Their reigns are not yet finished, but Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters and Bb. Pilipinas International 2017 Mariel de Leon are definitely showbiz-bound. In fact, the latter’s first leading lady project will already come out on Christmas Day with the modern Female of “Ang Panday” starring Coco Martin.
As for Rachel, I’m not sure yet what peg she will slip into once offers start pouring in. I could see her as a TV travel/magazine segment host for now. But let’s leave the planning to ABS-CBN or its sister networks.
Speaking of movies, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa will also appear – in her first high-profile project – as a fairy of sorts, also in “Ang Panday”, just as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach will be in “The Revenger Squad” as a superheroine, with Ara Arida and Bianca Guidotti playing villainess cameos.
What are the chances of a back-to-back win for Mariel de Leon?
“The odds are the chances that something will happen. … Anyone predicting the weather is telling the odds of rain or snow — they don’t know for sure. If something strange happens people often say, “What were the odds of that?”, which means: “I can’t believe that happened. The odds were against it.”
Mariel by Dookie Ducay
With the finals of of Miss International 2017 just a few days away, the question in most every pageant followers’ mind from Manila to Madagascar is if the Philippines will score a historic back-to-back win with Mariel de Leon.
To date, five (5) Filipinas have attempted to nail the crown for a second consecutive year – Isabel Barnett Santos in 1965, Evelyn Camus in 1971, Dianna Jeanne Chiong in 1980, Denille Lou Valmonte in 2006 and Bianca Guidotti in 2014 – but did not have the fortune to invite good fate on their side back then.
Mariel de Leon by Dookie Ducay
“Against all odds’ means despite very low probability; in a most unlikely way.“
Just like the other five, Mariel is against all odds – moreso now than the surrounding circumstances during the mid-60s and early 70s. A back-to-back victory for the same country is still a wish waiting to be granted, Miss International-wise.
But unlike several decades ago (or even in the early years of the New Millennium), the Philippines is enjoying a stronger wave of top achievements in the global pageant stage that can never be denied. The preparations of our candidates have never been stronger as 2017 records would attest to. And if the tug-o-war between Venezuela and our country is to be used as a barometer of popularity and sustained media mileage, then there could even be the chance of seeing Diana Croce and Mariel being the last two women standing.
But I digress just a bit because our bet has not received unanimous thumbs up from everyone, and will not stop at hollering the “clapper” screams and shrieks every chance they get.
So where does that leave us then? I would always go back to what our bet said during her send-off weeks back. Watch the video below.
courtesy of Beauty Beauty
Mariel went to Tokyo with the right attitude for competition. If she is meant to win the Mikimoto crown because the judges find her the most qualified among the 71 candidates, then so be it. She will enjoy the experience and not allow the back-to-back pressure hanging around her neck like a cowbell. Let it be known, though, that she will fight just as hard as everyone else in winning the Miss International crown – a 7th time for the Philippines on her agenda and a victory that would leave a mark in the history of the pageant for years to come.
For a third time in this post, Mariel by Dookie Ducay
During last Sunday night’s finals of Miss World Philippines 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena, a reunion of (almost all) the Bb. Pilipinas 2014 winners happened when Bianca Guidotti (International), Kris Tiffany Janson (Intercontinental), Yvethe Santiago (Supranational), Parul Shah (Tourism) and Hannah Ruth Sison (2nd Runner-Up) became like the cheering squad for their baby sister Laura Lehmann who eventually took home the crown. It was a welcome sight indeed as they boosted the morale of their 1st Runner-Up.
How I wish MJ Lastimosa was there to complete the group.
Like a mermaid posing in front of the ladies, you have to take me as the focus for now
First of all, please accept my apologies if I cannot upload the frontal photos of the ladies just yet. Everyone who attended were requested by Aces & Queens to refrain from posting obvious shots first for justified reasons. There is no still no guarantee that all twenty-four (24) beauties presented will make it as Binibinis for Bb. Pilipinas 2017. To avoid any untoward online remarks or banters about one lady making it or not, we all agreed to have their clear photos posted only after the final selection has been made.But rest assured, a lot of the girls I have previously blogged – and easily identified as trained by Aces & Queens – are part of this group of two dozen hopefuls. The usual suspects were present, such as Charmaine Elima, Dindi Pajares, Mariel de Leon, Arienne Calingo, Jehza Huelar, Chanel Olive Thomas and Katarina Rodriguez. These are just seven (7) names so far. So between now and February 27, there will be some guessing game among all of you as to who the other seventeen (17) are.
You want a few clues? There is a Filipina-Mestiza who studied in Barcelona but with both parents certified Pinoys. There is a professional model who is just a tad shy of 6 feet tall from way up north. And there is a tall camp crossover whose name I just cannot reveal for the meantime.
All I can say for now is that this is a strong group of contenders. A little more than a few of them may still be raw and inexperienced, but they make up for the lack of pageant exposure with impressive communication skills and facial features that aren’t easy to forget.
The judges of the mock pageant
By the way, it was also a mock pageant where the initial standouts were given special prizes by sponsors and cash rewards by the pillars of Aces & Queens. The panel of judges in this part included Mafae Yunon, Christi McGarry, Bianca Guidotti and Jennifer Hammond. Miss Grand International 2016 1st Runner-Up Nicole Cordoves hosted the entire program.
In addition, the ladies were dressed in gowns by new A&Q house designers (and friends) Mikee Andrei, Pablo Mendez and Claiza Bihasa. Shoes provided by Jojo Bragais. And the host venue was Mahyuree Ballroom 1 of Dusit Thani Manila.
Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach during the Presentation of A&Q Candidates for Bb. Pilipinas 2014 last January 12, 2014
My selfie with Pia during that day
Since the Search for Bb. Pilipinas 2017 is now officially open, let me do a Sunday Senti Special feature that will bring you back to January 12, 2014. That was the date when Aces & Queens presented their trained candidates for Bb. Pilipinas 2014 – a very promising list which included Laura Lehmann (who went on to become 1st Runner-Up), Yvethe Santiago (who bagged the Bb. Pilipinas Supranational plum) and Bianca Guidotti (who was crowned Bb. Pilipinas International). Other ladies who formed part of that group were KC Halili (who became Miss Manila) and Hannah dela Guerra (who is now a Star Magic talent for ABS-CBN).
This was Pia Wurtzbach 2.0 – her sophomore effort to win the Miss Universe Philippines sash which went to MJ Lastimosa instead, and the finals night that would go down memory lane as the saddest for now Miss Universe 2015 who crowned the 65th less than a week ago. Such is the test of faith and determination that befell her shoulders three years earlier. Who would have thought that her patience was just being tested, and that more than a year after – in her 3.0 and final Bb. Pilipinas-bound version – that she would finally nail the title of her dreams and become the country’s 3rd Miss Universe in the process.
Pia (rightmost) with Laura Lehmann and Yvethe Santiago
I used these old photos for this senti feature because we will be flooded with repeaters and crossovers for the 2017 edition. In fact, I have only posted one fresh face so far – Patricia Magtanong – so let’s see which other first-timers will find it in their heart and guts to battle it out with the relatively more polished and experienced ones. 🙂
Miss World 2011 1st Princess Gwen Ruais for Pat Santos
Consider this like a 2-in-1 photo blog. Over the weekend, our beauty queens conquered two separate environments where their presence is no longer unusual – at the 20th Philippine Fashion Week held inside Discovery Primea in Makati and during the start of the new Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum where four of our reigning beauties were chosen as muses of the participating basketball teams.
Bb. Pilipinas International 2014 Bianca Guidotti
Miss World Philippines 2015 1st Princess Cassandra Naidas for Arnold Galang
Bb. Pilipinas Supranational 2014 Yvette Santiago for Arnold Galang
Miss United Continents Philippines 2015 Anabel Tia for Arnold Galang
Miss Tourism Queen International Justine Gabionza for Arnold Galang
On the runway for Designers Pat Santos and Arnold Galang were Angelia Ong, Gwen Ruais, Bianca Guidotti, Yvethe Santiago, Anabel Tia, Cassandra Naidas and Justine Gabionza. And all of them delivered in their respective catwalks in collections that really made them stand out in the line-up.
And over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, four of our national beauty queens were selected as muses. They held their own side-by-side the showbiz personalities amd models who represented the other squads.
Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa for Purefoods Star Hotshots
Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina for Meralco Bolts
Mutya ng Pilipinas 2016 Jaya San Jose for Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Bb. Pilipinas 2016 1st Runner-Up Angelica Alita for TNT Tropa Texters
Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa for Purefoods Star Hotshots, Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina for Meralco Bolts, Bb. Pilipinas 2016 1st Runner-Up Angelica Alita for TnT Tropang Texters and Mutya ng Pilipinas 2016 Jaya San Jose for Rain or Shine Elasto-Painters.
It was a beauty-filled weekend indeed!
All Philippine Fashion Week photos were taken by Joy Arguil for normannorman.com
It’s true that beautiful luscious hair is a beautiful girl’s crowning glory. But an attractive face with properly-aligned features is the beginning of the story.
And that is where members of the Aces & Queens’ Class of 2017 started their training. Of course, all of them were properly assessed before plunging into the important session. And with the likes of Carissa Cielo Medved, Dave Grona, Raymond Galang and Jim Ryan Ros giving them more than just quick tutorials, it only takes a fast learner to easily stand out. Otherwise, it will be a rewarding uphill battle for a good number of them, especially the relative diamonds in the rough who need to be given extra doses of patience and understanding to learn the tricks of the trade.
Raymond, Carissa, Dave and Jim in action
I know all of their “teachers” and they are individually excellent in what they do on the face. And the young ladies should consider themselves very lucky to undergo the session under their masterful eye and hands.
What could be the next stop? The back-breaking pasarela and posing sessions with a “delightfully terrorizing” Jonas Gaffud? That should really set apart the innately graceful from the awkwardly painful (to watch). And I am pretty sure the original number will start getting smaller when the genuine stand-outs start blossoming one by one.
But wait! Before that happens, the Personality Development sessions should happen first. It started yesterday (photo below) with a few of the seniors (Ces Evangelista, Gerry Diaz and the lovable Head Facilitator Arnold Mercado along with guest speaker Bianca Guidotti) for the wide-eyed dreamers.
Mama Ru (Arnold Mercado) facilitated the Personality Development Workshop
Left to right: Gerry Diaz, Caloy Buendia, Ces Evangelista, Arnold Mercado, Bianca Guidotti and Pao Baysa
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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Their reigns are not yet finished, but Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters and Bb. Pilipinas International 2017 Mariel de Leon are definitely showbiz-bound. In fact, the latter’s first leading lady project will already come out on Christmas Day with the modern Female of “Ang Panday” starring Coco Martin.
Speaking of movies, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa will also appear – in her first high-profile project – as a fairy of sorts, also in “Ang Panday”, just as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach will be in “The Revenger Squad” as a superheroine, with Ara Arida and Bianca Guidotti playing villainess cameos.
Just like the other five, Mariel is against all odds – moreso now than the surrounding circumstances during the mid-60s and early 70s. A back-to-back victory for the same country is still a wish waiting to be granted, Miss International-wise. 
