Could this be the new Bb. Pilipinas Universe crown? Could this be the new Bb. Pilipinas-International crown?
Rumors floating on the net are saying that the images above are the alleged new crowns to be worn by the Top 2 winners of Bb. Pilipinas 2012 – Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and Bb. Pilipinas-International.
If verified as true, how do you feel about the designs? Do you find them more attractive than the old ones? Do they make the wearer look more regal and elegant?
Thoughts, please. 😉
The Bb. Pilipinas 2011 Candidates with the reigning queens (photo credit: OPMB Worldwide)
videos courtesy of OPMBvids
Finally in a surprising move, the 40 (not 24) Official Candidates of Bb. Pilipinas 2011 have been announced, and they are the following (not their designated numbers yet):
1. Jeanette Noguchi
2. Glennifer Perido
3. Krystle Ann Dizon
4. Diana Arevalo
5. MJ Lastimosa
6. Jenilyn Olivar
7. Queenie Rehman
8. Camille Alexis Baltazar
9. Jennielyn Natividad
10. Patricia Tumulak
11. Paula Camille Figueras
12. Roxanne Cabanero
13. Marish Alyssa Marquinez
14. Teresa Pamela Ludovice
15. Tina Marasigan
16. Dianne Necio
17. Luzelle Felipe
18. Jen Roe Gubat
19. Isabella Manjon
20. Bianca Paz
21. Ladylyn Riva
22. Gianna Therese Quintos
23. Shamcey Supsup
24. Wendy Lucas
25. Kathleen Subijano
26. Sabrinne Al-Tawil
27. Janine Tugunon
28. Kenneth Dimaapi
29. Angelia Ong
30. Suzette Hernandez
31. Samantha Purvor
32. Zephora Mayon
33. Carolyn Ty
34. Grendel Alvarado
35. Sarah Clenci
36. Hazelyn Santos
37. Arabella Hanesh
38. Carla Lacson
39. Martha McCulley
40. Elizabeth Clenci
Owing to the fiercer quality of applicants this year (with four more added to the Top 50 at the last minute), BPCI decided to up the number of annointed candidates and make the 2011 pageant more exciting. Did your favorites make it?
Anyways, these forty ladies will vie for two (2) major titles – Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and Bb. Pilipinas-International – which will earn them the right to represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe 2011 in Sao Paolo, Brazil and Miss International 2011 in China, respectively. The real competition starts right now.
The Bb. Pilipinas 2011 Coronation Night will be held on April 9, to be aired over ABS-CBN.
If you watched ‘The Buzz’ yesterday afternoon, you would’ve seen the exclusive interview of Boy Abunda with dethroned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2010 Maria Venus Raj. The show milked the issue to the fullest, taking advantage of the fact that its’ rival network (GMA-7) is identified with the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) and would not make a one-on-one so as not to displease the organizers. Anyways, for those who missed the interview, I am posting a transcript of the same (c/o ABS-CBN news), plus the video showing the full 10-minute spot on the show.
Dethroned beauty queen: I deserve the crown
MANILA, Philippines – Dethroned 2010 Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj on Sunday vowed to question the decision of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) to strip her of her crown due to “inconsistencies” in her birth records.
During her live interview on “The Buzz,” an emotional Raj maintained that the officials of the BPCI knew from the very beginning the incorrect entries in her birth certificate, and that the inconsistencies were not her fault. She said she was transparent about her background during the screening of candidates.
The beauty queen from Camarines Sur said up until now she is clueless why she was stripped of her title. She said she is ready to fight for her crown.
Below is Raj’s full interview with “The Buzz” host Boy Abunda.
Boy: Kanina off cam, nag-uusap tayo sinabi mo ilalaban mo ito dahil pagkatao mo na ang nakataya. Sa lahat ng naisulat, sa lahat ng nasabi saan ka napipikon?
Venus: Ang sobrang sakit lang po sa akin ‘yong sinasabi nila I am disqualified kasi I am born out of wedlock and then hindi ako qualified sa Ms Universe dahil sa hindi ako pinanganak dito sa Pilipinas. At kung may inconsistencies naman po, sa tingin ko hindi ko po kasalanan ‘yon dahil wala po akong kasalanan sa kung ano man po ang nangyayari.
Boy: So, ipaglalaban mo ang korona mo?
Venus: Of course.
Boy: At pupunta kayo sa courts of law para ipaglaban ang iyong korona na pinaghirapan?
Venus: Pinaghirapan po, sobra.
Boy: Kasi hindi na-mention ng Binibining Pilipinas Charities ‘yong sinabi mo ngayon na you were born out of wedlock. Deretsahang tanong, ano ba ang totoo?
Venus: Totoo po na hindi po kinasal ang tatay ko at nanay ko; na pinanganak ako sa Doha, Qatar at dinala po ako dito siguro mga 1 month old pa lang ako. At dito ako pinabinyagan ng aking mga magulang. So, ‘yon po ang katotohanan na kahit minsan hindi ko po tinago.
Screening, sinabi ko na po ‘yon sa kanila. Nagpapakilala po ako. Sinasabi ko na I am Maria Venus Raj. I was born in Doha, Qatar but I was raised here in the Philippines. And then, may one-on-one interview, sinasabi ko rin po ito.
Sa isa ngang interview, sinabi sa akin nang nag-interview, ‘So what is is so special being born abroad?’ So, para sa akin wala pong problema at alam ko po from the very beginning alam po nila ito.
Boy: So, bakit nila ginagawang dahilan ito? Would you know why?
Venus: Actually, hindi ko po din maintidihan kung bakit.
Boy: Doon sa statement ng Binibining Pilipinas na sinasabing sa iyong birth certifcate sa CamSur ka pinanganak at hindi sa Doha, Qatar. So, what’s the truth? That is one inconsistency. How do you explain that?
Venus: Ang totoo po talaga pinanganak ako sa Doha, Qatar pero ang nakalagay po sa birth certificate ko San Vicente, Bato, Camarines Sur. Nahawakan ko po ang aking birth certificate siguro high school na po ako,’yong mag-a-apply ako ng scholarship… noong ako ay magfi-first year college.
Boy: So, you have nothing to do with the inconsistency?
Venus: Exactly.
Boy: Were you aware of the inconsistency when you joined Bb Pilipinas na nakalagay doon sa birth certificate mo CamSur samantalang sa Doha ka pinanganak?
Venus: Yes, I am aware and I am telling them from the very beginning.
Boy: Didn’t you correct the inconsistency?
Venus: Sir Boy, kung kayo ang nasa kalagayan namin, mahirap kaming pamilya. Kung kayo ba ang nanay ko at ang iniisip mo lang ‘yong papakain mo sa mga anak mo, iisipin niyo pa ba na ipaayos ang mga dokumentong ito para pag-join niya… hindi naman namin alam ng nanay ko na sasali ako sa ganitong pageant?
So, kung nandoon ka sa sitwasyon na ‘yon, hindi mo iisipin na ipaayos ‘yong dokumento. Iisipin mo ‘yong pampakain sa mga anak mo.
Boy: At hindi mo rin naisip na ito ang magiging dahilan kung bakit ka matatanggal sa Bb Pilipinas. I’m hearing for the first time you were born out of wedlock. Bawal ba sa Bb Pilipinas rules?
Venus: I don’t know. Wala pong nakalagay sa rules ng Ms Universe or kung saan man na kapag pinanganak ka out of wedlock…
Boy: Na hindi ka pwedeng maging beauty queen?
Venus: Totoo.
Boy: What about your father? He’s an Indian national.
Venus: Yes, he is.
Boy: So, hindi siya taga-dito sa Pilipinas?
Venus: Hindi po.
Boy: According sa iyong birth certificate, Catholic Indian ang iyong ama.
Venus: Ang totoo po ang tita ko po ang nagpa-register sa akin noong bata ako, 3 years after [my birthday]. Ang nanay ko nahihiya siya ng mga panahon na iyon na lumabas at magpa-register sa akin kasi chini-chismisan siya ng mga tao na nasa paligid niya. So, ang tita ko ang nagpa-register sa akin. And hindi alam ng nanay ko na ‘yon ang information na sinabi ng tita ko.
Kung meron mang pagkakamali, hindi kasalanan ng nanay ko at hindi ko rin po kasalanan.
Boy: Naiintindihan kita. My father was born out of wedlock. At alam ko ang pinagdadaanan ng mga taong anak sa labas sa probinsiya. Ang tawag sa kanila, forgive me mga kaibigan, ay anak sa pagka-bastardo. So, alam ko ang ibig sabihin noon. So, right now given where you are, ano ang mga gagawin mo? Galit ka ba sa Bb Pilipinas?
Venus: Hindi po ako nagagalit sa kanila. Ang akin lang po sana linawin lang nila kung ano ang reason nila sa pag-dethrone sa akin kasi hindi po malinaw. At alam ko na nakapasa ako sa kung anumang qualification na meron sila. At siguro from the very beginning, sana sinabi na nila sa akin para hindi na po ako umasa.
Boy: So, doon sa sinasabi nilang inconsistency sa iyong birth certificate bilang dahilan ng pagka-dethrone mo, hindi mo tanggap ‘yon?
Venus: Hindi po.
Boy: Dahil ang pakiramdam mo sinabi mo ang totoo?
Venus: Totoo po. Hindi ako nagtago sa kanila, hindi ako nagsinungaling sa kanila. From the very beginning, may mga video na magpapatunay na sinasabi ko ito noon pa lang.
Boy: Kumunsulta ka na ngayon sa mga abogado? You’re going to the courts of law para ilaban na you deserve the crown?
Venus: Yes. I know I deserve the crown at wala akong nakikita na dapat i-disqualify nila ako for that.
Boy: Venus, final words. Ano ang nais mong sabihin sa iyong ina, sa iyong ama, sa lahat ng mga tao na na-involve dito?
Venus: Unang una po sa mga magulang ko, hindi ko po sila sinisisi sa kung anuman ang nangyayari sa akin ngayon. Alam ko na hindi nila ‘yon kasalanan, at hindi ko ‘yon kasalanan.
Boy: Do you still see your dad?
Venus: No, actually hindi ko na po nakita ‘yong tatay ko mula po noong pinanganak ako.
Boy: So, you have no contact with your father?
Venus: Wala po.
Boy: Pero wala kang kinakargang galit?
Venus. Wala po. Pasalamat po ako at buhay ako ngayon.
Boy: Go ahead. Talk to your mother, talk to your dad, talk to Bb Pilipinas Charities.
Venus: Unang una sa family ko, kahit ganito ang nangyayari ngayon, nagpapasalamat ako at nandiyan pa din sila at gumagabay sa akin.
At sa Bb Pilipinas po, ang akin lang sana ipaliwanag lang ng maayos. I-clear sa akin kasi hanggang ngayon hindi ko alam kung ano ang main reason ng pagde-dethrone nila sa akin. Kasi ang alam ko po I deserve what I got from the very beginning.
Boy: Pero base sa statement ng Bb Pilipinas, ‘yon ang mga dahilan na binigay nila. You totally question the decision?
Venus: Exactly.
Here is the video:
video courtesy of YouTube/BreaxtiTaki
Should the video above disappear, click on this LINK to watch the same.
Here’s my two-cents on the issue: I’m a stickler for rules, but not on a belated mode. If I were part of BPCI, I will not let matters reach this far (especially not after the winner has already been crowned) and would have utilized all resources to make sure that there won’t be any impediments (legal or otherwise) should a particular candidate win. It’s particularly irritating why ‘inconsistencies’ in Venus’ birth documents (which should have been meticulously verified during pre-pageant activities) have become the issue for her dethronement instead of having settled everything at the onset of preliminary or final screenings. The mere fact that she went on to win the crown without being disqualified prior to the coronation night indicates that she has been cleared. Now that her replacement (Helen Nicolette Henson) has been named, all Venus can fight for is to clear her name on the matter, but not the right to represent the country in the Miss Universe 2010 anymore. ‘Nuff said. 😉
Amidst my Holy Week reflection blogs, I need to make space for this item because it is big news in the local pageant scene. Recently-crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj has been dethroned and will now be replaced by 2nd Runner-Up Helen Nicolette Henson. Whew! This is indeed a sad development, especially for the battalion of Venus fans and supporters around the country. Here is the official press statement of Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) on the matter:
“Today, March 29, 2010, Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc., (BPCI) decided, with a heavy heart to let Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2010 Ma. Venus Raj go, after the organization discovered inconsistencies contained in her birth records, in contrast to her personal accounts of her birth.”
Maria Venus Raj: Bb. Pilipinas-Universe no more
Helen Nicolette Henson: the new Bb. Pilipinas-Universe
Time to move on. Nicolette may not be my personal bet for the title, but let’s support her nonetheless.
Here they are! The winners of Binibining Pilipinas 2010 have been crowned during glittering ceremonies at the Araneta Coliseum last Saturday night. From the bevy of 24 Official Candidates, the ladies have been scored for their swimsuit and evening gown presentations, plus the all-important question-and-answer segment. The creme of the crop are as follows:
Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2010:
MARIA VENUS RAJ
Binibining Pilipinas-World 2010:
CZARINA CATHERINE GATBONTON (The biggest surprise of the night!)
11 - Krista Mae Kleiner
1st Runner-Up:
Dianne Necio
2nd Runner-Up:
Helen Nicolette Henson
Rest of the Top 10:
Mary Ann Misa
Gwendoline Ruais
Rose Ann Aguilar
Mariella Castillo
Kate Princess Alimurong
Special Awardees:
Best In Swimsuit: Krista Mae Kleiner
Best In Long Gown: Maria Venus Raj
Miss PAL Sunniest Personality: Helen Nicolette Henson
Miss Photogenic: Helen Nicolette Henson
Araneta Shoppers’ Choice Award: Selena Antonio
Texters’ Choice Award: Laurese Ann Caparas
Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice Award: Czarina Catherine Gatbonton
All three winners will now get ready for their respective international competitions – Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International.
Good luck to our queens of 2010! 😉
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