So Who Organized the Search for RP's Bet to Miss World During the Last Fifty Years?

GOLDEN GIRL THIS YEAR

Hillarie Danielle Ang Parungao holds the distinction of being the country’s Golden Girl for Miss World.

The beauty queen from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya is the 50th Pinay to wear the Miss Philippines sash in the Miss World Pageant.

This includes the two years when our bets were pulled out from the pageant

(The Philippines competed in 1976 & 1977 but the delegates were asked by the Philippine government to withdraw before coronation night as a sign of protest against South Africa’s apartheid policy)

THE NATIONAL FRANCHISE HOLDERS: (Through the Years)

During the Philippines' 50 golden years of Miss World participation, the selection of the country's representatives were handled by seven different organizing bodies also known in the pageant world as the franchise holders.

1966   Vivien Lee Austria (real name: Emraida Kelly Kiram, a real- life princess) was chosen as the first- ever Philippine delegate to Miss World through the Miss Inter- Collegiate Girl Search organized by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines in partnership with Beauty World,Inc. by Eddie Marfori. I suppose she won for her regal beauty, innate elegance and I suppose, for her writing skills.

 Vivien Lee Austria

1967  Maita Favis Gomez was chosen as the Philippines' representative to the Miss World Beauty contest during the selection of the 1967 Top Ten Fashion Models of the Philippines, a glittering fund- raising project of the Scholarship Foundation of the Filipino Youth.

 Maita Favis Gomez is RP's bet in 1967

1968 Beauty World, Ltd. for Miss Philippines became a new Miss World franchise holder. Even though the franchise that also  selected the country's bets to the Int'l Teen Princess Pageant in Chicago, Illinois, USA & the Queen of the Pacific Quest in Australia lasted for only a year, it was able to discover Cecilia "Pinky" Amabuyok whose 4th Runner Up finish made her the first Filipina to place in Miss World.

 Cecilia Amabuyok

 1969 the first Miss Republic of the Philippines Pageant debuted when Spotlight Promotions of Ferdie Villar obtained the franchise to select the Philippines’ delegate for the annual Miss World beauty pageant.

 Feliza Teresita Nuesa Miro

The beautiful Feliza Teresita Nuesa Miro who is best remembered for winning over heavy favorite Vida Doria became the first Miss Republic of the Philippines. Miss Republic of the Philippines had its final year in 1976.

NOTE: Vida was crowned two years later as 1971 Bb Pilipinas- Universe and holds the distinction of being the first Miss Philippines to be selected as Miss Photogenic in Miss Universe during the pageant’s 1971 edition.

1977 Mutya ng Pilipinas founded by Leandro “Biboy” Enriquez acquired the franchise to select the country’s candidate for Miss World in 1977 with Anna Melissa “Peachy” Ofilada Veneracion as the first winner.

 Mutya 77 Peachy Veneracion

  www.lazada.com.ph

Days before the crowning of the new Miss World, Peachy was pressured by the Philippine government to withdraw from the competition despite being installed as a heavy favorite for the crown.

Mutya ng Pilipinas Organization held the franchise until 1991.

1992 Bb Pilipinas Charities Inc. was awarded the franchise in 1992 and the first titleholder was the tall Marilen Espino who was the 1988 Ford SuperModel of the World- Philippines winner.

 Marilen Espino

Marilen vowed to do well in the Miss World pageant to acquit a forgettable participation in the international modeling tilt but it was not to be.

In a dramatic and heartbreaking turn of events, Marilen contracted chicken pox on the eve of her departure for Miss World and so it was Marina Benipayo, who was originally crowned as Bb Pilipinas- Maja 1992, who was sent as a last- minute replacement. Marina may not have won the crown but will forever be remembered by pageant fans as the first representative under the Bb Pilipinas Charities Inc. franchise.

During the 2010 Bb Pilipinas Pageant, Czarina Gatbonton became the last of the Binibinis to be crowned as Bb Pilipinas- World titleholder.

2011  Miss World Organization Chairman Julia Morley awarded the Miss World franchise to CQ Global Quest Inc., managed by Cory Quirino, on January 25, 2011. The Miss World Philippines pageant is inspired by the Miss World Ltd.'s slogan "Beauty with a Purpose" and henceforth adopted the theme "Beauty in Giving."

The winner and her court work with charities that benefit children in need and also join movements of supporting women and children's rights and many more advocacy projects.  

So far, the four- year old Miss World Philippines of CQ Global Quest Inc has the most impressive batting average as far as performance in the international finals is concerned.

Aside from producing a Miss World winner, a 1^st Runner Up, a Top 15 SemiFinalist and a Top 25 Semifinalist, it has two Asia’s Continental Queen of Beauty special awardees and a Top Model Challenge winner. 

Thanks to Mr Tony Paat, BB Pilipinas, Missosology and others

Why She Will Be The Third Filipina Miss Universe

YOUTHFUL YVETHE

And here now is my solid frontrunner for the 2014 Bb. Pilipinas- Universe crown. She exudes sophistication, freshness & youth with a subtle hint of sassiness & cattiness

Photographs well and has a globally appealing beauty. 

She was even pegged by a US- based pageant website as the Asian version of Olivia Culpo  

Her impressive academic credentials can’t be ignored either. She graduated with a BS Accountancy degree Cum Laude and is a Certified Public Accountant

Will Yvethe Marie Santiago’s fiery & sexy Bicolana roots tempered with a sweet and winsome image be more than enough to give her a Binibini crown?

 

I think so. Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta’s formula for Bb Pilipinas Universe has always been Beauty + Impressive Academic Credentials = Miss Universe placement

Will Yvethe give us our long cherished dream of a third Miss Universe crown?

Let’s find out the next few weeks leading to the Bb Pilipinas Pageant Night

with reigning Miss World Megan Young

with Bianca Guidotti, her strongest rival for Bb Pilipinas- Universe crown
 

Photo Credits: 

Philippe.Polo

Bb Pilipinas Charities

Missosology

Sash Factor

Copyright infringement not intended

Crown Favorites for 2014 Bb Pilipinas Pageant: Part 2

HERE ARE MY NEXT TWO FAVES:

BRONZED & BOOTYLICIOUS BEAUTY

Hannah Ruth Singson

Hannah Ruth Singson was one of last year’s Bb Pilipinas pre- pageant favorites who ended up unplaced.

She did everything right but was still unfairly eliminated. Her exclusion from the Top 15 was one of the pageant’s shocking moments.

Considering the high number of gorgeous girls who vied in Binibini’s Gold Edition, it was expected already that some of the favorites would end up as clappers

Hannah is a college instructor who teaches Website Design & Graphic & Visual Arts.

Will Lady Luck smile on Hannah this year? It’s still anybody’s guess

VIVACIOUS & VOLUPTUOUS VIXEN

When Mary Jean Lastimosa of Davao City became one of the official candidates of the 2011 Bb Pilipinas Pageant, she became an instant favorite among pageant fans.

Her vavavoom figure, oodles of sex appeal & fierce onstage moves during the Press Presentation cemented her status as one of the solid frontrunners

SHE SET THE STAGE ON FIRE DURING THE 2011 PRESS PRESENTATION

But it wasn’t meant to be. Shamcey Supsup from neighboring Gen Santos City stood in the way. MJ as she is popularly known among pageant fans settled for a 2^nd Runner Up placement

Along with Janine Tugonon, the 1^st Runner Up in 2011, she competed again in 2012. There were 24 girls in the 2012 batch and she was installed as the top favorite. The crown was hers to lose, so to speak

Prior to the announcement & coronation of winners, MJ had won two very important corporate awards; Miss AVON and Miss Philippine Airlines Sunniest Personality

When the dust settled, it was Janine Tugonon who got the nod from the judges and MJ was nowhere to be seen in the winners’ circle.

It was a heartbreaking scene and after the pageant, everyone thought that we had seen the last of MJ Lastimosa but it’s never say never for this beauty queen aspirant

Will MJ Lastimosa redeem herself this year or will it be another disappointment?

WILL IT BE THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM?

If it’s any consolation, Maricar Balagtas who was our Miss Universe bet in 2004 did not place the first time she joined in 2000.

The following year in 2001, Maricar was named 2^nd Runner Up. It was only in her third try that she finally got the Bb Pilipinas- Universe crown that she had been eyeing ever since she embarked in her Bb Pilipinas journey  

 Photo Credits: Copyright infringement not intended

Crown Favorites for 2014 Bb Pilipinas Pageant

The Standouts. The Frontrunners. The Girls to Beat

They are the girls who caught my attention when I was going over their first official photos from Bb. Pilipinas Charities. Choosing them was very easy. All I did was pick out the girls who won me over after my initial scrutiny. In other words, they are the ones who commanded the most attention for the right reasons.

Here are my first two girls:

  Parul Shah

DUSKY. DREAMY & DARING 

Sultry. Smoldering. Scintillating. These are the apt words to describe this girl who goes by the exotic sounding name of Parul Shah. 

 2014 Bb Pilipinas Swimsuit Photo

This BS Nursing degree holder from Baguio City was one of the heavy favorites during last year’s Bb. Pilipinas Pageant but only ended up as one of the 15 semifinalists

When Parul’s  sexier & fiercer version of herself  surfaced during the Bb Pilipinas 2014 series of screenings and callbacks, she was catapulted to the list of of The Girls To Beat

PARUL SHAH DURING LAST YEAR'S BB PILIPINAS PRESS PRESENTATION

Will last year’s pageant experience, the long preparation & coaching from the Kagandahang Flores camp clinch for her one of the three crowns at stake?

PEDIGREE, PERSONALITY & PORTUGUESE  

 Bianca Guidotti

Mary Jane Bianca Guidotti literally and figuratively towers over most of this year’s candidates.

Her stratospheric & statuesque height of 5’ 10” plus her legs that go on for miles make her a formidable competitor.

 2014 Bb Pilipinas Swimsuit Photo

This 20 something Ateneo de Manila University graduate has the social pedigree and the air of a well- traveled cosmopolitan lady as well.

Her years of stay in Brazil plus her facility with the Portuguese language would definitely be a big advantage if she will be picked to represent the Philippines in the 2014 Miss Universe Pageant to be held in Brazil.

Remember Miss Portugal and Miss Angola Leila Lopes? Together with Miss Brazil, both of the Portuguese- speaking ladies made the Top Ten back in 2011 with Leila eventually winning the crown when the pageant was held in Sao Paolo, Brazil

What she needs to improve on is consistency with her styling and the need to project a more youthful vibe

My other faves: 

Bb. Pilipinas 2014 Crown Faves: Part 2

Photo Credits: Copyright infringement not intended

My Early Picks for 2014 Bb. Pilipinas

You can tell that summer is just around the corner when publicity stills of the next crop of Binibining Pilipinas hopefuls are splashed all over the newspapers, featured in online websites and merits a mention in the gets primetime TV news programs

Will this year yield another bumper harvest of world- class beauties like last year’s Gold Editon winners?

Here are my early favorites from among the 40 Official Candidates

MY EARLY PICKS

Hannah  De La Guerra

Parul Shah 

Hannah  Ruth Singson

Bianca Guidotti

Vessica Sambo

Leizl Ramos

Yvethe Santiago 

Diana Arevalo

Mary Jean Lastimosa

The list will change every now and then until we get to the Coronation Night set at the Araneta Center on March 30, 2014 and telecast live over ABS CBN Channel 2

SWIMSUIT STANDOUTS 

Photo Credits: Copyright infringement not intended