PLDT presents 2014 Bb. Pilipinas pageant

PLDT Home DSL has signed on as the exclusive presenter of the 2014 Bb. Pilipinas pageant set for March 30 at the Big Dome.

With the entry of PLDT, this year’s 51st pageant is touted to be bigger than last year’s Golden Celebration. The Miss Universe organizers are reportedly coming for the occasion, along with reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler (of Venezuela) who will crown the new Bb. Pilipinas-Universe. Three other Binibini titles are at stake: International, Supranational and Tourism Queen International.

The Bb. Pilipinas-Universe winner will be automatically named People’s Choice Awardee and PLDT Home will match the prize money of P.5M plus unlimited Home DSL subscription for one year.

There’s added pressure on this year’s Bb. Pilipinas-Universe/International/Supranational because they have to match, if not surpass, the record of last year’s achievers: Ariella Arida, third runner-up in the Miss Universe contest; Bea Rose Santiago, (the country’s fifth) Miss International; and Johanna Datul, Miss Supranational winner.

Meanwhile, here are the early favorites (not reflective of the final outcome):

• No. 35 Yvethe Marie Avisado Santiago, 20, 5’9”, 110 lbs., 34-25-35, BS Accountancy cum laude, 2012 Miss Bicolandia and Best National Costume in 2010 World Miss University in Seoul;

• No. 22 Mary Anne Bianca Garcia Guidotti, 24, 5’10”, 125 lbs., 35-25-36, graduate of European Studies major in International Relations from Ateneo de Manila University and speaks Portuguese fluently;

• No. 13 Kris Tiffany Maslog Janson, 24, 5’8”, 125 lbs., 32-25-35, works as a finance analyst and 2009 Miss Cebu;

• No. 8 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, 24, 5’8”, 115 lbs., 34-25-35, took up Culinary Studies at Café Ysabel, former ABS-CBN Star Magic talent and 2013 Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up;

• No. 23 Nichole Marie Ramos Manalo, 24, 5’9.5”, 119 lbs., 35-25-37 and a registered nurse;

• No. 20 Kenneth Santiago, 22, 5’10”, 134 lbs., 34-25-36, BS Tourism cum laude from Nueva Ecija Colleges and designs her own shoeline;

• No. 4 Parul Quitola Shah, 25, 5’7”, 117 lbs. 34-24-35, registered nurse, fluent in Hindi and Arabic, 2013 Bb.Pilipinas finalist and 2008 Miss Turismo Pilipina candidate;

• No. 19 Mae Liezel Jaucian Ramos, 23, 5’8”, 114 lbs., 34-25-36, registered nurse, 2010 Miss Kaogma/Camarines Sur and 2011 Miss World Philippines candidate;

• No. 40 Vessica Lopez Sambo, 21, 5’8”, 110 lbs., 33-24-35, Information Technology student from Bulacan State University and 2013 Reyna ng Bulacan; and

• No. 39 Ladylyn Riva, 26, a registered nurse, freelance makeup artists, print/commercial model, and into sports (tennis, badminton and wakeboarding.

Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas lists the following as “dark horses”: No. 5 Hannah Mariz Delos Santos Dela Guerra; No. 7 Aiza Morales Faeldonia; No. 26 Hannah Sheena Lim Manuel; No. 9 Joy Antonette Diaz; and No. 30 Joy Marie Fernandez Gangan.

(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com.)