Sharing with you now the entire third episode of Pageantry Norms focusing on the unsung heroes of the backstage, or the individuals who prepare everything that we see onstage before an actual live show is presented before an audience or spectators.
My guests included KF’s Rodgil Flores who is also a Live Events Director who runs a tight ship in mounting big productions, NIB’s Nic Soriano who is a Hair and Makeup Professional who is now an official partner of Miss Universe Philippines, Celebrity Stylist Francis Chee who has worked with several showbiz personalities and beauty queens and Designer Bea Bianca who dresses up TV actors/actresses as well as local/national/international Beauty Queens.
A period of 25 years is a “generation” – the time from birth to someone having a child of their own and starting the next generation. For beauty camp Kagandahang Flores, 2020 marks the year of its Silver Jubilee. And Rodgil Flores must be beaming with pride, alongside his cousin Gio Flores, in what their initial efforts have transformed into the past two and a half decades.
It all started from humble beginnings. Back in the mid-90s, the group fielded a sole candidate – Sonia Santiago – for Bb. Pilipinas 1996. In between, more beautiful Filipinas started undergoing training and polish for bigger beauty competitions. And in the process, a good number of the ladies started winning national titles left and right, until their successes were justly rewarded when Precious Lara Quigaman was crowned Miss International 2005 – their very first claim to grand slam fame.
Precious on top, Bea Rose below.
Below is a rundown of the KF alumni who went on to win their international pageants, either here or abroad:
Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman
Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago
Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry
Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell
Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong
Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco
Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman
Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 Sharifa Akeel
Miss Tourism International 2012/13 Rizzini Alexis Gomez
Miss Tourism International 2013/14 Angeli Dione Gomez
Mr Gay World 2017 John Raspado
Mr Gay World 2019 Janjep Carlos
Mister Tourism Ambassador World 2018 Kerr Cruz
I won’t make a separate list of their winners in Bb. Pilipinas, Miss World Philippines, Miss Philippines Earth, Mutya ng Pilipinas/Mutya Pilipinas and even in Mr World Philippines or Misters of Filipinas anymore because this entry will get very long.
Rodgil during one of his training sessions with Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados
Some of the core members of Team KF
In essence, Team KF discovers and teaches potential women and men to become successful pageant titleholders. The series of training and level workshops are focused on Personality Development, Visual Poise, Fitness, Pageant Question and Answer, Pageant Hair & Make-Up styling and Pageant Catwalk and Projection – all tailored fit for the biggest national pageants for both genders in the Philippines.
KF is now established as one of two most prominent beauty camps as well as internationally sought-after pageant training groups in the country. It’s no secret that beauty queens from other countries have also given their trust to them. And I am not surprised at the progressive move. If at any, that is already expected. Just like the last two Miss Earth winners Phuong Khanh Nguyen of Vietnam and Nellys Pimentel of Puerto Rico. They were both prepared (or perfected, if you will) at KF before their respective competitions.
Rodgil and his 28 Binibinis for Bb. Pilipinas 2020
I can remember during one of his past interviews (watch below) for Assignment Asia of the China Global Television Network (CGTN) how Rodgil called beauty aspirants – “beauty athletes” – because all the learnings are continuously practiced in their individual lives outside the confines of the camp itself. I could not think of a more appropriate term that could better that.
Congratulations to your 25th Anniversary, Kagandahang Flores! Here’s a toast to the passion and unstinting efforts to train a generation of Beautiful Filipinas!
Here are some photos and a video clip of #Binibini32 Danica Joy Peralta Acuña of Romblon during her successful meet-and-greet dinner with the pageant media last night at the Penthouse of Platinum 1000.
This Theater Arts graduate of Miriam College is as enthusiastic and as ready as she can be in proving to everyone that she has what it takes to be one of the annointed winners for Bb. Pilipinas 2020. She also has one of the more unique advocacies for a Binibini, and a very doable one at that – to use puppetry/ventriloquy to reach out more effectively to young minds about her environmental causes alongside the importance of education and preservation of core human values – much like a modern version of “Sesame Street” caravan that she will bring to the grassroots.
Danica is enjoying every minute of her journey. And if she is fated to win any Bb. Pilipinas crown, then her commitment to serve and represent the country is a given she has long thought of the day she signed up for the competition.
Here now is your #Binibini12 Vianca Louise Marcelo – Bocaue, Bulacan sash bearer in Bb. Pilipinas 2020. And she is one fine example why the lovely Bulakeñas of the province are some of the most represented in the national beauty pageant this year.
Makeup by Tope Hair and makeup Services
Hair by Ghil Sayo/ Rheniel Jastillana Pagdanganan
Guided by House of Lorenzo
Designer Paolo Blanco
There’s a Doctor in the Bb. Pilipinas 2020 house and she is now #Binibini22 from Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.
Ma. Erika Ruth Quin is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine who graduated from the CLSU College of Veterinary Science and Medicine and passed the licensure examinations last August, 2018. She is 24 years old and stands 5’9”.
Pageant-wise, she has achieved quite a long list of achievements before finally doing Bb. Pilipinas:
Ms. SCUAA region III 2015(regional division)
Bb. Cabanatuan 1st runner up 2017(local division)
Ms. CLSU 2017(school division)
Ms. CAASUC 2017 Region III( regional division)inter-university
Ms. National PASUC 2017 2nd runner up(national division) inter-university
Ms. Rodeo Philippines 2015 (national Division)
Know more about Dr. Quin, (Vet)Medicine Woman soon!
From the Bicol region this time, we have a lady who has already been training with Kagandahang Flores (KF) camp for Bb. Pilipinas 2020. And by the looks of it, she could be well on her way to becoming a Binibini for the first time in her pageant career.
By now, Jashmin Lyn Dimaculangan has made the rounds of the important beauty contests in her hometown Province of Camarines Norte and the region as well. Her most important victory to date was the title of Daragang Magayon 2019.
Jash is ripe for the nationals, and her upcoming participation in the final screening of Bb. Pilipinas 2020 should herald her introduction to the big leagues. And I bet she will be a standout by the end of this week and have her name called out as Binibini. The only question that needs to be answered is – what part of Bicol will she represent?
Now this is one teaser that I am dead serious about actually happening in 2020. And it’s not just because she could be one of the most gorgeous faces that any of our national beauty pageants will have next year. She also has such a spontaneous personality that blends with an engaging physical presence.
Daisha Jimenez gave it one pre-empted try a number of years back (in 2017 if memory serves me right) when she was introduced during a mock pageant of KF held at the House Manila. She did not push through with the actual application with Bb. Pilipinas, though. I was a bit disappointed then because she has all the makings of a winner. Good height (minimum of 5’9”), standout looks, excellent communication skills and, oh, she can also sing.
If you have watched the trailer of the upcoming teleserye of ABS-CBN titled “Make It With You”, Daisha somehow reminds me of the Billy/Belinda character that lead female star Liza Soberano is playing. Now it comes as no coincidence that I am making a comparison here. There simply is a striking semblance between these two. But that’s as far as I would describe the former because she has a marked identity all her own.
I really don’t care much whichever camp gets to field her (although I was told that she was supposed to join Bb. Pilipinas earlier this year under A&Q). The important thing is that she gets convinced to finally give her nod. And that 2020 is the year to do it. If the upload of her latest photo below is any hint, she could be considering it at the very least. And I am keeping my fingers crossed. She is definitely a keeper!
Rodgil Flores of KF is finally in Atlanta, Georgia for Miss Universe 2019 as well.
Our Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Christiana Jordi Ganados should be very pleased that her support teams are now complete with Jonas Borces of #KFCebu also present!
Allow me to share a documentary by Raphael Bosano shown on ABSCBN in the late night #NoFilter. It is about the journey of an aspiring beauty queen from scratch until her training at KF. Gezza Avila, newly-crowned Miss Universal Ambassadress Philippines 2019, was featured in the same, along with Rodgil Flores.
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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