The Golden Binibinis

Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta is ecstatic. As head of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), she deserves more than just three cheers and a huge bunch of red, red roses for making sure that her three Binibinis live up to her (and the whole country’s) expectation of upholding the glory of the country’s most prestigious pageant which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

And what a record the “Golden Binibinis” have scored: Bea Rose Santiago won 2013-14 Miss International in Japan (the fifth for the country, after Gemma Cruz in 1965, Aurora Pijuan in 1970, Melanie Marquez in 1979 and Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005); Johanna Datul, the country’s first (2013) Miss Supranational (in Belarus); and Ariella Arida (in Russia), 2013 Miss Universe third runner-up.

For a follow-up to their first post-Binibini extensive interview, Conversations did a recap with the “Golden Binibinis” who talked about what made them win, what their plans are and how to balance that crown on their pretty heads.

What is the best advice that your parents have given you?

Bea Rose (who was raised by her lola after her mother migrated to Canada): I have a lola who’s a teacher and my lolo is a doctor. They reminded me that education is very important. My lola is the head of the school’s cultural activities, so even when I was in kindergarten I was already exposed to those activities. My mom is a pharmacist. After my early education in Masbate, my mom brought us to Canada where education is free. That’s the reason why we went there. I continued high school in Toronto and finished college there.

Johanna (Parents: Father a policeman and mother a housewife): My parents are disciplinarian. Best advice ay ‘yung pagdidisiplina sa sarili mo. No, my father is not over-protective even if he’s a cop. He just reminds my sister and me that, you know, “hindi na kayo bata at alam n’yo na ang tama at mali,” that he and our mom are always there to support us.

Ariella (Parents: Arlecito Arida and Stella Hernandez, both teachers in Alaminos, Laguna): The importance of education. Since I was in kindergarten, nakatutok talaga sila sa akin. They taught me how to read. When I wanted to try other things, such as modeling, they told me, “There’s a time for that; finish school first.” I never disobeyed them.

You competed abroad (Johanna in Belarus, Ariella in Russia and Bea Rose in Japan) when stories about the disasters that hit the country were headline news around the world. Do you think there was a “sympathy factor” in your favor?

Bea Rose: I don’t think so because everyone was very fair. There was no favoritism at all. Every candidate got her fair share of attention. Every contestant had a chance to speak her own speech a day before, in case any of us landed in the finals, so we knew what was going to happen at the finals. I didn’t even think that I was a favorite. My first runner-up, Miss Netherlands, was a favorite among the Japanese. My fans were the Filipinos in Japan.

Johanna: I don’t think the judges took those disasters into consideration and they focused only on the girls’ qualifications. Hindi siguro factor sa pagdya-judge nila kung ano man ang mga nangyayari sa bansa ng mga contestants.

Ariella: Kung may “sympathy factor” o wala, it’s okay with me. The Miss Universe pageant was held a day after Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas, so I don’t think the judges already heard about it. Later when I asked for support from my fellow candidates, parang hindi pa nila naiintindihan kung ano ang nangyari. When I asked them, “Pray for the Philippines,” they thought that I was asking them to pray for me during the finals. But you know, if you deserve it, talagang mananalo ka. And I would say that our bets are really winnable.

Becoming a beauty queen was your childhood dream. What did you do to achieve it?

Bea Rose: Confidence is really what makes you shine onstage. I grew up in a small town (Masbate), so when I started living in the city on my own, it was kind of hard. That was kind of a mental obstacle for me...the adjustment. The body part was easy. One month before the Binibini I had a trainer. In the Miss International, I knew that Q&A was not a big deal. You just have to mean what you say.

Johanna: I was 15 when I first joined a beauty contest in school (in Isabela), Miss Intrams (Intramurals). I was tomboyish then and when I won, nahiya na akong magsuot ng mga damit na panlalaki. I was determined to join the Bb. Pilipinas pageant. When I came to Manila, I only had bus fare, walang-wala akong pera. I stayed with a friend who worked in an events company (for weddings, etc.) and I assisted her. ‘Yung perang binibigay niya sa akin, ‘yon lang ang panggastos ko. During the Binibini, other friends helped me na. What’s important is determination at tiwala sa sarili.

Ariella: I was in grade school, about 10 years old, when I saw the Miss Universe pageant for the first time, so our country’s candidate, Miriam Quiambao (in 1999, who finished first runner-up to Miss Botswana), became my role model. I told myself, “Parang gusto ko nito,” but I told my sister (her only sibling) that it was an impossible dream, a wild dream. Hindi ko akalain na puede pala siya maabot.

Didn’t your boyfriend object when you joined the Binibini? (Boyfriends are usually the first casualties after the ladies have won.)

Bea Rose: I have no boyfriend. But I went through a lot of struggles but I was glad that they were over before I joined the Binibini. You know, I gave up so much, so many things for this; this is my dream. I don’t want it to happen that someone else wants me to be somewhere. This is my life and I want to focus on this first. I want to give my best and I don’t want to regret anything.

Johanna: My family supported me from the very start. Yes, I have a boyfriend who also supported me. Mabuti na lang, understanding ang boyfriend ko.

Ariella (once linked to actor Ervic Vijandre): Boyfriend talaga, ha! Hahahaha! Ano pa lang kami noon, hmmmm, getting-to-know-you stage. I told him, “Maghintay ka!” My love life is on hold. No problem with my parents who were supportive all the way.

What qualities do you want in a guy?

Bea Rose (5’9”): Preferably taller than me in heels. Someone supportive and who will be with me no matter what happens.

Johanna (5’8”): He should be taller than I am. Mas matangkad sa akin ang boyfriend ko and he has all the qualities na hinahanap ko sa isang lalaki.

Ariella (5’7”): Dapat taller than me. Or kapantay ko lang. Responsible at mabait like my father.

What’s your best memory about the contest abroad?

Bea Rose (in Japan): I’m Catholic, so I was scared that the other girls would be offended if I kept praying. I would pray before I’d go onstage. I wasn’t ashamed to ask the girls, “Are you Catholic; are you Christian?” Then, I’d gather mostly the Latinas, who were Christian, in a small circle and we would pray, with me leading. That was special for me because that made me close to the girls.

Johanna (in Belarus): Of course, the coronation night because I didn’t expect to win. It was also in Belarus where I tried ice-skating; it was my first time to experience it.

Ariella (in Russia): When I was chosen as one of the six contestants featured in the car race. The driver was popular in that country. Also, when I was picked to be one of the 10 (from among the 86 contestants) featured in the music video of a popular Russian singer.

It’s obvious that you are winnable. But what do you think is your winning quality?

Bea Rose: Probably my ability to adjust easily. No matter how many stones are thrown at me, I do cry, but I stand again and try to prove them wrong. 

Johanna: I was just myself, kung ano ako, probinsyana, ‘yon ako. No pretension.

Ariella: I think it was my composure despite the pressure on me. Kasi nga, in the past three years, the Philippines made it to the finals (Venus Raj, fourth runner-up in 2010; Shamcey Supsup, third runner-up in 2011; and Janine Tugonon, first runner-up in 2012). Pero cool lang ako. During the preliminary judging, they asked me how I handled the pressure and I said, “I just relax.”

Do you think this year’s Binibini batch can equal, or surpass, your group’s achievement?

Bea Rose: If our group shone last year, I hope that this year’s batch will do the same.

Johanna: I hope they are not pressured. Kung kaya ng Venezuela mag-back-to-back, siguro kaya din naman natin.

Ariella: I’ve seen some of the girls and they are beautiful. I guess luck was on our side. The Binibini turned “gold” and we’re glad that we “Golden Binibinis” lived up to the expectations.

Any tips for them?

Bea Rose: Just for them not to be pressured. In the Miss International contest, Miss Venezuela was very pressured and we saw it the whole time.

Johanna: Be yourself. Just enjoy the experience, don’t be too competitive otherwise masisira ang focus mo. Don’t try to follow or do what the other girls are doing, kasi iba ka, iba ang kaya mong gawin.

Ariella: Given na that all the girls are physically fit and beautiful. What’s important is to focus on yourself. Some girls kasi forget kung sino sila. Ako, kahit maraming nangyayari sa paligid ko, I know who I am, alam ko kung sino ako. Don’t fake it.

Now that you are celebrities, are you careful with what you say or do? Isn’t it restrictive?

Bea Rose: We were told that if we won Binibini, it would be a big responsibility. More so if you win in an international contest. Whatever we say could be good or bad not only for us but also for our country. Be loyal and don’t forget where you come from.

Johanna: Sobrang careful, oo! In spelling, mahilig ako sa shortcut, so now I make sure that I spell words carefully baka mapulaan ako. I can’t avoid making mistakes kasi ako ‘yung taong kapag nagsalita, kung minsan mali-mali, hehehehe! Balang-araw, I know mag-i-improve din ako.

Ariella: Yes, careful na ako, especially on Twitter. Dati, 300 lang ang followers ko; ngayon, ang dami-dami na! I haven’t changed but should keep secret whatever I have with people close to me, especially about my personal life.

Any plan to join showbiz? What kind of roles would you like to play?

Bea Rose: I’m not closing any doors…Yes, that would be great! I can talk but I don’t know if I can act. Maybe I can do comedy first and be creative if I can.

Johanna: Yes po, 100 percent! (Asked to “audition” during the interview, Johanna did an impressive impersonation of Rufa Mae Quinto, Jessa Zaragoza and Jaya, eliciting gleeful applause…and laughter…from us.) When I watch TV, ginagaya-gaya ko ‘yung napapanood ko. If ever, I want to do comedy.

Ariella: Why not? I want to do action roles, ‘yung parang mala-Angelina Jolie, ayoko ng pa-sweet. Sporty kasi ako, eh; volleyball player ako. I also love swimming and running.

And the three actors you would like to work with?

Bea Rose: Piolo Pascual, an amazing actor and very good-looking. Xian Lim, my crush. And Luis Manzano, my most favorite. 

Johanna: No. 1 si Coco Martin. I don’t know how to act but I think with him matututo ako kasi magaling siyang magdala, eh. Siya pa rin ang No. 2 and No. 3. Hehehehe!

Ariella: Si Papa P…Piolo Pascual. Jericho Rosales. And sana nga si Channing Tatum, hahahaha!

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