Dusit Thani Manila

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The #AQ2018 Presentation Show

Posted by Norman on January 7, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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The #AQ2018 Presentation Show was held at the Mayuree 2 Ballroom of Dusit Thani Manila hours earlier where members of the camp’s Class of 2018 were presented to selected members of the media and invited guests. But before I give you some juicy details, let me clarify first that the more than twenty beauties presented are being fielded not only in Bb. Pilipinas 2018, but also Miss World Philippines and – possibly – Mutya ng Pilipinas. And there are two (2) more ladies – relative thoroughbreds in my opinion – have not been introduced yet. I was told that these duo will beat the deadline set by BPCI. If you want clues, check the final sentence in this entry.

Anyways, the usual suspects were formally introduced. I cannot name all of them yet (especially the newbies) so as to protect their identities for now. Not all of them will make it to the list of Binibinis for 2018, and as I have said, some of them are being prepared for MWP2018 instead.

The familiar names and faces so far are Volleyball superstar and former PBB Housemate Michele Gumabao, Miss Bicolandia 2017 Kayesha Clauden Chua, MWP2016 4th Princess Sandra Lemonon, Bb. Niyogyugan 2016 & Reyna ng Aliwan 2017 2nd Runner-Up Ahtisa Manalo, runway model Annalita Vizcarra, MWP2017 2nd Princess Zara Carbonell, Cebuana top model Wynonah Buot, 2015’s Binibini 33 Neesha Murjani, last year’s Binibini 28 Juliana Kapeundl plus Binibini 38 Anna Patricia Asturias.

Now how about the two heavyweights I mentioned above? Well, let’s just say that they could spell a good difference in the competition the minute they formally file their respective applications. One is a crossover national titleholder, while the other lady is the daughter of a former Bb. Pilipinas titleholder. Call it Alcoholics Anonymous meets Fifty Shades Freed. (Get it?) 😉

The Aces & Queens Class for Bb. Pilipinas 2017 | Presentation 

Posted by Norman on February 12, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , .

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.

More about the Presentation show soon! 🙂

The Gala Night and My Choices for Miss Teen Earth and Little Miss Earth Philippines 2014

Posted by Norman on May 26, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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The Recycled National Costume Competition was a sight to behold.

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Gala Night hosts (L-R): Divine Lee, JC Cuadrado and Patricia Fernandez

The Gala Night of Miss Teen Earth and Little Miss Earth Philippines 2014 last night was a well-attended event. Held at the Grand Ballroom of Dusit Thani Manila, guests were treated to a night of songs, good food and the Recycled National Costume Competition of the candidates. Hosts JC Cuadrado, Divine Lee and Patricia Fernandez made sure that everyone enjoyed the proceedings which include the colorful eco-creative formal creations judged by such esteemed judges which include designers Rajo Laurel, Eric delos Santos and Avel Bacudio, actor Benjamin Alves, Producer Michael Carandang and Mega Group’s Suki Salvador among others. Performers who regaled the audience with their show-stopping numbers were the Ryan Cayabyab Singers, Bayang Barrios and the Mandaluyong City Children’s Choir. By the way, I also spotted celebrities like Victor Basa, Victor Silayan, and Katarina Rodriguez (of Asia’s Next Top Model S2) and former Binibinis Aiza Faeldonia and Angelique de Leon inside the ballroom.

Okay, time to buckle down to the business of sharing my choices for the two crowns to be handed out tomorrow night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Among the twenty (20) teenaged ladies, I’ve had my eyes transfixed on two competitors who embody the image and personality of whoever will win the first Miss Teen Earth title. My #1 pick is Vanessa Mae Walters of Cebu City. This graceful and elegant lass shows off a sense of style that is hinging on the cusp of adulthood, but still exuding the youthful joie-de-vivre of a sixteener. She simply has an over-all impact that stands out from the rest. I reckon that she will be a most qualified young ambassadress of Mother nature. My alternate (or #2) is Angelique Stephanie Passion, who can also shine well as a potential winner. I would love to see one of the two taking it all the way. Completing my Top 5 are Shawntel Michole Cruz, Deanne Patricia Perez and Francesca Taruc.

My Top 5 for Miss Teen Earth Philippines 2014 (Photo credit: Edmund Chua)

My Top 5 for Miss Teen Earth Philippines 2014 (Photo credit: Edmund Chua)

Now, assessing the young girls is a trickier act to accomplish. An armchair judge needs to look beyond the cuteness of each candidate and see the more intrinsic qualities of a sub-10 year-old who could be capable of meeting the demands of the responsibility of a Little Miss Earth Philippines. But unlike the teens, I have one solid choice to be declared the winner and she is Joseayn Dennies Albasin of Cagayan de Oro City. I personally feel that she has all the qualities that could make a wonderful earth champion for the children. She has the expected girly ways from someone her age, but beautifully spiced with the natural nuances of a smart charmer. She is such a stylish girl. The four others who qualified for my top quintet are Juviel Viado, Candesse Bartolome, Heunize Ciar and Tyra Izabelle Pilapil.

My Top 5 for Little Miss Earth Philippines 2014 (Photo credit: Edmund Chua)

My Top 5 for Little Miss Earth Philippines 2014 (Photo credit: Edmund Chua)

Kudos to Captured Dream Productions headed by its hands-on CEO Vas Bismark and ever-warm Managing Director Jed Velasco for an impressive conduct of the Gala Night. By the way, if you can’t watch the live finals tomorrow night, you can catch the delayed TV telecast of the pageant on June 8 over at GMA-7’s SNBO. 🙂

Getting-to-know-your-Bb.Pilipinas-2012-candidate: Annalie Forbes

Posted by Norman on February 28, 2012
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 4 Bb. Pilipinas 2012 Blog Bites. Tagged: , , , , .

Bb. Pilipinas 2012 candidate #29 Annalie 'Ali' Forbes (Photo credit: Melvin Sia/OPMB Worldwide)

Proudly representing the City of Malolos in Bulacan, 19 year-old Annalie ‘Ali’ Forbes is the chanteuse who works as a lounge singer in 5-star hotels such as Dusit Thani Manila and New World Renaissance in the business district. A John dela Vega protege’, she is coming into the pageant armed with poise, good public relations skills and a sultry personal style. She may not be one of the taller ladies in this batch, but she surely knows how to make her presence felt. With a gentle head tilt, she sways her long tresses to maximum effect while doing the trained walks and poses like a pro.

Beneath the glamorous facade, Ali is a very simple girl who bonds with family members and friends like any grounded individual. Back in her hometown, days are normally spent. It is when she goes to her semi-nightly singing gigs that she transforms into the beauty that we are seeing now in the pageant. Can she pull it off as a potential beauty queen? Does she have more to offer than what has already been said in pre-screening posts?

Watch out if the pretty Ali Forbes can sing her way (and more) to a Bb. Pilipinas 2012 crown. 😉

Annalie Forbes: will the chanteuse sing her way to Bb. Pilipinas 2012?

Posted by Norman on January 28, 2012
Posted in: 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

If you happen to visit Dusit Thani Manila on Saturdays – and the HoteL Rembrandt (on Mondays & Wednesdays) and Heritage Hotel (on Thursdays) – you will have heard and noticed a tall sultry singer in the lounge who captivates guests with her cool renditions of old standards and current pop ballads. The lady’s name is Annalie Forbes, or you can simply call her Ali.

Not content with just singing, Ali has also involved herself in a number of smaller pageants in the recent past. Apart from bagging the title of 2011 Binibining Bulacan, she was also 1st Runner-Up during last year’s Miss Makati and the reigning Miss National Capital Region.

With those soulful eyes, this chanteuse can definitely display her vocal ability in the talent competition of Bb. Pilipinas 2012. And if she is formally assigned an Official Candidate’s slot, there is a good chance that she will stand her own side by side the other contenders. The only nagging question is…..will she represent Bulacan or Makati? 🙂