Bye Bye Bb. Pilipinas, Hello Miss Universe Philippines

With the new year comes new beginnings and endings,  and in the case of Binibining Pilipinas, the earth- shaking announcement of the parting of ways between Bb Pilipinas Charities Inc (BPCI) and the Miss Universe Org. The split effectively marks the end of a glorious era in Philippine pageant history. Under the guidance of Madame Stella Marquez Araneta, the country’s premier pageant has produced four Miss Universe winners, eight runners up, 10 semifinalists and the most number of Miss Photogenic winners.

For the past 55 years, BPCI has built and nurtured Bb Pilipinas into becoming the country’s premier beauty search and whose winners have brought pride and recognition to the country.  As the official Miss Universe franchise holder, Bb Pilipinas has been spearheading the selection of the country’s bet for the world’s most prestigious beauty competitions. It was unimaginable that the search for the Philippines’ candidate for Miss Universe would be headed by another pageant.  The news that the Miss Universe Organization did not renew its license with Bb Pilipinas sent shock waves to pageant fans. 

MEET THE NEW GROUP BEHIND THE MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES ORG. Starting this January, the newly- organized Miss Universe Philippines Org (MUP) will launch its inaugural search for the next Miss Universe Philippines. The group has former Bb Pilipinas- Universe 2011 and Miss Universe 2011 3^rd RU Shamcey Supsup- Lee as its national director and long-time pageant mentor Jonas Gaffud as creative director. Other officials include Albert Andrada as the Design Council Head, Lia Ramos as Head of Women Empowerment Committee and Charity, lawyer Nad Bronce as Head of Legal Affairs, and Mario Garcia as Business Development and Marketing Head. 

As Stella takes her exit, Shamcey sashays to take over

In a carefully- worded statement released right after the Miss Universe 2020 finals, MUP announced their partnership with the Miss Universe Organization in the selection of the Philippines’ bet for the Miss Universe Pageant and, at the same time, expressed the gratitude of the MUO of the leadership of the Araneta Group and Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. for their more than 50 years of stewardship of the Miss Universe brand and franchise in the Philippines. 

From Stella to Shamcey

The new alliance and partnership is confident that with its alignment with the transformative purpose and vision of Miss Universe, the beauty, the grace and intelligence of the Filipina will continue to shine and captivate in the global stage.

BPCI PROMISES A BIGGER & BETTER BB PILIPINAS SANS MISS U TITLE Through an official statement, "Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc (BPCI) and its ExCom headed by Ms. Stella Marquez de Araneta, Ms. Conchitina Bernardo, Ms. Betsy Westendorp Brias, Mr. Raymond Villanueva and Ms.Irene Jose, informed everyone that after 55 years of nurturing and protecting the brand, Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has decided not to renew its license with BPCI," 

Despite the setback, BPCI is putting on a brave face and appears to be moving forward even after losing the Miss Universe franchise with the launch of the 2020 edition of the annual search for Binibining Pilipinas, the longest- running and the most prestigious beauty pageant in the country which is aimed at focusing on its charitable initiatives and the selection of the country’s bets to upcoming international beauty competitions. 

The major crown will go to the Binibining Pilipinas International title. Other crowns are Binibining Pilipinas Supranational, Binibining Pilipinas Globe, and Binibining Pilipinas Grand International. But more importantly, BPCI shall continue its charity works with orphanages, children’s hospitals and wounded soldiers at the AFP Hospital, animal welfare and other charitable causes.

WHO IS MADAME STELLA MARQUEZ ARANETA?  With the breaking news that Bb Pilipinas Charities, Inc lost the Miss Universe franchise to the newly- organized Miss Universe Philippines Org, Stella Marquez Araneta, the lady behind BPCI became a trending topic in social media. 

Stella Marquez & her Court

THE FIRST MISS INTERNATIONAL  Born Stella Marquez Zawadsky, the Colombian beauty captivated the world when she was crowned the first Miss International in 1960. After winning the title, she got invited to visit countries from around the world. It was a year after becoming Miss International that Stella was invited to grace a fashion show to be held at the Araneta Center in Quezon City, Philippines where she met a dashing and well- mannered Philippine industrialist named Jorge Leon Araneta who swept her off her feet. 

What followed was an intercontinental romance that spanned the Pacific Ocean from Manila, Philippines to Cali, Colombia. Their love story culminated with a dazzling fairy tale wedding in Cali, Colombia. During the Golden Anniversary of the Bb Pilipinas Pageant back in 2013, the entire country swooned when the very private Jorge Araneta planted a kiss on his beauty queen wife during the tribute for Stella.

The now famous kiss was more than just a recognition of her exemplary and remarkable handling of BPCI. It was a reaffirmation of a Pinoy’s love and devotion for his beloved.

STELLA’S LEGACY & GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE SOCIETY Madame Stella maybe a Colombian by birth but she is definitely a Filipina by heart. Stella has been instrumental in paving the way for the discovery of lovely Filipinas who put the Philippines in the world map of legendary beauties. 

It was in 1964 that she organized the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Incorporated (BPCI), a non-stock, non-profit organization and foundation, the organizer of the Binibining Pilipinas (or Miss Philippines). For the past 55 years, BPCI has established skills trainings and educational workshops for the indigents and philanthropic/humanitarian projects and activities that have benefitted many orphans and street children, poor families and other less fortunate members of the Philippine society. 

Bb Pilipinas queens’ Golden Reunion in 2013

Under her stellar handling of BPCI, the Philippines has produced four Miss Universe winners, five Miss International winners and a Miss Supranational winner and this achievement has already secured for her a place in Philippine pageant history.

BOHOLANAS WHO WON IN BB PILIPINAS Four Boholanas have won in Bb Pilipinas. They are Karen Boyonas Gallmann 2018 Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental and 2018 Miss Intercontinental (First Pinay to win the crown) Anna Maris Arcay Igpit 2006 Bb Pilipinas World, Richelle Pacaldo Angalot 2009 Bb Pilipinas 1^st Runner Up and Perla Salig Teves 1979 Bb Pilipinas 1^st Runner Up

Your Roving Eye with Bb Pilipinas- Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallmann

& Ms. Vanessa Aumentado who organized Karen’s victorious homecoming visit 

L-R: Anna Maris Igpit, Ritchell Angalot & Perla Salig- Teves

A Pinoy Wins the First Miss International's Heart

No one can hold a candle to the Pinoy when it comes to wooing & pursuing his object of affection. Not even the passionate Latino nor the sexy Italian. The Pinoy surely knows how to turn on the charm and sweep a woman off her feet.

Here's one of my Valentine's Day blog features for you

Ten years after the first Miss Universe Armi Kuusela of Finland gave up her crown to marry a Filipino gentleman named Virgilio Hilario, another world- class beauty, this time the first Miss International Maria Stella Márquez Zawadazky met and fell in love with another Filipino, a businessman named Jorge Araneta

Cheers to Jorge Araneta & Stella Marquez

Imagine, the first Miss Universe and the first Miss International falling for the charms of and getting married to Filipino lovers?

In the case of Stella & Jorge, perhaps, it was fate and destiny that conspired to make these two different individuals of contrasting backgrounds and from opposite sides of the world meet and fall in love

Come to think of it, if by chance the paths of Stella & Jorge did not crisscross, there wouldn’t have been a Binibining Pilipinas Pageant that would give the Philippines its two Miss Universe titles, four Miss International titles and countless more.

If the Colombian beauty queen and the Philippine industrialist didn’t meet and fall in love, the iconic beauty queens like Gloria Diaz, Margie Moran, Aurora Piojuan, Melanie Marquez or the more recent ones like Bea Rose Santiago, Precious Lara Quigaman and Mutya Datul plus the countless others who gave pride and recognition to the Philippines in international beauty tilts wouldn’t have been discovered

Miss Colombia 1959 Stella Marquez Zawadsky represented her country in the 1960 Miss Universe Pageant held in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. She placed as one of the 15 semifinalists

Miss Colombia 1959 Stella Marquez Zawadsky represented her country in the 1960 Miss Universe Pageant held in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. She placed as one of the 15 semifinalists

She then competed in the first Miss International beauty pageant held in Long Beach, California, United States on August 12, 1960.

She won that competition by half a point, thus entering pageant history books as the very first Miss International, and the first Latina Miss International.

Please click the link for  Stella Marquez: The Very First Miss International

MEETING & FALLING IN LOVE

A year after becoming Miss International, Stella was invited to grace a fashion show to be held at the Araneta Center in Quezon City, Philippines where she met a dashing and well- mannered Philippine industrialist named Jorge Leon Araneta who swept her off her feet

Now, you have to understand that as a nationally- recognized celebrity in her native Colombia and as the first Miss International, she attracted scores of prominent & very eligible bachelors from around the world

So what gave Jorge the upper hand from among his many rivals for the hand & the heart of Stella Marquez?

We can only surmise and guess our opinions but one thing is certain. The Pinoy surely knows how to make the lady who captures his heart truly feel special and beloved

It was an intercontinental romance that spanned the Pacific Ocean from Manila, Philippines to Cali, Colombia  

A FAIRY TALE WEDDING

Their love story culminated with a dazzling fairy tale wedding in Cali, Colombia

 newlyweds acknowledges cheers

After their wedding and honeymoon, the newlyweds flew to Manila to settle down 

ORGANIZING THE COUNTRY'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS BEAUTY PAGEANT

Madame Stella has been at the forefront of Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) the country’s longest- running and most prestigious beauty pageant for 50 golden years with Jorge Araneta quietly guiding and supporting her by the sidelines 

 Jorge Araneta & Stella Marquez w/ ABS CBN Pres & CEO Gaby Lopez

50 Years After Getting Married

During the Golden Anniversary of the Bb Pilipinas Pageant, the entire country swooned when the very private Jorge Araneta planted a kiss on his beauty queen wife during the tribute for Stella

The now famous kiss was more than just a recognition of her exemplary and remarkable handling of BPCI. It was a reaffirmation of a Pinoy’s love and devotion for his beloved

Cheers & Happy Valentine’s Day!