Binibini Watch List 2019:

Dia Nicole Magno

Dia is no stranger to representing the Philippines in an international competition abroad. The only difference is that – instead of beauty pageants – it was in the equally competitive world of sports when she wore the name of the country on her back as a national player for badminton in the doubles category during the XXVI Southeast Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia last 2011.

A graduate of Interdisciplinary Studies from the Ateneo de Manila University, 24 year-old Dia can only look back with fondness to her years as an athlete – complete with the (now-healed) battle scars to prove her achievements as one. These days, you can see her all glammed up to signal the start of a new life chapter – a journey to the beauty nationals that should pose an entirely new challenge she will face with more poise and confidence than ever before. The heels have multiplied in height and the gift of gab is showing more than any kind of badminton swing technique that can smash opponents in her way.

You won’t find her name on any of the lists of ladies who are confirmed finalists for this year’s Binibining Pilipinas yet because she is “Fresh off the Balanghai Boat”. No one knows her yet. Therefore, the threat she brings is not obvious to pageant purveyors because she arrives with no pageant history but with all the markings of being a Queen. The way I see it is this, she has the lethal mix of beauty, class and mystery coursing thru the veins of this 24 year old hopeful Dia Nicole Mancao Magno of Butuan City. And it makes her a candidate to WATCH OUT FOR.

Trouble reading the words Dia or Butuan? And maybe wonder what a Balanghai Boat is? Here’s a bit of Trivia. I learned as she gives me the 411. It is Da-ya and But-Wan and q Balanghai Boat was the FIRST Trading Boat used for Trade and by the Ancient People of Butuan a thousand years even before the voyagers from Sulu make no mistake that even if you have not heard or seen her yet that she will soon be making the rounds amongst the whispers that will become sounded words of wonder and excitement. Her voice is steady but it is not loud. She speaks with kindness but the ferocity is undeniable. The lowdown? She was once an Undefeated National Team Champion for Badminton who has a Degree from the Ateneo.

She speaks English, Cebuano and Tagalog fluently that at first look you’d wonder if she has foreign blood but the caveat is. She does NOT. Her brown eyes, and clear skin indicates she comes from where people are almost golden. Oh that’s another thing she taught me. That Before there was the Philippines there was Butuan and that the Golden Tara isn’t the only Goddess to come from the region.

She might as well be one, too. Watch out. She packs a punch – oh I mean a swing too!