Nicole Cordoves
All posts tagged Nicole Cordoves
Back in 2016, Riana Agatha Pangindian was still a 19 year-old pageant newbie who joined Bb. Pilipinas mainly for the experience. And what a journey she fondly relishes from that stint. An inclusion in the Top 15 was almost unexpected – given that she had to battle with the likes of Maxine Medina, Kylie Verzosa, Nicole Cordoves, Jennifer Hammond, Nichole Manalo and Joanna Eden who went home with the crowns. But she was actually part of that essential cut.
Instead of pushing herself into joining more beauty contests after that experience, Riana opted to finish her studies first. She graduated June of last year and took the board exams. She is now licensed to teach Biological Science. Her plan is to return to pageantry one more time before she finally focuses on becoming a full-time Educator. Her personal advocacy is actually inspired by her profession:
“I would like to focus on the importance of mentorship to the next generation. Growing up, I have been exposed to this process until I ventured to the field of education up to now that I am already a Professional Teacher. I learned that this is a key method to exponential wholistic growth of a person, whether young or old. So if we can invest on our current and future teachers – by supporting them emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually – it could help inspire and rekindle their joy and passion to teach with love and have respect for one another, moreso to the students they encounter.
This might be a huge undertaking, and I know I can’t do it on my own. So for now I’m starting small by mentoring younger women in my community which I believe is vital in their journey to adulthood. In all of these I know that I’m not alone because I have a God who is able to do far more than what I can think.”
I would really like to see the much-improved version of Riana in the coming months. And it’s looking like we can all see her return. As to which national pageant, let’s just wait and see.
Quite a number of pageant fans are encouraging Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2016 and Miss Grand International 2016 1st Runner-Up Nicole Cordoves to join Miss Universe Philippines 2020. And for good reasons at that. She has the command of communication that can comfortably blend with the new direction the Miss Universe Organization is heading to after the victory of Zozibini Tunzi last month. On top of having a mind of her own, she can also be a physical standout, having already proven herself during the international competition held in Las Vegas.
The questions are: 1) Will she do it? and 2) Is she still qualified to join?
1) Given that Nicole has already built a lucrative hosting career on TV and in an assortment of beauty pageants both national and provincial (not to mention her pageant coaching gigs), giving them up temporarily might prove difficult. You see, joining a national competition that could run for a minimum of 2-3 months would mean turning down offers to do hosting/mentoring (unless she wants to moonlight as such while fulfilling the demands of being an Official Candidate once more).
2) The age limit of the Miss Universe Organization states that “Miss Universe contestants must be at least 18 years of age and under 28 years of age on the date the National Pageant competition commenced.”. Technically, she will be cutting it close to the end numbers. She will turn 28 this coming April 15.
Now a second clarification is: which date is the MUO referring to as the “date the National Pageant competition commenced”? Will it be the time the Official Candidates are announced or the date of the Grand Finals? If my sources are true, the finals of MUP2020 is tentatively set for May 17, or more than a month after her 28th Birthday. But if the former is to be followed, then she’s still in. We should know who the contenders are by February.
I would be thrilled seeing her compete for Miss Universe Philippines 2020. Nicole and I have bonded more than a few times in the past. And I know that she has the goods to impress everyone. She can be a worthy Miss Universe representative under the right circumstances.
We all know former Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Nicole Cordoves as part of the tandem (along with Caloy Buendia) behind The Silver Linings Academy. On her own, she has started a YouTube channel where she shares her expertise in Q&A mentoring and pageant preparations.
Below are her first three instructional videos on the subject matter.
Okay, let’s skip on the comparison blogs for now and look at the Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019 winner Madison Anderson Berrios who may look familiar to some after she took 3rd Runner-Up honors during Miss Grand International 2016 where our Nicole Cordoves was 1st Runner-Up to the Indonesian titleholder Ariska Putri Pertiwi.
First, watch Madison during MGI2016
Here is her full performance during Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019
Now check out her crowning moment as Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019
Your thoughts about Madison, dear readers?
It’s already June 1, just a little over a week away from the Grand Coronation Night. Here’s the first of several blog entries for my final Bb. Pilipinas 2019 Predictions.
My #Infinity8 for Bb. Pilipinas Grand Internationa 2019
It’s no secret to any pageant fan how Eva Patalinjug was stiff-armed during last year’s edition of Miss Grand International. She missed making any cut in the competition and ended up unplaced. But we all know that our representative deserved to be part of the Top 20 at the very least.
So for the successor of Eva, my guess is that we need either a Goddess who can blow Nawatt Itsaragrisil away from Day 1 of her National Coronation or an excellent communicator who can eclipse his positive impression of Nicole Cordoves and be an all-around spokesperson for the pageant’s cause against war.
The eight #Binibinis I short-listed for this crown are: Marianne Marquez of Marikina, Gazini Ganados or Talisay, Cebu, Patch Magtanong of Bataan, Hannah Arnold of Masbate, Ilene de Vera of Mandaue City, Julia Saubier of Daraga Albay, Resham Ramirez Saeed of Maguindanao and Vickie Rushton of Negros Occidental.
In my heart, Resham Ramirez Saeed of Maguindanao should win this title. She is an effective speaker who, sadly, is not getting all the right opportunities to fluidly express herself in public. In addition, her half-Pakistani ethnicity can add to the spunk brought about by her growing up years in Canada.
normannorman.com’s choice for Bb. Pilipinas Grand International
Regardless of how we all feel about Miss Grand International and its owner Nawatt Itsaragrisil, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International remains to be one of the six titles at stake in Bb. Pilipinas 2019. One of the forty #Binibinis will eventually be named as such come June 9.
Unconventional learning, dynamic instructors, and multi-faceted approaches. These are the three things you could expect when you sign up for The Silver Linings Academy. Throwing handouts right out the window, the classes are filled with exercises that would perfect your skills for day to day application.
The courses are designed based on the very foundation that each individual is has their own unique identity and skill set, deviating from the usual tendency for conventional strategies to fit their students in a template. The syllabus covers the following: Performance Skills Enhancement, Culture and Art Appreciation, Runway, Personal Branding, Impromptu Speech, Debate and Public Speaking.
Get to know the instructors
Carlos Buendia Jr. and Nicole Cordoves are the ‘dynamic duo’ that Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray personally refers to as her dream team. Working in a multinational architectural firm in the day, Carlos, more often called ‘Kuya Caloy’, is the mind behind the now-iconic and internationally-recognized ‘Lava Walk’ and slow-mo turn that caught the attention of supermodel and TV host Tyra Banks. With his wide knowledge in Philippine history and the arts that comes with the territory of serving as President/Artistic Director of Teatro Tomasino (university-wide theater guild of UST), Head Production Designer of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Production Design Center-Summer Arts Workshop and President of the UST Arki Dance Troupe, he has given substantial inputs into telling a story through the details of the national costume as well as the symbolic dances coupled with it.
Nicole Cordoves was crowned Binibining Pilipinas-Grand International back in 2016. Since then, she has continued to fulfill her position at The Manila Bulletin as a Digital Strategist and a writer. She has also furthered her career on television as a judge on the noontime show ‘It’s Showtime’ for the Miss Q&A segment that has already made a two-year run. With her critical and constructive comments to the candidates, netizens have named her ‘Miss On-Point’. Unbeknownst to all, Nicole used to write the speeches of the country’s former Finance Secretary, which gave her an edge in besting candidates from all over the world. Her speech for the Miss Grand International pageant has close to a million views today. Nicole played a role in helping our current Miss Universe prepare for the question and answer portion as well as training on how to prepare for speeches.
How the academy was brought to life
After Catriona’s win, people flocked to urge Caloy and Nicole to train more girls by setting up a camp. With Catriona herself giving Caloy the extra push to train more people, Caloy teamed up with Nicole to plan a workshop that goes beyond pageantry. Seeing how pageant training could boost self-confidence and greatly improve interpersonal skills, the workshop is set to accommodate anyone, whether you’re an aspiring performer, a corporate individual who wants to improve their presence and presentation skills, or an aspiring beauty queen. As for everything else, the perfect partnership was found with Cornerstone Entertainment, where all workshops will be held from April 22-30, May 2, 6, 7, from 3-9pm. Students are highly encouraged to attend all sessions.
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For inquiries, send a message to SJ Ducut via email at sjcd@cornerstoneent.ph or call/text +63 9175504345.
