For the past two weeks and a half now, the organizers of Miss Philippines Earth have been live-streaming the initial interviews of their short-listed applicants to become Official Candidates this year. Your blogger was even part of the panel during the first batch. By next week, they will most likely announce the official lineup that will become this year’s Earth Warriors.
Among them is a quartet of ladies who are crossovers from other national pageants.
Last year’s phenomenal woman of Oriental Mindoro in Miss Universe Philippines will now be the Earth Warrior of San Pablo, Laguna for MPE2021. Dr. Adee Hitomi Akiyama is more confident that she can do this competition given the combination of medical and environmental advocacies she is pushing for.
Louise Theunis was initially an Official Candidate of Miss World Philippines last 2018 before she joined Miss Bikini Philippines 2019 – a title she won just before the global pandemic took its toll on everyone. She is now ready to represent Carrascal, Surigao del Sur in MPE2021 and is certain that taking the risk of vying for another crown is worth it. Keep in mind that she was also National Director of Miss FIT Philippines.
Angelie Aubrey Asuncion was Binibini 40 during the Bb. Pilipinas 2018 batch. She is also a very good acoustic singer who did well during the Talent Competition that time. After keeping it low-key for the past two years, she is back with a more refreshing look and styling – something that will make her stand out in MPE2021.
On the other hand, Gail Ventic was Binibini 1 during Bb. Pilipinas 2016. Like Angelie above, she was fielded in the competition by Kagandahang Flores. Right after her first national pageant experience, she returned to her job as Flight Attendant of Air Asia. She is bringing back maturity this year. And MPE2021 is the right pageant to be part of her return.
How successful will the four ladies above do in Miss Philippines Earth 2021? I am positive they will do well. I know that there are also a lot of promising ladies from the rest of the aspirants who are still relative unknowns. But I trust that the best will shine in due time to become the successor of Roxie Baeyens.
Will Riana Agatha Pangindian get her due reward in Miss World Philippines this time around?
Back in 2016, Riana Agatha Pangindian was still a 19 year-old pageant newbie who joined Bb. Pilipinas mainly for the experience. And what a journey she fondly relishes from that stint. An inclusion in the Top 15 was almost unexpected – given that she had to battle with the likes of Maxine Medina, Kylie Verzosa, Nicole Cordoves, Jennifer Hammond, Nichole Manalo and Joanna Eden who went home with the crowns. But she was actually part of that essential cut. 
Instead of pushing herself into joining more beauty contests after that experience, Riana opted to finish her studies first. She graduated June of last year and took the board exams. She is now licensed to teach Biological Science. Her plan is to return to pageantry one more time before she finally focuses on becoming a full-time Educator. Her personal advocacy is actually inspired by her profession:
Here is another Cebuana who – I was told – is also keen on making the big move in 2020 by way of Miss Universe Philippines 2020. After her stints during Bb. Pilipinas 2016 and Binibining Cebu 2017, she is definitely ready for a return to national pageantry. She has the looks and the articulate self to hold her own side-by-side the other polished ladies who will join the battle royale. 
Someone very dear to me will finally hang her pageant heels for good and become a beautiful bride and a love-filled wife before the year ends. And I am truly happy for her. 
#BinibiniWishList2019: Apriel Smith
Dear readers, I need not give all of you a long list of credentials or heavy introduction on your Binibini 31 Jehza Huelar. As 2nd Runner-Up last 2016, she returned last year and reached Top 15. 
Short and sweet. Yes, your Binibini 31 Jehza Huelar is now committed to boyfriend PJ Simon (right photo). But it doesn’t mean that she can no longer aspire to become a Bb. Pilipinas Queen. 
During yesterday afternoon’s Presentation Show of Aces & Queens for its Class of 2018, one of the ladies who stood out was Edjelyn Joy Gamboa of Oriental Mindoro – your Binibini 12 during Bb. Pilipinas 2016. She is definitely more stunning now compared to the first time that she joined. The almost two year-rest has given her a more solid foundation for this return, aside from earning the life experience of being a Flight Attendant with Philippine Airlines. 
For 2018, Edjelyn is hoping that she will be able to fulfill the long-time dream of being a national beauty queen. The will and determination are in place. All she needs right now is a healthy dose of good luck that will prompt her lucky stars to align. 
One thing is for sure. Bb. Pilipinas 2016 1st Runner-Up Angelica Alita will be rejoining the nationals. The question is – which year?
