With just a few days before the coronation night, it’s hard to believe that the Binibining Pilipinas 2021 coronation night is finally happening. 

Considered one of the longest editions ever of a national pageant in the Philippines, the Binibining Pilipinas 2020/2021 spanned over two pageant seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

February 2020

Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) first announced the 40 official candidates for Binibining Pilipinas on February 6, 2020. The 40 candidates were chosen from 70 aspirants who submitted their applications before a selection committee headed by BPCI chairperson Stella Araneta and included the organization’s reigning queens. 

A week after, February 15, 20 of the 40 candidates showcased their skills during the talent competition portion held at the New Frontier Theater. The candidates also modeled red dresses by various Filipino designers. 

The coronation night was scheduled for April 26, 2020. 

April 2020

When Metro Manila was first put under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) lockdown March 15 to April 14, which was eventually extended to April 30, the BPCI announced that they were rescheduling the coronation night to May 31, 2020.  

May 2020

As the lockdown continued and COVID-19 cases increased in the Philippines, the BPCI decided to postpone the pageant indefinitely. “Rest assured that BPCI still intends to hold the pageant with its partners and sponsors as soon as the situation permits, when the threat of transmission and infection is at its minimum,” they said on May 25, six days before the supposed coronation night. 

June 2020

While the pageant was on hold, the Binibining Pilipinas released on June 19, 2020 the official swimsuit portraits of the 40 candidates. 

The ladies wore black swimsuits designed by Domz Ramos and posed against a floral backdrop. Raymond Saldaña was the official photographer.  

The organizers had yet to announce when the pageant will continue. 

January 2021

After six months of no major activities, the BPCI released a teaser on January 20, 2021 to announce that they’re resuming the competition this year. 

The teaser features footage of the franchise’s past winners. “The search for beautiful, empowered, and inspiring Filipinas returns this 2021 in the country’s most prestigious and much-awaited pageant,” the organization wrote in the caption. 

“Get ready to relive the excitement as we get to know and crown our next set of beauty queens in a ‘new normal’ setting at the Binibining Pilipinas 2020/2021. Stay tuned!”

On January 22, the BPCI opened a photo exhibit featuring the 2020-2021 candidates in their national costumes at the Gateway Mall in Cubao. The exhibit ran from January 22 to 31 in Gateway Mall. It was moved to Ali Mall from February 1 to 14, 2021. 

Organizers announced that the coronation night would happen on April 17, 2021. 

April 2021

When COVID-19 cases started surging in April, the BPCI announced on April 13 that they were moving the coronation night from April 17 to June 27. 

May 2021

On May 21, organizers announced that after four postponements, the final schedule for the coronation night would be set for July 11, 2021, instead of June 27.

June 2021

On June 5, it was announced that Catriona Gray and Nicole Cordoves were returning to the Binibining Pilipinas stage, this time as the hosts of the pageant’s 2021 coronation night. 

On June 11, the BPCI held a virtual press conference to announce the lineup of events for this year’s Binibining Pilipinas 2021 season. The swimsuit presentation was scheduled for June 18 while the national costume segment was set for June 27. 

On June 13, the BPCI also released the full list of the official candidates. Only 34 out of the 40 candidates from the original 2020 list remained in the competition.

The six candidates who left were Rowena Sasaluya, who competed in Miss Globe 2020 as Miss Philippines and placed 4th runner-up; Vickie Rushton and Ana Thea Cenaraso, due to age requirements; Alexangela Salvador who focused on her businesses; Hazel Joy Ortiz who accepted a TV project; and Samantha Bernardo, who had represented the Philippines in Miss Grand International 2020 and placed 1st runner-up. 

On June 18, the 34 candidates showed off their runway skills at the pre-pageant swimsuit presentation at the Novotel Manila Araneta City. The ladies modeled suits by Domz Ramos.

On June 27, the Binibining Pilipinas announced the top 10 candidates who earned the highest votes for the national costume. The voting for the top 10 ran from June 12 to noon of June 27. Another round of voting will run from June 27 to July 10 to decide who among the top 10 qualifiers will win Best in National Costume during the pageant’s coronation night.

July 2021

 On July 4, Binibining Pilipinas launched a mobile application so fans could vote for their favorite candidates. The candidate with the highest number of votes automatically secures a “wildcard” spot in the semifinals round of the competition. 

The candidates have also started rehearsals for the coronation night. 

The Binibining Pilipinas 2021 grand coronation night happens on Sunday, July 11, at the Araneta Center. The program will be aired on the A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, I Want TFC, Metro Channel and on the Binibining Pilipinas YouTube channel.

This year, four titles are up for grabs: Binibining Pilipinas International, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental, and Binibining Pilipinas Globe. – Rappler.com