MISS WORLD PHILIPPINES 2021: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (CONCLUSION)

CANDIDATE NO. 31 – Riana Pangindian. She previously made the semifinals in Bb. Pilipinas 2016 and Miss Universe Pilippines 2020. Making the shortlist in Beach Beauty and Sports makes her on-track in finishing in the Top 25–now it’s a wonder if she can go further and make the “royal court”. W – 8, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 32 – Divina Marie Villanueva. She only figured in Goodwill. Her facial features are not my cup of tea even if they resemble some old friends of mine, but if she has a memorable, likeable personality like those old friends, perhaps there might be room in the Top 25 for her. W – 8, RH – 6.5, EI – 7.5, M – 7.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 33 – Angelica Famorcan. She only figured in Multimedia, but I find her features appealing enough to be worthy of making the Top 25. W – 8.5, RH – 8.5, EI – 8.5, M – 8.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 34 – Maricollin Ramirez. Her features are more on the native side, and she didn’t figure in any challenge event It might be an uphill battle for her to make the Top 25. W – 7.5, RH – 7, EI – 7.5, M – 7.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 35 – Mary Rose Guiral. She figured in the shortlists for Charity by Teviant and Sports. I find her attractive enough to make a play for the Top 25. W – 8, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 36 – Tracy Maureen Perez. Since she’s already 28, we can consider this her final pageant hurrah, and she seems poised to land a title. She previously landed in the Top 12 in Miss World Philippines 2019 and Top 16 in Miss Universe Philippines 2020. Now, with a Final Two showing in the Head-to-Head Challenge and shortlists in Top Model, Beach Beauty, and National Costume, she looks poised to garner a title–question is which one. W – 9.5, RH – 9.5, EI – 10, M – 10.

CANDIDATE NO. 37 – Rachel Anne Valera. She’s in a similar boat with CANDIDATE NO. 33, but unlike Angelica’s prettiness, her features are more of an appealing native sort and there are people who might go for that look and hand her a Top 25 slot. W – 8, RH – 7.5, EI -8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 38 – Kathleen Paton. She seems to be a Top 25 shoo-in, figuring in Top Model, Beach Beauty and Sports. There is still a possible play for the “Royal Court”. W – 9, RH – 9, EI – 9, M – 9.

CANDIDATE NO. 39 – Kimberly Cimafranca. See CANDIDATE NO. 32 but did not figure in any shortlist. W – 7, RH – 6.5, EI – 7, M – 7.

CANDIDATE NO. 40 – Danielle Mayo. Her only highlight is being shortlisted in Sports, but I’m not going to count her out of making the Top 25. W – 8, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 41 – Samela Godin. She made the shortlists in Multimedia and Charity by Teviant. I find her attractive enough to make a play for the Top 25. W – 8, RH – 8, EI – 8.5, M – 8.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 42 – Mara Ruiz. This lawyer made the shortlist in Talent. Will her background (which implies she might have great interview skills) be enough to earn a Top 25 slot? W – 8, RH – 7, EI – 7.5, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 43 – Ganiel Krishnan. This journalist looks like one of the likeliest to clinch the plum Miss World Philippines title. She made Top Five in the Head to Head Challenge, a BWAP finalist with her #PeopleIMet project (where she interviews common rural folk regarding their living situations and come up with solutions to help their situations) and made the shortlists in Top Model, Beach Beauty, Multimedia, National Costume, Goodwill, and Charity by Teviant. In terms of looks and charisma, I would actually favor this lady over Emmanuelle. W – 10, RH – 9.5, EI – 10, M – 10.

CANDIDATE NO. 44 – Sherenade Gonzales. See CANDIDATE NO. 33. W – 8.5, RH – 8.5, EI – 8.5, M – 8.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 45 – Esel Ponce. She made the Multimedia and Talent (with a singkil dance) shortlists. She has good looks to also be worthy of a Top 25 finish. W – 8.5, RH – 8.5, EI – 8.5, M – 8.5.

With all 45 candidates accounted for, here is my “Fearful” Forecast:

TITLEHOLDERS: 08 (Emmanuelle V.), 10 (Michelle A.) 13 (Sade N.), 19 (Asha G.), 22 (Dindi P.), 23 (Shannen M.), 36 (Tracy P.) 43 (Ganiel K.)

ROYAL COURT: 04 (Danielle L.) 25 (Danica L.)

TOP 25: 01 (Lea M.), 03 (Joy B.), 12 (Natasha J.), 16 (Anne DM.), 17 (Dannah T.), 24 (Andrea S.), 26 (Jo-Ann F.), 28 (Ruffa N.), 29 (Ann P.), 31 (Riana P.), 33 (Angelica F.) 38 (Kathleen P.), 41 (Samela G.), 42 (Mara R.), 45 (Esel P.)

BUBBLING UNDER: 02 (Ria P.),05 (Pauline R.), 06 (Shaila R.), 14 (Gwendolyne F.), 20 (Kyle D.), 21 (Kim B.), 27 (Trisha M.), 30 (Julie T.), 35 (Mary G.), 37 (Rachel G.), 40 (Danielle M.), 44 (Sherenade G.)

It looks like the plum Miss World title is a toss-up between Candidates 8 (Emmanuelle Vera) and 43 (Ganiel Krishnan), and the teen crown a showdown between the pretty Candidate No. 4 (Danielle Lewis) and the smart and articulate Candidate No. 23 (Shannen Manzano), and Candidates 19 (Asha Gutierrez) and 36 (Tracy Perez) locks for titles. Let’s see how all this will unfold..

JUST ME!

JOSEPH

MISS WORLD PHILIPPINES 2021: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (PART 2)

CANDIDATE NO. 16 – Anne de Mesa. She only got shortlisted in Charity by Teviant, but I feel she has the looks to be worthy of a Top 25 slot. W – 8.5, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 17 – Dannah Joy Tempra. This 19-year-old was shortlisted in Talent with a Maranao dance performance, and also made the shortlist in Sports. I find her attractive, but well, doing well in non-looks-based fast-track events is not a good indicator on an overall semifinals finish. W – 8.5, RH – 7.5, EI – 8, ET – 9, M – 8.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 18 – Tatyana Alexi Austria. This 18-year-old made only one shortlist–Goodwill. I’m not that into her native looks, but who knows–if there are judges who like her sort of looks she can make the cut. W – 7.5, RH – 6.5, EI – 7.5, ET – 8, M – 7.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 19 – Asha Gutierrez. She made the Top 20 in this pageant in 2019, and it looks like this time she looks poised to win a title. She figured in the shortlists in Top Model, Beach Beauty, National Costume, Sports and BWAP (for her advocacy on violence against women). She’s a renaissance woman who is both athletic and cerebral, so she looks poised to represent us well in whatever pageant she’ll be assigned to. W – 9.5, RH – 9.5, EI – 10, M – 10.

CANDIDATE NO. 20 – Kyle Celine Dorado. She is shortlisted only in Charity by Teviant, but she can still have what it takes to make the overall Top 25. W – 8, RH – 8.5, EI – 8.5, M – 8.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 21 – Kim Babao. See CANDIDATE NO. 14, albeit more natively appealing than mestiza. W – 8, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 22 – Dindi Joy Pajares. She was already handpicked as Miss Supranational Philippines, and represented us very well in that pageant last August, finishing 9th. It isn’t clear if she’s already exempted from competing further or if she is still eligible to go for any of the other titles. She figured in several shortlists, like Top Model, Beach Beauty, National Costume, Charity by Teviant, and BWAP for her project with the indigenous Aetas (or Aytas). Let’s see how her status as a titleholder would impact the finals. W – 9.5, RH – 9, EI – 10, M – 10.

CANDIDATE NO. 23 – Shannen Manzano. She’s the youngest of this batch as she’s only 17 years old. Based on her performance, she is the biggest rival to CANDIDATE NO. 4 for the Eco-Teen title. She is known for her brains and debating skills, just like Miss Multinational 2018 Sophia Senoron, and hence a similar scenario like Sophia would happen with her. She made the shortlists in Multimedia, Talent, and National Costume. W – 8, RH – 7.5, EI – 8.5, ET – 9, M – 9.

CANDIDATE NO. 24 – Andrea Sulangi. She is only shortlisted in Top Model and National Costume, but that could be enough for her to make a strong enough impression to make the overall Top 25. W – 8.5, RH – 8.5, EI – 9, M – 9.

CANDICDATE NO. 25 – Danica Dilla. Though she figured in the non-looks-based events of Sports, Talent (with a spicy Latin dance), and Multimedia, she does have good looks to make Top 25 overall, and possibly making a play for the Final 10. W – 8.5, RH – 9.5, EI – 9.5, M – 9.

CANDIDATE NO. 26 – Jo-Ann Flores. She may only be shortlisted in Goodwill, but I think she has what it takes to make the overall Top 25. W – 8.5, RH – 8.5, EI – 8.5, M – 8.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 27 – Trisha Martinez. She only figured in one shortlist, BWAP, for her Smile Initiative (an advocacy for dental health) and this could be enough to put her in the Top 25. W – 8.5, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 28 – Ruffa Nava. This model and pageant veteran would be assumed to be making the “royal court” considering her previous track record, but considering she only figured in Charity by Teviant, it might read that she’s not that highly regarded. Still, she might still be able to pull off a “royal court” finish. W – 8, RH – 8, EI – 9, M – 9.

CANDIDATE NO. 29 – Ann Palmares. She made the shortlist in National Costume and BWAP (for her advocacy for prisoners). She has a chance to figure in the Top 25. W – 8.5, RH – 8.5, EI – 8.5, M – 8.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 30 – Julie Tarrayo. She makes a striking impression with her shoulder-length bob. She also figured in the National Costume and Sports shortlists. Another possible Top 25 contender. W – 8.5, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 8.

COMING UP: CANDIDTES 31 TO 45 plus the “FEARFUL” FORECAST

MISS WORLD PHILIPPINES 2021: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (PART 1)

There seems to be significant growth in Miss World Philippines, as on top of the five titles they currently ave on offer (Miss World, Reina Hispanoamerica, Miss Eco International, Miss Eco-Teen International, and Miss Multinational) they also snagged the franchise for Miss Supranational. On top of all these, they are also offering two additional titles, Miss Tourism Philippines and Miss Environmental Philippines. It’s not clear if there are international pageants linked to the latter two titles, but we will have a pretty large “royal court” for this year’s edition. With the numerous titles at stake, it makes sense how they also expanded the candidates pool–this year we have 45 vying for the crown.

It should be noted that due to surges in COVID-19 cases, this pageant had to postpone its original scheduled coronation night of 25 July several times–at first on 08 August, then 19 September, and it even posted that it might be postponed all the way to December when this year’s Miss World pageant would have been underway. The delays have forced them to already handpick a representative to Miss Supranational as it was held in August. But finally, they were able to secure 03 October as a firm date.

As is customary, I shall assess the prospects of the 45 candidates if they were selected as title holders for five of the eight titles on offer, along with the challenge events they were shortlisted in. The six pageants I’ll cover are World (W), Reina Hispanoamerica (RH), Eco International (EI), Eco-Teen (ET)^*1, and Multinational (M). I would’ve included Supranational (S), but that title was already given out.

*1 Only for those eligible candidates below 20 years old.

CANDIDATE NO.1 – Lea Macapagal. She got shortlisted for Talent with her jazz dance performance, Beauty with a Purpose (BWAP) for her IT education project in a less-developed town in her province of Bataan, and Multimedia. She looks like a Top 25 shoo-in, though I’m not sure if she’ll garner a title, but a play for the royal court is still possible. W – 8.5, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 9.

CANDIDATE NO. 2 – Ria Angelique Siozon. She only got shortlisted in BWAP for her women empowerment project. Will that be enough for her to finish in the Top 25? She is good looking enough to be worthy of that slot. W – 8, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 3 – Joy Barcoma. She’s one of the five finalists in the Head-to-Head Challenge, alongside being shortlisted for Charity by Teviant and BWAP for her “I’m Here” Campaign, an advocacy for mental health. If she makes the final 10 (by default, the royal court), her gift of gab may make her a possible titleholder. W – 9, RH – 8.5, EI – 9, M – 9.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 4 – Janelle Lewis. This comely 19-year-old got shortlisted in Multimedia, Beach Beauty, Top Model, and Charty by Teviant. She seems the front-runner for the Eco-Teen Philippines title, but she has the looks to also shine in the other international pageants at stake. W – 9.5, RH – 9.5, EI – 9.5, ET – 10, M – 10.

CANDIDATE NO. 5 – Pauline Robles. She’s only shortlisted in Goodwill, but she has enough good looks to make the Top 25. W – 8, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 6 – Shaila Mae Rebortera. She was shortlisted in Talent for her traditional Filipiniana dance. She’s attractive, but not sure if that will be enough for her to make the Top 25. W – 7.5, RH – 7, EI – 7.5, M – 7.5.

CANDIDATE NO. 7 – Donna Marie Balaoro. She’s the duskiest candidate this year, and normally that would equate to “exotic” appeal. But considering she didn’t figure in any challenge event, it looks like an uphill battle for her to make the Top 25. W – 7, RH – 6, EI – 7, M – 7.

CANDIDATE NO. 8 – Emmanuelle Vera. This alumni of The Voice of the Philippines is making the biggest splash among the 45 candidates. She’s Final Two in the Head-to Head Challenge and was shortlisted in Talent (of course for her singing, in this case her rendition of Beyonce‘s “Listen” from the movie Dreamgirls), Top Model, Beach Beauty, and Sports. Interestingly she missed out on BWAP. Based from her showings, it seems she’s the one poised to be given the Miss World Philippines title, and you know in terms of talent this pageant favors the singers. But will her not being a BWAP finalist hinder her path to the plum prize? W – 10, RH – 9.5, EI – 9.5, M – 10.

CANDIDATE NO. 9 – Ambriel Pacual. There are certain angles were she reminds me a bit of Miss World 2005 semifinalist Carlene Aguilar, though she lacks Carlene’s slickness. Like CANDIDATE NO. 2, she only figured in BWAP for her combined environmental and children’s advocacies, but I think she got what it takes to make Top 25. W – 8.5, RH – 8, EI – 9, M – 9.

CANDIDATE NO. 10 – Michelle Arceo. She previously made the Top 10 in 2019, and it looks like she will finally garner a title this time, especially with more titles now at stake. She was shortlisted in Talent (singing “Think of Me” from Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s Phantom of the Opera), Sports, Top Model and Beach Beauty. The question now is, which title would it be? W – 9.5, RH – 9.5, EI – 10, M – 10.

CANDIDATE NO. 11 – Megan Deen Campbell. She’s attractive but she has not figured in any challenge event, so it’s either she’s a Holly Carpenter candidate or she has an outside chance of making the Top 25. W- 8, RH – 7.5, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 12 – Natasha Jung. This 18-year-old is a very comely lass. She only got shortlisted for National Costume, but I feel she has an inside track for the Top 25 and possibly even clinching the Eco-Teen Philippines title. W – 9, RH – 9, EI – 9.5, ET – 10, M – 10.

CANDIDATE NO. 13 – Sade Nicha. Obviously her parents named her after the singer (and band) best known for hits like “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo“. She already made a presence last year as her #ActNow environment videos have been broadcast all over Discovery channels throughout Southeast Asia. She made the shortlists in Beach Beauty, Talent, and Chariity by Teviant. She seems to be a Top 25 shoo-in, but will her exotic appeal give her a ticket to the royal court? The new Miss Environmental Philippines title seems to be very apt for her. W – 8.5, RH – 6.5, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 14 – Gwendolyne Fourniol. She’s a pretty lass who didn’t figure in any challenge event. I would like to see her make the Top 25, or otherwise she might be on track for the Holly Carpenter award. W – 8, RH – 8, EI – 8, M – 8.

CANDIDATE NO. 15 – Mikaela Leonardo. See CANDIDATE NO. 11. W- 8, RH – 7.5, EI – 8, M – 8.

COMING UP: CANDIDATE NOS. 16 TO 30