And she’s off to the Land of Smiles!
Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray at the VIP Lounge of NAIA Terminal 2 before boarding her PAL flight PR730 to Bangkok, Thailand to join the other delegates competing for Miss Universe 2018.
Our Queen should be arriving in Suvarnabhumi Airport at around 12 noon.
Have an excellent flight! 🇵🇭👑👸
Our Queen with some members of Team Catriona
Our Queen wearing an Anthony Ramirez outfit
And she’s back in Manila!
After spending the last four days in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to attend a Children’s Charity Benefit Ball of the Vietnamese Government and a few days of touring around the city with her gang (composed of Angelica Alita, Jojo Bragais, Jolo Luarca et al), our Queen promptly returned to training mode.
For now, let us watch this video of Cat where she did a 5-minute pageant makeup challenge for Cosmopolitan Philippines.
While on her current adventure in Vietnam with close friends Jojo Bragais, Angelica Alita, Jolo Luarca, Ardel Presentacion and Patrick Henry Mergano, Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray attended the Charity Benefit for the Children’s Fund of Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnamese Government. They were joined by Miss Tourism Vietnam International 2016 Emily Hong Nhung who had all these photos taken.
Watch out for the gang’s fun photos and videos in Vietnam!
Photo credit: Bruce Casanova
Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray is uber excited about returning to Thailand for Miss Universe 2018. And how cool is it that her last overseas vacation late last month (sponsored by Air Asia) was in the Land of Smiles where she visited Bangkok and Chiang Mai together with Angelica Alita, Jojo Bragais and Jolo Luarca (who put together the clip).
Cat loves everything about Thailand that when she was there, it showed in the way she embraced the culture and the locals. She made heads turn everywhere and her face has already started to become familiar with a lot of the pageant fans out there.
Watch the one-minute vid now.
Barring any change of heart or last-minute postponement, it would be safe to say that Bb. Pilipinas 2019 could be one of the toughest editions ever. And here at normannorman.com, my gut-feel about the potential joiners in next year’s beauty derby will potentially attract strong returnees, juicy crossovers and much-anticipated debuts on the national stage.
Consider these five (5) lovelies who – this early – are already being talked about as seriously considering the prospects of taking part next year.
Sandra Lemonon is riding on the wave of popularity after the “build-build-build” debacle that she was able to translate into being chosen as an ambassador of sorts for the country’s Department of Transportation. She wants to vindicate herself big-time. And she is not about to be pressed down into abandoning her dreams of winning a Bb. Pilipinas crown.
Bb. Pilipinas 2016 1st Runner-Up Angelica Alita has waited long enough to plot her return to the BPCI family with a more hopeful objective of finally landing the title of her dreams. Some say that she is tailor-made for Bb. Pilipinas International. I say that she can go for all the crowns, including Miss Universe Philippines if the game plan is done according to exacting measures and strategies.
Mutya ng Pilipinas and Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2015/2016 Leren Mae Bautista has been fully-dallying on her planned crossover. Many thought that 2018 would mark her appearance. I think that she will make the definitive move in 2019, logically after she has completed all her outstanding commitments for the 50th Mutya ng Pilipinas where all former titleholders will play a big role in lending the extra prestige to its Golden Edition.
Nicole Guerrero is Miss Philippines USA 2017 who crowned her successor (Janet Hammond, Jennifer’s sister) just recently. By this year, she will have already completed the required residency requirements by BPCI to allow her to go into a head-to-head collision with the other strong Binibinis for 2019.
And then there is Binibining Cebu Tourism 2017 Samantha Lo who – in my opinion – could be one of the brightest faces to join our favorite nationals in 2019. She has all the right ingredients going for her – the gorgeous face, the competitive height and the excellent communication skills – much like having more than just salt-and-pepper to season her impending entry into the big leagues.
With this quintet, do share your thoughts, dear readers.
This coming May 1, the Coronation Night of Mutya nin Bogñabong (a Barangay in Tabaco City, Albay) will crown the most Queen-worthy among the fifteen lovely contenders.
What three things make this pageant extra special? First, the King of Pageant Heels (and my favorite shoemaker of an anak) Jojo Bragais is the organizer. It is his way of giving back to his hometown on his birthday. Secondly, a surprise guest performer will serenade the ladies, and I was told that it will be ABSCBN artist Xander Ford. And third, two of my dearest lovelies will serve as judges – Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray and Bb. Pilipinas 2016 1st Runner-Up Angelica Alita.
This is going to be an exciting finals!
Don’t miss it if you’re in Albay!
Credits for the swimsuit shots of the candidates:
Styling – Vhee Co
Photography – Mark Neto Diaz
The Official Candidates of Mutya nin Bogñabong 2018
1. Claress B. Burce
2. Margarette Briton
3. Christine M. Taduran
4. Rica Joy Bon
5. Jasmine Jiocsion
6. Maryens Bueno
7. Judy Ann B. Taller
8. Mary Grace Trilles
9. Mary Rose M. Bermas
10. Giezell Kenette Kallus
11. Christaline Reina Bequillo
12. Aliya C. Rohilla
13. Abegail M. Borlaza
14. Sheila Rose Calingacion
15. Glendle Mae B. Buenavente
One thing is for sure. Bb. Pilipinas 2016 1st Runner-Up Angelica Alita will be rejoining the nationals. The question is – which year?
You see, I have been egging her on signing up once again. This year was too soon for her as she wanted to finish her 18-month contract with BPCI first. Next month she might not be 100% ready to do the plunge right away. The girl wants to reinvent herself (a lot more differently, I reckon) compared to the last.
Hence, 2019 should be the right time to do it. And methinks she feels the same way.
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