A beautiful harvest of Binibini bets

FUNFARE
By Ricardo F. Lo
The Philippine Star
April 09, 2011

Every time the Binibining Pilipinas season comes around, they always say that the current batch is the best. But this year, confirmed BPCI (Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc.) head Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta, “I think we have the best of the best,” so the judges in tomorrow’s 48th Bb. Pilipinas Pageant will have a hard time choosing two (minus the bet for World, franchise for which is now owned by somebody else) from the 40 candidates, one to represent the country in the 2011 Miss Universe Pageant in Brazil and the other in the 2011 Miss International. The grand coronation night will be held as usual at the Araneta Coliseum, aired “live” by ABS-CBN, the search’s new partner network.?    The hosts are former 1994 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe (and one of Miss Universe Top 6) Charlene Gonzalez and 1999 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe (and Miss U first runner-up) Miriam Quiambao.

Stay tuned because an additional (new) title will be announced in tomorrow’s affair.?     Funfare’s “beauty experts” Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib have come up with their usual 20 “most likely” (to win the titles). Here they are (pictured on Page C-3):

#6 Patricia Marie Gomez Tumulak (23, 5’5”, 113 lbs.), a 2009 Miss Philippines Fire (runner-up to Miss Philippines Earth) and a 2006 Miss Universe Zuleyka lookalike and 2009, B.S. Child Developmeny Education graduate from Miriam College.

#26 Shamcey Gorea Supsup (24, 5’7.5”, 105 lbs), a Penelope Cruz lookalike who finished B.S. Architecture at UP magna cum laude who topped the 2010 architecture licensure exams.

#25 Isabella Catipunan Manjon (24, 5’ 7”,125 lbs.), Angelina Jolie lookalike, a Registered Nurse from UERM, an athletic half-Filipina/half-Spanish.

#13 Quennierich Ajero Rehman (22, 5’7”, 110 lbs.), half-Filipina/half-Pakistani, an Assumption College (of
Makati) graduate.

#11 Diana Buquid Arevalo (22, 5’6.5”, 107 lbs.), former Miss Oriental Mindoro and 2009 Bb. Pilipinas semi-finalist.

#34 Mary Jean Lastimosa (23, 5’5.5”, 111 lbs.), former Mutya Ng Dabaw, of Arab descent, a graduate of The University of Mindanao.

#16 Sabrinne Clavecillas Al-Tawil (21, 5’8”, 126 lbs.), half-Filipina/half-Palestinian, 2010 Miss Friendship International held in Korea, a student from the Philippine College of Health & Science.

#33 Dianne Elaine Samar Necio (18, 5’5.5”, 116 lbs.), 2011 Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up, studies at University of St. Anthony in Iriga City, Camarines Sur.

#24 Martha Chloe Dauden McCully (23, 5’7.5”, 127 lbs.), one of the suitcase girls in ABS-CBN’s Deal Or No Deal, an Asia Pacific College graduate.

#23 Luzelle Fernando Felipe (18, 5’8”, 108 lbs.), a student at Bulacan Polytechnic College who moonlights as a tricycle driver during her spare time.

#8 Ma. Kristina Lagamia Marasigan (22, 5’6.5”, 22,107 lbs.), a UST Psychology student, 2009 Miss Ideal Thomasian Personality first runner-up and 2009 Supermodel of the Philippines finalist.

#1 Zephorah Aldana Mayon (20, 5’5”, 100 lbs.), former Mutya Ng Pilipinas, former Miss STI, housemate of ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2.

#22 Paula Camille Mansilla Figuerras (24, 5’9.5”, 136 lbs.), a UP graduate, an ardent dog lover, no stranger to the pageant world.

#32 Jen Roe Gubat (20, 5’6”, 112 lbs.), a 2009 Mutya ng Pilipinas semi-finalist, scholar at Bulacan State University, lookalike of a former Miss Universe from Thailand.

#36 Camille Alexis Ortiz Baltazar (20, 5’6”, 118 lbs.), a volleyball player, a student at UPHSD Las Piñas  and has never lost a beauty pageant (has won 2008 Miss Natasha 2008, 2010 Miss Perpetual Help University and 2011 Miss Teen Philippines Earth).

#39 Glennifer Dunggay Perido (21, 5’5”, 113 lbs.), former Miss Laguna, a student at Laguna College in San Pablo City.

#15 Arabella Ordoñez Hanesh (24, 5’6.5”, 127 lbs.), a graduate of Lyceum (Northern Luzon), under contract with ABS-CBN-Star Magic and is a commercial model for Unilever, half-Filipina/half-Libyan 2005 Mutya Ng Pilipinas runner-up.

#12 Carla Marie Lacson (22, 5’7”, 124 lbs.), a UST Pharmacy graduate, former Miss Pharmacy runner-up.

#31 Samantha San Agustin Purvor (23, 5’6”, 121 lbs.), a UP graduate, ramp and commercial model who loves to dance and swim.

#20 Jenette Mieko Cariño Noguchi (23, 5’10.5”, 128 lbs.), half-Filipina/half-Japanese, a graduate of the University of California (San Diego), the tallest in the batch, loves to paint and learn new languages.

Venus Raj to share everything she knows about competing in beauty pageants to the next title holders

by Rommel R. Llanes
April 8, 2011
pep.ph

Kapag sinabing "major, major" wala nang ibang naiisip pa ang mga Pilipino kundi ang Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2010 at Miss Universe 2010 4th runner-up na si Venus Raj.

Sa pagkakapili nga sa kanya bilang bagong endorser ng Pizza Hut, kasama sa posters na ginawa ang pamoso na niyang linya na 'yon.

Tinanong tuloy ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Venus kung hindi ba niya naisip na ipa-copyright o ipa-patent ang "major, major" na una niyang binanggit sa kanyang sagot sa question-and-answer portion ng sinalihan niyang Miss Universe pageant noong nakaraang taon.

"Well, nung una, parang...kasi halos kahit saan, di ba, lumalabas? Kahit mga department stores, 'major, major sale!' yung mga ganun? Naisip nga namin, 'Bakit hindi natin i-patent, 'no?'" sagot muna ni Venus sa PEP at sa harap ng iba pang press sa launching niya bilang endorser ng pizza restaurant na ginanap sa Glorietta 4 branch ng Pizza Hut.

"Pero dahil nga international yung naging venue ng pagkakasabi ko ng mga words na yun, siguro hindi mo na rin mapipigilan ang mga tao kung gusto nilang ulit-ulitin, di ba? And kung gagamitin man nila, okey lang din sa akin. At least, natatandaan din nila ako," patuloy ng 22-year-old half-Indian, half-Filipina na dalaga. 

Sa darating na Linggo, April 10, ay ipapasa na niya ang kanyang korona sa bagong hihirangin na BB. Pilipinas-Universe sa gaganapin na Binibining Pilipinas 2011 beauty pageant sa Araneta Coliseum.

Tinanong si Venus kung ano ang nararamdaman niya sa nalalapit na pagbitaw na niya sa korona. 

"Mixed emotions. Kasi, oo, matatapos na yung reign ko, may panibago nang Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, may panibago nang magko-compete for international pageant. I'm happy, actually, for them. At least, mae-enjoy rin nila kung ano yung na-experience ko sa international pageant. Mae-experience din nila yung feeling ng ano ang feeling na naroon at nagko-compete. And I'm always praying na sana, galingan din nila. Na sana, ma-surpass nila kung ano yung na-attain natin this year."

Gusto rin daw ni Venus na i-share ang lahat ng nalalaman at experiences niya sa beauty pageants sa susunod na representatives sa international beauty pageants.

"Kung sino nga yung mananalo, parang gusto ko siyang tulungan talaga, siguro sa training, o kung ano man yung mga experiences ko, ise-share ko sa kanya. Para hindi siya maninibago o mangangapa kapag nandun na siya.

"Gusto kong ipakita nila na yung mga Pilipino, yung hindi basta lang pupunta, magiging part lang ng official candidates, 'tapos wala namang mangyayari.

Sa press launch ay nagsilbi pa personally ng pizza si Venus sa mga bisitang press. Biniro pa siya ng PEP na "Venus Raj, Serbidora," na ikinatawa naman ni Venus at sinagot ng, "Ay, gusto ko yatang magka-teleserye na ganyan ang title!"

Tinanong tuloy ng PEP si Venus nung mismong presscon proper kung mayroon nga bang naka-lineup sa kanyang teleserye ang ABS-CBN.

"Hopefully magkaroon. Pero sa ngayon, sobrang nag-e-enjoy ako sa Umagang Kay Ganda. Sabi ko nga, sana magpatuloy at magtagal ako sa show na yun.

"And siguro kung magkakaroon man ng teleserye, tatanggapin ko. As long as hindi naman din yung masyadong bugbog ako, yung hindi na ako nakakapagpahinga, yung wala na rin akong time para sa sarili ko. As long as naaalagaan ko pa rin yung health ko," sagot ng beauty queen.

At kung sakaling magkaroon man siya ng teleserye, gusto niya bang ang crush niyang si Coco Martin ang agad na makapareha niya?

Natawa muna ang dalaga, "Masyado kasi akong higante, e."

May taas kasing 5'10" ang dalagang tubong-Bato, Camarines Sur, habang si Coco naman ay nasa 5' 5" to 5'6" naman ang height.

"Hopefully...hindi naman imposible ang mga bagay-bagay. Kung mangyayari, mangyayari rin 'yan. Huwag nating madaliin.

"Kung mangyayari [na magkapareha sa isang teleserye], ako na siguro ang pinakamasayang babae!"

What makes the Miss World local franchise go round?

STAR BYTES By Butch Francisco
The Philippine Star, March 24, 2011

Cory Quirino — officially — was never a titled beauty. However, I’m willing to be corrected by Funfare’s beauty experts if she, indeed, became Miss Something in the past.

As the granddaughter of President Elpidio Quirino, I can imagine she was not allowed by family to get into a swimsuit and try out in some national beauty pageant. In the case of Margie Moran, a direct descendant of President Manuel Roxas, she joined Binibining Pilipinas without asking permission from her parents and submitted her application form with the signature of a conniving grandmother. Mom and Dad, obviously, were, too, thrilled to scold her after winning the top plum and eventually became Miss Universe.

But going back to Cory, she had long been admired for both looks and intelligence. To this day, she is associated with beauty, youth and wellness.

And now, she is a beauty contest impresario. Yesterday, in fact, the press was witness to her initial reign as pageant organizer at the launch of the first ever Miss World Philippines beauty contest, a search that will continue trying to find the Filipina to finally conquer the elusive Miss World title.

Stella Marquez-Araneta’s Binibini already lost the local franchise to Miss World and that had been handed by the London-based organization to the Cory Quirino Global Quest (CQGQ). Even the right to select the local bet to Miss Universe can be taken away from the Araneta group after all these decades and Madame Stella is said to be prepared for such eventuality. (That should be painful since she had done a good job at it.)

The license to choose the RP delegate to Miss World had always changed hands from the beginning. I learned about this, ironically enough, when the rival Miss Universe contest was held in Manila in 1994. ABS-CBN made me anchor a series of pre-Miss Universe specials prior to the coronation day.

As part of my preparation as host, I was made to talk to local beauty contest experts who had a treasure trove of major pageant information. There was one who lived in a mansion and had a whole room — a big one — that contained shelf after shelf of clippings about beauty contests, both local and foreign.

I think it was there when I found out that in the ‘60s, some group would simply put up a party and the prettiest girl in the room would be sent to Miss World. If I am not mistaken, that was how Maita Gomez (a former socialite who later gave up the comfy life to join the underground movement) was selected. It would seem like she never had plans of even joining the contest and none of girls in that event probably knew they were being pitted against each other.

In time, it was the Beauty World Ltd. that got the franchise to send Miss Philippines to Miss World. This was an organization made up mostly of the so-called society playboys, who were organizing the search for the fun of it. In 1968, they put up a luncheon show with beauty aspirants and the winner was Pinky Amabuyok, who finished fifth in Miss World.

A couple of years later, the local selection process became more formal with the entry of Ferdie Villar, who put up Miss Republic of the Philippines, along with the Mr. and Miss Philippine Movies (today’s Box-Office King and Queen) that crowned the top actor and actress of the year. Vangie Pascual was a title-holder of Miss Republic of the Philippines (later shortened to Miss RP) and later almost won Miss World in 1973 by placing second.

In 1977, it was the group of hotelier Biboy Enriquez that absorbed the responsibility to pick the country’s bet to Miss World. They had both Miss Asia Quest and the Mutya ng Pilipinas, the winner of which was made to compete with other lovely girls from the continent, including blondes from Australia and New Zealand.
And so aside from Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia, there was a Mutya ng Pilipinas-World and also a Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism (Emma Yuhico, who later became a friend, was one of the holders of this title).

The local franchise to Miss World changed hands again in the ‘90s. This time, it went to Binibining Pilipinas. I don’t know how true this is, but according to a beauty pageant historian I talked to for that series of pre-Miss Universe specials I did for Channel 2, Mrs. Araneta had always wanted to get awarded the right to choose the Philippine entry to Miss World.

In 1973, in fact, she put up three major titles at stake: Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, Bb. Pilipinas-International and Miss Young Philippines — plus two minor ones, Miss Maja Philippines and Miss World Peace. Nanette Prodigalidad won Maja and placed second in Madrid (the contest had since been discontinued). The Miss World Peace titlist, Joan Gatlin Salas, went nowhere (there was supposed to be a contest in India that never pushed through), but ended up being Mrs. Fred Elizalde (before Lisa Macuja).

If we are to believe the story of that beauty contest expert, the Miss World Peace (given only once) was put up in the hope of that the Binibini group would eventually snag the Philippine franchise to Miss World. They got it eventually and made it possible for Ruffa Gutierrez to get crowned Miss World Second Princess and Asia’s Queen of Beauty in 1993.

Cory Quirino has a huge task ahead of her. Finding the girl who may become the first Pinay to win Miss World would require her organization to search every nook and cranny of the country. She is being assisted by Bambi Verzo’s Concertus group, which had successfully put up some of the biggest productions ever staged in the country in the last decade (they are very organized people — I can attest to that). The Miss World Philippines coronation night will be covered by GMA 7 on July 30.

But why did Mrs. Araneta lose the Miss World Philippine franchise? Last January, somebody told me a little story about it, except that I am not a hundred percent sure about its veracity. Let’s just say that Miss World head Julia Morley was no longer happy with the group of Binibini.

Of course, happiness — like beauty — is relative. And the world is a circle.

As they say, there is nothing permanent in this world, especially not the local franchise to Miss World.

Hopes high for Miss World tilt in Philippines

By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA

March 24, 2011, 7:52pm

http://www.mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Hopes are high that the Miss World beauty pageant would be finally held in the Philippines very soon after the successful launch of the Miss World Philippines 2011 beauty contest at the SMDC Grand Showroom, MOA Complex, in Pasay City last Wednesday night.


Beauty and wellness guru Cory Quirino, chairperson and CEO of CQ Global Quest, said the Philippines will soon bid for the holding of the Miss World contest in 2013. The worldwide beauty contest is considered to be the longest running pageant at 60 years. The theme is “Could She Be You? Miss World 2011.’’


“We will bid for that. We want the world to see the beauty of the Philippines. Malaki ang balik nito sa ating bansa, lalo na sa larangan ng turismo, pagnagkataon dito gaganapin ang Miss World beauty contest (This will benefit the country, especially in tourism, if the pageant is held here),’’ Quirino said.


GMA-7 Senior Vice President for Entertainment Wilma V. Galvante said it is the hope of the TV network that the Miss World beauty contest will soon be held in the Philippines.
“Isa ‘yan sa mga long-term dream namin na sana ganapin ang Miss World beauty contest dito sa Pilipinas (That is one of our long-term dreams that the pageant is held here). And GMA-7 will fully support that,’’ Galvante said.


The launch kicked off the search for the first Miss World Philippines. It is open to all single natural-born female citizens of the Philippines who shall be at least 17 years of age and not more than 24 years and 364 days of age on the date of the Miss World Final.


Organizers said the contestant shall be of good moral character and possess charm, poise, personality, and have beauty of face and figure. They should also have the ability to show compassion, intelligence, and of high moral standing and have the ability to speak intelligently in public places.


Closing date for applications is June 15, 2011. The grand coronation night will be held at the PICC Plenary Hall on July 30, 2011.


“It is high time to make a Filipina’s dreams come true, a lady who will embody the true spirit of Filipino womanhood, one who will proudly represent her country while utilizing her beauty to inspire, to help and to heal,’’ Quirino added.


Quirino also said that Julia Morley, chairman and CEO of Miss World Limited, has congratulated her for the successful launch of the local beauty pageant.


Last Jan. 25, Morley awarded the exclusive license agreement of the Miss World-Philippines to Ms. Quirino. Morley was accompanied by 2010 Miss World Alexandria Mills from the USA and first runner-up Emma Wareus.


For the past 60 years, the Philippines has not won in the Miss World beauty pageant. The highest ranking the country has achieved in the contest was first runner-up won by Evangeline Pascual in 1973. But over the years, other candidates have either won as runner-up or semi-finalist in the beauty pageant.

Miss World-Philippines offers the biggest prizes in the history of beauty pageants in the country

Glen P. Sibonga

Thursday, March 24, 2011

www.pep.ph

Isa sa mga guest of honor si GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment TV Wilma Galvante sa launching ng Miss World-Philippines na ginanap kagabi, March 23, sa SMDC Showroom sa SM Mall of Asia Complex.

Represented nga ni Ms. Wilma ang GMA-7 sa event na ito dahil ang Kapuso Network ang official TV network partner ng Miss World-Philippines 2011.

Naganap ang contract signing between GMA executives Mr. Jimmy Duavit (President and COO) and Ms. Wilma at ang Chairwoman and CEO of CQ Global Quest na si Cory Quirino noong Martes, March 22, sa boardroom ng GMA Network Center.

Ang CQ Global Quest ang may hawak ngayon ng franchise ng Miss World-Philippines at si Cory ang tumatayo bilang pageant director.

Nakausap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Ms. Wilma bago nagsimula ang program ng Miss World-Philippines launch kagabi at talagang tuwang-tuwa siya dahil sa malaking tagumpay ng event.

"Nakakatuwa ang reaksiyon ng media, ang reaksiyon ng press, at support nila dito sa Miss World-Philippines. Kasi naman, parang bago siya. This is a search na isang babae ang hahanapin mo na karapat-dapat ilaban sa Miss World. And GMA is all out in supporting Cory in this endeavor," pahayag ni Ms. Wilma.

Bukod sa press and media people, dinaluhan din ang naturang launch ng maraming designers, stylists, talent scouts, at maging ng mga former title holders tulad nina Maria Isabel Lopez (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1982), Simonette delos Reyes (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1970), at Maggie Wilson-Consunji (Bb. Pilipinas-World 2007).

Ano ang reaksiyon ni Ms. Wilma na pati ang mga beauty queens mula sa Binibining Pilipinas ay pumunta sa launch ng Miss World-Philippines?

"Well, good. We will need all the support we can get," sagot niya.

NETWORK WAR? Hindi kaya mag-translate sa network war ang pagtanggap ng GMA sa Miss World-Philippines lalo na't ang dati nilang hawak na Binibining Pilipinas ay nasa ABS-CBN na ngayon?

"Hindi naman kailangang magkaroon ng ganung isyu. Natapos na ang contract ng Binibini sa GMA. So, it's their prerogative kung anong station ang gusto nilang maging partner. We're just happy na now we have Miss World-Philippines," sagot niya.

Ayon kay Cory, ang GMA ang personal choice niya para maging TV partner ng pageant dahil sa magandang track record ng network sa paghawak ng beauty pageants in the past. Ano ang comment ni Ms. Wilma dito?

"We're honored kasi hindi lahat ng beauty contests puwede mong tanggapin, di ba? Mabuti naman nung prinesent nila yung Miss World-Philippines, maganda naman yung kanyang objective, maganda yung kanyang plan, at saka maganda yung partnership na nangyari. At saka sa slogan pa lang nila na 'Beauty in Giving,' okay na kami dahil may beneficiaries sila, ang PGH Medical Foundation at ang Tuloy Street Children Foundation. So, okay na okay sa amin yun."

Bukod sa TV airing ng pageant, ano pa ang support na ibibigay ng GMA sa Miss World-Philippines?

"Media partnership, so lahat ng television exposures nila. Lahat ng events nila, we will cover at mapapanood sa mga shows ng GMA. Gaya ng pagpunta nila sa Puerto Princesa kung saan gaganapin ang swimsuit competition. May TV guestings din ang mga girls."

Posible bang magkaroon din ng contract sa GMA Artist Center o sa GMA mismo ang mananalo?

"Puwede rin basta pasok sa qualifications, di ba?" sabi ni Ms. Wilma.

EARLY PREPARATIONS & BIG PRIZES. Pinuri naman ni Ms. Wilma ang maagang preparasyong ginagawa ng organizer ng Miss World-Philippines kahit na sa July 30, 2011 pa gaganapin ang coronation night sa Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Plenary Hall.

"Maganda kasi mahaba yung time ng preparasyon. Maganda para sa pag-develop at saka pag-train sa mga girls. So, when you get down to choosing the winner, siguradung-sigurado na perfect na siya."

Ang magwawagi ng titulong Miss World-Philippines 2011 ay makakatanggap ng cash prize na P1 million at isang brand new condominium unit courtesy of SM Development Corporation (SMDC).

BPCI has disqualified contestants replaced

By NEIL RAMOS

March 24, 2011

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/311139/bpci-has-disqualified-contestants-replaced

 

MANILA, Philippines – The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) has replaced the recently disqualified candidates in this year's Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

A report on abscbnnews.com confirmed the entry of one Joan Tuazon in stead of candidate Bianca Paz, who was removed from the list of contestants last week allegedly due to a past modeling assignment that supposedly had her posing for some racy calendar photos.


"Maligayang maligaya ako na natupad pa rin ang pangarap ko na mapasali sa prestihiyosong Binibining Pilipinas," Tuazon said.


"Nagpapasalamat pa rin po ako sa Lord na dininig niya 'yung dasal ko."


Three other replacements came ahead of Tuazon: These are candidates Girlie Lero, Bernadette Aguirre and Monique Manuel who each replaced disqualified candidates Roxanne Cabañero, Grendel Alvarado and Jen Olivar, respectively.


Cabañero was removed from the original list of 40 candidates after alleged nude photos of her circulated on various social networking sites last month. Though the 24-year-old vehemently denied that she is the woman in the picture, she eventually acceded to the demand of pageant organizers to withdraw from the competition.

Alvarado and Olivar, on the other hand, were disqualified for having participated in a photo shoot for a breast awareness campaign that had them allegedly posing in the buff.


Lero is overjoyed with the task at hand. "Masayang-masaya ako na nakabalik ako ulit," said she in a separate interview.


Aguirre likewise related how glad her parents were gladdened by the turn of events. "My father was really proud of me," she said.


Manuel was ecstatic with her selection. "Masayang-masaya ako, as in sumisigaw talaga ako," she said in describing how she felt upon learning of the assignment.


Replacing disqualified candidates is nothing new to the BPCI.


In 2010, the organization dethroned Maria Venus Raj for what it called “inconsistencies” in her official records and actual details regarding her citizenship. She was temporarily replaced by second runner-up Helen Nicolette Henson prior to her eventual reinstatement.


Raj went on to place fourth in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant. She now co-hosts ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda."


Other candidates that were also disqualified by the BPCI in the past due to issues concerning their citizenship were Anjanette Abayari, Tisha Silang, and Janelle Bautista.

 
Abayari was replaced by Alou Gonzales and Silang was replaced by Jewel Mae Lobaton.

Bautista’s replacement, Miriam Quiambao, was proclaimed first runner-up in that year’s Miss Universe tilt. Like Abayari and Silang, she eventually carved a career in show business.


The Binibining Pilipinas 2011 beauty pageant coronation night will be held on April 2.

Another 2011 Bb. Pilipinas hopeful disqualified

By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA
March 24, 2011
http://www.mb.com.ph/

mMANILA, Philippines -- Another hopeful has been disqualified from the 2011 Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant.

Bianca Paz is the fourth candidate to be removed from the official roster of this year’s pageant after she reportedly posed sexy for a calendar two years ago.

Paz was replaced by Joanne Tuazon.

A statement released by Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) read in part: “Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. has removed another candidate from the 2011 roster due to circumstances affecting her which recently came to light. As with the previous statement, we urge everyone to cease further speculation regarding the matter as respect to the privacy and integrity of all those concerned.”

It was the second time for Paz to join the beauty contest, the first was in 2009.

A total of 40 candidates are vying for this year’s pageant. The winners will represent the country in the Miss Universe and Miss International beauty contests.

Paz has issued a statement through her Facebook page. “I would like to clear things up regarding the issue for the FIRST and LAST time.

“To make a long story short, I took part in a calendar shoot 2 years ago which never came to mind as a possible hindrance for my participation in the Binibining Pilipinas pageant as I made sure that the finished result would not be less than tasteful and even of editorial standard before being published; “Unfortunately, BPCI did not have the same opinion of the said shoot and so as of today I have been officially
DISQUALIFIED;

“I would also like to make clear that there are NO, I repeat, NO nude photos or “sex videos” anywhere existing; “I respect and accept BPCI’s decision and refuse to make the issue any bigger than it already is. I only ask that everyone does the same and refrain themselves from making false judgments and ignorant accusations towards me and anyone else involved. At this point, it’s all very unnecessary;

“Instead, I encourage everyone to show support to all remaining candidates and… well… Enjoy the show! This is, after all, “entertainment.”

“I want to thank everyone that has supported me. God bless and I love you all!” This developed as the 40 alluring candidates rocked the Gateway Activity Area when they took part in the annual fashion show.
The first part of the fashion show presented the girls in playful summer-styled day dresses in floral and colorful prints. Then the girls stunned the audience when they glided down the ramp robed in evening wear of different styles and fabrics.

The parade of glamour was capped by reigning Bb. Pilipinas International Krista Kleiner and Bb. Pilipinas World Czarina Gatbonton who wowed the crowd when they romped on the catwalk in stylish attire. Miss Universe Venus Raj could not make it to the show, to the disappointment of the crowd. The fashion show is one of the many activities lined-up for the Bb. Pilipinas 2011 candidates. Other upcoming events include the Parade of Beauties on March 27, charity visits, Pre-Pageant on April 3 and the Grand Coronation Night on April 10 which will be held at the Araneta Coliseum and aired on ABS-CBN.

Now on its 47th year, the Bb. Pilipinas search is experiencing a renaissance of sorts, becoming even more exciting with the positive changes it is undertaking.

The Bb. Pilipinas has produced five Filipinas world titlists – Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969; Margie Moran, Miss Universe 1973; Aurora Pijuan, Miss International 1973; Melanie Marquez, Miss International ’79; and Precious Lara Guigaman, Miss International 2006.