Melanie Balagtas

All posts tagged Melanie Balagtas

Melanie Balagtas and Miss United Nations in Jamaica

Posted by Norman on July 15, 2015
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .

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Melanie Balagtas is enjoying her time in Kingston for Miss United Nations Pageant

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Melanie (right) with Miss Universe Jamaica Kaci Fennell

Melanie-cristine Balagtas may be representing Australia in Miss United Nations Pageant in Kingston, Jamaica, but she is bringing her own brand of Filipina charm in the competition. In fact, she has been such a sweetheart that the locals can’t help but fall for her beauty and effortless ways.

Just the other day, all the candidates got a welcome visit from Miss Universe Jamaica 2014 Kaci Fennell who placed 4th Runner-Up during the 63rd Miss Universe held in Doral. And Melanie definitely took the opportunity to spend a bit of time talking to the beautiful local who wowed us during her time in Miami.

And during the Talent Competition among the thirty-one (31) candidates, Melanie placed among the Top 5 which means performing her singing skills during the Grand Coronation Show scheduled on July 18 at Kingston’s Courtleigh Auditorium.

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Melanie performing her singing talent and becoming a Top 5 in the segment. She will perform her piece on Finals Night

By the way, you can help Melanie in becoming the People’s Choice Ambassador by voting for her. Click HERE.

Sunday Specials: If the shoe fits, it must be a Jojo Bragais

Posted by Norman on November 2, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

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Jojo Bragais (right) with one of his most successful shoe muses, Miss World Philippines 2014 Valerie Weigmann

Jojo Bragais (right) with one of his most successful shoe muses, Miss World Philippines 2014 Valerie Weigmann

I am always open to giving shout-outs for new talents. If they have what it takes to succeed in the particular industry they want to penetrate, then count me in for support.

One such individual is young Albay-based shoe designer and manufacturer Jojo Bragais who is starting to create a noticeable impact in local pageantry. Starting with Bb. Pilipinas last summer all the way to Miss World Philippines last month, his fab pairs have been worn by eventual winners Yvethe Marie Santiago and Valerie Weigmann. And even prior to the same, Bb. Pilipinas 2013 1st Runner-Up Pia Wurtzbach has also thrown in her support.

Some of the shoe creations of Jojo Bragais in pageant action

Some of the shoe creations of Jojo Bragais in pageant action

Pia Wurtzbach is another one of the shoe muses of Jojo Bragais

Pia Wurtzbach is another one of the shoe muses of Jojo Bragais

Just recently as well, Jojo’s works have found its way Down Under when Miss Philippines-Australia 2013 Melanie Balagtas and 2014 Princess Arianne Tan started wearing his platform heels in all areas of competition. And in just a little over a month from now, he will have some of his custom-made designs getting featured in a Canadian fashion magazine. Other notable appearances of his outputs were during the Philippine Fashion Week, the Masskara Queen Festival 2014 and in the reality pageant program “Pinay Beauty Queen Academy” on GMA News TV.

FYI, Jojo does not limit himself to beauty contests/fashion shows. He also creates for weddings and fantasy ensembles.

Jojo Bragais can do custom-made wedding and fantasy pairs as well.

Jojo Bragais can do custom-made wedding and fantasy pairs as well.

jojo1 For now, this talented shoemaker still has a long way to go before he even comes within striking distance of his much-heralded counterparts. But Jojo Bragais has already started the climb. And at the rate he is performing, the wait may not be that far-off. He is looking at opening his first shop in Albay very soon.

For those interested, you can get in touch with him by email at josejoaquin.bragais@gmail.com or through his business mobile number at 09127289387. 😉

Glyssa Perez: Philippine-bound for 2015?

Posted by Norman on October 21, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , .

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Miss Philippines Australia 2014 Glyssa Perez


image Miss Philippines Australia 2014 Glyssa Perez is enjoying every minute of her reign. And with the constant support and cheers of the Filipino Community in Sydney behind her, there simply is no dull moment whenever she graces an event or makes an appearance. This is the celebrity life of a pageant winner, after all.

And just like her predecessor Melanie Balagtas (who went on to participate in Miss Philippines Earth 2014), will Glyssa follow suit and try her luck in one of our national pageants in 2015? I don’t see any reason why not. She’s got the looks and aura to compete in the bigger league.

But for now, she’s still busy fulfilling the demands of her beauty title. 2015 can wait. But not for long. 😉

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Will we get to see Glyssa in Philippine pageants come 2015?

Miss Philippines Australia and Charity Queen Australia 2014 Winners

Posted by Norman on October 7, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , .

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Left to right: Miss Philippines Australia 1st Runner-up Arianne Tan, Miss Philippines Australia 2014 Glyssa Perez, Charity Queen Australia 2014 Hannah Arnold and Charity Princess Desa Santos

wpid-wp-1408577538562.jpeg Last night, Miss Philippines Australia and Charity Queen Australia 2014 culminated in the crowning of the winners during the 26th Grand Philippine Sydney Fiesta Kultura at Prairiewood’s Fairfield Showground.

Glyssa Perez was named Miss Philippines Australia 2014 and will most likely be fielded in one of the Philippines’ national pageants in 2015. Her 1st Runner-Up is Arianne Tan. Hannah Arnold, on the other hand, claimed the Charity Queen Australia 2014 title, with Desa Santos as her runner-up.

Melanie Balagtas, the outgoing winner for both honors, was around to turn over the responsibility to her successors.

Congratulations to all the winning ladies! 🙂

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Top winners both for Miss Philippines Australia 2014 and Charity Queen 2014

Arianne Tan vies for Miss Philippines Australia 2014

Posted by Norman on August 22, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , .

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An Official Candidate for Miss Philippines Australia 2014, Arianne Tan is vying to win this one. (Photo credit: Johan Westen Photography)

image In the ongoing search for Miss Philippines Australia 2014 (and Miss Charity Queen 2014), one of the Official Candidates vying for the crown currently being held by Melanie Cristine Balagtas (who went on to place in the Top 10 of Miss Philippines Earth 2014) is the beautiful Arianne Tan of Sydney.

Proudly representing the Philippine-Australia Friendship Association in the annual beauty contest, Arianne enters the competition armed with confidence and a good heart for charity. She is aiming to win in order to further her personal causes and espouse the organization’s ‘Beauty with Humanity’ thrust.

Miss Philippines Australia 2014 will be crowned during the 26th Grand Philippine Sydney Fiesta Kultura scheduled to happen in Prairiewood’s Fairfield Showground on October 6.

Good luck, Arianne! 😀

Miss Philippines Australia and Charity Queen Australia 2014

Posted by Norman on July 5, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Some of the confirmed delegates for the 26th edition of the beauty pageant.

Some of the confirmed delegates for the 26th edition of the beauty pageant.

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Reigning winner Melanie Balagtas

Some of you might be surprised that this beauty pageant has already been existing for more than two decades now. Yes, Miss Philippines Australia & Charity Queen Australia – held under the auspices of Philippine Australia Sports & Culture Inc. – is already on its 26th year. And we can still remember last year’s winner, the ever-sweet Melanie-Cristine Balagtas, who went on to Manila to take part in Miss Philippines Earth 2014 where she made it to the Top 10.

For the upcoming edition, some candidates have already been confirmed (see photo grid above) and there are more to come in the days leading to the July 15 deadline. By August 9, the Official Candidates will be formally introduced during the Presentation Night before the finals scheduled later part of next month as well.

This blogger wishes all the participants of Miss Philippines Australia & Charity Queen Australia 2014 good luck in the competition. Looking forward to meeting the eventual winner here in Manila before year-end. 😉

How could Angelie and Melanie have been missed?

Posted by Norman on May 13, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , .

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Angelie (top row) and Melanie in action during the MPE2014 finals (Jory Rivera)

I know. I know. The competition is already over.

But I just want to make my one last blog on the non-inclusion of Angelie Crizelle Ocampo and Melanie Balagtas in the Top 5 of Miss Philippines Earth 2014. I think these two ladies did well enough to make it to the magic circle at least. If the interview was the one and only factor that would bring any of the Top 10 closer to an element, then my personal analysis is that they still should have gotten in.

Now if somebody was able to peek at the scoresheets and tell me that the numbers were oh-so close in the final tally, then maybe I would be a bit relieved knowing that they gave it more than their 100% but fell short by just mere fractions of a point from the 4th and 5th placers.

At any rate, I chatted with Angelie and told her to charge everything to experience which she can use in a future pageant, say in 2015? 😉

Miss Philippines Earth 2014 Winners

Posted by Norman on May 12, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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Miss Philippines Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell (Photo credit: Melvin Sia)

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(L-R) Kimberly Covert, Water; Monique Manuel, Eco-Tourism; Jamie Herrell, Miss Philippines Earth 2014; Diane Querrer, Air and Ma. Paula Bianca Paz, Fire (Photo credit: Jory Rivera)

courtesy of Beauty King

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Shout for joy after being called winner.

The Philippine elements of 2014 have been crowned. And the results did not really come as a big surprise anymore. Making it as Miss Philippines Earth 2014 (and the country’s official representative to Miss Earth 2014) is Jamie Herrell of Cebu City. Comprising her elemental runners-up are Miss Philippines Air Diane Querrer, Miss Philippines Water Kimberly Covert, Miss Philippines Fire Ma. Paula Bianca Paz and Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism Monique Manuel.

The five others in the Top 10 are Angelie Crizelle Ocampo, Melanie Balagtas, Crystal Star Aberasturi, Ma. Jenny Gonzales and Bencelle Bianzon. Meanwhile, five ladies eliminated earlier in the semifinals included Mary Ann Ross Misa, Janelle Tee, Ashlejane Alcancia, Leslie Ann Pine and Sarah Theresa Stewart.

Three Very Special Awards were also handed out last night with Jamie Herrell bagging Miss Solaire Resort & Casino, Kimberly Covert getting Miss SM Supermarket and Janelle Tee clinching Miss Hana Shampoo.

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Enjoy your reign, ladies! (Photo credit: Melvin Sia)

Congratulations to all the winners! Stay queenly, humble and warm all throughout your reign. 🙂

Miss Philippines Earth 2014: My Elemental Forecast

Posted by Norman on May 9, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

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The word of the day is ‘allegedly‘. From small intrigues to loud whispers. From scattered complaints to intermittent faints. From hungry contenders to attitude-wielding wannabes. This year’s Miss Philippines Earth will go down local pageant history as the one most marred by controversies and online potshots both minuscule and alarming. But the organizers remain firm where they stand and continue to espouse their cause-driven competition to levels that would match the unprecedented excitement beauty contests in the country have unleashed to date.

So without further ado, below is a quick picture presentation of how I see the finals on Sunday night will unravel. It is in my opinion that the Top 5 at the end is almost a foregone conclusion as only the actual placements will matter.

The ladies above make up my Top 16 for Miss Philippines Earth 2014

The ladies above make up my Top 16 for Miss Philippines Earth 2014

The ladies above make up my Top 8 Finalists

The ladies above make up my Top 8 Finalists

In the end, I give my vote of confidence to Angelie Crizelle Ocampo to win MPE2014 with Jamie, Ross, Bianca and Crystal making up her court.

In the end, I give my vote of confidence to Angelie Crizelle Ocampo to win MPE2014 with Jamie, Ross, Bianca and Crystal making up her court.

From Angelee to Angelie or From Angelee to Jamie

My choice for Miss Philippines Earth 2014 is Angelie Crizelle Ocampo of Sta. Rita, Pampanga. A very close alternative (who I feel the organizers might go for based on popularity) is Jamie Herrell of Cebu City.

Actually, it could be a raging see-saw battle between these two ladies. Angelie or Jamie. It is highly probable that the final Q&A will determine the big winner. Whichever way the buck stops, we are looking at having a young and vibrant representative to Miss Earth 2014.

Sad that the pros – Mary Ann Ross Misa and Ma. Paula Bianca Paz – should have had this in the bag as early as the Press Presentation. But hey, I could still be proven wrong. Let’s see which direction the wind will blow strongest or whose fire will be awashed with water ahead of the others. 😉

MPE2014’s Best Ladies in Evening Gown

Posted by Norman on May 8, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , .

Winners of the Evening Gown Competition for MPE2014 (Photo credit: Edmund Chua)

Winners of the Evening Gown Competition for MPE2014 (Photo credit: Edmund Chua)

For a change, someone else won Gold in the Evening Gown competition of Miss Philippines Earth 2014 at Versailles Palace. Joselle Mariano of Trece Martires was named best of the lot. Silver went to Melanie Balagtas of Fil-Sydney and Bronze to Jamie Herrell of Cebu City.

Congratulations, ladies! 🙂