All smiles for the Mutya race

Last Friday, Funfare came out with the “likely to win” list among the candidates for the 2011 Miss Earth to be chosen on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the UP Theater.

A day before that, on Dec. 2, the 43rd Mutya ng Pilipinas will be crowned at The Arena in San Juan City. Theme of this year’s search is “Beauty Tourism Adventure.”

Of the 30 hopefuls, seven were picked from overseas Filipino communities, 17 from regional screening and six from the Manila screening. They were presented to the press last Nov. 23.

Based on “fearless forecast,” here’s the Top 10:

• Diana Sunshine Rademann (Puerto Princesa City)

• Maria Isabelle Itchon (Santiago City)

• Jaymie Lou Pagulayan (Isabela)

• Vickie Marie Milagrosa Rushton (Bacolod City)

• Benjielyn Rose Ongluico (Surigao)

• Bea Santiago (Canada)

The seven candidates representing the overseas Filipino communities of Belgium, Norway, Southern California (USA), Northern California (USA), Southwest USA, Germany and Canada

• Cathrin Kloters (Germany)

• Roxanne Corluy (Belgium)

• Annie Lea Fingcale (Manila)

• Caren Braun (Kalibo)

But Funfare’s “beauty experts” Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib have their own picks, 12 of them (in chronological order):

• Bernadette Lou Faundo (No. 2), 21, from Zamboanga.

• Diana Sunshine Rademann (No. 4), 21, from Puerto Princesa City.

• Vickie Marie S. Rushton (No. 6), 19, from Bacolod City.

• Jaymie Lou Pagulayan (No. 10), 22, from Isabela.

• Kristina Marie Jose (No. 12), 24, from Tondo, Manila.

• Abbygale M. Monderin (No. 15), 18, from Caloocan City.

• Caren R. Braun (No. 17), 18, from Aklan.

• Gabrielle Erika O. Tilokani (No. 19), 20, from Mandaluyong City.

• Annie Lea C. Fingcale (No. 20), 24, from Manila.

• Felicia Baron (No. 24), 18, from Southwest, USA.

• Maria G. Bergersen (No. 25), 24, from Norway.

• Bea Rose Santiago (No. 26), 21, from Canada.

Three major Mutya titles are at stake: Mutya ng Pilipinas International, Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism and Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Community.

Reigning queens Barbie Salvador and Carla Lizardo will crown their successors at the event to be aired as a TV special by ABS-CBN next Sunday, Dec. 11, from 9 to 11 p.m.

The “beauty experts” pointed it out that the pageant has produced four Miss Asia-Pacific winners (Carines Zaragoza, 1982; Bong Dimayacyac, 1983; Lorna Legaspi, 1989; and Michelle Aldana, 1993).

It has also launched several showbiz stars, among them: Baby Delgado, Rio Diaz (deceased), Bong Dimayacyac, Alice Crisostomo and her daughter Mutya Laxa, Azenith Briones, Marilou Bendigo, Aurora Sevilla, Tetchie Agbayani, Daisy Reyes, Michelle Aldana, Marilou Sadiwa, Rosemarie de Vera, Emma Yuhico and Maricel Morales.

* * *

Here are the 30 Mutya beauties vying for three titles at grand finals on Dec. 2

From left: America Atega (Cagayan de Oro), Reynalyn de Mesa (Caloocan), Bea Santiago (Canada), Felicia Baron (Southwest, USA), Camille Javier (Bulacan), Annie Lea Fingcale (Manila), Cathrin Kloters (Germany), Jhuneva Marie Go (Tacloban), Pauline August Fernandez (Davao), Kristina Marie Jose (Tondo, Manila), Jaymie Lou Pagulayan (Isabela), Megan Cannova (South California), Vickie Marie Rushton (Bacolod), Diana Sunshine Rademan (Puerto Princesa), Bernadette Lou Faundo (Zamboanga), Mary May Yasol (Parañaque), Benjielyn Rose Ongluico (Surigao), Celina Nardo (Iloilo), Natalie Grace Roberts (Western Visayas), Nina Melizza Ronda (Albay), Charice Marie Sisperez (Pasig), Maria Isabelle Itchon (Santiago), Abbygale Monderin (Caloocan), Caren Braun (Kalibo), Gabrielle Tilokani (Mandaluyong), Eula Dorothy Mercado (Cebu), Roxanne Corluy (Belgium), Maria Bergersen (Norway), Jojilyn Sauquillo (Laguna) and Tifani Alexandra Grimes (Northern California). 

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