When the Boholano Blogger Finally Met the 2013 Miss Universe 3rd Runner Up!

When Your Blogger first caught sight of Ariella Ara Arida during the early days leading to the 2013 Bb Pilipinas Gold Edition, it was a journey like no other. While other pageant websites, experts, fans and bloggers rarely had her as a favorite or a frontrunner, Your Blogger thought otherwise.

 2015 Miss Panglao Pageant Chairman of the Board of Judges

There was that something about Ara that I knew would get her the nod of the esteemed panel of judges and get into the good graces of Madame SMA or Stella Marquez Araneta, founder of the country’s longest- running and most prestigious beauty competition

 

 Encounter of a Lifetime, August 24, 2015, Alona Beach

Was it Ara’s smoky eyes and piercing stare? Or was it perhaps the bewitching and beguiling charm of the Laguna lass that made the difference?

A day or so before the Gold Edition winners were to be crowned, Your Blogger came up with his list of probable winners and had Ara rounding out his choices as His Sentimental Favorite.

The rest is history as they say and Ara went on to represent the Philippines in the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant in Moscow, Russia where she became the first & only Filipina to have topped both the swimsuit competition & the worldwide online fan voting.

 Ara Arida is 2013 Miss Universe 3rd Runner Up

Anyway, who would have known that Your Blogger would finally get the chance to meet her up close and personal? The 2015 Miss Panglao Pageant made it all happen. Not for a few minutes nor for an hour but for three unforgettable days in Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol. 

Let the photos speak for the surreal experience

 with Ara Arida during Chocolate Hills Tour 

goofing with Bessie Besana, Atty Dannt Gapasin Jr & Ara
Bilar Man- Made Forest, Bilar, Bohol  

 enjoying the Loboc River Cruise 

 before boarding time 

  before the Judges' Briefing
Baybayon Restaurant, Alona Tropical Beach Resort
Photo Credits: DJ Arro

Two Miss Universe Runners Up to Judge Miss Panglao 2015

TWO MISS UNIVERSE RUNNERS UP ARE COMING

Adding glitter and glamour to the Miss Panglao 2015 is the presence of two Bb. Pilipinas- Universe queens who both placed as 3^rd Runner Up in their respective Miss Universe assignments. 

 Shamcey Supsup & Ara Arida

Shamcey Supsup- Lee who represented the country in the 2011 Miss Universe Pageant held in Sao Paolo,  Brazil will be coming over with her hubby Lloyd Lee.  Ariella Arida competed in the 2013 edition of Miss Universe held in Moscow, Russia. Both ladies were also selected by Miss Universe Organization to be the pageant’s webcast presenters a year after they competed in the pageant.

TWO PBB HOUSEMATES ARE COMING TOO

To serenade the ladies are two products from ABS CBN’s most successful reality- based TV show, Pinoy Big Brother. Alex Torres from PBB All- In and Tom Olaf Doromal from PBB Teen Edition Season 4

PBB:Alex Torres from PBB All- In and Tom Olaf Doromal 

The annual search for Miss Panglao is renowned as one of Bohol’s most prestigious beauty competitions. The glamorous event aims not only to select the municipality’s ambassadress of the youth and the spokesperson of the town’s tourism industry but also to encourage the different participating barangays and Panglao- based schools & organizations to have a platform for their sustainable projects which are spotlighted during the pageant.

PAGEANT PRESENTERS

Initiated by SK Panglao in the year 2010 under the strong leadership of former SK Federated President of Panglao, Ms. Aya Montero, the 6th Edition of Miss Panglao Pageant.

Miss Panglao 2015 – The Island Fiesta Edition is presented by Local Government Unit of Panglao headed by Hon. Nila Montero (Mayor) & Sangguniang Bayan headed by Hon. Pedro Fuertes (Vice-Mayor) in cooperation with MyMadamme Productions of the Montero Family and Alona Tropical Beach Resort

ADVOCACY SPOKESPERSON

Miss Panglao 2015 will culminate with the selection and crowning of  the town’s next spokesperson for its community- based advocacy projects.

Miss Panglao 2015 will be chosen from a bevy of 14 young ladies whose ages range from 15 to 21 years old and represent eight of the town's barangays, three Panglao- based secondary schools, two from socio- civic groups and one from a luxury resort. 

Click the link for the candidates:

Meet the 14 Miss Panglao 2015 Candidates

PAGEANT DATE

Miss Panglao 2015 will be crowned on Tuesday, August 25, 8 pm, Panglao Town Plaza. Admission is Free

Ara Arida Starts Her Miss Universe Web Correspondent Gig

It’s going to be three in a row for the Filipina beauty to be taking over the Miss Universe web correspondent duties. 

In 2012, Shamcey became the first “On the Scene” correspondent for the behind-the-scenes web series, On the Scene. for the Miss Universe Pageant and she did the segment in Las Vegas so well that another Filipina, this time Miss Janine Tugonon got the hosting gig in Moscow, Russia back in 2013.

It will stream via the Miss Universe YouTube channel, Official Miss Universe.  "On the Scene" web show is the Miss Universe Organization's way of letting pageant fans in on the events happening before the coronation night on

Miss Universe 2013 3rd runner-up, Ariella Arida, together with Mr. Jonas Gaffud of Aces and Queens, finally arrived at the LAX international airport, Los Angeles, California, that is as she takes the trip for Doral, Miami. They were met at the airport by US- based Janine Tugonon.

Shamcey interviews Janine in the 2012 Miss U Pageant 

Janine took over in 2013 at the Moscow, Russia- held pageant 

 So how will Ara tackle her hosting gig? I'm confident she will ace it and do us proud

Watch the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant on Monday, January 25 to be telecast live over ABS CBN Channel 2

Ara Arida is Miss Universe 2014 Website Correspondent

The Philippines is indeed one of the favorite countries of the Miss Universe Organization. The obvious favoritism can be confirmed with the appointment of Miss Universe 2013 3rd Runner-up Ara Arida as Miss Universe 2014 Website Correspondent

 

2013 Bb Pilipinas- Universe: Ara Arida

This is the third straight year that a Miss Philippines Universe will be assuming the online hosting chores for the pageant. It was Shamcey Supsup who got the job in 2012 followed by Janine Tugonon who flew to Moscow, Russia in 2013. This year, Miss Arida gets the ‘On the Scene’ online hosting job for the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant.

Ariella will be jetting off to Miami, Florida, USA middle of January so expect her web videos to appear a few days before and during the pageant. 

Way to go Ara!

Miss Universe 1st Runner Up Admits She Is A Lesbian

The pageant world has been thrown into a tizzy after Patricia Yurena Rodriguez, the Spanish senorita who placed as 1^st Runner Up to Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler of Venezuela finally came out in the open and declared that she is a lesbian.

Miss Universe Last Two Standing 

Patricia declared her sexuality indirectly by posting in her Instagram account a picture of her and her lover Vanesa Cortés, better known by her alter ego Vanessa Klein, a popular singer in her own right.

 

Patricia's Lover is a Senorita

The beautiful Patricia who first won as Miss Espana 2008 wasn’t able to represent her country in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant because of age eligibility. She took part instead in the Miss World tilt where she landed in the Top 15. 

She competed again and won the Miss Espana title and finally represented her country in the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant held in Moscow, Russia where she became good friends with roommate & eventual winner Miss Venezuela. Miss Philippines Ariella Arida was also one of her closest friends.

Miss Venezuela, Miss Philippines & Miss Spain were the last three to enter the Top Five

Had Patricia been crowned Miss Universe instead of Gabriela, it would have been a publicity stunt that Donald Trump would surely milk for all its worth.

Patricia would always be remembered as one of the most stunning candidates to ever grace the Miss Universe stage. 

Good luck and cheers!

Photo Credits: 

2013 Bb Pilipinas Gold Queens: Most Successful Batch Ever

The 2013 Bb Pilipinas Gold Edition  Queens really lived up to their billing as they have proven to be the most successful batch of Bb Pilipinas.

Farewell Queens L-R: Cindy, Ara, Bea & Mutya

A Year Ago as Bb Pilipinas Gold Edition Queens

Two international crowns, a runner up finish and a Top Ten placement sum up the performances of our four Bb Pilipinas queens in the international beauty arena

At a time when our country was reeling from natural disasters that came one after the other and causing devastation, desolation and deaths, the achievements of our beauty queens were like rays of sunshine that brought unbridled joy and elation for our kababayans

Ara Arida made it four in a row for the Philippines in the Miss Universe Pageant held in Russia. Her 3^rd RU finish was our fourth Top Five placement in the Miss Universe Pageant

2013 Miss Universe Best in Swimsuit

She silenced her critics and detractors with a stunning swimsuit performance that gave us our first ever Best in Swimsuit award in the Miss U Pageant.

Victorious Homecoming Parade for Bea Rose

Bea Rose Santiago became our country’s fifth Miss International titleholder after wowing the Japanese- dominated panel of judges with her poise and elegance and of course , with her heartfelt speech during the final round

Mutya Johanna Datul became the first Filipina and first Asian to ensnare the Miss Supranational crown  which she won in Belarus. 

Mutya is congratulated by fellow candidates

Mutya is the first Filipina & first Asian to win Miss Supranational

Her sunny disposition, her winsome smile and oodles of charm melted icy Belarus on her way to winning the crown

Finally, Cindy Miranda made the Top Ten in the Miss Tourism Queen International Pageant despite the stiff competition and unpredictable judging

As they passed on their crowns to the 2014 Bb Pilipinas queens,  you can feel the surge of pride and adulation showered on them by a grateful and proud country

But the proudest would have to be Madame Stella Marquez Araneta, the dynamic force behind Bb Pilipinas Charities Inc who has steered the country's most prestigious pageant to where it is now

Long may you reign ladies!

Photo Credits:

Bb Pilipinas Charities, Inc

Memorable Moments During Bb Pilipinas 2014 Pageant Night

Here's a look back at the recent 2014 Bb Pilipinas Pageant

ABS CBN's Bankable Kapamilya Anne Curtis & Xian Lim

Outgoing Bb Pilipinas Gold Edition Queens

1st Set of Special Awards

Miss Universe Runners Up Shamcey & Venus

Xian Lim & Miss Intenational Bea Rose Santiago 

Miss U & Runners Up: (L-R) Venus, Ara, Gabriela, Shamcey & Janine

Queen of the Night: MJ Lastimosa

Admittedly, the presence of reigning 2013 Miss Universe Gabriela Isler of Venezuela made this year's Bb Pilipinas extra special.

The last time a reigning Miss Universe came to crown a Bb Pilipinas was back in 1977 when 1976 Miss Universe Rina Messinger of Israel & 1976 Miss USA Kim Tomes came to crown 1977 Bb Pilipinas Universe Anna Lorraine Kier of Baguio City along with BB Pilipinas International Pinky Alberto

Miss Universe Gabriela Isler takes a selfie during judging break

1977 Bb Pilipinas Pageant: L-R: Kier, Messinger, Tomes & Alberto

Photo Credits:

Ron Titular for adventuresofabeautyqueen.com
Bb Pilipinas Charities Inc

Tony Paat