Last night, I had the welcome opportunity to sit as one of the judges during the finals of Ginoo and Binibining Laguna 2017 held with much glitter and pageantry at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Two very promising young candidates walked away with the top plums as Joshua Banatin (who is also the reigning Mister Philippines Calabarzon) of Los Baños and Christa Lynd Pereira (a stunning 5’9″ Fil-Pakistani stunner from Biñan) defeated 38 other comers to become the latest Tourism and Youth Ambassadors of the Province of Laguna.
The panel of judges, which also included Designers Albert Andrada, Edwin Uy & Bessie Besana, pageant heel maker Jojo Bragais, Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Loren Mar Artajos, Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International 2016 Ganiel Krishnan, Pageant Producer Gareth Blanco and Spanish fly-in model Alejandro Coloma, came up with unanimous decisions on the winners. In fact, Binibining Laguna 2017 Christa Lynd Pereira is now being eyed to take part in either Miss World Philippines or Mutya ng Pilipinas later this year. As for Ginoo Laguna 2017 Joshua Banatin, he is all set to represent Laguna in next month’s national finals of Mister Philippines 2017 to be held in Angeles City.
The entire production gave everyone a world-class staging of the provincial event as the almost seamless proceedings went well with the topnotch concept and choreography for each segment. Kudos to Lumina Events for coming up with a wonderful show, especially Overall Director Bernard Maybituin, Creative Director Raymund Seranillo and the hardworking team behind the creative group. Hosts Kyle Ortega and Bianca Guidotti navigated everything onstage from start to finish with such good chemistry.
Full set of winners:
Joshua Banatin of Los Baños and Christa Lynd Ama Pereira of Biñan – Ginoo at Binibining Laguna 2017.Carl Angelo Cabusas and Jozy Manansala – 1st Runners-Up.
Jashper Benson and Divina Madz Polyn Sembrano – 2nd Runners-Up placements
Alron Superable and Chariss Jedidiah Gusay – 3rd Runners-Up honors.
Robertson Calderon and Aubrey Elauria – 4th Runners-up
All photos taken by Joseph Gerard Jose of Joseph Gerard Photography for Lumina Events.