After The 2014 Bb. Pilipinas Beauty Pageant

2013 Miss Universe Gabriela Isler (3rd from right) joins the winners of the
 2014 Bb. Pilipinas beauty contest at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. 

The 2013 Miss Universe Gabriela Isler fever is over!
But the frenzy for the winners of the 2014 Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant has just started.
Congratulations to Bb. Pilipinas Universe Mary Jean Lastimosa, our bet to the 2014 Miss Universe beauty contest later this year. There are reports that it will be held in Russia, USA and even the Philippines. Let's just wait for the announcement of billionaire Donald Trump for the venue of the most prestigious beauty contest.
Other winners were Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti who will be our representative to the Miss International contest in Japan. Mary Anne is the girl with an impressive background and a megawatt smile.
Yvethe Marie Santiago, my kababayan from Bicol, is our delegate to the Miss Supranational contest in Europe. I really thought that she gave an impressive performance during the finals that would earn her the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe title. Nevertheless, she's still a titleholder.
Parul Shah was named Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism. One of my personal winners in the national costume show where she wore a golden Muslim-inspired outfit.
Kris Tiffany Janson captured the Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental crown, the newest title. So far, no Filipina candidate has won the contest and hopefully she would make our country proud.
Laura Lehman, one of most refreshing faces in this year's batch, finished first runner-up while Hannah Sison, second runner-up. I never rooted for Hannah but when I saw her during the coronation night, I changed my mind. Now I admire her. Will Lehman and Sison do a-la MJ Lastimosa? Too early to tell but there's no harm in trying.
Three days after the beauty contest, the newest queens in town met members of the media in their first press conference at the Balay, Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
No less than Miss Stella Marquez Araneta was there to support our beauty queens. It was also graced by 2013 Miss International Bea Rose Santiago, 2013 Miss Supranational Mutya Johanna Datul, 2013 Miss Universe third runner up Ariella Arida and Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism Cindy Miranda.
Moments before the press conference started, Mrs. Araneta approached our media table and asked our impressions about this year's batch. My good friends Jay Patao of Malaya Business Insights, Celso Caparas, and Mel Caparas of the Philippine Star, Armin Adina of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Noli Berioso of OPMB Worldwide, and others, agreed that the Bb. Pilipinas has another strong batch of winners this year.
Celso even joked to SMA about winning five titles this year. SMA laughed and said "you're ambitious!'' Some of my friends expressed disappointment that their bets did not make the winners' circle.
SMA said that she felt the same thing. She told us that she would usually make a list of her personal choices and later compare them with the decision of the judges. SMA would be disappointed with one or two winners. But she always leaves the decision to the judges.
One of my friends also told me that MJ Lastimosa was really the unanimous choice of the judges to represent our country in the Miss Universe contest.
In fact, the judges voted seven times to determine which of the top seven candidates would get the titles and the runner-up positions.
I agree with the impression of my friend that this year's batch is indeed a "thinking batch.'' What he meant was the winners really know how to express themselves and sensible when they voice out their opinions, as proven in their first press conference.
After the queens replied to my questions, Mrs. Araneta cut the press conference. She apologized to Bea and Mutya because the two reigning queens did their farewell walk without wearing crowns. Then SMA asked Bea and Mutya to join the newest queens for a photo-op. Later, before SMA left the Balay, I overheard her telling Bea and Mutya: "I promise to make up to the both of you.''
But the biggest conversation piece of the group: it's about last year's first runner-up Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. What happened to her? She won two special awards --- Miss Philippine Air Lines and She's So Jag Award -- but she did not win any major title. Early surveys showed that Wurtzbach would make a fine Philippine representative either to Miss Universe or Miss Intercontinental pageants.
Another friend quipped that the airlines award is starting to be a jinx award. After Shamcey Supsup won the same special recognition in 2011, the succeeding recipients of the special award were not lucky enough to join the Magic Circle ---- Mary Jean Lastimosa (2012), Nicole Kim Donesa (2013) and Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.
Having interviewed her several times, I really admire Pia. The girl is really determined to win. She rehearsed and practiced with the Gold Batch of Binibinis. She really gave her all. Siguro hindi pa talaga time for her to wear a crown. Kung pwede lang sana si Pia na lang ang ipinalit sa isang winner na hindi ko type pero the judges have spoken. To Pia: It's  never too late to do a-la MJ Lastimosa!
Congrats to all the winners and see you soon Pia!

BEAUTIES GALORE. From left: Hannah Ruth Sison, first runner-up 2014 Bb. Pilipinas; semi-finalists Emma Tiglao and Nichole Manalo, younger sister of beauty queen turned actress Bianca Manalo and Miss World semi-finalist Kate Manalo; and Ednornance Agustin.