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.
Consider these five (5) lovelies who – this early – are already being talked about as seriously considering the prospects of taking part next year.
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.
With this quintet, do share your thoughts, dear readers.
By now, the call for entries is intensive. It’s the 50th edition of Mutya ng Pilipinas and the organizers – headed by its President Hemilyn Escudero-Tamayo – are reaching out nationwide and to the Filipino Communities abroad to assemble its biggest number of Official Candidates ever – fifty (50). And so far, the list is growing by the day. I have seen some of the early contenders. All I can say is that this is definitely going to be the best batch ever in its long years of existence.
Talisay City is pinning its hopes on your #Binibini1 Vickie Marie Milagrosa Rushton to deliver a Bb. Pilipinas 2018 crown to her beloved province by Sunday night. And at this point, the homestretch of the nationals, it is not an impossible thought to actually expect something great from the beautiful 25 year-old. She has the face and the profile to actually end up on top. Some say that the charisma tends to be middling. But at the end of the day, her cumulative efforts to become one of the Queens are on the relative upswing. Can she take it all the way?
There is something wonderful to be said about the representation of the Queen City of the South in Bb. Pilipinas 2018 which boasts of having not just one or two or three, but four (4) Binibinis in the thick of the competition for the crowns at stake. There is #Binibini3 Muriel Adrienne Orais, followed by #Binibini23 Ena Velasco (who is originally from Bacolod but trained in Cebu) and #Binibini26 Wynonah Buot. #Binibini32 Eva Patalinjug completes the quartet and how. This is such a strong group of Cebuanas in what could be their strongest presence yet in the nationals.
Among the four, Ena has the strongest credentials, being a Medical Doctor – something that would benefit most the charity projects of BPCI with her mere presence alone. Muriel has the best PR and communication background, being part of the Presidential Cabin Crew and also the face of the print ads and in-flight safety video of the nation’s flag carrier. Wynonah has the most solid modeling background as a profession, having spent years as a runway gazelle and photographic subject in Cebu. Eva is not falling behind in the looks and popularity department, aside from being the only nationally-titled top winner of another beauty pageant, Mutya ng Pilipinas (Muriel also placed in Miss Philippines Earth, but as a member of the Elemental Court).
This year, Mutya ng Pilipinas celebrates a major milestone with its continued presence in the country’s pageant history as it turns 50. Golden. And the 2018 edition promises to be record-breaking, as in more exciting – with fifty (50) Official Candidates – and far-reaching – with more Regional and Overseas Competitions to complement its biggest assembly of beautiful Filipinas ever. The gathering of all past titleholders and even joiners who did very well in other competitions will be something to look forward to.
Your blogger spoke to Mutya ng Pilipinas President Hemilyn Escudero-Tamayo (right photo with Joy & I) who is doubly enthusiastic about what’s in store for pageant fans and followers for 2018. She also shared thoughts about her inspirations in making the beauty pageant bigger than ever before.
When Bb. Pilipinas 2018 aspirant Eva Psychee Patalinjug presented herself to selected members of the Press during a Meet-and-Greet yesterday, everyone definitely felt the renewed enthusiasm and excitement in the former Mutya ng Pilipinas titleholder in facing the challenge of joining the country’s premiere beauty pageant. It definitely took a long path to reach this point when she can confidently exude the 100% readiness to face up to the new challenge and hopefully become one of our Queens for 2018.
Photos by Joy Arguil
Gone are the periods when pageantry blogging and coverage is strictly seasonal. Time was when the two quarters of an incoming year are dedicated to just Bb. Pilipinas and Miss Philippines Earth, with the month of June considered to be a rest period of sorts. Now, the 3rd quarter is already earmarked for Mutya ng Pilipinas and Miss World Philippines, with short intermittent breaks in between. And by the time the last quarter chimes in, focus is directed on the international missions of our crowned national titleholders, be it here or abroad.
