Let’s compare swimsuit notes now. While the assorted tile background can get quite distracting (aside from the sense of bathroom corner I am getting), I simply focused on the Binibinis in gold-colored DR Swim variations. I chose a dozen beauties who are giving me that sense of flirtatious vibe that doesn’t get overboard. There is a thin line between class and otherwise, just as there is a marked difference between being sweet and exuding an aura of sexiness befitting a Binibini. Our opinions may differ on a few of them, but these are the ones floating my boat, so to speak.
Edjelyn Joy Gamboa
All posts tagged Edjelyn Joy Gamboa
There was no science involved when I came up with my nominations for Bb. Pilipinas 2018. I trusted my gut-feel more than anything else, and mixed in a couple of pageant factors that would make certain candidates be part of the five-women queue for a specific title. And to my pleasant surprise, I was actually able to halve the forty (40) Binibinis without me even making conscious head counts. All the ones who received at least one nomination are included.
Thus, it makes a lot of sense now that my upper-tier twenty are:
#Binibini1 Vickie Marie Rushton
#Binibini3 Muriel Orais
#Binibini7 Sigrid Grace Flores
#Binibini10 Kayesha Chua
#Binibini11 Aya Abesamis
#Binibini14 Samantha Mae Bernardo
#Binibini15 Juliana Kapeundl
#Binibini17 Ma Ahtisa Manalo
#Binibini19 Michele Gumabao
#Binibini20 Catriona Gray
#Binibini23 Ena Velasco
#Binibini24 Edjelyn Joy Gamboa
#Binibini26 Wynonah Buot
#Binibini31 Jehza Huelar
#Binibini32 Eva Patalinjug
#Binibini33 Stephanie Joy Abellanida
#Binibini35 Sandra Lemonon
#Binibini36 Loren Mar Artajos
#Binibini37 Patrizia Garcia
#Binibini38 Karen Gallman
Not to entirely spoil my Final Predictions scheduled for March 16, but the nominees are definitely the group where I will pick my titleholders.
And just like the Grammys or the Oscars, receiving more than one citation is not a guarantee of victory. They merely fit for more than one title, as per my consideration.
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.
But first, she needs to qualify as one of this year’s Binibini first. And that is what she is focusing on more than anything else between now and January 15.
Best of luck, Edj!

With four titleholders, two runners-up and seven Top 15 placers, Aces & Queens is definitely on a roll!
The beauty camp is definitely on a roll. And the members of Aces & Queens – headed by Jonas Gaffud – could not contain their excitement after surpassing all expectations during Bb. Pilipinas 2016.
Consider this. Four (4) titleholders – Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina, Bb. Pilipinas International Kylie Verzosa, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Jennifer Hammond and Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Nicole Cordoves. Two (2) Runners-Up – Angelica Alita and Jehza Huelar. Seven (7) Top 15 placers – Dindi Pajares, Apriel Smith, Riana Pangindian, Kimberle Mae Penchon, Roshiela Tobias, Edjelyn Joy Gamboa and Vina Openiano.
And among these ladies, several special and sponsor awards were bagged, such as Miss Photogenic, Jag “She’s Got the Look” & Manila Bulletin’s Readers Choice for Kylie Verzosa, Miss Philippine Airlines for Maxine Medina, Best in Long Gown for Jennifer Hammond, Miss Talent & Miss Friendship for Vina Openiano plus the Best in National Costume for Angela Lauren Fernando.
This is truly a stellar year for Aces & Queens in the nationals!
Congratulations! 😀
Oriental Mindoro is one happy province for Bb. Pilipinas 2016. And why not? There are two (2) Binibinis hailing from the said place who are currently in the thick of competition for the nationals.
There is Binibini 12 Edjelyn Joy Gamboa from Bulalacao followed by Binibini 38 Angelica Alita from Puerto Galera. And these two beauties are starting to create an impact in the competition as pageant followers have started to build hype around their favors, while steadily giving their fellow contenders a strong fight for two of the several crowns at stake.
Who will the proverbial fountain bless between the two? Both from Aces & Queens, Edjelyn and Angel are showing us what they’ve got. And the likelihood of either B.O.O.M. (Binibinis Of Oriental Mindoro) charmers zooming past the others is not just a dream, but a potential reality in my opinion.
Give it your best, ladies! 🙂
Remember the 40 names and faces of our Official Candidates for Bb. Pilipinas 2016 now because you can never tell if each one of them will stay in the game till the day of the Finals come April 17. You see, previous editions have seen one, two or three (hopefully not more) backing out or getting disqualified and replaced posthaste. The reasons vary – from conflicts with endorsement contracts to prior commitments that could no longer be avoided to questions about submitted documents to citizenship issues or, quite simply, not being able to take in all the demands and pressures that come with being a Binibini.
Daily behavior – and that includes lack of punctuality, frequent absences, innate laziness, irritating tantrums and stubbornness habitual in nature – are given premium demerits by the people in charge of supervising their pageant-related affairs.
True. It ain’t easy getting in. And even more true. It ain’t easy keeping up with the pre-pageant stress. So by the time the new winners get to be crowned, the deserving ladies take their spots because they have earned their stripes the hard way.
Consider Bb. Pilipinas a boot camp stricter than the pageant trainers prior to joining. It will strive to weed out the undesirables and zero in on the most deserving to represent the Philippines internationally.
After all, other countries are not looking up to us for nothing. We know how to play the game well. And the organizers are fiercely equipped with the right kind of whips to shape up a Binibini into a full-pledged Binibining Pilipinas. 🙂
Look at them now.


Left to right: Marlan Flores, Angela Lauren Fernando, Riana Pangindian, Sheena Seinne Bolaños Dalo, Jennifer Hammond, Kylie Verzosa, Vina Openiano, Apriel Smith, Kim Ross Delos Santos, Nicole Cordoves, Dindi Pajares, Edjelyn Joy Gamboa, Maxene Medina, Jezha Huelar, Angel Tripp, Kimberle Penchon, Loren Artajos and Tatiana Maher

Priscilla Kim dela Cruz is the 19th girl of Aces & Queens
Marlan Flores, Angela Lauren Fernando, Riana Pangindian, Sheena Seinne Bolaños Dalo, Jennifer Hammond, Kylie Verzosa, Vina Openiano, Apriel Smith, Kim Ross Delos Santos, Nichole Nicole Cordoves, Dindi Pajares, Edjelyn Joy Gamboa, Maxine Medina, Jezzeh Huelar, Angel Alita, Kimberle Mae Penchon, Loren Artajos, Tatiana Maher
But soon after the excitement of the announcement settled down, the list grew to nineteen (19) with the inclusion of Priscilla Kim dela Cruz to the fold. I know that she used to be with KF, but don’t ask me the reason/s behind the move anymore as it could be a tad too personal for the Olongapo-hailing beauty.
So there, with 19 bets for 2016, Aces & Queens is on a roll. But much as I want to select my personal favorites among them right away, it would still be premature. Yes, the likes of Kylie Verzosa and Kim Ross delos Santos seem to be flag-bearers at this point. May I interest you, however, to also keep an eye on Jehza Huelar, Tatiana Maher, Sheena Dalo, Edjelyn Joy Gamboa and Nicole Cordoves first (aside from the rest)? These five contenders are underrated for now. But it will only take more public appearances and online interest to see through their potential winning merits.
I also suggest that you review the other entries in the big group. There are real gems, for sure. You just need to give them the chance to prove themselves. 😉

Happy Hearts Day to all!

The Forty (40) Official Candidates of Bb. Pilipinas 2016 in group shots taken by Bruce Casanova.
Front row (left to right): Anjellica Lopez, Paula Rich Bartolome, Maria Lina Anil Prongoso, Jessica Gonzales, Marlan Flores, Angela Ritter Valdez, Priscilla Kim Dela Cruz, Vina Openiano, Daziella Gange, Angelique de Leon, Leonalyn Dela Cruz, Jeslyn Santos, Christianne Ysh Ramos, Jennyline Carla Malpaya, Janelle Olafson, Jehza Huelar, Jennifer Hammond, Crescent Anne F. Samaco, Kimberle Mae Penchon and Aniger Wiji C. Cruz.
Back row (left to right): Mariella Castillo, Kristine Angeli Estoque, Nichole Manalo, Joanna Louise Eden, Alexandra Faith Garcia, Maria Gigante, Apriel Smith, Nicole Cordoves, Kim Ross delos Santos, Maria Mika Maxine Medina, Kylie Verzosa, Sheena Seinne Bolaños Dalo, Dindi Pajares, Edjelyn Joy Gamboa, Angela Lauren Fernando, Loren Artajos, Angelita Angel Tripp Alita, Riana Pangindian, Tatiana Maher and Roshiela Navarro Tobias.
Congratulations, Binibinis!
Here is another group shot of the ladies from Bruce Casanova:
Here is a girl who has already filed her application form for Bb. Pilipinas 2016. Her name is Edjelyn Joy Gamboa and she is part of the Aces & Queens team for this year’s edition.
Edjelyn held the title of Miss Oriental Mindoro – Mahalta Beauty 2010, and was Miss Lyceum 2012. She stands 5’8″ and can justifiably claim to be a good singer as it is one of her still relatively untapped talents.
For Bb. Pilipinas 2016, Edjelyn has been assigned #43 for the upcoming screenings. Let’s see how well she will do in the tough filtering of wannabes to come up with the Official Candidates. It won’t be easy breeze, but if she makes it, then the payoff could be much more than what she anticipated the challenge to be. 🙂