My Aces & Queens 'Team A' (top row, left-right): Ariella Arida, Pia Wurtzbach and Theresa Fenger; (bottom row, left-right): Shan Apuad, Kylie Verzosa and Cindy Miranda.

My Aces & Queens 'Team B' (top row, left-right) Jacqueline Mayoralgo, Cassandra Naidas and Mariel de Leon; (bottom row, left-right): Kate Enriquez, Crissia del Atienza and Yvette Chantal Mildenberger.

Last year, Aces & Queens was the most successful beauty camp with three of their bets (Janine Tugonon, Katrina Dimaranan and Elaine Kay Moll) in the Top 5. Kagandahang Flores had one courtesy of Nicole Schmitz, with Team JDV accounting for Ali Forbes.

And in terms of candidates, the group had the most number of O.C.s as they initially grabbed twelve (12) spots only to be trimmed down to eleven (11) after Maxine Medina was disqualified due to conflicts in endorsement contracts.

This year promises to be even better for Jonas Gaffud and his pack of pageant-training experts. He knows that arch-rival Rodgil Flores is pulling out all stops to wrest the top crown from his clutch and won’t take things sitting down. The pressure of the collective (and consecutive) achievements from 2010-2012 may be tremendous, but he is ready to stretch his long streak regardless of the odds.

More than twelve will screen from Aces & Queens starting today till Thursday. But from among the dozen pictured above, I took the liberty of dividing them into two teams. Team A is obviously my own take on the stronger beauties, and they are made up of Pia Wurtzbach, Theresa Fenger, Kylie Verzosa, Shan Apuad, Ariella Arida and Cindy Miranda. I see no rejects here, unless something in conflict with BPCI arises somewhere. These ladies are sure to set the Binibini stage on fire with their gorgeous faces and polished pageant skills. In fact, at least two of them could easily make this year’s circle of winners. Which two? Possibly, Pia and Kylie. Perhaps, Shan and Theresa. Could be Ara and Cindy. Whatever the combo is, their beauty camp comes out the most victorious.

Team B, on the other hand, is not (and will never be) a set of pushover contenders. They may not be the most facially striking, but their individual strengths and buffed styling/projection cannot be sneered at. Consider half-Korean Cassandra Naidas (the group’s tallest at 5’10”) and vavavoom charmer Jacqueline Mayoralgo as possible spoilers who could easily steal the limelight from the favorites in a breeze. And then there are shapely Mariel de Leon and sweet slim-waisted Kate Enriquez who can also give the hyped joiners a run for their money. Honestly, Crissia del Atienza and Yvette Chantal Mildenberger are the relative weak links here, but it would be highly premature to put them down this early based solely on available pics online.

So there. The screenings of Bb. Pilipinas 2013 are sure to give a major headache for the committee in-charge of evaluating the girls. I can’t say that I envy their task, but how I would love to take part in the selection process.

In the end, Filipino pageant followers will benefit the most. The 50th Anniversary of our well-loved national pageant will certainly give us the most exciting and breathtaking rollercoaster of a ride en route to the coronation night tentatively scheduled mid-April. 😉

P.S. And I haven’t included one ‘Young’ lady in the group yet! 😉