Who will end up in showbiz?

Another batch of fresh beauties will parade on national television on Sunday, May 11 (9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Channel 2) as they compete for the Miss Philippines 2003 title at the grand finals slated at the Teatro Aguinaldo, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

For sure, talent scouts and showbiz star-makers will have their eyes glued to their TV sets (if they’re not at the venue ogling at the candidates "live"), trying not only to guess who the winners will be but who have showbiz potential.

Let me turn you over to Funfare’s "beauty experts" Joey Cezeare, Francis Calubaquib, Gery Yumping and Felix Manuel for their usual forecast on who "the most likely" winners are. Here’s their report:

The Carousel Productions, the organizer of the Miss Philippines beauty pageant, presented 24 gorgeous and "environment-friendly" women from various regions of the country (12 were from NCR and 12 were from various regions) to vie for the annual search for Miss Philippines-Earth to the press and media people at the Hotel Intercontinental poolside in Makati City last April 29.

Now on its third year (the winner of which will compete in the Manila-based Miss Earth pageant participated in by over 60 countries all over the world), the Miss Philippines-Earth pageant was organized by Carousel Productions headed by Ramon Monzon and former beauty queen Lorraine Schuck. Our first Miss Philippines-Earth winner was Carlene Ang Aguilar who finished semi-finalist in the very first Miss Earth contest. Last year’s winner was April Rose Lim Perez of Zamboanga, who bagged the Miss Photogenic award and was among the semi-finalists in the Miss Earth contest.

Miss Philippines takes pride in being the only truly national beauty competition today that discovers and showcases the exquisiteness of Filipino women all over the archipelago. Through the years, Carousel Productions has attracted the most stunning and qualified delegates from various geographic regions by organizing and producing local pageants with the help of its network of franchise holders. These regional pageants also support the WOW Philippines campaign of the Department of Tourism (DOT) that focuses on and promotes selected tourist destinations.

The first leg of the event’s preliminary judging was the Swimsuit Competition held at the Club Manila East in Taytay, Rizal, last April 30. Other events included the Miss Talent competition, which was held at the St. Vincent Academy in Sto. Tomas, Batangas (May 4) and Long Gown Competition, held at the Euphoria, Hotel Intercontinental, Makati City (May 5).

And here are our usual Top 10 choices:

• Candidate No. 3, representing Ilocos Region – Sheryl Lou D. Franco, 20-year-old BS Tourism student at University of Baguio, stands 5’6. 5", measures 34-24-35.5 and tips the scale at 115 lbs. She first joined Bb. Pilipinas 2001 where she was among the semi-finalists. She is the reigning Lakambini ng Pilipinas 2002.

• Candidate No. 4, representing NCR – Cathy Kate A. Arce, 19-year-old BSBA Financial Management student at the Colegio De San Juan de Letran; 5’8.5", 114 lbs. and 32-24.5-34.

• Candidate No. 6, representing NCR – Ma. Theresa L. Capco, 20-year-old Marketing student at the Int’l. Academy of Management & Economics; 5’5.5", 113 lbs. and 33-24.5-34.5.

• Candidate No. 8, representing NCR – June C. Estalilla, 21-year-old AB Psychology student at the Cebu Doctor’s Hospital; 5’4", 104 lbs. and 32-24.5-32.5.

• Candidate No. 10, representing NCR – Mary Joyce J. Garcia, an 18-year-old commercial model and BS Nursing student at the Our Ldy of Fatima University; 5’4", 32-23.5-32 and tip the scales of 105 lbs.

• Candidate No. 13, representing Central Visayas (Cebu) – Evangeline Natalie S. Tarin, an 18-year-old student at the Cebu International School; 5’7", 120 lbs. and 34-25-36.

• Candidate No. 15, representing Eastern Visayas – Renette C. Mahinay, an 18-year-old BS Tourism student at the Centro Escolar University; 5’8", 125 lbs. and 35-26-36.

• Candidate No. 16, representing NCR – Jonah Grace C. Maluto, 19-year-old BS Pharmacy student at the Centro Escolar University; 5’6.5", 120 lbs. and 34.5-25-35.5.

• Candidate No. 20, representing NCR – Lesley Jean D. Samson, a 19-year-old Business Administration student at the University of Sto. Tomas; 5’7", 32-24-34 and 120 lbs.

• Candidate No. 22, representing NCR – Cherry D. Vergara, 24-year-old BS Accountancy graduate at the Holy Angel University; 5’6", 115 lbs. and 33-25-33.5.

One of the National Capital Region candidates was said to be the aunt of sexy TV and movie comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto.

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Incidentally, last April 30, Noela Mae "Ella" Buhion Evangelista, this year Bb. Pilipinas second runner-up, left for Los Angeles enroute to Mexico City to compete for the title of 2003 Queen of Tourism International beauty pageant to be held May 15. She was the unanimous choice of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI).

Born 21 years ago in Iligan City, Ella is a Business Administration graduate from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, who has decided to give priority to professional modeling rather than pursue a career in business. Standing 5’8", weighing 112 lbs. and measuring 34-25-35, Ella has other attributes that make her a favorite ramp model among Filipino designers. The second in a brood of three girls of Noel C. Evangelista and the former Teresa Buhion, she was a convent novice in Bukidnon when she was 18. Before the Binibini, she won several beauty and modeling contests, such as Miss Lanao del Norte 1999, Miss Iligan 2002 and MTV Fashionista Best Model of the World 2002 (as first runner-up). Ella also won two special awards during the Bb. Pilipinas pageant, as Miss Close Up Smile and Miss Avon.

Good luck to the 24 Miss Philippines-Earth candidates and more so to Ella, the first local beauty to compete in an international pageant this year.

So best of luck to the Miss Philippines-Earth candidates and Ella.

Now on her way to Panama for the 2003 Miss Universe Pageant is Carla Balingit, who is from Pampanga. The Miss U pageant will be telecast live by RPN-9 on June 4, Wednesday, starting at 9:30 a.m.

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