Pia and Catriona!

Below are photos of the Binibinis during the Charity Fashion Gala at the Marriott Grand Ballroom as organized by Miss Universe Philippines, Bb. Pilipinas and Frontrow for Love Yourself and Young Focus.

Now to the heart of this post:

You know why it is so hard to pick a Miss Universe Philippines winner this year?

1. The pressure of a #BackToBack Win In Miss Universe 2019

2. The pressure of measuring up to Catriona Gray who raised the bar so high for her potential successor to live up to. Can you imagine how much more anxious pageant fans and followers would be if she only made it as 1st Runner-Up last December? We’ll all end up looking for someone who can exceed – and not just match – her (already lofty) qualifications.

3. The pressure of looking for that impossibly perfect (mythical, dare I say) #Binibini who ticks all the boxes in our list of requirements. There will always be small to moderate compromises along the way. After all, nobody’s perfect.

Quoting a tag line from #TheSilverLiningsAcademy of Nicole Cordoves and Carlos Buendia Jr – “Finding the best parts of your best self”. We need to see the best parts in the best versions of each #Binibini. They have been giving it their 101% since March 18. And mind you, this has been the longest pre-pageant search of any modern Bb. Pilipinas edition ever – close to three months!

Why am I saying these things? It’s because different pageant sites and blogs – including mine – will start posting final predictions on who could succeed Queen Catriona for the national crown in the next day or two. Whoever is tagged as #1 the most (or the least) and regardless of the differences or similarities in our choices, let us respect the varying views.

Let us not look for the “perfect” #MissUniversePhilippines imagined inside our heads, but the one who would be “best” among the forty (40) Binibinis to be further trained and polished to represent the country in Miss Universe.

Thank you!

#bbpilipinas2019 #beyondbeauty