needs all the support she can get as she prepares to fly to Sanya, China tomorrow to compete in the prestigious beauty pageant.

Unfavorable comments

Maggie was reacting to unfavorable comments hurled against her by pageant fanatics on numerous media, including the Internet.

Maggie, who was also adjudged Miss Photogenic in Binibining Pilipinas-World last March, has been enduring scathing comments about her supposedly imperfect looks.

"It's such a bad habit that we Filipinos have," Maggie said, referring to the insults.

Up to the last minute, Maggie had to dismiss rumors about her being stripped of her title after questions were raised on her eligibility to participate in the prestigious competition.

She reportedly failed to comply with a pageant requirement: That contestants should at least be a high school graduate during the competition. She was just about to graduate from high school when she was crowned Binibining Pilipinas-World.

"I only heard about it from my friends who asked if what was said on the radio was true," she recalled. "I just came from the Araneta offices for my training and fitting. I told the Binibining Pilipinas Charities about it, so they released an official statement saying I'm still the girl."

Maggie chose to brush off rumors, concentrating on her preparations for the finals instead. She said she got valuable tips on how to win the judges' approval from Miss World finalists Mafae Yunon and Karla Bautista, her predecessor Anna Maris Igpit and 1993 Miss World princess and second runner-up Ruffa Gutierrez.

Maggie will face competition from more than 100 delegates around the world. She finds Angola's Micaela Reis and the Dominican Republic's Ada Aimee de la Cruz as among the most beautiful.

In Asia, she believes her strongest competitors are Malaysia's Deborah Priya Henry and India's Sarah-Jane Dias. "India always sends strong competitors," Maggie noted.

Semifinal slot

But she believes her being multi-racial and well-traveled will give her an edge in the competition. She has also prepared for "fast-track" events where the winners automatically earn a semifinal slot.

"I'm doing the sports challenge because I'm athletic. I've been hitting the gym a lot-training," she revealed. "If I do the talent event, I'll sing a local song by artist Julianne. Her songs are feel-good."

The 5'9 1/2" beauty also hopes there would still be SMS voting this year, as in the last five editions. "I'm not sure. There's still no feedback from the Miss World organization," she said.

But before she leaves for the Dec. 1 pageant, Maggie begged her fellow Pinoys to "pray for me."

"I need you to believe in me and what I can do," she said. "I'm going to give it my all!"

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

MAGGIE WILSON (MW) for MISS WORLD (MW) MOVEMENT

It's Miss World pageant once again. The 57th Miss World Final will be held in Sanya, China once again on December 1st. A total of 120 contestants from around the world will converge once again in Sanya for a month long activities leading to the finals on December 1, this is also the celebration for the World AIDS Day.

The Philippines' representative to this most watched beauty pageant in the world is Margaret "Maggie" Wilson. Maggie is only 18 years old and stands 5 feet and 9 inches tall was born in the Philippines but raised in Saudi Arabia. She has a rich heritage having a Filipino-Spanish mother and Scottish-Irish father. Having just graduated from High School after specialising in Computer Programming (Web Design) she is intending to study law after completing her duties as Miss Philippines. Interests include: Travel, fashion sketching, interior design, acting, singing, both modern and belly dancing. She is also very active in the promotion of Filipino music; she has worked as an actress and video jockey for TV. Sporting interests are: Horse riding, swimming, tennis, volleyball and badminton. Margaret is very fond of her native food but also loves Chinese & Japanese. Her motto is: “Never take life for granted” You have to take care and share the blessings that you receive and make something meaningful out of your life as you go through each day.

In the history of the Miss World pageant, there is no Filipina who has won this title. The closest to having won this title was Evangeline Pascual, the 1st runner-up during the 1973 edition where Marjorie Wallace of the USA won! And the rest is history. Another Filipina who is expected to bring home the Miss World title was Sharmaine "Ruffa" Gutierrez during the 1993 edition where she placed 2nd Princess to eventual winner Lisa Hanna of Jamaica. I am still hoping that the Philippines will win the Miss World title and I am pinning my hopes to our representative this year, Maggie Wilson.

Let's start the campaign for Maggie Wilson to become the first ever Filipina Miss World. I hope everyone who visit my blog will support our Philippines' rep to Miss World if there will be text voting. I'll post it here soon on how to vote through texting. Thanks everyone!

Photo credit: Miss World website

MISS INTERNATIONAL 2005 BATS FOR REFORMS IN BEAUTY PAGEANTS

Precious Lara wants to change RP beauty tilts

First posted 00:14am (Mla time) Mar 31, 2006

By Nini Valera Inquirer

Published on Page A2-1 of the March 31, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman would like to see reforms in beauty tilts. “There are things I’d like to change about the Bb. Pilipinas,” Precious Lara told Inquirer in an exclusive interview. She would start, she said, with the system.

“Most people are always late, and I hate that because I’m always early. People can’t just be late and give ‘Filipino time’ as an excuse.”

There’s also the way the search is conducted, Precious Lara added. “The training is done at the Araneta Center. All the girls go there. I’d like to see searches for beautiful girls in different parts of the country. Also, the training period is so short.”

As a role model, the 23-year-old graduate of a media productions course from a university in Bristol, United Kingdom, said she wants to encourage the youth by “living a life that would inspire them.”

As a beauty queen, she said, she would not let anyone look down on her. “Just because we parade in skimpy swimwear during the pageant… [That is] for the judges to see if a contestant has a good body and how comfortable she feels about her body.”

Although there were times when she wondered if she was being exploited, she said she wouldn’t knowingly allow that to happen. She has refused to sign a contract that would have her endorse a brand of liquor, for instance. She did sign up to pitch Centrum, a multi-vitamin product that espouses the idea of being a complete person.

“That is what I want to be,” Precious Lara said. “Complete—not [taken] in bits and pieces.”
Being a beauty queen is a part of her life, she said, not the sum of it. “But I can help shape other lives because I am a beauty queen.”

ECUADOR IS MISS MESOAMERICA INTERNATIONAL ; APRIL ROSE PEREZ OF THE PHILIPPINES IS FIRST RUNNER-UP

by: Rafael Robert Delfin, www.criticalbeauty.com

MESSED UP, AND CLEARED : The Miss Mesoamerica International 2005 pageant - which was supposed to have been held in Guatemala last December 1st - had to be cancelled due to "organizational problems." The girls were advised that the pageant would resume in Guatemala in February 2006, but we all know now that it didn't happen, much to the dismay of the candidates, their supporters and the national directors.

Early last week, a notice was posted on several message boards stating that Magdalena Stahl, left, of Ecuador was selected as MMI 2005 by the pageant organizers. I didn't believe the notice, because as the national director for the Philippines, I had not received any confirmation whatsoever from Francisco Cortez, MMI's president and founder. I was able to contact Cortez three days ago and he did confirm that the notice was accurate - that Stahl is MMI 2005 and that April Ross Perez of the Philippines is the first runner-up and Aida Estrada of Guatemala is the second runner-up. When I asked Cortez why the national directors had not been informed of the results, he replied that it was "beyond his control" and that the Guatemalan organizers leaked out the information without his authorization.


Stahl will be officially crowned as MMI 2005 during the Miss El Salvador finals on April 7th: this explains why her victory photo is not yet available in the website of Miss MesoAmerica.

PRECIOUS LARA "TRAPPED" IN BINIBINING PILIPINAS CONTRACT?

By KAYE VILLAGOMEZ of Manila Bulletin

Reigning Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman has had difficulties succumbing to certain dictates set by Bb. Pilipinas management that she once refused to pose sexy for a liquor poster despite threats from Bb. Pilipinas representatives. This, Quigaman disclosed to Manila Bulletin at the press conference for her new TV ad for Centrum multi–vitamins held Thursday at Ratsky Tomas Morato in Quezon City."I even kept the letter wherein they said that they can dethrone me if I don’t do the project. Still, I stood my ground and refused to do it. Nothing happened. I wasn’t dethroned," Quigaman revealed after feeling the need to speak up occurred.The only 2005 Bb. Pilipinas titlist who was not sent to Colombia for official training, Quigaman also expressed that she did not have the power to decide which projects to take. "It all depends on the management. Sometimes I get inside the car without knowing what I will do for the day." Still, she did not question anything until the liquor ad was imposed.Quigaman hesitated to divulge her concerns but was later on convinced to tell the media her real thoughts after realizing, "there are girls who really can’t say what they want to say; I felt I didn’t want to do that liquor project so I refused. I knew I was right in doing so."When asked if people will deem her a swell–head for swimming against the current, Quigaman explained, "I’m not. I’m still the very same person before Miss International. The only reason why I don’t ride the jeep is because I get mugged by people. But if not for that, I don’t mind commuting. My friends have told me that I didn’t change at all. When they see me on TV and other beauty queen functions, they say it’s like a different person because near them, I’m still the same person they kid around with and laugh with—like a Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde persona.

"Being a Bb. Pilipinas title–holder automatically awards the winners an 18–month contract wherein, "Bb. Pilipinas gets to decide on our behalf; the same case happened with this Centrum ad, which I got to enjoy doing naman," told the 23–year-old international titlist.Quigaman was pressed to answer contract questions when the media asked her to confirm future projects specifically talks that she will be paired with Richard Gutierrez for the GMA–7 "Captain Barbell" series." People have asked me already if I am to be Richard’s leading lady for the ‘Captain Barbell’ but I haven’t been told a thing about it yet. I even asked Richard himself if I were to work with him for the project and he said he didn’t know," Quigaman said.With her management contract with Bb. Pilipinas expiring in September, Quigaman revealed she has been scouting for a manager. She has talked to Angeli Pangilinan–Valenciano of Genesis and even considered GMA Artist Center, "but nothing is concrete yet; not until my contract with Binibining is over."For the meantime, the reigning beauty queen can be seen co–hosting "Extra Challenge." "I wanted to try things out. I’m considering hosting, broadcasting and acting. By being a guest co–host in ‘Extra Challenge,’ I have the opportunity to try and see if I’m going to excel in hosting."Regarding the endorsement deal with Centrum which she shares with heartthrob Sam Milby, the international titlist said it is her first time to endorse a product "and luckily it’s one that I really use because I started taking Centrum since the day I got sick after winning Miss International."

Quigaman will be going back to China in August to finish her duties as Miss International. "I’m excited to go back there because I’ll be meeting Jackie Chan. That trip will be the last of my obligation as a titlist as the contract is about to end. Then I’ll see from there what my options are. But in case I’m really offered to do ‘Captain Barbell,’ why not? I’d love to do it."She continued, "I got to meet Richard while doing ‘Extra Challenge’ and he’s really a nice person. Wala siyang reklamo sa kahit anong challenge and I really think he is easy to get along with."Quigaman also admitted breaking up with her Britain–based boyfriend. "The relationship ended after I won Miss International but I have to clear that it had nothing to do with me winning the pageant. We’ve had problems even before Miss International, I must admit that it was part of the reasons why it ended but it’s not fair to blame my winning for it. I knew people will think that way so I wanted to clear that up."However, the doors to a new romance remain closed. "I don’t want to get into a relationship at this point. I want to built my mom a mansion first! It’s my dream for my mom so I will take advantage of the opportunities I have now, make the most of it before getting into something serious."

POSTSCRIPT TO THE BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2006 BEAUTY PAGEANT

By Jetset Alejandro , March 7, 2006

In a wild frenzy of passion that accompanied the Binibining Pilipinas 2006 beauty pageant, speculations on who will win the three titles varied from one persuasion to the other. But when the winners were announced the choices were quite predictable. Even the choice for the winner of the Binibining Pilipinas-International deserved as well based on pundits lists. This has left one of the leading contenders eating the dust so to speak. If we are to remember, Candidate Number 13’s look-alike, Ana Marie Falcon who was touted to be possible winner in a Binibini edition three years ago was also a dud in the Q and A portion, a segment of the pageant that matters most. Marie Ann Umali did just that and she kissed away her chances from winning one of the coveted titles.

It makes me wonder really of the many striking similarities of this girl from her predecessor. They have their names originating from the same name-derivate. They are both tall, Falcon is 5’11” and Umali about 5’10”. They were both called last among the semi-finalists. And they both bombed out in their answers with very simple questions. A lot of people are still debating if their answers were worth it. Well, for a grain of salt, the issue here is not really the answer. It is the way you answer the question. It is the way you have answered with confidence and gusto. If they did just that, it would have been a different ballgame.

This years’ judges of course had to face this problem. That’s why after the Question and Answer portion, they retreated to a room and discussed all the possibilities on who should be the rightful winners. Shall they give the chance to a novice? Or shall they give the title to someone who has satisfied the requisites of a particular crown. The contention for selecting the 10 semifinalists would be that these ladies who made it will all be on equal footing as to beauty, poise and personality. What separates the chaff from the grains is what is in their grey matters. Of course there are exceptions to the rule. Unfortunately for Umali, there is no person in the board who could have insisted for her inclusion in the winning circle. Unlike in the past the likes of Gloria Diaz fought tooth and sinker for the placement of Melanie Marquez as the Binibining Pilipinas - International during her time. And look what happened to Melanie. It is now part of pageant history.

Every year, the pageant becomes more and more competitive. Each girl comes prepared for the pageant. And contests like this subscribe to the prevailing contention of Darwin’s Natural Selection Principle- “Survival of the Fittest” and therefore elimination of the unfit. This just goes to show that front-runner Candidate Number 13 did not do her homework. Tall, willowy and very pretty and with a spunk that would be noticed in an international pageant, Umali failed to score where it matters most and it cost her a Binibining Pilinas crown.

As an observer to various pageants, from barangay to municipality, provincial to regional and from national to international, this is a painful learning process for Umali. Having landed 3rd runner-up in the Miss Batangas Contest where she was the most beautiful, hands down should have taken a cue from here and her handlers should have prepared her to train her sights in bigger pageant contests like the Binibini. What if they call you pageant patty? You may join all the pageants which are available for the taking. This would be a very good venue for training, for getting numb and also for getting criticized. In effect you learn from your lessons from every pageant to another pageant. You develop self-confidence in facing and meeting people. Gone are the days when joining the Binibini at first try can make you win the crown at once. Gone are those days. We are now in a globally competitive world and we must keep pace with that change. Unfortunately, Umali and her handlers failed to take this into consideration. She still has the pretty chance. What should she do? Well, go back to the drawing board. Train , undergo more training and train some more. In the next 2 or 3 years, Umali would have blossomed into a more mature and much more beautiful woman. I hope she does not follow the route of Anna Marie Falcon who is now a Francine Prieto. (Although, Francine has proven her worth in the acting arena in her recent outings.)

Lia Andrea Ramos, is another breed. Following in the footsteps of Nina and Zora (all are from UP), Lia is just like other countries’ delegate who had joined the pageant when they have already a profession to speak of. And mind you she is already an accomplished woman when she stepped into the pageant arena. She is already a woman who is completely in control of what she wants for herself. It is very obvious that Lia is training her sight to the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe crown. Most underpinnings say that she is not qualified for the Bb. Pilipinas-World title because of her age. And of course, her beauty is allegedly not fitted to the Miss International pageant. Be it an intentional thing or just purely coincidence, this woman with an enviable personality had shown what the real meaning of self-confidence. From the time she appeared into the pageant arena, she was all over. From the press presentation till pageant night, she was IT. She was the queen and no one can refute that now that she is crowned. When I say all over, I mean that even without wanting to, she always gets the attention of people. Her personality rubs on you and whether you like it or not, you are going to love this girl.

I refuse to say however, that Lia is in the mold of Nina and Zora. Or even Maricar Balagtas at that. I also refuse further the connotations that Lia is exotic, ethnic and Filipina looking. We are very fond of labeling our own countrymen. Will a Filipina who is a mestiza be not called a Filipino? These are just semantics and the Filipino just suffers from semantic communication. Lia is but a charming and enigmatic Filipina ready to conquer the Miss Universe 2006 Beauty Pageant. And I hope she gets pretty enough success in her participation as she faces formidable competition from other countries.

Ana Maris Igpit’s performance at this pageant is nothing but spectacular. She is a transformed into a vixen on the stage. There were many criticisms lodged against this girl as someone who does not deserve to win but come pageant night, she exudes an aura of sheer might and confidence. Hence, she could not be denied of a title. Had Lia been qualified for the Bb. Pilipinas-World crown, Igpit could have her take of the Universe title. Again, let me make myself clear, words like exotic, ethnic and the like are basically creating a sense of prejudice among our countrymen. It is divisive and could have prejudicial slurs among the indigenous peoples in our country. Ana Maris’ experience in the pageant circle had helped her a lot. This girl is transformed into a Goddess when she takes the center stage. Truly, her winning the different local pageants is not a fluke. Winning the region’s title is one very good reason she won. But further training honed by her new manager Rodgil added more significance. And more to this, the Karen Agustin factor seeped in. Ana Maris’ obvious confidence, oblivious to the brickbats is a very good point in case for this woman. And with the qualities of this woman, she may yet wow the judges in Poland. This time however, Ana Maris’ should learn a lesson from Karen that in every activity – be it a breakfast, lunch or dinner – those simple one’s and of course the major activities, you have to look your best. You have to be queenly all the time. And hopefully, Ana Maris’ would do us proud in Poland.

If Ana Maris’ banks on experience, training and sheer intelligence, Denille Valmonte has a vavavoom history. A product of bikini opens; she won Miss Bikini in 2003 with a 22-inch whistle bait figure trouncing all other wannabees in the sexy body arena. And yet this lady is not content of having just a sexy body. In preparation for a greater ambition, Denille enrolled at the John Robert Powers in Makati to hone her personality and develop her communication and language skills. Add to this, Denille’s facial features have greatly improved compared to her Bikini heydays. She may or she may not have undergone the knife to improve her facial appearance but what I am pointing out, this girl had made great preparations for the pageant and she absolutely made inroads immensely by winning the Bb. Pilipinas-International 2006 crown.

What are the lessons of the Bb. Pilipinas 2006 beauty pageant? Obviously, the lady who comes prepared usually wins the title. A beautiful deserving lady may be sidelined because other candidates, though not as beautiful as her may have more endearing qualities that she obviously lacks. Secondly, proper timing is one key to winning. Honed from the rigors of beauty pageant life, skilled by a serious trainer whose aim is for you to focus on a title, learning from the experiences in the past – these elements may not be a sure-fire formula to win a title in the Bb. Pilipinas, but surely it will equip you with much more things in handling life – the joys and pains that go with victories; the sufferings and humiliations that go with losing; the lessons we learned from tears; the tears of joy and the tears of failure. Be it a winner or a loser, one should learn from the experience. One should look at the experience as a continuous learning. I advice Umali to dream some more dreams and set her eyes further. I advice her to hone her skills further. For one day, she will find her own place under the bright sun of the universe.

Dabawenya tops Binibining Pilipinas 2006

By Stella A. Estremera, (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)

DAVAO CITY -- A Dabawenya wowed the crowd, earned the judges' approval, and romped off with the coveted Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2006 crown in the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, midnight Saturday. Lia Andrea "Lian" Aquino Ramos, a BS Psychology graduate of the University of the Philippines-Diliman and alumnae of Ateneo de Davao University, bested 24 other candidates.

She is the first Bb. Pilipinas top plum winner from Davao City. Ramos was an early favorite, grabbing the two special prizes -- Miss Photogenic and Best in Swimsuit -- in the first part of the pageant. She went on to get the special prizes for Philippine Airlines (PAL) and the candidate with the "Most Beautiful Hair." She breezed through the question and answer portion, during which she was asked by Belgium Ambassador to the Philippines Gregoire Vankadis what country she would want to live in aside from the Philippines and she chose France. "I'm a self-confessed Franco-phile and I'm very much fascinated with their culture, with their language," she said.

She capped her short spiel with "C'est la vie!" the French phrase meaning, "It is the life." Her French phrase was no put on too, as she speaks French as well, having studied the language in Alliance Francaise de Manille, a French school in Makati. "I'm really so glad. But, actually, it is not sinking in yet. I'm still trying to talk to my mom in the States," Ramos said Sunday morning, admitting she was busy all morning answering text messages and phone calls. Her family is now in the US and it's a double celebration of sorts because her mother also has just passed the state board exam for nursing in California, USA. Her mother, Sally, was the former school nurse of ADDU. Her dad, Ferdinand Ramos, was a former bank executive and popular golf enthusiast and once had a golf sports column in erstwhile Ang Peryodiko Dabaw (the predecessor of Sun.Star Davao). Before the pageant, she was already a standout. There were rumors that said she is a US resident and only claimed to be from Davao. She readily dispelled this rumor when she said that she has been working in Manila for the past two years.

She works with The Asia Foundation as an assistant program officer for the foundation's law program. There, she assists two lawyers who tackle programs for judicial reforms, jail decongestion, mediation, and does research on access to justice where she gets to work with jail managers as well as non-government organizations. The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-government organization that supports programs in Asia that help improve governance and law, economic reform and development, women's empowerment, and international relations. She said her work in jails was among those asked of her during the pre-pageant interviews. Her aunt Tita Tagle-Aquino, who was cheering her all the time, said her exposure left a good impression on the judges making her stand out among the 24 other candidates. "Law is an option for me. But I'm more interested to do foreign service. I dream of joining the diplomatic corps," she said.

In the meantime, she added, she has to work hard for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in May. "They (Bb. Pilipinas Foundation) are focusing on me because the Miss Universe pageant is much nearer compared to the two other pageants, the Miss International and Miss World," she said. She added that she may be brought to Colombia for further training but this is not sure yet. Asked about Davao, she said the city holds a lot of fond memories and she cannot help missing it. "I love going to the beach. I'm just a sun baby and just going to Samal with friends and family was really fun for me. I love seafood, that's what I miss most here, that is why I eat all the crabs, shrimps, panga that I can get my hands on whenever I'm there," she added. But because of work, she has not visited Davao as frequently as she would have wanted to. "I get to visit Davao because of my work. But the last time I was there for a short vacation was in November last year. So, it has been quite sometime that I haven't visited Davao," she said.

Tagle-Aquino, who acted as Ramos's guardian because her family is already in the US, said her niece has been wooed to join the Bb. Pilipinas for sometime now, but it was only last January when she finally gave in to the prodding. "In the past three years, she was really being eyed already to join the pageant because her sideline is modeling," Tagle-Aquino said. She does modeling jobs whenever she needs extra money for school. Ramos just arrived home from a vacation with her family in the US when her agent pestered her to join the Bb. Pilipinas search, her aunt said. Ramos confirmed that the invitation to join the pageant came as early as 2001. Asked why she didn't accept the invitation to join the search earlier on, she said, "I didn't feel that I was ready then. I felt that I was still very raw." "But for some reason, when the invitation was made again, some inner voice told me that I was ready for this now," she added. Her "discoverer," she said, is the same person as the one who discovered Gionnah Cabrera, the 2005 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe. Her childhood friend April Evangelista says Ramos always excelled in their class, although they were just regular teens who loved going to malls and watching movies. April admitted she and two other friends were glued to the television Saturday night as they cheered on their friend. She said that while they were schoolmates since elementary, it was only in first year high school that their "barkada" was formed.

Beauty pageant winners picked

By Armin Adina Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 06, 2006

CROWD favorites bagged the three major titles at the 2006 Binibining Pilipinas pageant held last Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.The spectators erupted in screams as Denille Lou Valmonte, 24, received the Binibining Pilipinas-International title from 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman.

Ana Maris Igpit, another crowd pleaser, was crowned Binibining Pilipinas-World by previous title holder Carlene Aguilar. She was also proclaimed Best in Long Gown.
The Binibining Pilipinas-Universe title, on the other hand, went to Lia Andrea Ramos. The 25-year-old political science graduate of the University of the Philippines also bagged numerous awards -- Miss Photogenic, Best in Swimsuit, Miss Philippine Airlines and Mane and Tail's Best Hair.

First runner-up Rosalyn Santiago, 25, earlier entered the semis when she was proclaimed Smart Texter's Choice for garnering the most number of votes cast through text.
Jeanne Bernadette

Bello, 22, completed the lineup as second runner-up. Twenty-four hopefuls competed in this year's competition.