The beauty pageant season is definitely on. Why not, when at least three pageants are set to take place, internationally, nationally and locally very soon? I’m talking about the Miss Universe 2009, happening in Bahamas on August 23; Mutya ng Pilipinas in Manila on August 9; and what is poised to be a highly-prestigious gay pageant which is set to hit Cebu on October 24, 2009 at the Grand Pacific Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. To make it a “cut above the rest” gay pageant so to speak, this event which is an official Clothes for Life project together with the Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung Foundation will be titled QUEEN. So, just imagine how excited I am, being a pageant fanatic, to see all these battles of beauty and brains.
Miss Universe pageant will be shown live by ABS-CBN once again. I’m excited because our very own Pamela Bianca Manalo is showing a lot more promise after her transformation, and I’m hoping the Philippines will make it as a finalist this year after a long drought. She stands 5’9 and comes from a family of beauty queens being the younger sister of Katherine Ann Manalo who made it to the Top 10 in the Miss World pageant in 2002 as well as a niece of Nini Ramos who belonged to the 15 semifinalist circle during the 1968 Miss International pageant. Bianca now looks more of a Latina rather than a Filipina, hot and regal in her own way. Unfortunately, she was sent by the Bb. Pilipinas Charities to Columbia for final coaching. I said “unfortunately” because I’ve noticed that lately, our beautiful representatives, who were sent to Columbia to train for their respective international pageants, became “ugly” instead of becoming more beautiful. So, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Bianca’s training in Columbia would bring out the best in her.
Mutya ng Pilipinas
Remember that Cebu made quite an impression in last year’s Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant held in Puerto Princesa Palawan because our bet clinched one of the three crowns. Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism-Puerto Princesa went to Jam Charish Libatog, who is under the management of A.D. Models of designer Dexter Alazas, who is also the handler of Miss Cebu 2009 Kris Tiffany Janson and Miss Cebu 2007 Loise Angelique Tan, among others.
Aside from Libatog, the batch’s 2nd runner-up, Queency Bernaldez, who represented Southern Leyte then, is actually based in Cebu. She is studying college here, and is being handled by designer Danny Booc who owns Ozar Boutique and Ozar Models. With that, you can say that there is so much pressure for our representatives this year to duplicate if not surpass the achievement of Libatog and Bernaldez last year.
The good thing is, and this excites me too, is that there will be four Cebuanas who will vie for the three crowns to be given by the Mutya ng Pilipinas organizers this August 9. Yes, all four of them will share the weight of pressure to really do well.
According to Danny, in a text message last Wednesday night, three of the four bets belong to his stable, the Ozar Models. They are Pearlyn Hortelano who stands 5’9; Karen Nacario who stands 5’7; and Fil-German Jackilyn Schubert who stands 5’7. The latter, according to Danny, is an early favorite based on the reaction of the crowd during the Philippine Terno competition and fashion show last Wednesday in Manila. Of the three, only Nacario is familiar to me because she was a Miss Cebu runner-up in 2008.
Now, I am yet to research about the fourth Cebuana in the Mutya pageant because Danny knew her only by name, which I also forgot. Actually, I have been asking around about her last week, but she has not been identified yet. Danny said she does not belong to any modeling agency here.
Queen
Soon, we will also be welcoming the “QUEEN” who will reign in the Queen City of the South. As I’ve said this pageant is a Clothes for Life event spearheaded by designers Cary Santiago and Wendell Quisido. Clothes for Life is the largest association of Cebu ’s fashion designers and fashion insiders. My very good friend and multi-media personality Jude Bacalso will be hosting the event while “The Junjet Primor,” who is a civil engineer by profession, will be directing it.
“We’re tapping several celebrity guests,” Jude told me.
So, who can join and when will be the screening? According to Jude, those who are transgendered will not be accepted. Jude said, “They must still have the goods, so to speak, and we’re gunning for real brains, not memorized wishwash for the Q&A, so screening them is important.”
The rigid screening will be today, August 1 (Saturday) and August 2 (Sunday) from 1-5:30PM at the Rizal Public Library on Osmena Boulevard. According to Jude, all proceeds will go to Operation Smile.
Operation Smile, said Jude, “fixes up childhood deformities including cleft lips and cleft palates through surgical procedures. The joint project is hoped to heal children’s smiles and transform lives across the Philippines and abroad.”
Therefore, this is going to be an event for a good cause, and not just a pageantry of talented gays in Cebu.
By the way, catch the lead stars of GMA-7’s Rosalinda, Carla Abellana and Geoff Eigenman this afternoon from 1-6pm at Ayala Center for a mall show. The main antagonist, Katrina Halili, will also be there! See you then!
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