2014 Bb. Pilipinas Fearless Forecast: My Top Ten Choices

The 2013 Bb Pilipinas Gold Edition Queens 

In coming up with my Top Ten list, I based my list primarily on physical attractiveness & beauty that is globally appealing. 

This is after all, a beauty contest. I also took into consideration Madame Stella’s penchant for ladies with impressive scholastic credentials. Pedigree & family background were also factored in, a likeable & charming personality, above par oral communication skills and telegenic & photogenic features.

How the girls registered and performed during last Sunday’s Bb Pilipinas Primer shown at ABS CBN Channel 2 also helped seal the deal for me

I also considered how their types of beauty would appeal to a predominantly male judging panel

Finally, I also relied on my gut feel. Last year, I correctly picked four of the five 2013 Bb Pilipinas Gold Edition Winners.

With that being said, for my fearless forecast, I dare say that the five brand- new Bb Pilipinas queens and runners up would come from these ten delectable damsels.

And here now are my Top Ten Choices:

# 4ParulShah, 25 years old, Pangasinan

Half-Indian and half-Filipino Parul Shahis a Registered Nurse. This is her second time to join Binibining Pilipinas, and she believes that this year, people will see a stronger and better Parul. “You know what they say, when it’s a comeback, it’s more exciting. I really prepared for this; I worked on my weaknesses. I got this second change, and I am going to work harder,” she says. 

 # 8 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, 24 years old, Cagayan de Oro

Former ABS-CBN Star Magic artist Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach took up Culinary Studies at Café Ysabel and worked in England for several months before coming back to Manila. 

Pia was last year’s 1^st Runner Up but she gave up the title so that she could take another shot at one of the five Binibini9 crowns at stake

 # 11Laura Victoria Lehmann, 20 years old, Makati

Laura was a student of the International School Manila (ISM) before she became an Academic Scholar at Occidental College, Obama's alma mater. She was pursuing three majors--Psychology, Neuro Science and Spanish Studies before joining the pageant. She was the president of her student council. She sacrificed a year of schooling to join the Binibining Pilipinas, but she considers the pageant as a learning experience that will teach her life lessons of discipline and confidence. 

A combination of beauty, brains and brawn, Laura is also highly skilled in sports. She is part of the Philippine Team of Softball and dabbles in touch rugby and has competed during the Little League World Series of Softball in the US and in Europe during her younger years. Throughout all these physical activities, she endured broken arms and legs and 125 stitches in her body.

Laura reminds me of Cindy Nell, Miss South Africa who placed as 2003 Miss Universe 2^nd RU

# 13 Kris Tiffany M. Janson, 24 years old, Cebu City

The lovely Cebuana is a Finance Analyst at a packaging company in Manila. Despite her serious job role, she is very fun-loving, free-spirited and adventurous. On her free time, she likes skim boarding, island hopping, travelling and trying out different cuisine.

Her main inspiration for joining the Bb Pilipinas Pageant is her father, who died due to a heart attack. Her father wanted to see her join a prestigious beauty pageant. Despite being away from her family and being away from her comfort zone, she strives to do her best in the competition.

One of her best memories was a trip she took with her family before her father passed away, and in the future, she dreams of travelling at least half of the world.

# 17   Diana B. Arevalo, 25 years old,  Calapan, Oriental Mindoro

Diana Arevalo was a former welcome ambassador in a major hotel in Macau. A survivor and a hard worker, Diana is proud of having established herself in another country, and has gained more respect for struggles of Filipino workers abroad. 

This is Diana’s third and final attempt in Bb Pilipinas. The first time was in 2009 where she finished as semifinalist. Her second try was back in 2011 where she duplicated her semifinalist finish in 2009

# 22Mary Anne Bianca G. Guidotti, 24 years old, Taguig

Statuesque at 5’10”, Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti or Mariannegraduated with a degree in European Studies major in International Relations from the Ateneo de Manila University. She currently works as a Technical Assistant of the Executive Director at the Community and Family Services International. 

Marianne is a pageant newbie who was encouraged by friends and family to try her luck in BinibiningPilipinas. “I’ve had a lot of people telling me to join because of my height. I’ve thought about it many times, but I kept on putting it off first. But I realized that I’d be bettering myself not just in the pageant, but life in general. I realized I want this, I want to win one of the crowns,” she says. 

She is trilingual; she fluently speaks Portuguese, English, and Filipino. She loves learning about different foreign cultures. She is also a humanitarian, and a cat lover.

# 25 Mary Jean Lastimosa, 26 years old,  NorthCotabato

Mary Jean Lastimosa is an entrepreneur. A personal advocate of staying fit, she successfully established her own slimming center in Davao.

Growing up in a war-torn province, she developed values of determination and courageousness, and this is something she brought to her personal life, her career and her journey to the BinibiningPilipinas crown. 

BinibiningPilipinas’ MaricarBalagtas is her inspiration for joining the pageant again, because she joined three times before winning. Whenever she feels down, she looks up at her and thinks that if she was able to do it and so can she.

On her free time, she loves working out at the gym, travelling, modeling, dancing, and surfing social media websites.

# 27 Hannah Ruth Sison, 25 years old, Makati City

Hannah Ruth Sison is a part time multimedia arts teacher at De LaSalle College of St. Benilde, freelance multimedia artist and model. 

Hannah is inclined to the arts and is into singing, music, arts and fashion. On her second time to join the pageant, Hannah is more determined than ever to take home the crown. 

She wants to become a motivational speaker in the future and share how she became successful.

# 30 Joy Marie Gangan, 19 years old ,Isabela

Joy Marie Gangan is among the youngest participants in the pageant. With her eyes set on the BinibinibingPilipinas crown, she took a break from her studies and focused on the competition. 

Among the proudest moments in her life was when she won Best Model of the World in Istanbul, Turkey last year.  

#35 Yvette Marie A. Santiago, 20 years old, Daraga, Albay

Yvette Marie Santiago is a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to becoming Binibini number 35, she represented the Philippines in the World Miss University in Korea when she was 17 years old.  She was selected as Best in National Costume

Bubbling under:

# 14 Emma Mary F. Tiglao

# 15 Kimverlyn O. Suiza

# 18 Ellore Noelle Punzalan

# 23 Nichole Marie Manalo

# 28 Carla Jenina Lizardo

PAGEANT NIGHT ON MARCH 30

The Grand Coronation Night on March 30 is expected to host a wide array of past beauty queens who have brought immense pride to the country. This hotly-anticipated pageant will be hosted by Anne Curtis, Xian Lim, Venus Raj, and ShamceySupsup, and aired live on ABS-CBN.

THREE SPECIAL GUESTS: REIGNING MISS UNIVERSE FROM VENEZUELA, EMIN & MISS UNIVERSE ORG. PRESIDENT

Reigning Miss Universe 2013 Maria Gabriela Isler & Emin 

MUO Pres. Paula Shugart & Ara Arida during last year's Miss U Pageant

Miss Universe 2013 Maria Gabriela Isler of Venezuela, Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart and Russian pop star Emin will be three of the special guests in the BinibiningPilipinas 2014 Grand Coronation Night.

Gabriela will be one of the judges during the pageant and will help crown this year’s winners, while Emin will lead the list of the hotly-anticipated performers in the 51st edition of the most prestigious beauty contest in the country.

Tickets are available through Ticketnet Online www.ticketnet.com.ph or inquire at (02) 911 5555.

PRESENTERS & MAJOR SPONSORS

The BinibiningPilipinas 2014 pageant is presented by the Araneta Center, ABS-CBN, Cream Silk, PLDT Home, JAG Jeans, AVON, PAGCOR, Titan Watches—the official watch sponsor, PAGCOR, Manhattan Garden City, Pizza Hut, Lactacyd White Intimate, Philippine Airlines, Sofitel—the official residence, Manila Bulletin—the official print partner, David’s Salon, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gold’s Gym, J.A.C. Motors, Picture City, Dale Carnegie Training Center, Entrepreneur School of Asia, Charter Ping An Insurance Corporation, and Raymond Saldaña Photography

Photo Credits & Information sources: Bb Pilipinas website & Rappler