Gandang Binibini

A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.

Remember that line used by then “winningest” agent Manuel Uy as come-on for bettors in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, a line attributed to 1880s American author Napoleon Hill?

That must be what gave Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimosa (half-Arab/half-Filipina) the inspiration to join the Bb. Pilipinas pageant again and again, finishing second runner-up to Shamcey Supsup in 2011 and then Top 12 in the 2012 pageant won by Janine Tugonon? On her third try, MJ finally clinched the title, beating 39 hopefuls at the grand coronation night held Sunday last week (March 30) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, traditional home of the country’s most prestigious beauty contest. MJ is 26 (Sagittarius, Nov. 23, 1987), 35-22-36 and from North Cotabato. Motto: Life is not about the destination, it’s about the journey.

•  Bb. Pilipinas-International Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti, 24 (Virgo, Sept. 5, 1989), 34-25-36, a European Studies graduate (major in International Relations) from Ateneo de Manila University, from Metro Manila (mother is from Albay) and never joined any beauty contest before Binibini. Motto: Forget regrets or yours to miss.
• Bb. Intercontinental Kris Tiffany Janson (Lucy Torres lookalike), 24 (Sagittarius, Dec. 21, 1990), 32-24-35, B.S. in Management & Accounting, from Cebu and Miss Cebu in 2009. Motto: Live life to the fullest.
• Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational Yvethe Marie Santiago, 20 (Gemini, May 25, 1996), 32-24-34, a B.S. Accountancy honor graduate from Bicol University (now a CPA), from Daraga (Albay) and Miss Bicolandia in 2012. Motto: In whatever you do, show love.
• Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism Parul Shah (half-Indian/half-Filipina, Nanette Medved lookalike), 25 (Cancer, June 23, 1989), 34-24-36, a Nursing graduate from the University of Cordillera, from Pangasinan and one of the Top 12 semi-finalists in the 2013 Bb. Pilipinas pageant. Motto: Never give up.

Let’s go straight to the crucial Q&A.

The record of last year’s batch was unprecedented. (Bea Rose Santiago brought home the country’s fifth Miss International title; Johanna Datul won Miss Supranational; and Ariella Arida finished third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant). Doesn’t it put pressure on you to equal, if not surpass, that achievement?

MJ: Actually, two days after the coronation night, it didn’t sink in yet that I’m going to the Miss Universe pageant. When people told me, “Good luck as you join the Miss Universe contest,” I would ask myself, “Am I really going to the Miss Universe pageant?” Mrs. (Stella Marquez) Araneta (head of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc.) just reminded us to relax because she said it’s not good if we are too pressured.

Mary Anne: The Philippines won last year, all right, and I don’t think a back-to-back win is impossible. It happened before, so I’m confident. The moment Bea Rose put the crown on my head, she said, “Don’t worry, I will help you, I will train you.”

Kris: It’s a challenge for me since I’m the first Filipina to compete in the Miss Intercontinental pageant so there’s no previous winner or contestant from whom I can ask pointers. But then, the BPCI is there to back me up and help me in the training and to guide me. If you give your all, at the end of the day there will be no regrets.

Yvethe: Am I pressured? Yes, but not to the extent that I’m so nervous about it. Johanna can teach me and give me tips on how I can win the crown again for the Philippines — you know, how to project, what the pageant requires of the title-holder and all.

Parul: The way I see it is that you don’t have to please everyone; you just have to do your best and that’s it. I’m just having fun while doing my best.

What are your winning qualities that will make you shine in the company of equally gorgeous beauties from around the world, the universe, the “inter-continent,” so on and so forth?

MJ: I think it’s my courage to take risks. It was the same courage that pushed me to compete in the Binibini for the third time. I will use that courage when I compete in the Miss Universe pageant.

Mary Anne: Miss International stands for goodwill and peace. I think that I have the genuine passion. I worked with an NGO before joining the Binibini. My true love has always been to work in the humanitarian field. I think my sincerity for the mission of the pageant will shine through and hopefully people will see it.

Kris: I will show the same confidence that I did during the Binibini coronation night. Prayers will help, too. I know that God will give me what He wants for me.

Yvethe: It will be the natural Filipina charm. It’s charm that captures the heart not only of the judges but of your fellow candidates as well.

Parul: I was born in Dubai, all of my summers were spent in India until I was 17 and I’ve been here in the Philippines for seven years. So the diversity of cultures that I have imbibed has contributed to the building of my personality. I speak four languages. And that’s what will make me stand out, I guess.

Cosmetic surgery is now an accepted form of beauty enhancement. Any part of your (already perfect) body that needs improvement?

MJ: I think cosmetic surgery is part of the evolving generation, so who are we to judge people who go through it? We live in a free country, so it’s a matter of choice. In my case, it’s the decision of the BPCI what else I can improve on for me to win the crown. I will follow whatever they say.

Mary Anne: I share the same sentiment. We are human beings so we can decide what to do to improve ourselves. Is there any part of me that I still have to improve? Like MJ, I will leave it to BPCI to decide.

Kris: I have nothing against women who go under the knife if they think it will make them more beautiful and make them feel better about themselves, I would tell them, “Go for it!” Beauty is how you feel inside and not just how you look.

Yvethe: Like MJ and Mary Anne, I will wait for BPCI to tell me what to do.

Parul: Wala na! Hehehehe! But I have nothing against people who resort to it.

You know that our president, Noynoy Aquino, is a bachelor. Supposing he got attracted to you, how would you react?

MJ: The President is just another human being so I think it’s just normal for him to appreciate a beautiful Filipino. Yes, it would be kilig to be appreciated by someone who is powerful.

Mary Anne: Oh, I would thank him! It will prove that Filipina beauty cannot be denied.

Kris: It would be an honor if the President appreciated your beauty, considering the many women that he meets every day. Meeting Pres. Noynoy would be like winning a beauty pageant all over again.

Yvethe: Of course, I would love to have a conversation with the President. It would be an honor!

Parul (no boyfriend daw!): I would love to sit down with the President and find out what he does outside of his presidency --- you know, how he is as a normal person.

Okay, one word that best describes you.

MJ: Risk-taker.

Mary Anne: Optimistic.

Kris: Carefree.

Yvethe: Goal-oriented.

Parul: Multi-faceted.

(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)