Halimatu Yushawu

All posts tagged Halimatu Yushawu

Will the reigning winner be present this afternoon?

Posted by Norman on July 10, 2019
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , .

The reigning titleholders of Miss Philippines Earth


From a reliable source, it looks like two of the five winners from last year’s Miss Philippines Earth won’t be around to crown their successors this afternoon at The Cove in Okada Manila.

First, there is Miss Philippines Ecotourism 2018 Halimatu Yushawu who – midway during her term – went back to her hometown in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay and never returned to the disappointment of the organizers. Efforts were made to make her return to Manila and fulfill her duties and responsibilities. But to no avail. I was told that she realized what she has done belatedly, but was no longer allowed to return to the fold after incurring the ire of Carousel Productions.

And now, reigning Miss Philippines Earth Celeste Cortesi will reportedly be a no-show later as well. She allegedly failed to fulfill her duties and responsibilities, just like Halimatu. A dethronement would have been automatic. But the pageant owners must’ve decided not to make a big deal of the situation anymore. It is likely that one of our former Miss Earth winners (or perhaps the duo of Ramon Monzon and Lorraine Schuck) will crown the new titleholder.

Somehow, I already felt this coming with Celeste shortly after she represented us in Miss Earth 2018. There were less-than-pleasant reports sounded off to me. The Fil-Italian girl is very sweet and charming. But the answer lies in that statement – she is just a girl whose lifestyle, cultural upbringing and preferences might not be in sync with what is expected of a Miss Philippines Earth Winner.

Let’s see if a surprise appearance will still happen later. After all, she was not openly stripped of her title. Yet.

Fil-Italian Goddess wins Miss Earth Philippines 2018

Posted by Norman on May 20, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Here are the winners of Miss Earth Philippines 2018:

Miss Earth Philippines 2018
Silvia Celeste Cortesi of Fil-Rome, Italy

Miss Earth Philippines Air 2018:
Zahra Bianca Saldua of Las Piñas City

Miss Earth Philippines Water 2018:
Berjayneth Chee of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental

Miss Earth Philippines Fire 2018:
Jean de Jesus of San Rafael, Bulacan

Miss Earth Philippines Ecotourism 2018:
Halimatu Yushawu of Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay

Congratulations!!!

For the first time in its eighteen-year history, Miss Earth Philippines crowned a representative from one of the Filipino Communities abroad. And Silvia Celeste Cortesi of Rome, Italy is the successor of Karen Ibasco. She edged out heavy favorite Zahra Bianca Saldua of Las Piñas City who had the upper hand going into the announcement of winners. The latter settled for Miss Earth Philippines Air. The audience at the Arena were in for quite a surprise because if the basis was the final Q&A, then the ranking of winners would have it differently. But according to an inside source, a Goddess-like candidate is likely to be favored this year. Hence, the selection of the statuesque Fil-Italian model as our representative to Miss Earth 2018.

The other placements in the elemental court had Berjayneth Chee of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental for Water, Jean Nicole de Jesus of San Rafael, Bulacan for Fire and Halimatu Yushawu of Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay for Ecoutourism.

More about the new set of winners of Miss Earth Philippines 2018 soon!

Sunday Specials: Pasalamat Festival Queen 2015 Winners

Posted by Norman on May 3, 2015
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .

Halimatu Yushawu (middle) was named Pasalamat Festival Queen 2015 at La Carlota last night. Flanking her are (from left): Mae Lourine Mercado (2nd Runner Up) and Lyzabeth Dilag (1st Runner-Up)

Your blogger and fellow judge MPE2007 Jeanne Harn

A fit and bright young lady of Filipino-Ghanaian descent was crowned Pasalamat Festival Queen 2015 during the finals of the beauty pageant held at the Town Plaza of La Carlota City in Negros Occidental last night. In a contest where the top winner was decided upon only during the final interview where the Top 3 were asked the same question, Halimatu Yushawu stood her ground and nailed her answer with such confidence and grace. 1st Runner-Up Lyzabeth Dilag was a nice come-from-behind placer who consistently got good scores from the judges with her quick wit as well. In fact, the two were separated only by a small 0.20 of a point after all the marks were tallied.

2nd Runner-Up Mae Lourine Mercado was actually the heavy favorite to win. But somewhere along the final question, she must have succumbed to nerves and dished out an answer that trailed the other two in terms of clarity and delivery.

The Top 3 Finalists before the dreaded ultimate Q&A

In the end, the five judges – Miss Philippines Earth 2007 Jeanne Harn, actor Philip Salvador, American-Mexican commercial model Garrett Zebley, La Union businesswoman Catherine Franco and your blogger – gave their one end nod to the candidate who gave the best reply in the end. And Halimatu Yushawu brought home the win.

The long but entertaining programme was hosted by well-loved showbiz sweethearts Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana, with performances coming from singers Gerald Santos and Darren Ong, stand-up comic and belter Donita Nose, plus the crowd-drawing loveteam of teen idols James Reid and Nadine Lustre.

Allow me to thank Tita Kitchie Benedicto-Paulino, Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer and his wife La Carlota Mayor Juliet Ferrer, Tita Marie Gozun and the Headwriting team Jojo Nones & Ryan Benitez for the opportunity to sit as one of the judges and also for the warm hospitality of the people of La Carlota and the personnel at Planta Hotel and Residences. 🙂

The Beauties of Pasalamat Festival Queen 2015

Posted by Norman on April 27, 2015
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

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This one is set for a May 2 Finals Night

This coming Saturday, May 2, I will be off to my next judging stint after being invited to sit in the panel (with the real celebrities) for Pasalamat Festival Queen 2015 happening in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental (via Bacolod City).

I always love regional beauty contests and how such events have evolved through the years. Aside from the very good production values, the candidates have also become fiercer and more competitive. What’s more, they really become solid training grounds for lovely ladies who dream of making it to the big pageant leagues here in Manila.

In this ongoing search, Eighteen (18) fresh and young faces are out to win the title from last year’s Reina Jamaica Jimenea. And a few among them have already started raising my level of interest.

Here are the Official Candidates first.

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Candidates 1 to 6 (going left to right per row)

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Candidates 7 to 12 (going left to right per row)

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Candidates 13 to 18 (going left to right per row)

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Reina Jamaica Jimenea - Pasalamat Festival Queen 2014

And as for the early favorites, top of my head at the moment is #7 Halimatu Yushawu who has a pretty unique Filipino-Ghanaian mix. There is also #14 Timmy Julie Calumba who has very youthful teen idol looks.

I would include #1 Kennyveb Casabuena and #5 Carolin Buhat in the short list as well. Even short-haired #10 Sam Gergiana Yu could be a promising contender.

Let’s see who among them will be the real deal by next weekend. 😉

P.S. This early, I would to thank GMA-7’s Jojo Nones, TV5’s Ryan Benitez and Tita Kitchie Benedicto-Paulino for the invite and opportunity to judge “Pasalamat Festival Queen 2015”. 🙂