Bonding with the Golden Binibinis

MANILA, Philippines - It has really been a glittering year for Filipina beauty. The Binibini Gold Queens — Ariella Arida, Bea Rose Santiago, Johanna Datul and Cindy Miranda — will relinquish their crowns on March 30. Here are random thoughts running through their minds just before they do so.

What was your biggest learning from joining the local and international pageants?

Ariella: I learned to accept who I am, flaws and all.

Bea: The biggest opponent is not any candidate but yourself.

Johanna: I learned to overcome my fears, deal with people. I believe I am much stronger and more open now.

Cindy: I learned to appreciate whatever came my way, whatever I had at the moment. Everything is so fleeting, ang bilis.

What struck you most about going abroad and competing?

Ariella: Some races may not seem as warm as Filipinos but in the end they can be friendly.

Bea: A smile is a universal language. It can take you a long way and breaks all barriers of language and culture.

Johanna: People are not so different after all. All the candidates share the same feelings of excitement and wanting to make the most of the experience. I  was especially surprised at how clean Belarus was.

Cindy: The world is smaller than we think. I realized this when I met people from different cultural backgrounds. The exotic Chinese food was interesting, different from what we know here.

How was your food experience?

Ariella: I remember that in Moscow they loved to serve cucumber tomato salad.

Bea: I was amazed at seeing giant tuna being sliced in front of you. It was delicious.

Johanna: They usually served chicken or fish. Walang katapusang patatas.

Cindy: I loved the bottled yoghurt drinks.

Who was the best friend you made in the entire pageant experience?

Ariella: Shan Apuad. She was candidate No. 38 in my batch.

Bea: Hannah Sison. She is also competing in this year’s batch.

Johanna: Cindy Miranda. Madali kase mawala ang asar niya kung nakukulitan siya sa akin.

Cindy: Mutya. Before hindi ko siya pinapansin, parang masyadong inosente. Pero afterwards I appreciated her genuine heart.

What beauty secret helped you best?

Ariella: Straight hair and fiercer eyeliners that highlight my eyes.

Bea: My hair is obedient. It stays styled for hours and always has volume. I also like putting blush on because it makes me look fresh and young.

Johanna: My mom’s secret: IMS. Every morning, the first thing I do is look in the mirror and smile to myself as I say I-M-S. It never fails. Feeling ko ang ganda ko.

Cindy: Always remove make-up. Moisturize to the max kahit anong mangyari.

What was the most challenging thing about the pageants?

Ariella: Schedules are usually unpredictable. It was very hectic and most of the  time, even if we lacked sleep, we still had to look beautiful.

Bea: I did not care much about the stereotyping of beauty queens. There was pressure to be beautiful and nice to everyone at all times.

Johanna: My food allergies. I can’t eat chicken and they served chicken most of the time.

Cindy: Unpredictable schedules.

Your most memorable charity experience?

Ariella: Going to Capiz for the Yolanda relief. An old woman, who just started crying when she saw us, even if we had not started distributing relief goods, struck me. No words were needed to express her gratitude.

Bea: I was amazed at the whole international effort. When we went to the Capiz Municipal Hall, I saw hallways filled with different nationalities from several international organizations all engaged in helping out.

Cindy: Sagip Kapamilya, when we repacked relief goods and carried rice.

Johanna: Sagip Kapamilya. Masaya mag-repack at magbuhat ng bigas.

What did you miss doing because of the pageant and being a beauty queen?

Ariella: I miss going home (and bringing my laundry) to Laguna every week. Now, I  get to go home only once or twice a month.

Bea: I miss walking around incognito and taking public transport.

Johanna: Miss ko sumakay ng jeep. Ibang klase ang feeling ’pag sumakay ng jeep.

Cindy: I miss coffee bonding with friends.

What exercise routine helped you the best?

Ariella: I love the core workout. My favorite are the squats.

Bea: Lots and lots of squats.

Johanna: Sit-ups every morning. Core workout, nakamamatay.

Cindy: Running on the treadmill.

What is something you discovered about pageants that you never knew before?

Ariella: Beauty pageant is not about being perfect. It is about confidence. It is about bringing out the best in oneself and being who you are.

Bea: Beauty is not just about face and figure. Usually the ones who make it are not necessarily the prettiest, but the most confident.

Johanna: Joining beauty pageants is not all about pressure. It is also about enjoying the experience and loving every moment lalo na kung nanalo ka na.

Cindy: Pageants are fun. Hindi naman super serious or cut-throat competition. I also discovered that Bb. Pilipinas is the most prestigious — they protect and take care of their girls to the max.