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By Ricky T.Gallardo
Twenty-four ladies are vying for
three titles and the chance to become international beauty queens.
It’s the 45th year of the Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant, and
once again, the organizers are trying very hard to spot the ladies
who might put up a good fight in bringing home the titles of Miss
Universe, Miss International and the elusive Miss World.
The Philippines have only two
Miss Universe titleholders, Gloria Maria Aspillera Diaz in 1969 and
Margarita Roxas Moran in 1974. For 34 years, the closest we’ve got
to snatching the crown again was in 1999, courtesy of Miriam
Quiambao, who succumbed to pressure at the last minute and gave out
a fumbled answer that allowed the crown to slip away.
At the Miss International
pageant, where there is no question and answer portion, the country
has produced three winners: Aurora McKenney Pijuan (1970), Mimilanie
Laurel Marquez (1979) and surprisingly, Precious Lara San Agustin
Quigaman (2005).
The best performance in the Miss
World pageant was courtesy of Sharmaine Ruffa Rama Gutierrez in 1993
when she placed third.
Every year, the organizers are
put on the spotlight, receiving flaks for the ladies they choose to
represent the country. It’s always a case of hit and miss since
competitions are always dependent on taste and preference of the
selected judges. Of course, we all know that even in international
pageants, there are always politics. Why do you think Miss China was
crowned Miss World last year when the pageant was hosted by China, a
year before the much hyped-about 08-08-08 Summer Olympic Games?
Locally, many pageant aficionados
reckon that former Miss Colombia turned pageant organizer Stella
Marquez de Araneta and couturier Pitoy Moreno are the only two minds
that have the power to choose which girl will represent the country
in which pageant. Of course, no one has solid proof to that,
although most everyone involved in the pageant allege that they can
“feel” the duo’s strong presence and influence in the final
placing of the winners.
This Saturday, March 8, 24 ladies
will try to land in the pages of beauty pageant history as they
compete in what is touted as the country’s most prestigious
pageant.
This early, the “favored”
ones are already known, but most of them are a bit old and have
passed their prime: 24-year-old Margarita Gutierrez is a law student
and daughter of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, 23-year-old Eizza
Rancessca Lim is a teacher and an Ateneo graduate, 25-year-old
Kathleen Phyllis Guerrero is also a law student, 24-year-old
Elizabeth Jacqueline Nacuspag is a Tourism graduate who works as a
flight attendant.
There are younger candidates like
17-year-old mestiza Janina Miller San Miguel who stands at almost
5’11” and Patricia Francisco, a 17-year-old stunner from Ilocos
Sur.
The finals will be aired live on
GMA 7, with Paolo Bediones and Charlene Gonzales taking on the
hosting chores.
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