It was aptly dubbed as the Binibining Pilipinas Gold as the pageant celebrates its 50th edition this year. With the finals night concluding last Sunday, the set of winners were announced with a unanimous approval from pageant fans and the likes.
24 year-old Laguna native Ariella “Ara” Arida was hailed victorious in white as she was crowned Miss Universe Philippines. I actually didn’t expect her to win the title because she played it under the radar for me. I thought it was the highly favored candidates like Charmaine Elima or Maria Angelica De Leon would be winning the crown prior to the pageant night. Lo and behold, Arida stepped it up big time and sailed through the pageant night like she was really supposed to be there. She was hailed as the best in swimsuit which easily catapult her to the semis (being called first) and she totally nailed the question and answer thus giving her the Miss Universe Philippines crown. A totally deserved win!
Bea Rose Santiago’s win was expected. When she glided into that stage that night – I was just waiting for the results and see her head with a crown. After the question and answer, I thought she would end up winning the Miss Universe Philippines title. I was happy though that she bagged the Binibining Pilipinas International title. I have a feeling that she will be the country’s 5th Miss International winner! The girl has got it all – beauty, body and brains!
Joanna Cindy Miranda was one of the crowd’s favorite that night. She was a sight to behold in pink! She was a steady player last Sunday, did good in swimsuit and evening gown round and gave a fairly good answer during the question and answer portion when she said the one word that describe her is “UNSTOPPABLE.” She was indeed unstoppable that night. Congrats Cindy for winning the Binibining Pilipinas- Tourism!
Mutya! Oh Mutya! Where did you get those lovely eyes? I predicted her to win the Binibining Pilipinas Supranational and she did! Mutya was the face of the evening! Her pasarela was perfect and she glided through that stage in swimsuit and evening gown with ease! I thought she would also win the swimsuit category along with the best in evening gown award! She was truly a “Mutya” that night! Her answer during the Q&A was decent. She made an effort to answer the question in English (which she isn’t comfortable at all) and she didn’t falter anywhere in that answer! It was short but precise. Yes, her accent may be a little funny but she was a natural! We all know that it’s her weakness but she didn’t show it and she made it all the way to win one of the crowns! I initially thought that they would give her the MUP title but I am now thinking that the judges made the right decision because she could REALLY WIN the first Miss Supranational for the country – it maybe a minor pageant but it’s growing!
Lastly is the lone runner-up of this edition, Pia Wurtzbach. This feisty lady was touted to win either the Universe or International title but the other four are just stronger. The good thing about her winning runner up is that she could comeback next year until she turned 26.
Rounding up the Top 15 are (in order) #45 Imelda Schweighart, #34 Grace Yann Apuad, #13 Charmaine Elima, #43 Rhea Nakpil, #46 Amanda Navasero, #22 Ellore Noelle Punzalan, #12 Camille Carla Nazar #31 Maria Angelica De Leon, #25 Merry Joyce Respicio #33 Parul Shah.
Special Awards
Ms Friendship – #21 Lourenz Grace Remetillo
Ms Talent – #10 Anna Carmina Antonio
Nat Costume – #37 Maria Teresita Alaine Baccay
Ms Manila Bulletin – #22 Ellore Noelle Punzalan
Ms Petron – #16 Joanna Cindy Miranda
Ms Photogenic – #39 Mutya Johanna Datul
Ms Creamsilk – #16 Joanna CindyMiranda
Ms San Mig Sexy Body – #15 Pia Wurtzbach
Ms Avon – #20 Bea Rose Santiago
Ms PAL – #4 Nicole Kim Donesa
Ms PAGCOR – #45 Imelda Schweighart
Best In Swimsuit – #41 Ariella Arida
Best In Evening Gown – #39 Mutya Johanna Datul
Martin Nievera and Dawn Zulueta were the main host of the evening and previous queens Shamcey Supsup and Venus Raj are their co-hosts! It was overall a great show! I LOVED the first part when atleast 60 of the past pageant’s queens came together for the very first time on one stage and of course, the tribute to the National Director and owner of Binibining Pilipinas Madam Stella Marquez Araneta was really oh-so-touching! It was the first time that she went center stage in the 50 years of the pageant! Last Sunday was truly historical – that golden age of Binibining Pilipinas!!!
pictures are courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas magazine sold during the pageant night. Below are pictures of Maria Venus Raj and Janine Tugonon posing fiercely for the magazine!
Janine Tugonon (Miss Universe 2012 first runner-up) and Maria Venus Raj (Miss Universe 2010 4th runner up)
The original “Emotera Queen”
An imaginary cover of Vogue Africa by Mario Epanya who’s pushing to get the license to publish the magazine’s African edition.
who has been a frontrunner to the crown eversince she won the Nuestra Belleza México in 2009. Twenty-two year-old Ximena Navarrete Rosete battled it out with 82 equally beautiful candidates all over the world to emerge as the queen of the Universe. She’s only the second Mexican delegate to win the prestigious title after Lupita Jone’s major win in 1991, Ironically both won at the same venue –Las Vegas.
