Bb Pilipinas Gold fearless forecast

Drew Francisco

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Bb Pilipinas expert Drew Francisco shares his top 15 picks for the Bb Pilipinas crown and sashes

TOP PICKS. A beauty pageant expert chooses his 15 top bets to win the Bb Pilipinas crown. Photo by Edric Chen

MANILA, Philippines – It’s that time of the year again when the most beautiful women in the country battle it out in the annual Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

The pageant gets even more interesting this year as the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc marks its 50th year. The race to the crown has become tougher and tighter with the election of 50 official candidates. Aside from this, the pressure is more intense this year following Janine Tugonon’s bridesmaid finish in Miss Universe last December.

With 3 consecutive runner-up finishes in Miss Universe (Venus Raj, 2010; Shamcey Supsup, 2011; and Tugonon, 2012) and five straight semi-finals placements in Miss International (Patricia Fernandez, 2008; the late Melody Gersbach, 2009; Krista Kleiner, 2010; Dianne Necio, 2011; and Nicole Schmitz, 2012), the eventual winners of the Binibining Pilipinas’ golden edition faces a huge challenge: keep the momentum going for the Philippines in the international pageant scene.

Who among this year’s candidates deserve to wear the Philippine sash in Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss Supranational and Miss Tourism Queen International? Here’s a list of who will likely emerge victorious on April 14.

15th: Mary Rose Pujanes (Binibini 14)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Mary Rose Pujanes in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

She may not be a favorite, but 20-year-old Rose has the pageant experience to prove her worth. Who would have thought she used to be a shy girl prior to joining pageants? At 5’7.5″, Rose walks with so much confidence on stage. Her swag just sets the stage ablaze.

14th: Merry Joyce Respicio (Binibini 25)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Merry Joyce Respicio in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

She’s got the height (5’11”) and the modeling advantage, gracing the runways of Philippine Fashion Week and Metro Wear. Not the best in the beauty department, but 18-year-old Merry knows how to work her angles. She already has the goods, but she needs to improve on her communication skills; her interview during the BBP Primer wasn’t impressive.

13th: Grace Yann Apuad (Binibini 34)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Grace Yann Apuad in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen 

This pretty face has already proven her mettle at an early age when she bagged the Most Photogenic award in Ford Supermodel of the World Philippines. Standing at 5’9″, it isn’t hard for Shan to get noticed. However, she seems to be playing it safe with her subdued performance during the press presentation. She needs to work on her stage presence come finals if she wants boost her chances.

12th: Hannah Ruth Sison (Binibini 19)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Hannah Ruth Sison in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

The Pastor’s daughter has one of the best smiles among the ladies. Ironically, 24-year-old Hannah got really noticed for her official glamour shot where she exuded so much fierceness. Her sophisticated look makes her all the more lovable. This Isabelle Daza dead-ringer’s regal stance, slender legs and curvaceous body, not to mention her excellent communication skills, make her an obvious contender.

11th: Mercegrace Raquel (Binibini 28)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Mercegrace Raquel in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

Merce, 19, is banking on her morena beauty for a shot at a crown. Her impressive academic background and towering height give her better chances. But her biggest weapon would have to be her fluid catwalk skills, which is surprisingly one of the best in the batch. She has a Theresa Licaros (BBP-Universe 2007) vibe in her  beauty with brains. She’s prepared and is definitely within the radar.

10th: Ria Rabajante (Binibini 1)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Ria Rabajante in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

As candidate number 1, Ria sure knows how to set the bar high. She was a revelation during the press presentation: her catwalk commands attention, her smile so winsome, and her face just oozes with so much charisma. Pageant fans call her a cross-breed of Miriam Quiambao (BBP-Universe 1999) and Tetchie Agbayani (BBP 1978 semi-finalist). But this dusky lady impressed them with her gift of gab. At 21-year-old, she talks with so much depth. Watch out, this girl is a potential spoiler come Q&A.

9th: Cassandra Naidas (Binibini 24)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Cassandra Naidas in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

Simple yet head-turning is the best way to describe this 5’10″ half-Korean beauty. She was absolutely stunning in that black terno, but needs to tone her body more because she looks too skinny. This girl is no bimbo – she made sure she earned her Psychology degree before joining the pageant. Overall, this girl is ready to compete internationally. Miss Supranational, perhaps?

8th: Joanna Cindy Miranda (Binibini 16)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Joana Cindy Miranda in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

This 22 year-old Tourism cum laude graduate from UST has one of the freshest faces, not to say the healthiest bodies, too. She gave up her hosting stint at TV5’s “Wil Time, Big Time” to chase her dream of becoming a beauty queen. Despite the TV experience, Cindy seems a bit reserved. If this is a strategy, it’s not effective. Despite this, this girl’s face can easily light up a dark room. For that alone she deserves a spot.

7th: Pia Wurtzbach (Binibini 15)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Pia Wurtzbach in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

With a stunning face to match her voluptuous body and 5’7.5″ stature, Pia definitely has “front-runner” minted on her status. She doesn’t even need a lot of make up to stand out–her tantalizing eyes do all the talking. She made a solid impact when she worked her shiny gold terno with so much grace and sophistication during the press presentation. She could easily bag the BBP-International, given that the Philippines usually sends half-breed Filipinas there (Gersbach, Kleiner and most recently Schmitz). Her beautiful face sometimes appears too strong, so she needs to work on softening her features.

6th: Parul Shah (Binibini 33)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Parul Shah in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

Not to be forgotten, this Wilma Doesnt dead-ringer literally owned the fashion show with her commanding presence. Parul may not be very photogenic but her stage motion is unparalleled. She may not have the most beautiful face but she has a big smile to warm people’s hearts. This half-Indian beauty’s well-toned body accentuated by her sun-kissed skin and vivacious personality sets her apart from the rest. Parul is X-factor personified.

First runner-up: Ariella Arida (Binibini 41)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Ariella Arida in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

She’s gaining strength as the pageant progresses, and who knows, she might become the coronation night’s biggest surprise. This Chemistry graduate from UP Los Baños is an experienced ramp model. She went home empty-handed in last year’s Miss Philippines Earth. It was understandable because she was out of shape back then. But when she appeared during the press presentation, she showed off the result of her patience and determination: a sexy and fit body. She also has a stunning face. Her fierce and feisty look make her stand out. With very expressive eyes and delectable lips, she’s too good for a runner-up finish so it won’t be a surprise if Ariella snatches the top plum.

Binibining Pilipinas – Supranational: Bea Rose Santiago (Binibini 20)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Bea Rose Santiago in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

Her beauty resembles that of Amelia Vega (Miss Universe 2003) but with an Asian flavor. She has the most refined walk. Her sophisticated body movements made her stick out among the rest during the press presentation. She was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Communities last year and went on to place in Miss Tourism Queen International of the Year. This experience could help her ace the competition. But she could do real damage in the all-important Q&A round with her excellent communication skills. Her glamorous beauty and model-ish stature at 5’9″ perfectly fits the Supranational prototype.

Binibining Pilipinas – Tourism: Charmaine Elima (Binibini 13)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Charmaine Elima in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

By merely observing her actions, you’ll know that Charmaine knows what she is doing and has mastered it well. Among all the candidates, this 20-year-old lady is most ready to conquer the international pageant scene. Her fierce looks, wide smile, and well-toned body make her a shoo-in for any contest out there.

Local pageants have become Charmaine’s playground and winning the Miss Rizal and Miss Mandaluyong crowns seems to be working much to her advantage. She’s among the most talked about delegates because of her Asian-Latina features (South American beauties traditionally dominate pageants).

However, she sometimes looks too pageant patty to the point that even her answers to interview questions don’t appear natural. She needs to work on that. Despite this, Maine remains a strong contender for a title. You’ll love to see that gorgeous face promoting Philippine tourism.

Binibining Pilipinas – International: Maria Angelica De Leon (Binibini 31)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Maria Angelica de Leon in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

She is the most talked about delegate, mainly because she is the daughter of actors Christopher De Leon and Sandy Andolong. At 19 years old, Mariel seems too raw for pageants. Her body isn’t on top form, her styling a hit and miss. She may not be the most facially beautiful, but proper styling could work wonders for her.

Pageant followers heard it through the grapevine that this girl is most favored to win a title. And having the most exposure during the fashion show seems a confirmation. She didn’t disappoint, however, because she sashayed grace and class on the runway. She has the breeding and the doll-like features that recent Miss International winners possess. She can do opera singing for the talent competition. She exudes sincerity when she talks–something a candidate needs to win the judges’ nod. If she’s indeed the “anointed one,” the International crown fits her well.

Miss Universe Philippines 2013: Mutya Johanna Datul (Binibini 39)

ALL HAIL THE NATIONAL ARTIST. Mutya Johanna Datul in Pitoy Moreno haute couture at the April 11 fashion show in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Photo by Edric Chen

People might mistake her for Aphrodite, because every encounter with Mutya is an encounter with inimitable beauty and charm. Compared to her stint in Mutya ng Pilipinas last year, this 20-year-old lady looks fresher and more polished now. Her body is more curvaceous, not to mention her well-toned legs that give her the svelte look. She has the effortless charm that could warm anyone’s hearts. But her best weapon is her winning smile.

Right from the start, this girl has been considered as a front-runner. However many doubt her chances because she’s not that fluent in English, unlike previous winners in Binibini. In a web interview, she said she’s open to using an interpreter if ever she gets the chance to compete internationally. Venezuela gained its powerhouse status in the world of pageantry not because its delegates are well-versed in English (most of them actually used interpreters), but because they are stunningly beautiful. It’s about time the Philippines reconsider this. It would be a crime to waste this beauty. – Rappler.com


Drew Francisco


Drew Francisco is a 23-year-old corporate slave who earned his journalism degree in UST. He regularly contributes articles to Missosology.info, where he is tagged a “pageant expert.” He also maintains a blog (angharaya.wordpress.com) dedicated to beauty pageants. He has never missed a live telecast of the Miss Universe since 2007.

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