Binibining Pilipinas 2009: Experience no longer an edge

Author: Giovanni Paolo J. Yazon
Column: Life & Entertainment

A TOWERING Pampangueña who is next of kin of former titleholders, a second-timer with Lebanese ancestry who hails from Batangas and a half-German neophyte from Albay became winners of the country’s longest-running beauty pageant held at the Big Dome dawn of last Sunday.

Pamela Bianca Manalo, 22; Marie-Ann Umali Affeiche, 22; and Melody Gersbach, 20; were crowned Binibining Pilipinas-Universe, Bb. Pilipinas-World and Bb. Pilipinas-International, in that order. The three beat 20 other hopefuls, such as 20-year-old GMA-7 artist Richell Angalot (a.k.a. Rich Asuncion), adjudged as Shoppers’ Choice, Miss Natasha Beauty and Miss Talent; and second runner-up Regina Hahn, 26, a computer science alumna at the Ateneo de Manila University and the daughter of Miss Universe 1975 fourth runner-up Rosemarie “Chiqui” Brosas-Hahn.

Rounding up the semifinalists were Vanessa Johnson (Pampanga), Diana Arevalo (Oriental Mindoro), Priscilla Mae Honorio (Southern Leyte) who won the Miss Salsa Jeans (minor) award, Barbara Salvador (Marikina City) and pre-tournament favorite April Love Jordan (Ilocos Sur).

Manalo, the younger sister of Miss World 2002 finalist Katherine Anne and niece of Miss International 1968 Nenita “Nini” Ramos, had the most number of special awards—Miss Natasha, Best in Swimsuit, Miss Philippine Airlines and Readers’ Choice—while Umali got two—Most Photogenic and Best in Long Gown. Miss Friendship Gizelle Jasmin Rivamonte failed to make the cut.

Scene stealers

Paolo Bediones, the competition’s host for 11 years now, did a very good job. But he never kept his promise that this year’s pageant “will be done quickly, but the quality’s still there.”

The show started at 8:30 p.m. But the announcement of the semifinalists came about after two hours. Add the long commercial gaps before the evening gown competition and crowning of winners. The excruciating extravaganza concluded around 1 a.m. the next day.

Whoever made the three gowns that co-host Iza Calzado wore that night should be lauded, she looked more dazzling and queenly than majority of the past beauty queens who were in attendance. But Carlene Aguilar’s makeup and hair stylist should be scolded, as the Miss World 2005 semifinalist looked like a shoddier version of pre-war actress Carmen Rosales.

Many older devotees of Binibining Pilipinas were delighted to see many former winners, namely: Myrna Panlilio, Nini Ramos, Simonette de los Reyes, Cita Avecilla, Evelyn Camus, Erlynne Bernardez, Anette Liwanag, Chiqui Brosas, Dang Cecilio who is still a head-turner in her 50s, Peachy Sacasas, Maricar Mendoza, Maria Isabel Lopez, Joyce Anne Burton, Alma Concepcion, Nina Ricci Alagao, Maricarl Tolosa, Kate Manalo, Maria Rafaela Yunon, Gionna Cabrera as well as outgoing queens Jennifer Barrientos, Danielle Castaño and Patricia Fernandez. Some of them helped in the distribution of special awards.

A tribute was dedicated to former fashion czar of Asia Jose “Pitoy” Moreno for his “unmatched contribution” to Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. Marks of respect were also given to the organization’s homegrown global beauties like Gloria Diaz who also sat as one of the judges, Margie Moran who looked resplendent in her red gown, and Aurora Pijuan who appeared like erstwhile singer Celeste Legaspi because of the reading eyeglasses she was wearing. Melanie Marquez was absent, but she was still part of the video and photo presentations during that segment. What puzzled everyone was the exclusion of Precious Lara Quigaman in the said tribute!

Was it because she’s currently seen in a teleserye of rival station ABS-CBN, or was it deliberately done by the Colombian matriarch because the Miss International of 2005, along with fellow titleholders Karen Loren Agustin and Denille Lou Valmonte, built their own local pageant to correct the alleged ill system of BPCI? “That’s what she [Quigaman] got for becoming unfaithful to Madame [Stella],” a beauty queen who requested anonymity, said.

Shockers all

Reigning Miss Earth Karla Paula Henry, who lost in this search last year, was seen cheering for Salvador. Sandra Ines Seifert—who got disqualified two days before the coronation rites after the organizers saw her provocative photos for a men’s magazine over the Internet—was there with her parents and other supporters, complete with banners saying “We love you Sandra!” She warmly gave in to the requests of some to have a photo-op with her, but when people started to swarm around her, the bodyguards at the venue immediately told the voluptuous half-German to go back to her seat to avoid further furor.

Well, previous experience is not anymore an assurance to winning a crown in this contest. Take the case of Abigail Lesley Cruz. Everyone presumed that this Best in Swimsuit awardee and second runner-up in 2007 would finally walk away with a crown that night, but when Bediones, her boyfriend, read the names of ladies who would go on in the competition, hers wasn’t called! She failed to do a Maricar Balagtas and had the same fate with Binibini repeaters Jane dela Cruz (2005), Keann Mallari (semifinalist in 2007) and Jaysel Arrozal (last year’s semifinalist)—they all gracefully entered the backstage!

Angalot being adjudged as Miss Talent was dubious. Two delegates were far more deserving than her: Jordan, who performed a graceful folkdance (binasuan) while balancing a glass with half-filled wine on her head; and Marie Lorraine de Guzman, who mesmerized the spectators at the Gateway Mall during the talent night via her rendition of Whitney Houston’s “Out Here on My Own.” But with the presence of StarStruck stars Mark Herras and LJ Reyes in the three-member board of judges, need we say more?

It’s clear that Manalo would be the recipient of Miss Philippine Airlines because prior to joining this pageant, she worked as a flight attendant for that airline company.

But this year’s lineup was indeed one of the fiercest in previous years, reminiscent of batch 1994, which include Charlene Gonzalez, Caroline Subijano, Sheila Marie Dizon, Abbygale Arenas, and Maria Sovietskaya Bacud.

The opening number, where the 24 ladies sang and danced to the tune of Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies,” was comparable to the introduction numbers of the Miss USA pageant. The Cumbia evening dresses that the ladies donned during the long gown competition as well as when the semifinalists were serenaded by Dingdong Dantes and the Philippine Military Academy Choir were all brand new!

The judging panel comprised of actor Richard Gomez, Colombian businessman Arturo Marquez, PBA cager Mark Cardona, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel general manager Bernd Schneider, AFP chief of staff Gen. Alexander Yano, Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III, singer/actress Regine Velasquez, Brazilian Ambassador Alcides Prates, Pakistan Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan, Spanish artist Betsy Westendorp, Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, and Gloria Diaz.

Deserving queens?

Manalo doesn’t consider having a sibling and an aunt who were former beauty queens an advantage. “It is more of a pressure. But I made sure it [pressure] didn’t stop me from doing what I want and reaching for my dreams,” she said, minutes after she was crowned. “I deserve my title because I am true to myself. I truly showed to every one the best that I can be.”

Standing at 5’10 ½” with an hourglass figure of 36”-26 ½”-36”, the advertising alumna at the Assumption College will be the country’s bet in the Miss Universe pageant in Bahamas this August.

Lady luck was indeed on the side of Umali, a tourism graduate at the College of Saint Benilde. Despite a speech impediment—she stammered once more during the interview segment and almost did a Janina San Miguel—the 5-foot and 7 ½-inch charmer earned the right to compete in the Miss World contest in South Africa this November. “I deserve to win because I joined [this pageant] with optimism and I am confident of who I am,” she said.

Gersbach, a 5-foot-6 restaurateur who earned her degree in management at the University of the Asia and the Pacific, will carry the Philippine flag in the Miss International beauty congress in Macau come October. The candidate with the loudest cheering squad at the Big Dome said she deserves to win simply because “I gave my best, and here’s the result.”

BPCI moved mountains so as not to duplicate the “horrible mistake” it did previously. With the impressive caliber of beauties that our country has to offer in three major beauty contests this year, the chance of winning an international title might just be around the corner.

Source: Manila Standard Today

Copyright © 2005 - 2009. Telebisyon.net. This article is a copyright property of Manila Standard Today. This page serves as an archived copy of the article written by Giovanni Paolo J. Yazon. All rights reserved. No part of this website shall be copied or reproduced in any means possible without explicit permission from the owners.