I Blog, Therefore I Am.

This is not intended to be an "Ode to Catriona Gray". This is supposed to be our Fearless Forecast for Binibibing Pilipinas 2018 which I painstakingly gathered, deliberated, and scored with four of my like-minded and pageant-passionate friends...but I got distracted. 

I got into "beast mode" when I read that a popular peageantologist predicted that Cat will be sent to Tokyo to Miss International instead of Miss Universe. This got me thinking, and it also got me worried. He had good and valid points, but I still think (and most of the Internet agrees with me) that at the end of the night the Miss Universe Philippines 2018 crown is STILL for Catriona Gray to lose.

Catriona Gray has been our choice for Miss Universe Philippines 2018 since Day 1. I literally wept when Cat ended as runner-up in Miss World 2016, and I'm over the moon when I learned that she joined Binibining Pilipinas to vie for the Miss Universe crown. Aside from obvious reasons - wit, charm, confidence, grace, advocacies, experience, body & face, Cat is THE girl who is prepared. We can send her to Miss Universe tomorrow, and she will surely ace it. The only thing barring her victory is politics. 

So...let's just give it to Catriona. She is the most deserved, and she has the best chance of getting us our 4th Miss Universe crown among the 40 candidates. Nobody comes close. She is in a league of her own (even Pia might falter against her).

Michele Gumabao is a friend. It was such a delight to see her transform from this super volleyball girl to pageant crown favorite. Michele's edge is her spontaneity and natural good looks, and we feel that she can get the Binibining Pilipinas International crown. 

The following Binibinis are our next top choices (crowns can interchange):

Karen Gallman is probably the 3rd best girl in the competition (and the Face of Binibining Pilipinas 2018), so we placed her in Binibining Pilipinas Supranational or Grand International. She is such a beauty and will probably top any international pageant assignment. 

Sultry, sexy and gorgeous Sandra Lemonon will probably be crowned as Binibining Pilipinas Grand International or Binibining Pilipinas Supranational. Parul Shah, Nicole Cordoves and Liz Clenci were all successful in MGI in the last three years, BUT it's about time that we win a crown on this Thailand franchise. Sandra might be the girl who will finally give us this oh-so-elusive title from Mr. Nawat.

Miss Universe Philippines 2017 - Rachel Louise Peters

Bb. Pilipinas International 2017 - Maria Angelica De Leon

Bb. Pilipinas Supranational 2017 - Chanel Olive Thomas

Bb. Pilipinas  Grand International 2017 - Elizabeth Clenci

Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2017 - Katarina Sonja Rodriguez

Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2017 - Nelda Ibe

Bb. Pilipinas 1st Runner-up - Charmaine Elima

Bb. Pilipinas 2nd Runner-up - Kristel Guelos

Philippines is now a legitimate pageant power house so the national Binibining Pilipinas pageant is a huge deal to a lot of people. We were all interested (and we all have a say) on who should be the successor of the reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach. 

We were very fortunate to watch live and seated at the 3rd row of the live event. We were able to see up close the binibinis and even had a photo of Miss USA Olivia Jordan! She is very nice. I asked for her photo and insisted on a selfie! I love her!

Hello, Olivia!

We now have 6 new queens who are set to conquer the Universe, International, the Intercontinental, the Supranational, the Grand International, and the Globe! This is such a good batch of binibinis and I must say that I wish to see some of the girls go back next year.

Congratulations, girls!

Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2016 - Jennifer Hammond

Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2016 - Joanna Eden

Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016 - Nicole Cordoves

Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2016 - Nichole Manalo


Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina

I actually predicted that Maxine will win Miss Universe Philippines. Maxine is very beautiful, sexy, and has a very sweet demeanor. She has one of the best faces in the pageant and she looks very regal and winnable. Maxine came prepared come pageant night. I love her in the opening number and in the swimsuit competition. I also liked that she decided to put her hair down in the finals. She is not the best girl compared to other standouts and I was actually a bit worried when she was not called & crowned earlier. I am okay that she is our Miss Universe Philippines but I also believed that she was not the best at the Finals. Her evening gown was not nice; I personally don't like the ribbon and the color. She also bombed the all-important Q&A. BPCI had their reason for choosing Maxine and I am hoping that Aces & Queens will polish and help her in time for Miss Universe.

We will be crowning our new Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Queens in less than 24 hours! I am very excited for this because my friends and I will be watching the Grand Coronation live at Smart Araneta Coliseum (yay!). I will try my best to tweet and spoil the results so please mute me on Twitter if you don't want spoilers. The telecast on ABS-CBN will probably be delayed by at least an hour.

Here are my final picks this year. I hope that I can get most of it right. I was also an armchair judge last year and I only got 10 out of the 15 semi-finalists but was right with the wins of Pia, Christy, and Ann. Rogelie Catacutan was the only 'dark horse' in last year's bout. 

Top 15

I had an easy time predicting this year's queens but had a harder time in finalizing the line-up of the Top 15. There's a small group of frontrunners and consistent performers this year so it's easier to predict the winers than their courts. I ended with a top 15 with 3 alternates. 

Row 1 - #3 Angela Fernando, #4 Kim Penchon, #7 Angelique De Leon

Row 2 -  #11 Nicole Cordoves, #13 Joana Eden, #14 Paula Rich Bartolome

It's my first time to blog since January! Wow! I know that I've been neglecting this little space of mine in the Internet and it's not for the lack of trying. I've been meaning to post stuff about our new life, our wedding, and exciting things at work. I really really hope that I will have time to write more in the next weeks. 

I'm back to blogging to post about my yearly National Costume favorites in Binibining Pilipinas. I wasn't able to focus too much on this year's nationals because I lost interest after Kim Ross Delos Santos' disqualification weeks ago. Kim is one of the early frontrunners and it was really a letdown that she was not allowed to join because of some "racy" photos that were leaked. She might try in Miss World perhaps?

The National Costume Show this year coincided again with the JAG Fashion Show last Wednesday, April 6. Forty (40) binibinis showcased the creations of Filipino designers and their interpretations of the Philippine National Costume. We had a very good batch this year. I saw a lot of creative pieces that are truly world-class. 

Here are my favorites:

Binibini #37 Jehza Mae Huelar in Patrick Isonera & Xioti Chiu
I love the uniqueness and the bold color of this gown that took inspiration from the Iranun tribe in Mindanao. This is a breath of fresh air from the ternos and Maria Claras that are often featured.



Binibini #36 Maria Gigante in Philipp Tampus
I like the simple nude silhouette and the tiara in Maria. She truly radiates on this Filipiana. She became one of my top bets upon seeing this. It was surprising that this was not chosen in the Top 6.



Binibini #3 Angela Fernando in Frederick Peralta
I like the modern take on this classic terno. The headdress is also a plus.

I only use my TV for three things: disaster-monitoring, Smart Gilas games, and beauty pageants! It came handy this evening because I wasn't able to watch live The Binibining Pilipinas 2015 Coronation Night at Smart Araneta Coliseum. So here I am blogging my thoughts in between commercial breaks.

It's another day of beauty in the Philippines!

We will crown tonight five (5) beautiful Binibinis who will represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss Intercontinental, Miss Supranational, and Miss Tourism Queen International 2015 editions. 

I've been a fan and follower of Binibining Pilipinas ever since I can remember. I was able to watch the pageant live last year and had a fun time predicting the winners and live tweeting the event. I even drafted a lengthy post on "why Pia Wurtzbach was robbed" but forgot to publish it (let's not have a similar controversy this year, please?). 

I've decided to be an armchair judge once more since I'm becoming quite an "expert" on this pageant thing - haha! (I was able to predict 11 out of the Top 15 at the Miss Universe 2014/2015 edition). This batch of 2015 Binibinis is quite hard to figure though. It's easier predicting last year's winners compared to this batch. There's a lot of stand-outs and girls who are worthy of the crowns so I will have some alternates and "dark horses" in my predictions.

Top 15

There are 34 Binibinis who will compete for five (5) crowns and two (2) runners-up position. They will all compete in the Evening Gown and Swimsuit Competitions live. Other awards like the National Costume and Miss Jag were already competed on and showcased in pre-pageant events. The Top 15 Semi-Finalists will be announced after the completion of the evening gown and swimsuit parade.

Here are my predictions for the Top 15 (according to their pin numbers).

Clockwise: #6 Toni Alyessa Hipolito, #8 Kimverlyn Suiza, #10 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach
#11 Janicel Lubina, #11 Kylie Verzosa



Clockwise: #13 Mae Liezl Ramos, #19 Christi Lynn McGarry, #21 Alaiza Flor Malinao
#24 Ann Lorraine Colis, #25 Rogelie Catacutan

The National Costume show of Binibining Pilipinas is one of my favorite pre-pageant activities. I love the Filipiniana gown and it's always interesting to see how designers interpret it to make it modern and creative. 

Here are my favorites this year:

Binibini 34 - Teresita Sen Marquez

I simply love how the lace meshed with each other on this modern terno.



Binibini 16 - Marvi Ann De Lima
The mermaid design is very usual but the over-all fit and look is really good.
The head accessory is also a very nice touch.

We will know the successor of Gabriela Isler's Miss Universe crown in less than 12 hours. The Filipino people, being a nation of pageant lovers, are in the edge of their seats and praying hard that our bet, Mary Jean Lastimosa, will bring home the elusive crown after 41 years!

Philippines' bets to the yearly pageant are exemplary in the last four years with Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon and Ara Arida all placing in the Top 5. It's a good accomplishment that established the Philippines as a Powerhouse of Beauty and a legit threat to those leggy, brown-haired Latinas.

MJ, the fierce and glam rep for this year, is already a winner for me whatever is the outcome tomorrow. She trained a lot and never gave up her dream of winning Binibining Pilipas' top title even after numerous tries. I am not too sold on her in the beginning but she won me over with her humility, her love for the country, her determination, and her fierce attitude. I really really hope that MJ will end the Miss Universe drought for us. Aside from bringing pride and honor for the country - I truly believe that MJ deserves the crown more than anybody else - including the bets from previous years. :)

I share the same sentiments of my favorite pageant blogger, Norman: "I am not dreaming. I can definitely see the Philippines winng a 3rd Miss Universe crown via Mary Jean Lastimosa. While others will counter that there are more crown-worthy victors, there is this element of boldness and maturity that embodies her personality. In my opinion, she is the one who has shown the most determination to win the whole thing."