The five mentors for the first-ever search for Mr & Ms BPO
Pageant mentor Jennifer Hammond and I
There has never been something quite like this type of pageant. And with the constantly booming BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) Industry in the country, it was only a matter of time before the search for the first-ever Mr & Ms BPO would arrive in our midst. Last Thursday night, the media launch for the newest and most innovative competition took place at the plush Discovery Primea in Makati City. Royal Chimes Concerts and Events Inc. present the pageant that will celebrate the colorfully evolving world of contact centers in the country. And to help make the entire process more meaningful, five (5) mentors are being brought in to share their individual specializations: Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2016 Jennifer Hammond and Manhunt International winner June Macasaet for pageant grooming/styling/walk, The Apprentice Asia Season 1 Winner Jonathan Yabut for Q&A and corporate coaching, Century Tuna Superbods winner Mauro Lumba for Health & Fitness and Ruby Mañalac for emotional intelligence integration.
Here’s the pitch for Mr & Ms BPO:
The first Mr. & Ms. BPO search kicks off
The Philippines has indeed become a powerhouse when it comes to beauty pageants and modeling competitions. We have proven time and again that we can be on top of the game if given the chance to showcase the so-called ‘inner beauty,’ wit and charm.
This year, an exciting search is about to unfold with a fresh and innovative approach, the first Mr. & Ms. BPO. It highlights the workforce behind one of the most progressive industries in the country to date – Business Process Outsourcing – or what is commonly called BPO or contact center.
The first contact center was established in the Philippines in 1992. After almost two decades, the Philippines was declared the world’s BPO capital. And last year, it was projected to have generated 1.3 million new jobs with a 17% annual growth. Without a doubt, the Philippines is the standard country in the world for the BPO enterprise.
With all these breakthroughs, the search for the perfect BPO Ambassadors is equally exciting. The time has come to put the spotlight to the new breed of young men and women who can be rightfully called “mga bagong bayani ng bayan” (the new heroes of the country).
The Search for Mr. & Ms. BPO kicks off and is now accepting applicants. Interested parties must be 18 to 26 years old, single, Filipino citizen or with Filipino blood ancestry, at least 5’4” tall for female and 5’6” tall for male. They must also have proportionate physiques, possess pleasing personalities, and with good moral character. He/she must be also be a regular employee of the company and a resident of the Philippines.
The first Mr. & Ms. BPO aims to promote excellence, leadership and camaraderie in the workplace. It will also empower the candidates to impart the right attitude at work and the drive to help in nation building. Facilitating the development of the candidates in a holistic approach is a formidable team composed of mentors for fitness and well-being, communication skills, emotional intelligence acumen and modeling, just to name a few.
To register and join the Mr. and Ms. BPO, check out the official website (www.mrandmsbpo.com) and download the application form. For more details, follow the event’s social media accounts on Facebook (MrandMsBPOofficial), Instagram (mrandmsbpoofficial), Twitter (MrandMsBPO) and on YouTube (MrandMsBPO). For other inquiries, you may call the Mr. and Ms. BPO secretariat at 0977-3846984.
A production of Royale Chimes Concerts and Events Inc., the Mr. and Ms. BPO is supported by the Tourism Promotions Board and Discovery Primea.
You will hear more about this fresh and exciting pageant concept in the weeks and months to come. Director Calvin Neria promises a truly exciting inaugural edition as eventual winners will each receive cash prizes plus the opportunity to be the unified spokespersons of the different BPO companies in bringing their big community in the forefront of social media and public affairs.
Mentors June Macasaet and Mauro Lumba being interviewed by GMA-7 during the launch
Over the weekend, your blogger flew to Laoag in Ilocos Norte before taking a two-hour road trip to Pagudpud. The final destination was Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center to judge the finals of Mr & Miss Hannah’s Ecotourism Philippines 2017 along with coverage partner Joy Arguil and a quartet of beauty queens – Miss World Philippines 2016 Catriona Gray, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2016 Jennifer Hammond, Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International 2015 Glennifer Perido and NAITAS Face of Tourism 2017 Sarah Margarette Joson. At the same time, this coverage was the second official media partnership of normannorman.com and Sash Factor (Mister Philippines 2017 being the first).
Such beautiful and warm hosts the people at Hannah’s are. With Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr (Ret) and Ronald Dominguez always around to make all the guests feel relaxed and welcome, it felt more like a vacation than work. The preliminary and finals night judging of the competition was very engaging to say the least.
After assessing all twenty-four candidates (12 males, 12 females), the winners were unanimously chosen with Richard Angelo Adarlo of Batangas City and Mikaela Mendez of Tanza, Cavite coming out on top. Closely following them are Atenean Pre-Med Graduate Leo Lofranco and Aces&Queens-trained Charmaine Aller. Completing the magic circle are Peter Seda of Cebu and April Alegre from Davao.
Quite amusingly, the male division was almost a tie from start to finish – a very close fight between the top two finishers where the final Q&A was needed to finally break the deadlock. And the margin was so slim even after Richard and Leo battled it out for the #1 spot with their respective smarts.
All in all, I would say this is an ideal workcation. Your blogger’s mom tagged along and it made celebration of Mother’s Day more special.
Everyone stayed at the newly-appointed Premium Suites of Hannah’s Beach Resort, with the sparkling blue waters of Pagudpud are just a stone’s throw away. Hopefully, all of us will be back complete in 2018!
Next week from May 12-14 will be the final leg of this year’s search for Mr & Miss Hannah’s Ecotourism Philippines 2017 where the top winners will be crowned by a select panel of judges which include Miss World Philippines 2016 Catriona Gray, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2016 Jennifer Hammond and yours truly, among many others. The big event will be held right inside Hannah’s Beach Resort & Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte where the top placers will have the prime responsibility of extending the environmental causes of the host venue that will spread throughout the country.
Watch out for the report of normannorman.com where my partner Joy Arguil and I will be present to cover the entire finals proceedings. Thanks in advance to Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr (Ret) and Ronald Dominguez for the invitation to judge and cover.
In the meantime, watch a video about the host venue – Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center.
On a 0-100 scale, that is the final mark that I am giving to the collective performance of our six (6) Bb. Pilipinas 2016 titleholders. Using the grade point system of my alma mater – the University of Santo Tomas – the percentage is equivalent to 2.0 or Good. Not bad.
Their individual grades are as follows:
Maxine Medina – 93.02% for placing in the Top 6 of the 65th Miss Universe which had 86 candidates
Kylie Verzosa – 100% for winning Miss International 2016
Jennifer Hammond – 76.19% for placing in the Top 15 of Miss Intercontinental 2016 which had 63 candidates
Joanna Eden – 71.83% for placing in the Top 20 of Miss Supranational 2016 which had 71 candidates
Nicole Cordoves – 97.36% for placing 1st Runner-Up in Miss Grand International 2016 which had 76 candidates
Nichole Manalo – 92% for placing 3rd Runner-Up in The Miss Globe 2016 which had 50 candidates
Honestly, 88.401% won’t be a hard mark to surpass on my performance tally for the next batch of winners. And with the continuous strong showings of our delegates internationally, I am confident that it can be achieved. But that’s getting far ahead of what 2017 has in store for our new Queens.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Maxine, Kylie, Jennifer, Joanna, Nicole and Nichole for showing the best of the World-Class Filipinas in the global pageant stage. This is no major tribute but a simple way of showing my appreciation for all your efforts in solidifying the noteworthy performances of the Bb. Pilipinas titleholders.
Above are my Top 20 Binibinis of Bb. Pilipinas 2017 before I let go of Dane Felisse, Maria Benjieleen, Ruffa and Sammie Anne to trim down the choices to a manageable field of 16
Late last month, it finally dawned on me how the Philippine pageant sphere has sharply polarized into several competing combinations for the new Bb. Pilipinas 2017 titleholders. Just when I thought that I have assembled an almost perfect batch of titleholders and runners-up, small but significant factors topple what I have already set my mind into using as the strong foundation for my fearless forecast. Thing is, whoever I put on top and in succeeding placements will not necessarily jibe with the differing ideas and opinions of the reading public. So in order to lessen the load of stress bogging down my mind of late, I covered my ears, focused on my personal notes/assessments and came up with what I believe could be my best possible final winning configuration.
Your blogger with independent Binibinis (left to right): Arah, Camille, Clarice and Istie
One factor that I uniquely enjoy as your blogger is the friendship I have established with all of the Binibinis – something that is neither deep nor superficial but enough to give me precious hints as to which six contenders deserve to be glorified in the end. At first, camp affiliations threatened to sway me back and forth. Believe it or not, I consciously distanced myself from both so as to keep my eyes transfixed on the personal merits of each one of them and not be influenced by who handles who or whose clout could be more widespread than the other. I also moved away from the “independent” angle because it only tends to muddle the whole process.
Dear readers, it took me a long time to build the Binibinis included in the first cut of my predictions. Here now are my Top 16 (I couldn’t go lower than this number anymore) for Bb. Pilipinas 2017 arranged according to their assigned numbers first:
My Top 16 in their National Costumes
#Binibini2 Arienne Louise Calingo
#Binibini10 Jehza Huelar
#Binibini12 Angelique Celine de Leon
#Binibini13 Sirene Sutton
#Binibini15 Maria Angelica de Leon
#Binibini17 Maria Camille Manalo
#Binibini18 Nelda Ibe
#Binibini19 Rachel Peters
#Binibini20 Christagale Borja
#Binibini21 Jamaica Elysse Ambal
#Binibini22 Chanel Olive Thomas
#Binibini24 Dindi Pajares
#Binibini31 Katarina Rodriguez
#Binibini32 Charmaine Elima
#Binibini38 Ana Patricia Asturias
#Binibini39 Elizabeth Clenci
You know too well that nobody can make instant guesses on who are guaranteed to ace the Q&A. But if your main basis is the ABS-CBN Primer shown last Sunday night (watch sample videos below), then it would be safe to speculate that a good majority of the sixteen Binibinis above will acquit themselves very well; unless, the unexpected happens and those deemed to easily deliver will buckle under extreme pressure. videos courtesy of Pageanthologist Network
There is that one crucial minute where anything can happen. It may depend on which judge will ask the question or what question will be asked of a particular candidate. However at this juncture, the favored ones are already starting to shape up as the eventual winners and they simply need to give a decent job of answering. One or two may surprise the judges and the audience, but if they don’t belong to the “initially chosen” (keep in mind that the closed door panel interviews conducted yesterday were of utmost importance), then the anticipated judges’ deliberations (in the presence of key BPCI Officials) afterwards seal (or unseal) whatever their placements will be once and for all.
Before moving on, let me make mention of the 9th and 10th placers on my list who nearly entered the winners’ circle but were still edged out due to the high level of competitiveness and consistency in this batch. They are Katarina Rodriguez and Arienne Louise Calingo, respectively.
My Top 8 in reverse order I placed Sirene Sutton and Dindi Pajares as my 1st and 2nd Runners-Up, respectively. I need not explain the importance of these two positions. With no titles – save for the status of being ladies-in-waiting – to show off, they can immediately rejoin the following year and capitalize on their inclusion in the winners’ circle for around 10 months. Both ladies are crown-worthy, but given the company of Binibinis they are stuck with in this edition, I wouldn’t mind seeing them compete again in 2018. Sirene still needs to comfortably get out of the professional model look and mold that sticks to her skin like an ultra-adhesive glue. Dindi, on the other hand, has stayed the same way as last year – brightly competitive but still missing that one note to fully break into the game of crowns.
For the six titles, I have narrowed down the selection to an equal number – Maria Angelica de Leon, Charmaine Elima, Rachel Peters, Nelda Ibe, Chanel Olive Thomas and Jehza Huelar.
I can see #Binibini10 getting the Miss Globe Philippines crown from Nichole Manalo. Jehza Huelar has proven that – inspite of having such a strong lineup to deal with – she can still rise to the occasion and pocket a victory. She has really leveled up from 2016. I may have pinned her to the least aspired sash among the most victorious, but it is an achievement that will stay in her credentials forever. What’s more, her easy-to-work-with attitude is a trait that needs no further proof to the organization.
Chanel Olive Thomas is my pick for Grand International. This one is the result of a very close tussle between her and Arienne Louise Calingo (whose fluency in Thai is an edge nobody else can claim to. It is her biggest ace to get on the good side of Nawatt Itsaragrisil in the bigger mission up ahead). But Chanel has a playful charm and cheerful disposition that she can use to her advantage. Given that both ladies can express themselves better than most, this is what the Fil-Aussie displayed to nose out the multi-lingual Kapampangan.
Supranational-wise, Nelda Ibe is the lady I can see taking the spot soon-to-be-vacated by Joanna Eden. It’s no secret among some near-insiders that this gorgeous natural beauty (she can proudly state her enhancement-free status if need be) is one of those wearing a halo (since Day 1 almost) of admiration from those who matter. She could easily upset the stronger favorites if getting into auto-pilot mode (pun intended) can be avoided. I can honestly see her making waves in Poland or any other European country where Miss Supranational 2017 will be hosted. She has always mesmerized me during our encounters, and relying only on photographs to size up her chances will be doing a great disservice to what she is capable of delivering up close and personal.
I have placed Rachel Peters for the Intercontinental assignment for more than two weeks now. The competition abroad remains unpredictable in terms of their choice for a big winner. And I still believe that Jennifer Hammond was unfairly upended in Sri Lanka last year. So sending your #Binibini19 to whichever part of the globe the next edition of Miss Intercontinental will take place in should be a good risk to take since she has the qualities that could make the organizers sit up and take notice, the same way they did when Christi McGarry competed and placed 1st Runner-Up. Who knows, she could just really be what the Doctor ordered in the game – a woman of racial mix with the right amount of saucy allure.
And now we’re down to the two highest titles of the Bb. Pilipinas season – Universe and International. Two beautiful ladies stand before me, each with their distinct pluses to make it as the last two Binibinis standing – Maria Angelica de Leon and Charmaine Elima. Anyone of the two would make an excellent representative to the 66th Miss Universe, the same way that either one of them can go fast and furious for a still impossible back-to-back win in Japan for Miss International. So who stays longer and be kept in suspense as to where Iris Mittenaere will crown her successor? And who goes with Kylie Verzosa to Tokyo and be constantly pressured in competing for a title that her compatriot is currently holding?
Maxine Medina moves forward and stops on the side of your #Binibini15 and leaves Charmaine Elima in the arms of Miss International 2016. Except for the unstinting focus and dedication to win, Maine is like the antithesis of Kylie Verzosa in more ways than one. And I’m all for taking the risk of sending a safe opposite of the reigning winner to Japan.
Photo credit: Erwin Totanes Oning
Maria Angelica de Leon, you are the new Miss Universe Philippines for me! It is you who I can see being dramatically transformed for the Universe. That is where I am pulling out all my defense in your favor. And the achievable vision is starting to excite me. This much I can say – your detractors ain’t seen nothing yet.
Putting it all together, my winners for Bb. Pilipinas 2017
P.S. This is such a long narrative of predictions. If only I possessed the power of reading minds, I would immediately look at Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta and make this exercise short and sweet. But thank you for staying up with me. The finals this Sunday will definitely be a nail-biter. After all, media is not allowed to post any kind of live updates in whatever form in deference to the exclusive rights of ABS-CBN to broadcast the finals on TV. If at any, it will give your blogger the chance to watch without constantly grabbing the iPhone or tablet to post sashay-by-sashay happenings inside the Araneta Coliseum. First report on the winners should be posted by 2am of May 1 the earliest. 🙂
The 24 Official Candidates of Mr & Miss Hannah’s EcoTourism Philippines 2017
In a contest like Mr & Miss Hannah’s EcoTourism Philippines (now on its 4th year), one would think that it was easy judging the participants and cutting them in half just to come up with the Official Candidates. Well, not if the joiners are really promisingly beautiful and handsome – still raw for the big league but already oozing with potentials for future joining.
Last night, I spent the time selecting the young men and women who will form part of the finalists who will vie for the above-mentioned competition that has strong alliances with Miss Philippines Earth. There were 48 qualifiers for the final callback and it was the duty of the panel (which included beauty queens Jennifer Hammond, Leren Mae Bautista and Glennifer Perido along with Carousel Productions’ Peachy Veneracion, Renee Salud, yours truly and the generous owner of Hannah’s Beach Resort – (Ret) Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr.) to choose the 24 Official Candidates. It was supposed to be just 10 males and 10 females, but the field was so strong that an exception for this year had to be made to accommodate two extra heads per division.
Anyways, the chosen ones will vie for the title come May 13 at Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Two of them will follow the footsteps of previous titleholders who are now familiar in pageantry such as Sarah Bona, Meryl Angeline King and Karan Singhdole.
Good luck to everyone who made it! 🙂
The chosen ones as photographed by Jhosh Rodriguez
Your blogger along with fellow judges Glennifer Perido, Jennifer Hammond and Leren Mae Bautista
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.
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!
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The first Mr. & Ms. BPO search kicks off
