Which Beauty Queens Have Been at the Miss Panglao Pageant?

Question: What do Precious Lara Quigaman, Alexis Rizzini Gomez & Karla Henry have in common aside from being international beauty title holders?

Answer: All three have graced the Miss Panglao Beauty Pageant.

Five successive annual editions since it debuted in 2010, the Miss Panglao Pageant has gained a solid reputation among pageant aficionados in Bohol for being consistent in inviting world- class Filipina beauty pageants to  either grace the event or sit as judge during its finals night.is shaping up as the pageant

Mayor Nila Montero & Aya Montero

Panglao’s mother & daughter tandem of Mayor Nila Montero & Aya Montero have always dreamt of mounting a beauty pageant in Panglao not only to serve as glamorous highlight of the town’s fiesta celebration but also to be an avenue to select the town’s spokespersons & role models for the youth. Both knew that one surefire way of building up a pageant’s reputation and credibility is the presence of highly- respected Filipina beauty queens & entertainment figures.

During the pageant’s debut in 2010, no less than 2005 Bb Pilipinas- International & 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman came to crown the first- ever pageant winner.

   Lara Quigaman with Your Blogger & Fiel Angeli Gabin 

The following year, another international beauty titlist 2008 Miss Philippines Earth & 2008 Miss Earth Karla Henry came with bosom buddy 2005 Miss Bohol Sandugo & 2006 Bb Pilipinas- World Anna Maris Arcay Igpit of Panglao, Bohol

Your Blogger with 2006  Bb World Anna Igpit & 2008 Miss Earth Karla Henry

Your Blogger joins Anna & Karla during the after party. Lady in red
is Amanda Arbitrario who was recently- crowned as Miss SCUBA Philippines 2014

2012 witnessed the glamorous presence of blogging queen & TV personality Joyce Ann Burton1985 Bb Pilipinas- Universe & 1981 Miss Young Pilipinas who was a Top 10 Finalist in the 1981 Miss Young International Pageant. Miss Burton who came with husband Ron Titular was joined by 2011 Bb Pilipinas- International Diane Necio

Your Blogger joins Joyce Burton & candidates for a wacky pose!

Bb Pilipinas Intl 2011 Diane Necio

Iconic beauty queen Venus Raj 2010 Bb Pilipinas- Universe & who emerged as 2010 Miss Universe 4^th Runner Up came with 2012 Mutya ng Pilipinas- Tourism Intl & 2013 Miss Tourism International Alexis Rizzini Gomez

Miss Universe 4th Runner Up Venus Raj

Miss Tourism Intl 2013 Alexis Rizzini Gomez

This year, three reigning titleholders came. They were 2014 Bb Pilipinas- Intercontinental Kris Tiffany Janson, 2014 Mutya ng Pilipinas- Asia Pacific Intl Eva Pyschee Patalinjug & 2014 Miss Philippines Earth Jaime Herell. What made their presence extra special was the presence of leading beauty queen maker & make up maven Jonas Borces & top Philippine pageant blogger Norman Tinio

L-R:Aurora & Norman Tinio, Rommel Gonzales, Kris Janson 
& Your Blogger at The Bellevue 

 L-R: Jaime Herell, Norman Tinio, Jonas Borces, 
Kris Janson & Eva Patalinjug

Jaime Herell Miss Philippines Earth 2014 obliges 
Your Blogger with photo

The presence of the aforementioned ladies never failed to put a smile on every Boholano including Your Blogger who caught glimpses of their stunning visage.

I look forward to next year as we half- guess which beauty queen would enplane to Panglao. Who knows? It just might be another Filipina titleholder!

Thank You Mayor Nila & Aya & to pageant organizer Deo Guden

Victory Parade of Filipina Miss International Winners

HAIL THE NEW QUEEN!

Today, the whole nation rejoiced and gave Bea Rose Santiago a much- deserved victory parade after giving our country our fifth Miss International crown during the pageant’s 54th edition in Tokyo, Japan  

The victory parade started at 12 noon in Makati and will wind up at around 4 pm in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City

Here’s a trip down memory lane as we recall the glorious homecoming and victory parades for the country’s first four Miss International winners:

1964 Miss International Gemma Guerrero Cruz

On August 14, 1964, Gemma Guerrero Cruz secured her place in Philippine pageant history books when she became the first Filipina to win an international beauty title.

The statuesque and brainy Gemma Cruz was selected the 1964 Miss International from among 41 other contestants at Long Beach, California, the pageant’s original venue before it moved permanently to Japan.

Chaperoned by her mother, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, they returned home on Monday, Aug. 24 at 7:02 a.m. on board a PAL DC-8 jetliner-KLM Flying Dutchman operated flight, dubbed as the “Miss International Flight.”

Manila Mayor Antonio J. Villegas led the welcome wishers who proclaimed that day as “Araw ni Gemma.” He and the mayors of Pasay, Parañaque, Caloocan, San Juan and Mandaluyong handed Gemma the symbolic keys to their cities.

A motorcade traveled from the airport to Escolta where a ticker-tape parade awaited Gemma. Later that afternoon, she paid a courtesy call on Pres. and Mrs. Diosdado Macapagal in Malacañang Palace who bestowed her Golden Heart Presidential decoration and was also honored with a formal tea party

Miss International was treated to a ticker-tape parade from the airport to the Escolta, then to Sta. Mesa all the way to her home in San Juan.

The streets were jampacked with over 200,000 Filipinos who gave her a rousing welcome  

1970 Miss International Aurora Pijuan

1970 Miss International Aurora Pijuan won over 46 other contestants at the Exposition Hall Fairgrounds, Osaka, Japan on May 16, 1970.

She arrived on Monday, June 8, at 3:40 p.m. on board a PAL flight accompanied by three officials of Japan Beauty Congress, the organizer of the pageant.

From the airport, her motorcade passed through the city’s main thoroughfares up to Malacañang for a courtesy call on Pres. and Mrs. Ferdinand Marcos.

When Pres. Marcos was informed that the Miss International crown with at least a hundred Mikimoto pearls was worth $70,000, he asked Aurora in jest, “Do you think we can mortgage this crown to raise funds for our country?”

1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez

1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez bested over 42 candidates at the Yubin Chokin Hall, Tokyo, on Nov. 12, 1979.

Ten days after her coronation, Melanie arrived on Thursday, Nov. 22, at 12:15 p.m. on board a PAL flight.

With her were her runners-up Miss USA Anna Maria Rapagna, Miss Austria Elizabeth Schmidt, Miss Finland Kate Elizabeth Nyberg and Miss Japan Hideko Haba and pageant organizers.

Thousands of euphoric Filipinos waited for their motorcade from the airport to Ayala, Makati. The presscon was later held in Manila Peninsula Hotel after the ticker-tape parade in Ayala.

The Aranetas hosted a welcome dinner that night in their Bahay na Puti with Hollywood actor George Hamilton, among the guests.

2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman

2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman won over 51 other aspirants in Aichi, Japan, on Sept. 26, 2005. Lara arrived on Monday, Oct. 23, at 1:45 p.m. on board PAL flight 431 from Narita with officials of International Beauty Congress (organizer of Miss International pageant) to cover her homecoming.

After a brief presscon at the airport, Lara made a courtesy call on Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, graced a parade at Ayala, and attended press conferences at Mandarin Hotel and Gateway Mall.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AMID A YEAR OF SCANDALS & DEVASTATION

At a time when the Philippines has been rocked by political scandals & devastated by terrorism, super typhoons and an earthquake, the triumph of our Filipina beauty queens in the global stage is welcomed like a breath of fresh air.

May these ladies be a source of inspiration for our countrymen

Photo Credits: 

R Torre

Bb Pilipinas Charities

sashfactor.info
Eton Concepcion
Dencio Natividad

Copyright infringement not intended 

With additional info from Ricky Lo's Funfare, Philippine Star

Miss Philippines Is Miss International 2013

Our very own Bea Rose Santiago became the country’s fifth Filipina to be crowned Miss International during a glittering and glamorous pageant held at the Shinagawa Prince Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

BEA'S WINNING ANSWER:

Miss Philippines Bea Rose Santiago’s winning answer to the question on what she will do if she wins as Miss International 2013 :

The whole world saw how my country, the Philippines, suffered. The agony of my people was felt, but one by one, country to country came to help. 

I would like to thank all the nations that helped my country. In our darkest hours, you have opened my eyes and my heart on how important it is - if we all just support each other. 

If I become Miss International, I will uphold international camaraderie to sustain the spirit for sympathy and to continually share the message of hope. 

I believe that whatever calamity may come to us, as long as we have each other, there will be hope. Thank you."

RUNNERS UP

Her court includes 1st Runner-Up Nathalie den Dekker of the Netherlands and 2nd Runner-Up Casey Radley of New Zealand. 

The delegates from Hungary and Colombia completed the Top 5.

Contestants from Brazil, Ecuador, Gibraltar, Iceland, Lithuania, Russia, Puerto Rico, Spain, Thailand and USA were part of the Top 15 semi-finalists.

Not a single black delegate reached the semi-finals.

 Bea reacts after being crowned Miss International 2013

Sixty- seven girls from all over the world competed in the 54^th annual Miss International Pageant

TRIVIA:

Did you know that the first Miss International Stella Marquez Zawadsky (now Mrs. Jorge Araneta) who represented Colombia in the inaugural pageant held in Long Beach, California in 1960 is the National Director of Bb Pilipinas Charities? 

Miss Philippines Sizzles in the Miss International Swimsuit Segment

Special awardees include New Zealand for Miss Friendship, Macau for Miss Internet, Aruba for Miss National Costume and Lithuania for Miss Photogenic.

Congratulations and Mabuhay Ka, Bea Rose Santiago! 

Ours would indeed be the merriest of Christmases. At least for avid Filipino pageant fans!

A victory parade awaits our latest darling in international pageantry 

Here's the Miss International journey of Bea Santiago in photos: 

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OUR MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEENS:

1964: Gemma Cruz during her 
triumphant homecoming parade 

 1964 Gemma Cruz. The first Filipina to conquer the global pageant stage

 1970 Aurora Pijuan

 1979 Melanie Marquez

 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman

Photo Credits:

Miss International Org
Tony Paat