MISS WORLD PHILIPPINES 2022: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (CONCLUSION)

25 NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – Gwendolyne Fourniol. Just like Miss World 2011 1st runner-up who shares the same first name with her, surnamed Ruais, she’s half-French. She figured in five of the seven challenge events, missing only Sports and BWAP. She could be in contention for a title if any of the frontrunners falter, or at least make a play for the winners’ circle. W – 9.5, S – 9.5, EI – 9.5, RH – 9.

26 BACOOR, CAVITE – Aliana Joaquin. Like 16 MANILA, she made the shortlist in only one challenge event, but it’sthe most-followed one–Top Model. Again, would that be enough to grant her a slot in the semifinal? W – 8.5, S – 8.5, EI – 8.5, RH – 7.5.

27 ILOILO CITY – Blessie Jay Villablanca. She made Top 13 in the Head-to-Head challenge and got shortlisted in Beach Beauty. She does look like she has an inside track for the semifinals. W – 9, S – 9, EI – 8.5, RH – 7.5.

28 BULACAN PROVINCE – Mauie Long. Like 02 ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ, she seems well-spoken and attractive but did not figure in any challenge shortlist. She’s 19 years old, so she could possibly make a play for the Eco Teen title. W – 7.5, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 6.5, ET – 8.

29 TRECE MARTIRES CITY – Loraine Joy Arpia. She photographs well but does not register as well on video. She has not figured in any challenge shortlist, so it is likely an uphill battle for her. W – 7, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 6.5.

30 BALIWAG, BULACAN – Angela Teng. Like 07 CARMONA, CAVITE, she made the Top Five in the Head-to-Head challenge and was not shortlisted anywhere else. But if the Head-to-Head challenge is an indicator of her interview skills, she seems likely to secure a slot in the semifinals. W – 8.5, S – 8.5, EI – 8.5, RH – 8.

31 MISAMIS ORIENTAL – Natazha Vea Bautista. See 03 LAMBUNAO, ILOILO, except she isn’t a technically a teen as she’s 20 but some are saying she still qualifies as such as 21 is considered the “adult” age in many other reckonings. W – 7.5, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 7,

32 BATAAN – Kevyn Alessandrea Mateo. See 29 TRECE MARTIRES CITY.

33 PAMPANGA – Marinel Timoteo Tungol. She made the cut in only one challenge event, BWAP. Would that be enough for her to secure a semifinals slot? It’s possible… W – 8, S – 8, EI – 8, RH – 7.

34 AKLAN – Beatriz McLelland. Of the teens (she’s 19) competing in this batch, she’s the one figuring in the most challenge events, as she made the shortlist in Top Model, Beach Beauty, and Top 13 in the Head-to-Head challenge. She looks like the one who will not only advance to the semifinals, but be granted the Eco Teen title. She is polished and eloquent well beyond her years. W – 9, S – 9, EI – 9, RH – 8.5, ET – 9.5.

35 ZAMBALES – Patricia McGee. See 16 MANILA and 26 BACOOR, CAVITE, but note she’s a 17-year-old teenager, so she can conceivably be an upset choice for Eco Teen. W – 8.5, S – 8.5, EI – 8.5, RH – 8.5, ET – 9.

36 BULAKAN, BULACAN – Lady Justerinnie Santos. She has probably one of the most pretentious-sounding names around, but she seems to have a bubbly, down-to-earth personality and who seems to have a passion and knowledge of pageant history especially as based on her introduction video. She figured in four challenge events: Sports, Beach Beauty, BWAP and National Costume. She could be a refreshing choice to make the semifinals. W – 8, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 6.5.

With all 36 accounted for, let me trot out my leaderboard:

TOP CONTENDERS: 13 CEBU, 20 MAKATI CITY, 21 ALBAY,, 24 LAS PINAS CITY

SHOO-INS:17 PARANAQUE CITY, 18 MARIKINA CITY, 22 SAN JUAN CITY, 23 TAGUIG CITY, 25 NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, 34 AKLAN,

LIKELIEST: 07 CARMONA, CAVITE, 08 ILOILO PROVINCE, 12 QUEZON PROVINCE, 14 ANGELES CITY, 15 MAKATI CITY, 16 MANILA, 19 BALAGTAS, BULACAN, 27 ILOILO CITY, 30 BALIWAG, BULACAN, 35 ZAMBALES, 36 BULAKAN, BULACAN.

EXCELLENT: 02 ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ, 03 LAMBUNAO, ILOILO, 06 SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, BULACAN, 26 BACOOR, CAVITE, 28 BULACAN PROVINCE, 31 MISAMIS ORIENTAL,

VERY STRONG: 01 MARINDUQUE,,04 NUEVA ECIJA, 05 BATANGAS PROVINCE, 09 LIPA CITY, BATANGAS, 10 DAVAO DEL NORTE, 29 TRECE MARTIRES CITY, 32 BATAAN, 33 PAMPANGA,

Now, here’s my “Fearful” Forecast, assuming we will have a Top 16.

TITLEHOLDERS: 13 CEBU, 20 MAKATI CITY, 21 ALBAY, 24 LAS PINAS CITY, 34 AKLAN

WINNERS’ CIRCLE: 17 PARANAQUE CITY, 25 NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

TOP 10: 18 MARIKINA CITY, 22 SAN JUAN CITY, 23 TAGUIG CITY

TOP 16: 07 CARMONA, CAVITE, , 15 MAKATI CITY, 16 MANILA, 27 ILOILO CITY, 35 ZAMBALES, 36 BULAKAN, BULACAN.

BUBBLING UNDER: 08 ILOILO PROVINCE, 12 QUEZON PROVINCE, 14 ANGELES CITY, 19 BALAGTAS, BULACAN, 30 BALIWAG, BULACAN

STRIKING DISTANCE: 02 ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ, 03 LAMBUNAO, ILOILO, 06 SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, BULACAN, 26 BACOOR, CAVITE, 28 BULACAN PROVINCE, 31 MISAMIS ORIENTAL,

For the Miss World title, it looks like a toss-up among 13 CEBU (Maria Gigante), 20 MAKATI (Ashley Montenegro), or 24 LAS PINAS CITY (Alison Black), with 17 PARANAQUE CITY (Ingrid Santamaria) and 25 NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (Gwendolyne Fourniol) possibly pulling off an upset and possibly 23 (TAGUIG CITY) pulling an upset. Yes, 21 ALBAY (Paula Ortega) is a lock for Reina Hispanoamericana, so the others I mentioned above will be in a mad scramble for wich titles they will get. Let’s see how it all pans out. Good luck to all the ladies!

JUST ME!

JOSEPH

MISS WORLD PHILIPPINES 2022: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (PART 2)

13 CEBU – Maria Gigante. Many pageant fans are excited with her throwing a hat in this rign with what is probably her last hurrah in this realm as she’s already 28 years old. She made a splash in three challenge events: Sports, Beach Beauty and Head-to-Head, the last one with her finishing in the Final Two. There are some pageant pundits quibbling that she’s not that consistently competitive, and felt that might hurt her chances. Will she be granted a title, and if so, which one, or will she be locked out of one due to an upset? Let’s see how it all unfolds in the final. W – 9.5, S – 9.5, EI – 9.5, RH – 9.

14 ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA – Patricia Dizon. She seems well spoken and her features recall a more native version of Miss World 2013 Megan Young, but surprisingly she did not feature in any challenge event. Could she end up a Holly Carpenter awardee, or can she still have enough appeal to the judges to secure a semifinal slot? W – 8.5, S – 8.5, EI – 8.5, RH – 8.

15 MAKATI CITY – Ivana Kamil Pacis. She is one of two candidates carrying the “MAKATI CITY” sas, and although there are pageant fans who dig her native features and her strong communication skills (because of her media background), so far she has not made an impact in any of the challenge events. Is it because of the pageant/showbiz pedigree of the other MAKATI CITY representative. She is another one who is in contention for the Holly Carpenter award but perhaps can shine enough in interview to make the semifinals. W – 8.5, S – 8, EI – 8, RH – 7.

16 MANILA – Carla Manuel. I like her features, and that is how she got shortlisted for Top Model. Would making that much-followed challenge shortlist be enough for her to make the semifinals? It didn’t hurt the reigning Miss World, Karolina Bielawska (or 2015’s Mireia Lalaguna for that matter) though this lady is not expected to win it all. W – 8, S – 8.5, EI – 8.5, RH – 8.

17 PARANAQUE CITY – Ingrid Santamaria. After making the Top 10 in last year’s Miss Universe Philippines, she seems poised to also make a strong splash here. She made the shortlists in Beach Beauty, National Costume, and Top Model, and made the Top 13 in the Head-to-Head challenge. She looks like a shoo-in for the semifinals, and if any of the perceived frontrunners falter during the finals, she can make a play for one of the titles. W – 9, S – 9, EI – 9, RH – 8.5.

18 MARIKINA CITY – Justine Felizarta. Like 13 CEBU, she’s 28 years old and this is likely her final hurrah in the pageantry realm. Like 17 PARANAQUE CITY, she made the cut in four challenge events, though instead of Top Model, she got shortlisted in BWAP. She was an upset clapper at last year’s Bb. Pilipinas, but it looks like here not only is she a semifinalist shoo-in, but she can make a play for a title. W – 9, S – 9.5, EI – 9, RH – 7.5.

19 BALAGTAS, BULACAN – Kim Tiquestiques. She got a shortlist in National Costume. She has a human interest story of being a hardworking streetfood vendor and she seems to be a good communicator, so she still looks to be in contention for a semifinal slot. W – 8.5, S – 8.5, EI – 8.5, RH – 8.

20 MAKATI CITY – Ashley Subijano Montenegro. Her pedigree is lofty, being the daughter of model/actor/presenter Hans Montenegro and Miss World 1994 semifinalist Caroline Subijano. In fact, her name is actually inspired by the winner of her mother’s batch, now-legendary Bollywood queen Aishwarya Rai. She’s obviously gunning to follow her mother’s footsteps, and she does have the qualities to actually do so as she does share so many of her mother’s traits. Now, some pageant fans and pundits felt disappointed she’s not dominating the competition, but still she made a mark in some key challenges, placing Top Five in the Head-to-Head challenge and making the shortlist in Top Model. It’s possible that would be enough for her to clinch the plum prize, but will that actually pan out? W – 9.5, S – 9, EI – 9, RH – 8.5.

21 ALBAY – Paula Ortega. With her facility in Spanish as she was raised in Spain, many fans and pundits feel she’s the ideal choice to represent us in Reina Hispanoamericana, She actually made the shortlist in all challenge events with the exception of Sports, so she seems poised to garner a crown, and indeed that may be the aforementioned Reina Hispanoamericana title. W – 9, S – 9, EI – 9.5, RH – 10!

22 SAN JUAN CITY – Cassandra Chan. Of the candidates of Chinese descent in this year’s batch, she seems to be generating the most buzz, She made the shortlists in Sports, Beach Beauty, Talent, and made Top 13 in the Head-to-Head challenge. She looks like another semifinal shoo-in with a possible play for the titles, or at least the winners’ circle. W – 9, S – 9, EI – 9, RH – 8.

23 TAGUIG CITY – Charyzah Esparrago. Based on her sensational performance in the Head-to-Head challenge (where she became Top 2 against 13 CEBU), many are thinking she could be a wildcard who could upset the standings of the perceived favorites. It may indeed be possible as she also got good looks that may not have been shortlisted but still worthy of merit. Let’s see if she pulls off an upset. W – 9.5, S – 9, EI — 9, RH – 9.

24 LAS PINAS CITY – Alison Black. This mestiza ballerina is someone who 20 MAKATI should watch out for as like 21 ALBAY, she made the shortlist in all challenge events except National Costume. She may not be as gabby as 20 MAKATI, but she is a strong communicator nevertheless. She does have the lovely mestiza features that seems ideal of Eco International, and it’s possible we can pull off a back-to-back if we fielded her there, but she can also make a major splash at Miss World, too. W – 9,5, S – 9.5, EI – 10, RH – 9.5.

COMING UP: CANDIDATES 25 to 36 plus THE “FEARFUL” FORECAST

MISS WORLD PHILIPPINES 2022: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (PART 1)

After staging a grandiose affair with 45 candidates last September, this year’s Miss World Philippines pageant seems to be scaling things down a bit as it whittled its candidate roster down to 36, and based on promotional materials shown, there seems to only be four titles at stake: Miss World, Miss Supranational, Miss Eco-International, and Reina Hispanoamericana, its core title offerings since expanding its crown offerings in 2017. Though there is talk that there is still a Miss Eco-Teen International at play alongside another unmentioned title being offered, I’ll limit my assessment to the aforementioned four titles plus Eco-Teen for the teenage contestants in this batch. The codes I’ll use are W – World, S – Supranational, EI – Eco International, RH – Reina Hispanoamericana, and ET – Eco-Teen.

01 MARINDUQUE – Simone Nadine Bornilla. This 19-year-old initially had some positive buzz among some pageant fans, but based on the fact she has not figured in any challenge event, it seems an uphill battle for her to make the final cut. W – 7.5, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 6, ET – 7.5.

02 ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ – Erica Vinculado. See 01 MARINDUQUE, with slightly more conventionally prettier features and stronger English skills. She’s 17 years old, so if she makes the cut with her interview skills, she can possibly make a play for the Eco-Teen title. W – 7.5, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 7, ET – 8.

03 LAMBUNAO, ILOILO – Angel Jed Latorre. She’s the youngest in this batch as she’s 16. She’s well-spoken and made the shortlist for National Costume, but otherwise, buzz is muted about her. W – 7.5, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 7, ET – 8.5.

04 NUEVA ECIJA – Maica Martinez. After the youngest candidate here we have one of the oldest at 28. To her credit she still exudes a youthful vibe, but she doesn’t make a standout impression and failed to figure in any challenge event. W – 7.5, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 7.5

05 BATANGAS PROVINCE – Shaina Rose Manalo Ico. She made the shortlist in Sports. She has that “native” appeal, but considering we’re dealing with a bevy of candidates with strong English diction, she may be facing an uphill battle making the cut. W – 7, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 6

06 SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, BULACAN – Samantha Gabronino. She made the shortlist in National Costume and Beauty with a Purpose (BWAP) with her education project. She is one of the stronger semifinal possibilities in this batch. W – 8, S – 8, EI – 8, RH – 7.

07 CARMONA, CAVITE – Erika Kristensen. She only figured in one challenge event, but it could be a crucial one that determines who would advance to the semifinals–Top Five in the Head to Head challenge. She is proven to be an excellent communicator so she’s expected to do well in interview and with her mestiza features, she may ave an inside track to the semifinals. W – 8.5, S – 8, EI – 8.5, RH – 8.5.

08 ILOILO PROVINCE – Tsina Jade Chu. It’s interesting that she’s one of those whose introduction videos did not feature her speaking but a male voiceover speaking on her behalf. Still, that did not deter her from figuring in three challenge events: Talent, National Costume, and BWAP (for her Maruyog project educating indigenous people). Based on figuring in three shortlists, could she make the semifinals? It’s possible, but her diction may hamper her because many of the other candidates have near-flawless diction. W – 7.5, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 6.

09 LIPA CITY, BATANGAS – Kayla Ariadne Tiongson. She’s well-spoken, and her Asian features are attractive, but she has not figured in any challenge event, so it might be an uphill battle for her to advance to the semfiinals. W – 7.5, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 6.

10 DAVAO DEL NORTE – Kristal Marie Gante. She doesn’t have the English diction of most of the candidates in this batch, but she got shortlisted for her BWAP, which seems to be based on her perceived disadvantage for having a less-than-perfect English diction, as she points out that we should look into the heart of the contestant and not how well they speak in English. I’m not sure if that advocacy alone will secure her a place in the semifinals, but if the Miss World Philippines Organization (MWPO) and the judges are in a “woke” mood, that can be a “diversity” slot allocated for her. W – 7.5, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 6.

11 PANGASINAN – Maria Nina Soriano. She is attractive, but has not made an impact as she did not figure in any challenge event. W – 7.5, S – 7.5, EI – 7.5, RH – 7.

12 QUEZON PROVINCE – Anje Mae Manipot. She was shortlisted in two challenge events: National Costume and BWAP for her sustainable agriculture project. I like her advocacy and that can be how she can overcome a perceived disadvantage with regards to her English diction. w – 8, s – 8, ei – 8, rh – 7.5.

COMING UP: CANDIDATES 13 to 24