Miss World Philippines 2013 and Miss World 2013 Megan Young (Photo credit: Bruce Casanova)

As is customary with this blog, I am now posting my final assessment and predictions on who will likely become our Miss World 2014 representative in London come December.

Down to a Dozen:

Let me start with my Top 12 picks in the photo grids below. They are presented according to their respective numbers.

Photo credit: Edmund Chua for Fabmanilaph

Photo credit: Edmund Chua for Fabmanilaph

I wouldn’t call slicing the twenty-six (26) Official Candidates right about in the middle as the easiest. Neither was it the most difficult as well. In fact, only the 11th and 12th spots are fair game going into the homestretch. In my opinion, that is.

At least half of the dozen are shoo-ins – #1 Lorraine Kendrickson, #3 Alexa Kirby, #5 Gazini Ganados, #7 Rachel Peters, #12 Christine Balaguer and #19 Valerie Weigmann – and should make the first cut without much to worry. Even #14 Nicole Donesa can easily join the group being the unofficial entry of the airing network, GMA-7.

Additionally, the next four – #20 Nelda Ibe, #6 Kristine Estoque, #18 Ruffa Nava, and #16 Ina Dominica Guerrero – have performed well enough to secure semifinal placements. So that leaves me with the final slot going to #15 Ma. Theresa Regli who has shown much promise, aside from – according to buzz – being the girl fielded by MWP2012 Queenie Rehman. Only a fast-track-winning candidate or two outside the ones mentioned above could act as spoiler/s, and will only be known on Sunday night.

Chasing the 5th and last place in the Top 5:

Lorraine, Gazini, Rachel and Valerie are the Constant Four in Miss World Philippines 2014 (Photo credit: Vatican Fashion Museum)

#3 Alexa Kirby is a strong possibility. And her ace is not only the fact that she is Miss Philippines Quest USA East Coast (and the only rep from a Fil Community abroad). She is youthful, lively and full of fresh ideas.

#12 Christine Balaguer is likely to make it not just because she is the deaf entrant who could bring in more interest to the final Q&A. She really improved a lot since the Press Presentation.

#14 Nicole Donesa is not just a pretty face being backed up by her home network. I got the chance to speak with her at reasonable length last Tuesday night and she has the charm & smarts to give the front-runners a good run for the money.

And #20 Nelda Ibe is the tallest in the batch. But that is not the only plus she proudly flaunts. There is a regal and crown-worthy aura – albeit a bit subdued at times – in the way she moves and presents herself. She is a dark horse capable of making that one long gallop to the top.

One of the four ladies above – Alexa, Christine, Nicole and Nelda – could grab the fifth and final ticket to the Top 5 (Photo credit: Vatican Fashion Museum)

But for the more definitive purpose of this post, I am calling #12 Christine Balaguer as the last Top 5 Finalist.

Hence, I have now a complete cast.

Ranking the Quintet:

My focus is on the complete package. Ideally, she should be the girl who encapsulates the “Beauty in Giving” vision of Miss World Philippines. The Filipina who is 100% ready to step up to the plate if the Miss World 2014 competition will take place next week. The stunner who can hold a candle to her predecessor who went on to win the country’s first Miss World crown in Bali last year. So instead of getting riled up by whoever is the sexiest or smoldering hot, I would go for the most deserving candidate who has a stunning face, competitive body proportions, a slice of talent, a big heart and whole lot of purpose.

In the end, I would go for a clash between #1 Lorraine Kendrickson and #19 Valerie Weigmann. Both ladies can tick all the required boxes and still add interesting premiums in the process of fulfilling the demands of the title.

Pitting them off in one final head-to-head, my bet is Valerie Weigmann. She is my choice for Miss World Philippines 2014.

Down to the two ladies above, I will go for Valerie Weigmann to represent the Philippines in Miss World 2014. Lorraine Kendrickson is more than worthy of a 1st Princess placement (Photo credit: Jory Rivera/OPMB Worldwide)

Rachel Peters, Gazini Ganados and Christine Balaguer complete my winning circle in that order. (Photo credit: Vatican Fashion Museum)

Valerie Weigmann for Miss World Philippines 2014

Best of luck to all the candidates on October 12. Give us the best show possible! 😀