Last night’s National Costume Competition of Bb. Pilipinas 2019 was a showcase of the best in the Filipino Designers and their world-class artistry, especially in creating both traditional and richly-creative masterpieces for their #Binibinis.
The Top 10 finalists have already been announced. Allow me to share four (4) more personal favorites which could have also made it had there been more spots to fill. They are just as fabulous – or significant – as the qualifiers. The scores must have been close, I reckon.
1) Nicole Guerrero of #IlocosSur in Michael Barassi’s tribute to the Philippine carabao
2) Ilene de Vera of #MandaueCity in Malayka Yamas’ tribute to the famous Cebu guitars
3) Honey Grace Cartasano of #Rizal in Paolo Ballesteros’ tribute to the “Magsusuman” of Rizal Province
and for patriotic reasons,
4) Samantha Poblete of #Cavite in Emar Vida’s tribute to the heroism of the Filipino and the rich history of the Province of Cavite.
The Ten Finalists for Best in National Costume of Bb. Pilipinas 2019 are encouraging you to vote for them to win the special award. Head on to bbpilipinas.com. It would be a great boost for their respective designers as well.
Here are the Top 10 Finalists for the Best in National Costume Award announced at the end of the event held at New Frontier Theater.
Leren Mae M. Bautista, Laguna
Maria Andrea Aya Abesamis, Pasig City
Vickie Marie Rushton, Negros Occidental
Hannah Arnold, Masbate
Samantha Bernardo, Palawan
Cassandra Chan, Bacolod
Samantha Lo, Cebu
Jessarie Dumaguing, Puerto Princesa
Resham Ramirez Saeed, Maguindanao
Emma Tiglao, Pampanga
Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational 2018 Jehza Huelar has reached full circle by now. When she finished her university degree a few years back, the next objective was to win a crown in the national pageant or land a lucrative job abroad – whichever came first. Last year, she represented the country in Miss Supranational so mission achieved.
And yesterday, she finally plunged into marriage with long-time beau Peter June “PJ” Simon (a PBA player with Magnolia Hotshots) and fulfilled yet another dream – to have a fairy-tale wedding.
I am so happy for these two!
Congratulations to PJ and Jehza Simon!
Photo credit: Mayad Studios
Photo credit for the wedding photos: Danica Pingris
“Would you like to know your future? If your answer is yes, think again. Not knowing is the greatest life motivator. So enjoy, endure, survive each moment as it comes to you in its proper sequence, a surprise.” – Vera Nazarian
At this point, the greatest motivator of Resham Ramirez Saeed of #Maguindanao is to win one of the Bb. Pilipinas crowns on June 9. If she does, then it will be a life-changing moment that she will embrace for the rest of her life.
Photo by Christine Day Lorico @i.am.tintin
Make Up by Mauri Estrada @mauriestradamua
Hair by Misty Gancaico @hairbymistygabriel
Styling by Yeoh for The House of Evangelista
Earrings by Astolia
Special thanks to Hanz Coquilla
Unlike last year when the highest crown was a lock for Catriona Gray since Day 1, the competition for this year’s Miss Universe Philippines alone is like a tight basketball playoff among eight (8) teams wanting to win the championship trophy. I say eight (8) because it symbolizes infinity where the movement is unending. Nobody has an idea where it will stop until the buzzer (or announcement of winners for that matter) finally sounds off on the night of June 9.
Of course, the organizers of Miss Universe Philippines and Binibining Pilipinas may already have clearer choices on who they would be happy to see winning among the forty (40) Official Candidates. But those preferences remain as such. They can still be upended by the Board of Judges during deliberation. The important thing is to make it to the eight-highest spots to be part of the winning circle from where the six (6) titleholders and two (2) runners-up will emerge.
This time around, I am taking a different approach in handing out my predictions for Miss Universe Philippines | Bb. Pilipinas 2019. Instead of just one collective blog entry two days before the Coronation Night, I will share with you my individual shortlists for the six (6) crowns at stake (read: six separate blogs) before zeroing in on who should win and who could win in my humble opinion.
But before starting off with my dedicated posts on who Miss Universe Philippines, Bb. Pilipinas International, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International and Bb. Pilipinas Globe could be, allow me to list down the names of the Binibinis who made it to the upper half of my choices – the Top 20, that is.
These twenty (20) ladies will – in one way or another – be part of the #Infinity8 for each of the titles. In the order of their assigned numbers now:
1. Jessica Marasigan of Malabon
2. Martina Turner Diaz of Muntinlupa
3. Sigrid Grace Flores of Iloilo
4. Marianne Marquez of Marikina
5. Gazini Ganados of Talisay, Cebu
6. Maria Andrea Abesamis of Pasig
7. Leren Mae Bautista of Laguna
8. Maria Isabela Galeria of Sorsogon
9. Denise Omorog of Baras, Catanduanes
10. Bea Patricia Magtanong of Bataan
11. Hannah Arnold of Masbate
12. Ilene de Vera of Mandaue City, Cebu
13. Julia Saubier of Daraga, Albay
14. Nicole Guerrero of Ilocos Sur
15. Samantha Lo of Cebu City
16. Emma Tiglao of Pampanga
17. Samantha Bernardo of Palawan
18. Resham Ramirez Saeed of Maguindanao
19. Vickie Marie Rushton of Negros Occidental
20. Joanna Tolledo of Caloocan
Gut-feel is telling me that all the winners will come from the above group.
Next stop: Who could be the next Bb. Pilipinas Globe?
Someone is peaking in front of my eyes, and you cannot deny that she remains a contender in the competition.
Ilene de Vera of #MandaueCity – at this point – is like a rolling thunder, low-sounding rumble but capable of creating more echoes when it matters most.
With just a couple of weeks before the Grand Coronation Night, whose loud thunder will she steal?
Hi! Norman here. When I'm not working, I spend most of my free time planning on daily blogs. If you will notice, I always make sure that a fresh topic comes out everyday - not an easy thing to do but it's all good. Thanks for dropping by and enjoy the visit!
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