One more 120th Philippine Independence Day-inspired post: Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina wearing a Hap Dende | Geronie Labora Mascota de Zamboanga garb for Team Basilan Steel in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup Opening Day at the Araneta Coliseum.
How does the Maria Clara-inspired creation strike you?
Check out today’s Super Sireyna of Eat Bulaga on the noontime show of GMA Network where I will be briefly introduced as one of the judges for the post-program #PreJudging of one of the more anticipated beauty contests on nationwide TV.
I will join Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina, actor Benjamin Alves and celebrity/car racer Marlon Stockinger in the panel for the Live Stream of the Pre-Judging in FB and the show’s YouTube channel.
This is going to be exciting because I have reviewed the 46 Official Candidates and they look gorgeous!
It was a whirlwind but satisfying 26 hours in Iloilo when I flew to the City of Love yesterday morning and returned just a few hours back today. As part of the judging panel for the Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Finals 2018 last night, I helped in selecting Demi Patria R. Jainga as the golden girl of the pageant which celebrated its 50th Edition at the University of San Agustin Gym.
I was in the company of beauty queens Bea Rose Santiago, Shamcey Supsup, Maxine Media and Rachel Peters and we were all pleasantly surprised at the level of articulation that most of the candidates displayed in both casual and Top 5 Q&A. Former Binibini Ruffa Nava clinched the 3rd highest title of Miss Iloilo Dinagyang IDFI 2018.
And earlier just after breakfast, I was picked up at Hotel del Rio and brought to Bombo Radyo Iloilo for a personal radio guesting in the program “Good Morning Philippines” with Bombo Ian Gajate to discuss about the said pageant plus the ladies of Bb. Pilipinas 2018.
All in all, I am so happy with this quick trip. Now I can fully agree why Iloilo is one of the world’s most livable cities – from the refreshingly modern airport to the uber clean streets and all.
Kudos to Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Executive Director Alex G. Soncio for making his farewell involvement with the competition the grandest in all of the seven years that he spearheaded the annual project.
I will be back!
This is it, Iloilo!
Today, I will be flying to Asia’s City of Love to serve as one of the judges in tonight’s finals of Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2018 at the University of San Agustin Gym. Along with Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago, Miss Universe 2011 3rd Runner-Up Shamcey Supsup, 65th Miss Universe Top 6 Finalist Maxine Medina, Miss Universe 2017 Top 10 placer Rachel Peters, Asia’s Next Top Model winner Maureen Wroblewitz, Mister Universal Ambassador 2016 2nd Runner-Up Andrea Biondo and Catwalk King Sinon Loresca, we will select the best and the brightest among the thirteen (13) ladies vying for the crown.
The Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2018 Candidates posing in front of the Official Residence, Richmond Hotel Iloilo
And tomorrow morning, I will be guesting on Bombo Radyo Iloilo to do a wrap-up of the results of the finals above as well as discuss about Bb. Pilipinas 2018.
Watch out for my report on the results of Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2018. Viva Señor Sto. Niño!
It is interesting to note that our Queens spent the New Year in different parts of the Globe – either with family or boyfriend or friends.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach flew to Zurich, Switzerland with boyfriend Marlon Stockinger where they spent quality time in the 10th safest city in the World (and 3rd safest in Europe) according to The Economist Intelligence Unit.
Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters and boyfriend Migz Villafuerte spent the New Year in freezing temperature while enjoying the beauty of Winter Wonderland in Niseko (ニセコ町, Niseko-chō), a town located in Shiribeshi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan.
Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina (2nd from left) with her mom Marife and siblings Mathew, Marx & Ferica alongside niece Liofel were pictured in Beaverton, Oregon where they spent the Holidays.
Meanwhile, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational 2017 Chanel Olive Thomas headed back to the summer-y weather of Cairns, Australia where she donned her swimwear and enjoyed the sparkling waters of her home city Down Under.
Happy New Year to all of you, ladies!
Six of the Miss Universe Philippines titleholders were gathered together during the Charity Fashion Gala at the Grand Ballroom of Solaire Resort and Casino last Thursday night. From the photo above, they are (left to right): MJ Lastimosa (2014), Maxine Medina (2016), Ara Arida (2013), Bianca Manalo (2009), Shamcey Supsup (2011) and Venus Raj (2010). If only Janine Tugonon (2012) was here in Manila, the ensemble would have been complete.
And in the photo below, the group got bigger when Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters joined them in a selfie taken by Maxine.
Thanks to Sein Gonatice for the topmost and upper left photos.
Last night at the Grand Ballroom of Solaire Resort and Casino, the Miss Universe Charity Fashion Gala was held in cooperation with Frontrow Cares and Hope for Change Foundation. Our visiting Miss Universe titleholders Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters and Iris Mittenaere – along with our very own Pia Wurtzbach walked the runway for a good cause. Wearing creations by our top designers like Francis Libiran and Rajo Laurel, they were joined by the Miss Universe 2017 national winners who also displayed their taste and elegance in gowns made by the likes of Mark Bumgarner, Frederick Peralta, Edwin Uy, Val Taguba, Rocky Gathercole, Cherry Samuya Veric, Ofelia Simpao and more.
What added special glitter to the event was the presence of six of our Miss Universe Philippines winners – Bianca Manalo, Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Ara Arida, MJ Lastimosa and Maxine Medina – who also participated in the fashion show and presented onstage in chronological order of their years in competition.
Six of our Miss Universe Philippines titleholders from Bianca Manalo to Maxine Medina
Here are some video clips from the show itself.
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