Miss Universe Philippines Trivia & Tidbits Through the Decades

With the Miss Universe triumph of Pia Wurtzbach, the Philippines is now ranked fourth after USA, Venezuela & Puerto Rico in that order as the countries with the most number of Miss Universe crowns. The Philippines also lives up to its billing as the Pearl of the Orient Seas since it is the most successful Asian country in Miss Universe. Three Miss Universe crowns, two 1^st RU, five 3^rd RU, two 4^th RU and eight semifinalists plus special awards.

From 1952 to 1957 and 1962 to 1963, the Miss Philippines pageant was held to select the representative of the Philippines to the Miss Universe Pageant. There were no representatives from 1958- 1961. 

After the first Miss International winner Stella Marquez Araneta of Colombia got married to Filipino Jorge Araneta, she organized Bb Pilipinas Charities Inc in 1964 right after acquiring the local Miss Universe franchise and has been sending candidates from 1964 to the present without fail.

Here now are the firsts for the Philippines in Miss Universe:

 Teresita Torralba Sanchez

FIRST FILIPINA DELEGATE. Teresita Torralba Sanchez entered pageant history books as the first Filipina to have competed in Miss Universe when she was selected to be the country’s representative in the pageant’s inaugural edition in 1952. 

Teresita Torralba Sanchez was crowned Miss Philippines 1952 on April 26, 1952 by the Mayor of Manila, Arsenio Lacson at the Fiesta Pavilion of Manila Hotel. 

During the pageant finals on June 28, 1952 held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California, Teresita fainted but recovered before the announcement of winners.  

FIRST TOP 15 SEMIFINALIST. Maria Candida Blesilda "Bessie" Mueler Ocampo who was crowned Miss Philippines on December 19, 1953 at the Boys Town Auditorium is the first Filipina delegate to make it as top 15 semifinalist  

  Blesilda Mueler Ocampo: 1st Top 15 for RP

FIRST TOP FIVE FINALIST. Miss Philippines Lalaine Betia Bennett is the first Filipina to enter the Miss Universe Final Five. Lalaine eventually finished as 3^rd Runner-Up to Ieda Maria Vargas of Brazil. She married her official escort in the pageant, Felix Skievasky, a US Naval Officer of Polish-Filipino descent in Manila.

  Lalaine is Miss U 1963 3rd Runner Up

FIRST BB. PILIPINAS- UNIVERSE. In 1964, Maria Myrna Sese Panlilio became the first Bb Pilipinas to represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe Pageant  

FIRST MISS UNIVERSE. Gloria Diaz became the first Filipina and third Asian to win the Miss Universe Pageant after besting 60 other beauty delegates from around the world at the 18th Miss Universe pageant held at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida, USA , July 19 1969. Outgoing queen Martha Vasconcellos of Brazil crowned Gloria Diaz.  

Incidentally, Gloria is also the first Filipina and first Miss Universe to enter the sound- proof glass booth  that made its first appearance during the final Q & A in Miss Universe 1969

FIRST SIBLINGS TO COMPETE IN MISS UNIVERSE. When Simonette Berenguer de Los Reyes represented the country in the 1970 Miss Universe Pageant, she made history with her sister Yvonne Berenguer de los Reyes as the first Filipina siblings to compete in Miss Universe. Yvonne competed in 1955

FIRST MISS PHOTOGENIC. 1971. Alluring and vivacious Vida Valentina Doria is the first Filipina to be voted Miss Photogenic by the press photographers of Miss Universe

Miss Photogenic is Miss Philippines

FIRST FILIPINA MISS UNIVERSE & MISS PHOTOGENIC WINNER. In 1973, Margarita "Margie" Moran became the first Filipina to win both the Miss Universe crown and the Miss Photogenic award. Margie is the second Miss Universe to achieve the feat. The first being Margreta Arvidsson of Sweden back in 1966.

1973 Miss Universe & Miss Photogenic

FIRST ASIAN COUNTRY TO HOST MISS UNIVERSE The Philippines became the first Asian country to host the Miss Universe Pageant in 1974. The country hosted the pageant for the second time in 1994.

FIRST SUMMA CUM LAUDE GRADUATE 1976 Lizbeth Padua. Hopes were high in 1976 when a Summa Cum Laude graduate from UP Diliman Lizbeth Padua represented the country in Hong Kong. She was however shut out from the semis thus starting the first of four years of non- placement.

FIRST BEST NATIONAL COSTUME Charlene Gonzales won the Best National Costume award in the 1994 Miss U Pageant held in Manila.

Charlene Gonzales wins Best National Costume with her Tboli costume 

FIRST CLAIROL HERBAL ESSENCES AWARD. 1999. Miriam Quiambao became the first Filipina to win the Clairol Herbal Essences Style Award for her personal style with emphasis on her healthy hair

FIRST BEST IN SWIMSUIT. Ariella Ara Arida became the first Filipina to be selected Best in Swimsuit after topping the swimsuit competition in the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant held in Moscow, Russia. She eventually finished 3^rd RU

 

 Best in Swimsuit & Fans' Favorite

FIRST FAN VOTE WINNER. In addition to the Best in Swimsuit special award, Ariella is also the first Filipina recipient of the Fan Vote Award which catapulted her into the Top 16 

FIRST MISS UNIVERSE WINNER FROM WME/ IMG.  Pia Wurtzbach holds the distinction of being the first Miss Universe winner under WME/ IMG, the new owners & management 

Aces & Queens Wants You for Pageant Year 2016!

What do Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon & Ara Arida have in common aside from making the Top Five in Miss Universe?

 outstanding Aces & Queens alumnae

Well, all the aforementioned ladies are outstanding alumnae from Aces & Queens. Include three of the reigning Bb Pilipinas 2015 queens Pia  Alonzo Wurtzbach, Christi Lynn McGarry & Ann Lorraine Colis. And of course, the first and only Filipina to clinch the Miss World crown Megan Young. 

 four successive Miss Universe Top Five placements

The last quarter for 2015 has not yet been ushered in but Aces & Queens is already sounding off the clarion call for qualified Filipinas from Aparri to Jolo who will compose the members of the beauty camp’s Class of 2016.

Have you ever aspired to become a beauty queen & inspirational model?

A & Q Wants YOU!

Take the first step and follow the directions.

Who knows? You just might be the next big thing in Philippine and global pageantry!

Imagine a Whole Day Bohol Tour with Ara Arida

It still feels surreal every time I remember those two days spent with a Bb Pilipinas titleholder whose Miss Universe journey I closely followed.

 

 FAB FOUR: Atty Dan, Ara, Your Blogger & Bessieright at the Loboc River Cruise terminal

So when she came here in Bohol to judge Miss Panglao with hotand fast- rising designer & style expert Bessie Besana, I was like wow!It was a dream come true for I had been following her days in Moscow, Russia for two reasons; 

 lunch  on board a Loboc floating resto


   

She was the first Bb Pilipinas- Universe to compete in my first year as blogger and secondly, she was like my hot favorite to win the Gold Edition of the country’s longest- running national beauty competition

And up close & personal, she doesn't disappoint. She truly is alluring especially with those piercing eyes.

Anyway, here are more photos during the Bohol tour that had Bessie and another judge, the cool Rotarian lawyer Atty. Danny Gapasin 

 the first meeting took place at Alona Tropical Resort's beachfront  

right at the Bilar Man- Made Forest

After the whole day Bohol countryside tour, it was straight back to Alona Tropical Resort where everyone was busy prepping up for the pageant.

At seven pm sharp, I met the members of the judging panel at the resort’s Baybayon Restaurant to brief them on the judging criteria and the guidelines.

  Your Blogger briefs the judges with pageant aims & criteria

  A photo opportunity with Panglao Mayor Nila Montero (lady in white)

 with lifestylebohol writer DJ Arro

And then off we went to the open- air venue of the pageant at the Panglao Town Plaza where the town fiesta activities were being held.

By the way, did Your Blogger mention to you that he also had a wonderful and insightful day talking to Shamcey & her hubby Lloyd Lee? But that’s another story..

 Behold your Queen Ara as she takes a break from her tough job of
being Chairperson of the Board of Judges 

 Thank You Ara for being gracious enough to oblige us and Thank You to Mayor Nila, Sir Ondo, & Aya for the opportunity!

Photo Credits: Atty. Danny Gapasin Jr., Hwan Mendoza & Nestor Daarol

Happy Birthday Ryan Sines, Bohol's Mane Maven to the Stars

Today is the 26th birthday of Ryan Sines, one of  Bohol’s top mane mavens! And since it is his birthday, here's the perfect birthday tribute to what he does best!   

Ryan poses with Binibini beauties


  

When the two Miss Universe runners up ShamceySupsup- Lee and Ara Arida requested for a hairstylist to do their hair for Miss Panglao 2015, Your Roving Eye recommended Ryan Sines for the job knowing that he also did the hair of another Miss Universe runner up Venus Raj during Miss Panglao 2013. 

And here are the photos of Ryan in action at the Alona Tropical Beach Resort in Alona Beach. Panglao, Bohol where both titleholders were billeted.  

All these were made possible because of the Miss Panglao organizers especially the Montero family and Deo Guden the project director who trusted his creativity . His unique brand of humor is also a bonus and never fails to ease up people around him

2013 Miss Universe Philippines Ara Arida

2011 Miss Universe Philippines Shamcey Supsup- Lee

that's Lloyd Lee at the background!

2010 Miss Universe Philippines Venus Raj

 Always keep reaching for the stars Nayr but keep both feet firmly on the ground! 

Cheers! 

When Bessie and Mikee Met in Miss Panglao 2015

Miss Panglao 2015 Pageant  was honored to have been graced by two fashion designers who are also actively involved in pageantry.

 Your Blogger with Bessie & Mikee

Long before we met by chance at the Henann Resort poolside for the swimsuit shoot of Miss Bohol 2015, I already knew from top pageant blogger Norman Tinio  that Mark Bessie Besana is a pageant coach & one of the stabilizing forces of Aces & Queens, the beauty camp that has produced not only Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon & Ara Arida who all achieved a Miss Universe Top Five placement from 2010 to 2013 ut also the Philippines’ first & only Miss World care of Megan Young in 2013.

Bessie revealed to me that he was based overseas for a corporate job before making the big career switch to pageant mentoring & fashion designing.

 Bessie Besana gown for Shamcey 

 and a Bessie Besana jumpsuit for Ara 

For their Miss Panglao 2015 judging duties, Ara wore Bessie Besana’s stretch floral and black jumpsuit that creates a perfect illusion of height. Shamcey wore a  ruched off shoulder red gown with crochet applique. 

Gayle Yu & Toni Gonzaga wear Mikee Andrei

 Marian Grace in a Mikee Andrei during Miss Silka Philippines 2014

On the other hand, Mikee Andrei is a Manila- based designer who is a homegrown Boholano talent. The current President of the Fashion Designer Alliance Manila (FaDAL) has always been supportive of the thriving pageant and fashion industry in Bohol through wardrobe sponsorship and sitting as member of the panel of judges during pageants being staged in some of Bohol’s 47 towns and the lone city of Tagbilaran.

Mikee also supported Bohol’s entry Marian Grace Malubay during her Miss Silka Philippines 2014 stint in Manila last year. This summer, the designer also extended support to Gayle Yu through mentoring at Kagandahang Flores beauty camp and wardrobe assistance when she represented Calape, Bohol in the 2015 Miss Philippines Earth national finals.

God bless Bessie & Mikee!

Sad News on Miss Universe 2014

Here now are some good news and bad news about Miss Universe 2014

Bad news first:

And for the first time in its 62 year history, there will be no Miss Universe for 2014! What a bummer for Miss Universe fanatics not only in the Philippines but around the world as well. The long uninterrupted tradition of celebrating international beauty & friendship comes to a halt (albeit this year only)

Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler of Venezuela

2013 Miss Universe Top Five including our very own Ara Arida

The reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler will now enter history books as the only Miss Universe who reigned for two years although not really for 24 months. A bit on that later

 

Miss Universe in her $1 Million Yamamay Swimsuit

A lot of speculations have come out and the blame has been on the recent news that most of Trump’s Casinos in New Jersey have filed for bankruptcy. As we all know, The Donald Trump is also the owner of Miss Universe Organization which owns Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA

So what’s the good news?

Miss Universe 2015 will be held in Doral, Miami- Dade County, Florida, USA on January 18! Will  the winner be known as Miss Universe 2014 or 2015? If she will be Miss Universe 2014, that would have to be the shortest reign ever for it would follow that there would a Miss Universe 2015 later next year.

On the other hand, will this mean that our country's bet Mary Jean Lastimosa can’t compete since she will be 27 this November?

According to Miss Universe FAQ

“Miss Universe and Miss USA contestants must be at least 18 years of age and under 27 years of age by February 1st in the year they hope to compete in the Miss Universe" 

The cut- off age in Miss Universe is 26 years old. I believe that she will be allowed to compete for it wasn’t her fault that the pageant has been moved

Let’s wait for the next update with bated breath!