It was a meet-and-greet I simply couldn’t say no to. For starters, having an event like this happens in Alabang (or the south of Metro Manila) very rarely. Since I reside in Parañaque, going to Molito Lifestyle Centre is a breeze. Secondly, I discovered my not-so-distant blood relations with the honoree. My paternal grandmother and her father are aunt and nephew, respectively. And for that matter, the very first Bb. Pilipinas – her aunt Myrna Panlilio – is also common in our thread.
Here are some photos and videos from the meet-and-greet with #Binibini1 Samantha Alexandra Panlilio of Cavite and invited members of the pageant media.
Below, she answers a few questions from your blogger:
Now, she talks about part of her advocacy as a potential Beauty Queen:
And will she be the next “Samantha” to be crowned Bb. Pilipinas?
Samantha Panlilio – in person – tends to give me an Elizabeth Clenci vibe to be honest. She has this cool aura about her. If she can channel more of this and up her ante even more, then I won’t be surprised if she finds herself on the shortlisted beeline for one of the crowns on April 17.
The crowns of Miss Supranational (top) and Miss Grand International
Miss Supranational (which started in 2009) and Miss Grand International (which had its inaugural pageant last 2013) are – in comparison – the two youngest international beauty competitions that have been recognized by many. Nationally, these two franchises have been picked up by BPCI. And from the time they became part of the titles at stake in Bb. Pilipinas, their relative popularity soon followed.
Miss Supranational
The Philippines did not participate during the first and second stagings of Miss Supranational. It was only during the third outing when a Filipina representative – Lourenz Grace Remetillo – was part of the roster, albeit with less funfare or media mileage. But when BPCI started to field delegates in 2012, the blossoming partnership began with Elaine Kay Moll placing 3rd Runner-Up. It got even better the following year when Mutya Datul was crowned winner. From there, all the Bb. Pilipinas Supranational titleholders went to Central/Eastern Europe and placed either in the Top 10 or Top 20/25 in alternating fashion – from 2014 to 2019. Quite a respectable record, I must add.
2011 unplaced Lourenz Grace Remetillo
2012 Third Runner-Up – Elaine Kay Moll
2013 Winner – Mutya Johanna Datul
2014 Top 20 – Yvethe Santiago
2015 Top 20 – Rogelie Catacutan
2016 Top 25 – Joanna Eden
2017 Top 10 – Chanel Olive Thomas
2018 Top 10 – Jehza Mae Huelar
2019 Top 25 – Resham Ramirez Saeed
Below is a video of the full show in Minsk, Belarus when our very own Mutya Johanna Datul was crowned Miss Supranational 2013 – the first Filipina and first Asian to achieve the honor.
Miss Grand International
The Philippines’ relationship with Miss Grand International can be compared to a “love-hate” affair of sorts. We all know that its first two editions were still under John dela Vega who was able to prepare Ali Forbes all the way to a very good finish during the inaugural edition. It was only in 2015 when BPCI sent its first appointed delegate in the person of Parul Shah who placed 3rd Runner-Up. That started Top 5 placements that would stretch to 2016 with Nicole Cordoves getting 1st Runner-Up and 2017 when Elizabeth Clenci sustained a 2nd Runner-Up finish. After that, something turned sweetly sour. In the process, the missions of both Eva Psychee Patalinjug and Samantha Ashley Lo can be considered fleeting to say the least. But to be fair, our participation last year was saddled with a number of controversies that cannot be directly blamed to pageant owner Nawatt Itsiragrisil.
2013 3rd Runner-Up Ali Forbes
2014 unplaced Kimberly Karlsson
2015 3rd Runner-Up Parul Shah
2016 1st Runner-Up Nicole Cordoves
2017 2nd Runner-Up Elizabeth Clenci
2018 unplaced Eva Patalinjug
2019 unplaced Samantha Lo
Below is a video of our best performance courtesy of Nicole Cordoves who placed 1st Runner-Up during the 2016 edition held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
How about you, dear readers? What are your personal assessments of our participation in both pageants?
I’m über glad that Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2017 and Miss Grand International 2017 2nd Runner-Up Elizabeth Clenci is widening her career path. She recently hosted Miss Grand Australia – a stint she definitely enjoyed doing.
Watch the video below of the crowning moment of Miss Grand Australia 2018 where you can see and hear her hosting turns.
Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2018 Eva Psychee Patalinjug appears to be the first among the 2018 Queens to wage a beauty battle abroad. Miss Grand International 2018 will be held (for the first time) in the Golden Land of the World – Myanmar – on October 25.
Eva hopes to do two notches better than her predecessor Elizabeth Clenci who placed 2nd Runner-Up in Vietnam, just as she is zeroing on a better output than Nicole Cordoves who was adjudged 1st Runner-Up during the 2016 edition held in Las Vegas.
Below is a video clip of the hosting of MGI2018 in Myanmar.
Prior to the actual National Costume Presentation of Bb. Pilipinas 2018, the forty (40) Binibinis walked the stage in Jag Jeans and showed their fiercer and sexier side while showing off their curves in the latest collection of the denim brand. Reigning titleholders Rachel Peters, Mariel de Leon, Chanel Olive Thomas, Elizabeth Clenci, Nelda Ibe and Katarina Rodriguez led the group. Here are some photos from the said segment of the fashion show held last Saturday night.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Store Tour of the Bb. Pilipinas 2018 Official Candidates will happen in select establishments at Araneta Center starting at 2pm. Their first stop will be Pizza Hut and Dairy Queen at Ali Mall before heading straight to the Taco Bell at the Cyber Park beside Novotel.
This will be another chance to meet the ladies and – hopefully – get quick photo ops with them.
See you there!
Photo grid above contains photos from last year’s equivalent as taken by Joy Arguil for normannorman.com.
Below is the Store Tour when the winners have already been crowned as covered by Joseph Gerard V. Jose for normannorman.com
With the Bb. Pilipinas 2018 Talent Competition scheduled to take place at the Farmers Plaza Activity Area this coming Saturday – February 10 – I thought it would be appropriate to take a look-back at last year’s version where the more memorable presentations were placed in a video grid above. Included are the opera number of Mariel de Leon, the ballet performance of Arienne Calingo, the Taekwondo exhibition of Ma. Camille Manalo, the interpretative dance of Gillian Colcol and the bass guitar skills of Elizabeth Clenci.
Now if you want to get relatively up close and personal with this year’s Binibinis, then the above-mentioned upcoming event will be your best bet for some sort of a limited meet-and-greet.
I was told that around fifteen or so ladies will display their talents that are mostly in the song, dance and song-and-dance formats, with one doing a rhythmic gymnastics exhibition.
See you there!
Below are some shots taken from 2017 by Joseph Gerard V. Jose for normannorman.com.
Left to right: Myanmar, Indonesia, MU supervisor, Philippines, China, Bulgaria and Lebanon for Miss Universe 2017
Miss Philippines Rachel Peters is heating up!
Doesn’t she look real good in the group photo above? I know that some of you are thinking that her wardrobe pales in comparison so far to what Elizabeth Clenci wore during Miss Grand International. But since they had the same BPCI stylist (Bonita Penaranda), I trust that things will look up in the days to come, OOTD-wise, that is.
By the way, below are the judges for the Preliminaries on November 25.
Megan Olivi – Host the Ultimate Insider on Fox Sports 1 Morgan Deane – Director of Marketing for TAO Group in New York city. Wendy Fitzwilliam – Miss Universe 1998, entrepreneur, lawyer, philanthropist, host and co-executive producer of Caribbean’s next top model Bill Pereira – member of IDT Corp’s Board of Director and Chief Executive Officer, President and Co-Chariman of IDT Telecom Isabelle Lindblom – NYC based model scout for International Modelling agency IMG Cecilio Asuncion – Filipino American Producer. Founder and director of the world’s first all-transgender model agency, Slay model management.
Aside from the Triple Send-Off for Bb. Pilipinas 2017 Queens Rachel Peters, Chanel Olive Thomas and Katarina Rodriguez, it was also a Double Homecoming Presscon for The Miss Globe 2017 1st Runner-Up Nelda Ibe and Miss Grand International 2017 Elizabeth Clenci that made the entire event more meaningful for all members of the Press who attended.
Our departing ladies are all eager to prove their worth in the international pageant arena, especially that pressure is mounting on their anticipated successes abroad. Instead of feeling the weight on theor shoulders, the motivation is coming from the performances of everyone ahead of them. Let us now watch videos of the well-wishes given by the three departing Queens to each other.
27 year-old Maria Jose Lora of Peru was crowned Miss Grand International 2017, succeeding last year’s Ariska Putri Pertiwi, during the (initially rain-drenched) finals at the Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort and Villas.
Tulia Aleman Ferrer of Venezuela was named 1st Runner-Up with our very own Elizabeth Clenci getting 2nd Runner-Up honors. Brenda Azaria of Jimenez of Puerto Rico came in as 3rd Runner-Up and Nikola Uhlirova of Czech Republic closed the Top 5 as 4th Runner-UP.
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!
"By viewing this blog, the viewer acknowledges that s/he has read and agrees to the terms of this disclaimer and assumes total responsibility and risk for his/her use of this blog. The content of this blog is published as an information service only and is presented “as is.” Please recognize that the information is general in nature and does not constitute and is not intended to be viewed as expert, legal or professional advice.
It confers no warranties, rights or merchantibility and makes no representations as to its accuracy, completeness or validity. In addition, those opinions expressed by readers and third parties who have elected to post their comments and opinions are theirs alone and do not reflect the opinions of the author who is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by such readers and/or third parties.
The author of this blog is not liable for any errors, omissions, delays, losses, injuries or damages -- be it direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or other -- arising from its display or use.
The author of this blog is also not responsible for the content of, accuracy of, or opinions expressed in third party sites to which this blog links. "