This year, Binibining Pilipinas returned to a full-fledged live event, with live audience to witness the coronation night. This results in a return to the palpable energy that is characteristic of this pageant. But a few key elements from last year’s pageant were carried over in this edition–first it’s telecast live to coincide with the available alloted TV schedule by ABS-CBN, which is why the pageant now started live at a pretty late 10:30 PM start time, and the show was not pre-taped for a delayed telecast like the way it was for several years. And with the late live start time, they also tightened the cut, making it even more brutal this year as they whittled the 40 Binibinis (which is now the term they prefer to use instead of “candidates”) to a Top 12*1. There is an added segment in the Top 12 competition this year, as when the Top 12 was announced, they would each deliver a 30-second speech about their thoughts about how they think the next six years would turn out. Then of course would be the regular swimsuit and evening gown parades for these finalists and then a judges’ Q&A, then deliberation on who would win the titles at stake.
*1 Last year it was a Top 13 as they included a popular vote choice.
Just like last year, the hosts of this pageant were Miss Univeres 2018 Catriona Gray and Miss Grand International 2016 1st runner-up Nicole Cordoves. With their renowned gifts of gab and lively personalities, they were faultless, as expected. Sure, there was that awkward lengthy five-minute pause before announcing the winner of the prime title of Bb. Pilipinas – International, but that is not really the hosts’ fault but people behind production who seemed to have a slight misunderstanding about the actual results and thought there was a “Steve Harvey“*2 moment, when it turned out everything as announced was correct.
*2 After that infamous wrong announcement in Miss Universe 2015 when Steve mistakenly declared Colombia’s Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner when it’s actually our very own Pia Wurtzbach..
Just like in Miss Universe Philippines, this pageant has a tie-up with social media streaming app Kumu, and they have commentators monitoring the feedback from fans using this app. Conducting the Kumu segments are actor Edward Barber and Miss Grand International 2020 1st runner-up Samantha Bernardo. Both are good in their roles, also faultless.
Heavily promoted as musical guests is boyband SB-19, who seemed to be our answer to the successes of K-Pop boyband acts like BTS. They got to sing an updated version of the Bb. Pilipinas theme song during the upbeat opening number, and then while the judges deliberate for the final results, have a mini-concert. There is an additional musical guest, as actress/singer Maymay Entrata performed her peppy single “Amakabogera“*3 during the swimsuit segment.
*3 It loosely translates to “I’m a Stunner”. especially in terms of being fierce on the runway.
I’m proud to say I got 10 of the Top 12 correct. It seems that even if this year is a fiercely competitive batch, it was easy to spot the creamiest of the crop, even if this batch is filled with worthy top-notch contenders. I feel sad that the ones I thought would go through missed the cut. I still believe that 09 MARABUT, WESTERN SAMAR (Natasha Jung) and 30 ALBAY (Jashmin Dimaculangan) deserve some notice, but well, the judges and Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) insiders have a couple of ladies they felt were worthier.
There are three non-finalists who at least had moments during the coronation night as they won special awards. Binibini 18 MEXICO, PAMPANGA (Ma. Isabela David) won Miss Talent for her guitar playing skills and 37 CATANDUANES (Eiffel Janell Rosalita) won Miss Friendship.
But I have to make special mention for the winner of Best in National Costume, 07 ORIENTAL MINDORO (Graciella Lehmann) as I and many others believed she would at least be able to duplicate her Top 13 finish last year, but it seems this year she was shut out of the Top 12 and hence is the winner of the Ruth Ocumarez Award for this pageant.
The closest thing to a shock inclusion for me is 32 BATANGAS (Anna Carres De Mesa), but it turns out she was a better-than-expected communicator and a prettier presence than what I had previously saw, so I can’t really begrudge her inclusion.
I wasn’t that surprised with the inclusion of 39 TARLAC PROVINCE (Jasmine Omay) as she’s undeniably polished and is known for her superb communication skills, which served her very well in the Q&A round also.
I did expect 35 NUEVA ECIJA (Diana Mackey) to make it and she did. She performed well, but for me not enough to be deemed worthy of being considered in the winners’ circle.
I got five of the six members of the winners’ circle correct. The one who didn’t make it was 05 ILOILO (Karen Laurrie Mendoza). I think what killed her prospects of making the winners’ circle was the Q&A as she wasn’t really as deep as the other Binibinis were in their answers, and hence she was shut out.
Two ladies I thought probably bubbled under the winners’ circle, but there was simply no room for them to be included. They are Binibinis 25 BATAAN (Annalena Lakrini) and 31 LAGUNA (Yllana Marie Aduana). They could be ones to watch out for if they choose to compete in future editions of this pageant or any other national pageant.
To be honest, I thought the lady who delivered the best answer in the Q&A round was 01 CAINTA, RIZAL (Stacey Daniella Gabriel) with her eloquent answer differentiating a historian from a “Marites“*4. If we based it solely on her answer, I would’ve given her a title, but I suppose the judges also factor in stage presence and crowd impact, and admitted she was edged out in those aspects. But at least making 2nd runner-up is an achievement worth celebrating.
*4 Slang for gossip-mongerer, based on a much-criticized remark by Ella Cruz, leading lady of the Marcos propaganda film Maid in Malacañang, comparing history to gossip.
Winning 1st runner-up is crowd favorite 08 ANGONO, RIZAL (Harlene Nicole Budol). To be honest, I know she was the one who brought the biggest publicity for this pageant, but if you ask me if based on merit or performance she deserves to make it to the winners’ circle, I would’ve answered no–I would rather have the aforementioned 25 BATAAN or 31 LAGUNA in her place.
It’s quite interesting that of the titles at stake, they announced and presented Grand International first, which seemed to imply this is deemed the least prestigious of the four titles at stake. Of course, the pageant proponent Nawat Itsaragrisil would violently beg to differ, but I suppose our collective frustration over the shut-out last year of Samantha Panlilio in that pageant perhaps prompted this pageant to do this, and that there is news that after this year, the franchise for this pageant will change hands. So, I wonder with 40 SAN PABLO, LAGUNA (Roberta Tamondong) winning this title, would she suffer the same fate as Samantha Panlilio? I’m hopeful she’ll overcome resistance as she’s known for generating gimmicks, and this particular pageant tend to reward such things.
Most people pegged 17 TACLOBAN CITY (Chelsea Fernandez) to garner a title, and indeed she is the winner of Bb. Pilipinas – Globe. In my opinion, she won this title for her strong performance in her opening address, swimsuit and evening gown, not in the final Q&A as I found her answer a bit too short and needed a little elaboration. So I don’t think she’ll deliver a back-to-back win in her designated pageant.
Many pageant fans and pundits did buzz that 28 BORONGAN, EASTERN SAMAR (Gabrielle Basiano) will outdo her 1st runner-up finish last year and earn a title. But little did we know how dominant she would be this particular night. Her wins in both Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown were both well-earned as she proved to be sensational in both rounds. And for me, she also delivered the second-best answer in the Q&A, only behind 01 CAINTA, RIZAL. So why did she end up with Bb. Pilipinas – Intercontinental title instead of the prime title? I have a feeling it’s a factor of age as she’s 24 years old, and the winner of the prime title would be competing for Miss International next year instead of this year. Perhaps that’s the reason why she earned this title instead of the top prize as I feel she would’ve deserved the top prize otherwise. Anyway, she seems poised to possibly deliver a back-to-back win for our country in Miss Intercontinental. It’s interesting that the reigning Miss Intercontinental Cindy Obenita made a gesture of handing over her Miss Intercontinental crown from her head to the head of this lady when this lady’s announced as Bb. Pilipinas – Intercontinental. Will that wish be realized in the upcoming Miss Intercontinental pageant?
The winner of the prime title is also not that surprising as many pageant fans and pundits tagged her as the favorite: 23 CEBU (Nicole Borromeo). Though I felt she was outperformed by 28 BORONGAN, EASTERN SAMAR above, she was also consistently top-notch in all aspects, so this title is well-earned. It helped that she’s only 21 years old, and she has ample time to prepare as she’ll be competing in next year’s Miss International. However, I’m still not bullish on her prospects of winning this crown next year as I’m not as wowed by her looks and she exudes an empowered feminist cosmopolitan vibe and this pageant tend to reward ladies who are more deferential. She might encounter the same scenario as 2019’s Patch Magtanong, who may have finished Top Eight but despite a brilliant speech was shut out of the winner’s circle because she’s too assertive about female empowerment and that didn’t win over the hearts of the predominantly older Japanese judges. Her best hope to overcome that obstacle is if next year’s Miss International would be held outside of Japan.
Needless to say, despite no longer holding the franchise of Miss Universe or Miss World this pageant still managed to maintain its prestigious status. And the caliber of this year’s winners makes me optimistic that the prestige status would be sustained. I’m wishing all the winners the best in their missions for their designated pageants.
JUST ME!
JOSEPH
Joseph Vitug's Views 