MABUTI na lang at nahabol ko ang grand pageant night ng Bb. Pilipinas 2014 sa bahay last Sunday evening. Galing kasi ako sa rehearsal ng alaga kong si Michael Pangilinan for Kambal Pandesal project ng San Miguel Corporation sa Mega Tent sa Libis and right after ay umuwi ako agad to catch the final part of the pageant.
In fairness to the winners, maganda ang choices ng judges composed by some revered personalities sa kani-kanilang field led by Miss Universe 2013 from Venezuela na si Gabriela Isler, 1973 Miss Universe Margie Moran, 1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez, ABS-CBN executive Cory Vidanes, Sen. Sonny Angara, handsome young basketeer Jeron Teng, among others. Magaganda ang 40 official candidates at panalo ang final choices nila.
Kinoronahan ang negosyante mula sa Cotabato na si Mary Jean Lastimosa bilang 2014 Miss Universe Philippines, Binibining Pilipinas International 2014 naman Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti, Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2014 si Yvethe Marie Santiago, Binibining Pilipinas Tourism 2014 si Parul Shah, at Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2014 naman si Kris Tiffany Janson.
Siyempre, mataas ang expectations sa mga winners this year dahil ang mga sinundan nila ay halos winners lahat sa international pageant na sinalihan nila.
Kailangan hindi sila magpabaya sa pag-develop pa sa kanilang personality. In fairness to my “best friend” Xian Lim, he shone as co-host of the ever commendable Anne Curtis na flawless as the host of the pageant. Damang-dama ni Xian ang excitement – para rin siyang contestant na sobrang overwhelmed as he announced the winners with Anne cum Dyesebel. Ha-hahaha!
May nagbiro ngang friend namin na siguro pangarap daw ni Xian na maging beauty queen kung naging girl siya kaya lang since naging lalaki nga siya, okay na ang mag-host.
Mga loka-loka kasi itong friends namin – palagi na lang binabatikos si “best friend” Xian dala ng negativity nito in the past months.
Mahusay din as anchors nina Venus Raj, Jenine Togonon and Shamcey Supsup (mga former Bb. Pilipinas winners who landed sa Miss U pageants during their reigns) and some of last year’s winners like Ms. Ariela Arida (Miss U 3rd runner-up), Ms. Bea Santiago (Miss International 2013) and Ms. Datul (Miss Supranational 2013) were also presented as they relinquished their crowns to this year’s winners.
Maganda rin ang naging message ni Ms. Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler who just came from my favorite island Coron, Palawan to help rehabilitate the lives of the people there after the disastrous typhoon Yolanda.
She promised to come back and stay a little longer dahil she finds Filipinos truly amazing. Maganda ang kabuuan ng pageant of 2014 and a lot of our kababayans have so much high hopes para sa mga nanalo ngayon in the international scene.
Sana nga ay palarin tayo and maiuwi ang mga korona sa iba’t ibang bansa dahil magaganda ang winners this year.
( Photo credit to INS )