Photo credit: JAO
Five (5) interesting “Did-You-Know” specifics about your #Binibini19 Ilene Astrid de Vera:
1. Did you know that she loves doing fun sports like surfing, boxing and car racing?
2. Did you know that – before Bb. Pilipinas started this year – she applied with Qatar Airways and got accepted? She was told to wait three months (from mid Feb to May) to know when she will fly to Doha for training.
3. Did you know that she trained for Bb Pilipinas 2019 as early as November last year as soon as she passed her Mutya Ng Pilipinas and Miss Asia Pacific International crowns?
4. Did you know that a fortune teller told her last year that she should join a beauty pageant after seeing that she has a very big chance of winning again? She was also advised to take care of herself and start losing weight asap. Before that, she never had any close encounters with fortune tellers. She just felt that the person seemed very serious in everything that was told her. Our lovely Cebuana took that as one of the reasons why she is working hard for the pageant everyday.
5. Did you know that she worked closely with GABRIELA | A National Alliance of Women for her advocacy which is to spread awareness about women’s rights, especially that of single mothers? Being raised by one pushed her to champion this cause.
Catch Ilene in the much-awaited Press Presentation this week!
Photo credit: JAO
#IleneDeVera #BbPilipinas2019
The 50-year old beauty organization – Mutya ng Pilipinas – announces its new management led by media celebrity and women empowerment advocate Cory Quirino as its President.
This could already be old news for some. In fact, the talks about the new President of Mutya ng Pilipinas has been streaming along pageant circles for quite some time now. Only the formality of it all is being awaited. The grand announcement should happen by March 27 at the Ascott Makati. 
And she has finally started the journey to becoming a Binibini!
Today marks the 26th birthday of former Mutya ng Pilipinas and Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International Leren Mae Bautista. And people in the pageant scene are already aware of her plans to join Bb. Pilipinas 2019. I also heard that she might – just might – do a Catriona Gray and pursue another national crown as an Independent. Not 100% confirmed yet, although I don’t see anything wrong with taking that route. After all, Queen Cat has already set a precedent. Following her trail will always be a nice option to seriously consider. 
The photo of Dream Girl of the Year International 2018/2019 Julieane “Aya” Fernandez and I truly exude the spirit of joy and happiness this Christmas Season.
Barring any change of heart or last-minute postponement, it would be safe to say that Bb. Pilipinas 2019 could be one of the toughest editions ever. And here at normannorman.com, my gut-feel about the potential joiners in next year’s beauty derby will potentially attract strong returnees, juicy crossovers and much-anticipated debuts on the national stage.
Sandra Lemonon is riding on the wave of popularity after the “build-build-build” debacle that she was able to translate into being chosen as an ambassador of sorts for the country’s Department of Transportation. She wants to vindicate herself big-time. And she is not about to be pressed down into abandoning her dreams of winning a Bb. Pilipinas crown.
Bb. Pilipinas 2016 1st Runner-Up Angelica Alita has waited long enough to plot her return to the BPCI family with a more hopeful objective of finally landing the title of her dreams. Some say that she is tailor-made for Bb. Pilipinas International. I say that she can go for all the crowns, including Miss Universe Philippines if the game plan is done according to exacting measures and strategies.
Mutya ng Pilipinas and Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2015/2016 Leren Mae Bautista has been fully-dallying on her planned crossover. Many thought that 2018 would mark her appearance. I think that she will make the definitive move in 2019, logically after she has completed all her outstanding commitments for the 50th Mutya ng Pilipinas where all former titleholders will play a big role in lending the extra prestige to its Golden Edition.
Nicole Guerrero is Miss Philippines USA 2017 who crowned her successor (Janet Hammond, Jennifer’s sister) just recently. By this year, she will have already completed the required residency requirements by BPCI to allow her to go into a head-to-head collision with the other strong Binibinis for 2019.
And then there is Binibining Cebu Tourism 2017 Samantha Lo who – in my opinion – could be one of the brightest faces to join our favorite nationals in 2019. She has all the right ingredients going for her – the gorgeous face, the competitive height and the excellent communication skills – much like having more than just salt-and-pepper to season her impending entry into the big leagues.
